Who Should You Vote For? It's Not for Me To Say

After writing more than 2,000 of each, I can tell you that those are two different animals. And my journalistic pet peeves include sentences that end like this: "This column endorses ... "

Seriously? So now the column is a living breathing entity? What should we do next? Take it to lunch?

Another problem with that approach is that it feeds into the unhealthy notion that those of us who are paid for our opinions somehow operate on a higher plane than those who aren't. You must have a pretty high opinion of yourself, and your thought process, to let your column "endorse" anyone for any office -- let alone president. The best way to do this job is to take your craft seriously, and yourself not so much. And on that score, many of my colleagues come up short.

When Americans step into the ballot box, we're all equal -- rich and poor, African-American and Latino, those who write columns and those who read them.

Still, I'm not immune to the pressure that so many Americans are feeling as we approach this election. My wife has been pushing me to write a column explaining what people should be thinking about when they vote, not necessarily telling them how to vote but explaining what the main issues are.

At this point, given all the ugliness we've witnessed, there is only one issue that matters: character. If the person you settle on has character, he or she will keep promises, forge alliances, avoid scandal and put the interests of the country ahead of his or her own. And if that person is lacking character, the country will suffer. And haven't we suffered enough?

On Nov. 8, all Americans have the same six options: Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, a third-party candidate, writing in a name, leaving the top line blank, or not voting. I've ruled out the first three, and the last one.

Frankly, I'm sick of Trump and Clinton. I think they're both awful, and neither should be trusted with the power of the presidency. Because I love my country, I'd like both of them to lose. My only consolation is that one of them will.

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Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com.