Are you experienced?

Just like in "The Apprentice," the presidential candidates - to what may be an unprecedented degree - are failing to stress their experience. Usually, of course, stressing your experience is precisely the kind of thing that an incumbent wants to do; but given the nagging questions about intelligence that swirl around Bush's decision to take the country to war with Iraq, and the nagging questions about intelligence that swirl around Bush's decisions to cut taxes which have helped to create the biggest budget deficit in American history, it may be less surprising that Bush wants to give the whole experience thing a bit of a pass.

What may be more surprising, though, is that Senator John Kerry seems to be doing something pretty similar. Admittedly, we do hear about experiences of his - but the vast majority of them seem to be about his undeniably distinguished service in Vietnam, less his tenure in the Senate. Sure, I'd be proud to have a war hero as my commander-in-chief, but I'd also be proud to have a member of Congress who worked hard for his constituents as my president.

According to a recent article in The New York Times, it seems much of Kerry's distinction in the Senate has come from investigations and prosecutions rather than proposing and passing legislation. Then again, with financial scandal and tax avoidance skyrocketing on the domestic front, and terrorism and nuclear proliferation at what seem like all-time highs internationally, it wouldn't be so bad to have someone in charge who was used to getting to the bottom of things. Especially in contrast to an administration whose reticence for investigation and transparency, from energy policy task forces to intelligence investigations to leaks to the press about government agents, has reached embarrassing lows. Why aren't we hearing more about this John Kerry?

Maybe because, like in reality TV, there's been a decision that biography matters more than policy. Maybe because, like in reality TV, Kerry is out there talking about it, but the media that edits and presents Kerry gives us what it thinks we'll be most interested in hearing. Or maybe Kerry knows that Democrats are much more excited about an anti-Bush candidate than they are about the specifics of Kerry; people in caucuses and primaries are voting for Kerry in droves or reasons of electability despite, at times, agreeing more closely with other Democrats' policies.

But another lesson from "The Apprentice" might be worth attending to: eventually, someone will emerge triumphant from the ultimate job interview. But their future and success with Trump will depend greatly on whether they've simply outlasted fifteen other people or they've been chosen for who they are. Kerry, hopefully, will not only be a candidate who's against the other guy, but will also be someone Americans will become excited about. And showing off his experience, as well as his biography, is vital to achieving that goal.

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