We live in West Virginia’s northern panhandle. Less than a mile to the west is the Ohio River and the Buckeye State. Not twenty miles to our east is the Pennsylvania state line.

Ordinarily, I love this arrangement. Ohio has no sales tax on food. Clothes are tax-free in Pennsylvania. Everything else has a lower tax rate in West Virginia, so we don’t blow the difference in gas money driving around to do our major shopping.

But this is an election year.

First, there was the Ohio primary, then seven weeks later it was PA’s turn. We go to the polls this Tuesday, and I for one can’t wait. I am sick to DEATH of those insidious political ads.

Those of you who don’t live near a state line can’t fully appreciate how tiring this all is when it’s times three. And today, we got a message on the answering machine from Bill Clinton. Barack Obama has written us off, so I’m not expecting a call from Michelle, but hey, you never know.

I’m not saying this isn’t important. We all know how vital the upcoming election is. But between the 24-hour “news” networks who babble on just to hear themselves and those slick, misleading ads, I’ve had it. And the overload goes all the way from the race for President to state offices, judges at every level, county commissioners, and so on.

I think I’m ready to vote for the candidate who pledges to limit the amount of advertising any one person can do. And that includes those ugly yard signs that litter all of our highways.

AN UPDATE: Barack and Michelle never called. Hillary did. Twice.