But I don't wanna vote for a Republican...

(The above title is meant to be read in a whiny, childish voice.) After watching the first 2 1/2 contestants at the Democratic forum on health care this morning, I may be forced to admit that I "don't have a horse" in the Democratic campaign that I can vote for.

1. Sen. Barack Obama does not have a health care plan. Then why even come to a forum on health care?

2. Gov. Bill Richardson spoke of an unrealistic universal coverage goal without raising taxes. It's hard to swallow, and Richardson seemed more like a tried-and-true tax-and-spend liberal in this forum than I thought he was.

3. Sen. Hillary Clinton is someone my wife will never vote for. I don't want to cancel each other out.

4. Former Sen. and VP candidate John Edwards had what seemed like a very workable health care plan, if a bit complex. Still, he reminds me too much of Bill Clinton, and he's got a bad rep in his home state of North Carolina, according to my sister-in-law. He's pretty smarmy but smart about health care. Of the 3 candidates I watched, he had by far the best plan to deal with the real problems of health care. Still, I don't know that I can convince my wife to vote for him.

5. Don't know much about Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut. He might be my horse, but he's a dark horse candidate.

That's as far as I'll go right now. I may be forced to return to my conservative side and vote Republican in the general election next November. It's probably where I belong anyway. I'm still paying attention to the Democrats, though, to see how far left the party's going to go. I want a Democratic candidate who appeals to conservative voters, and I don't know if such a political animal exists. I'm going to vote in the Democratic caucus next February, so I'll have a voice there. Don't know if it'll mean anything, though. How much is fundraising shaping the race already? I'll let you know when I find out.