Are you better off?

"Yes, I am waiting to the force to awaken. To come back to us after this Obama like trance. And the force ladies and gentlemen - is us..."

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...Okay. Enough Star Wars talk. What I want to talk about was in our galaxy and happened just recently. It was a common questions asked in campaigns. "Are you better off that you were four or eight years ago?" Today, most people would be hard pressed to answer in the affirmative. Most are worse off in at least one area of their lives.

I hope that question comes up tonight in the debate. And I also hope this - what Chris Christie said does come true. We have had enough entertainment in the Republican debates - now it is time to take off the gloves. As Christie said, "We need to get serious." After the convention, in order to win the general election, we need to coalesce as a party. No lingering hard feelings, no third party. So our fire power needs to be directed at both Obama's record and the vision Hillary has to continue it.

Now a word about Donald Trump. He has come into this Republican field and made quite a splash. He has touched a nerve. He is giving the red meat eaters all they can handle - except for one minor thing - he is not acting presidential. And to win the general in November, we need a candidate who can act presidential. Otherwise, I am afraid that many in fly over land will hold their nose and vote for Hillary - baggage and all.

I have come to look at the Trump situation in a completely different light. It could be a real blessing. An iron sharpens iron event. For a candidate to break through the "all Trump, all the time news cycle", and then carve away at Trump's lead, would hone the candidate's skills. If a candidate can neutralize the "Trump factor", there is nothing the Democrats could throw at us that would be nearly as tough.

That being said, I will again quote Governor Christie - "It is time to get serious." No more dilly dally. Break up the circular firing squad. It is okay to point out differences between the Republican candidates without being dismissive or destructive. The way the country is right now, there is a cornucopia of topics to bring up. Sure fire winners for the Republicans. The economy, the debt, national defense, food stamps, poverty, race relations, and on and on.

I have not endorsed nor dismissed any candidate so far - although at times "The Donald" has taken me to the limit. That being said, if candidates would like to look to someone to model after, look to Ted Cruz. Although not perfect, he has run a fairly clean campaign. And he has kept his sights set on the right target - the Democrats.

So onward and upward folks. Let's awaken the force. Get the people involved again. Help guide them in what is important for our country. Star Wars opens on Friday. But it is only a movie. This is real life. Let's see a different campaign starting tonight.