We've had a steady stream of customers this morning. Not surprising after depriving everyone of their bead fix for four days! We're quite happy with our new space and hope you will all come visit Maine and us someday. Here are some fresh photographs from a few minutes ago:







My personal note from this morning: It takes a while to vacuum 3,000 square feet of floor!

Is it my imagination, or does experience not count for much any more when people decide to run for President? Or when voters decide who to support?

I have been following the too-early campaigns for Presidential nomination, and watching the list of candidates or soon-to-be candidates grow ever longer, but in looking at their bios, I am struck by how little executive and governmental experience many of them have. Or maybe I'm not seeing something.

The Washington Post has info on all the candidates (even some who are still thinking about it). I spent some time yesterday reviewing all the candidates' governmental experience, and it looks to me like Bill Richardson—whose campaign seems to get zero national media attention—is, on paper at least, far more qualified to be running for President than any of the others. I don't know much about him, but compare Richardson:

* Governor of New Mexico, 2003-present
* U.S. Secretary of Energy, 1998-2001
* U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, 1997-1998
* Representative, United States House of Representatives, 1983-1997

to Rudy Guliani:

* Mayor, New York City, 1994-2001
* United States Attorney, 1981-1989

Or Mitt Romney:

* Governor of Massachusetts, 2003-2007
* Chairman, Republican Governors Association

Or Hilary Clinton:

* Senator, United States Senate, 2001-present
* First Lady of the United States, 1993-2001
* First Lady of Arkansas, 1979-1981, 1983-1993
* House Judiciary Committee, 1974

Or Barack Obama:

* Senator, United States Senate, 2005-present
* Senator, Illinois State Senate, 1997-2004

If you have time, look at all the others also and you'll see what I mean.

I am very undecided at this point, and by the time we Mainers get to vote, it may be all over as far as who the Presidential candidates will be, but in view of the monumental problems that the next President will be facing, I think I'd prefer someone who actually has experience under his or her belt. And Richardson looks like the most experienced candidate in either party.

If you'd like to comment, send me an email and put Politics in the subject line so I can filter it into a separate folder. Also let me know if it's okay to quote you, assuming I have time. I'm curious to know what others think about this.