Between now and Election Day, I want Barack Obama and John McCain to do something unheard of. I want them to travel the nation together on a bus and hold town hall meetings together.

 Both Obama and McCain claim they are not typical Washington politicians. Both say they will truly listen to the American people and do what's right for them. I want proof that this is more than just political hot air. So this is what I want to have happen: for a two week period in October I want Obama and McCain to travel the nation together. I don't want them connected at the hip to their analysts and spin doctors. Just them, a bus driver and a small, non-partisan staff to help the candidates make their way from town to town. I want Obama and McCain to hold Town Hall Meetings in at least 25 of the 50 states. The town halls should be comprised of voters who are on the fence and can be Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, Whigs, whatever you want. They should not be committed voters and they should not be hand-picked by the campaigns. During these Town Halls, Obama and McCain should talk to each other and to the audience. They should not talk past each other and ignore the audience. These discussions should be of substance and not flash. In other words, the candidates should not use them as "feel good photo ops". They should come and be prepared to argue but in a civil tone. There should be no undercurrent of fear. Obama shouldn't try to place jabs about McCain's age; McCain should not try to paint Obama as somehow being tied to radical Islam.

 I want these guys to talk about the real issues and real solutions. Don't tell me you'll shore up the economy: tell me HOW you will do it and tell me some of the numbers that will back it up. Don't pat my hand and tell me everything will be OK, prove it!

 Like you, every day I turn on the news and all I hear are unemployment numbers, home foreclosures, auto sales falling, everything which points to a sour economy. I know there have been bad times before and the U.S. has come out of it and again enjoyed prosperity. But every time the American economy hits a road bump, it takes more action over a longer time period to correct what's wrong.

 What I am especially finding annoying in this campaign is how both Obama and McCain point to Michigan as a sign of bad economic times, how so many plant workers in the state have lost their jobs. Both of them say they will return America to manufacturing prominence but they DON'T SAY HOW!

 It is going to take deeds, not words. All of us, as journalists and as everyday Americans, need to pin these guys down for specifics. It's not enough to get what they want to do we also need to know how they intend to do it.

 In October, begin the Town Halls. Put them on a bus and let them travel the nation. Let them convince us why they should be commander-in-chief.

 Quote Of The Day: "It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something." President Franklin D. Roosevelt

 This Day In History: The first parking meters were installed in Oklahoma City, Oklahome on this date, July 16th, 1935.

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