I wish this election cycle would hurry up and die.

And I’m not even in a swing state that is being inundated with endless political ads I’d rather not see.

I’m tired of the obsessive arguing.

I’m tired of the countless emails that pretend to have uncovered ugly, unconfirmed rumors about President Barack Obama that a supposed lap dog liberal media won’t publish.

I’m tired of hearing people scolding the opponent for particular words and actions then providing an excuse for their guy when he does the same.

I’m tired of sane, rational people twisting themselves in illogical ways rather than admitting that the other guy is not the anti-Christ.

I’m tired of stupid campaign signs and campaign stickers.

I’m tired of talk of Obama’s cool and Mitt Romney’s robot.

I’m tired of serious issues about national security being used as political footballs, even among leaders such as Sen. Lindsey Graham, who used to be above such things. And I voted for Graham. Twice.

I’m tired of hearing Sen. Jim DeMint coming to the Grand Strand and talking about freedom while knowing he actively fights to make gays and lesbians second-class citizens. And I voted against DeMint. Twice.

I’m not tired of biting critiques; I’m tired of stupid critiques void of fact.

No, Obama didn’t halve the deficit like he promised. But yes, the deficit has dropped during his term.

I’m tired of debating about debates, about who smiled too much or looked up too little.

I’m tired of post-debate coverage. I’m tired of debating the debates conducted during post-debate coverage.

I’m tired of commentary that makes it seems as though we are about to elect a dictator.

Obama alone didn’t increase the debt or decrease the deficit.

Romney wouldn’t be able to do either alone, either.

There are 535 members of the U.S. Congress who have a say in such things.

That’s why I’m hoping the debate this week between Gloria Tinubu and Tom Rice for the newly-minted Seventh Congressional District seat doesn’t plow over the same tired lines.

I hope they tell people just what they will be realistically capable of doing if we send them to Capitol Hill.

I hope they remind the debate audience that Rice will likely be in the majority and Tinubu in the minority.

I hope they explain just what that means for the Grand Strand, and for the country.

I know that each of them has a personal philosophy about taxes, spending, abortion, education reform and war.

I know that they will have rehearsed sound bites.

But, frankly, I’m tired of hearing those, too.

I want to hear them say that politics is a messy sport, especially at the highest levels, that it is heavily influenced by money and a relative handful of powerful interest groups, some of whom have good intentions for the entire country, some just out for themselves.

I want to hear them say how they are going to handle that reality, especially when they want to stand up to the worst of those interests when party leaders demand they kowtow instead.

I want to know when and why they would compromise even if it would undermine their own re-election prospects, like Graham used to do and DeMint never will.

I want to know why they would be the kind of leader this country needs even when it is not the kind this country wants.