PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

This presidential election cycle is one of the most unusual – not to mention troubling – in this nation’s history.

As voters, we have a terrible choice.

On one hand, with Donald Trump, we have a buffoon who is not qualified to hold the nation’s highest political office. One of his claims to fame – and he has many in his own words – is that he has demonstrated substantial business acumen, but those who have been left holding the bag after his numerous bankruptcies would question his credentials.

On the other hand, with Hillary Clinton, we have a corrupt public official who has demonstrated, over her time in and out of office, a blind eye toward ethics and honesty. Every day produces another list of, at least, indiscretions.

When I told a friend the other day that I might not be able to cast my ballot for either Trump or Clinton, he/she said that failing to vote for Trump would be a vote for Clinton.

My response? Not necessarily.

I understand that rationale, though, and others might say that a vote for neither would be a vote for Trump.

All things considered, I am still pondering my options.

There are essentially two.

One is to vote my conscience and cast a ballot for NEITHER, which means finding someone else to vote for, a third party candidate or a name with Presidential credentials such as, say Colin Powell or Paul Ryan.

The other option is to vote for Clinton because Trump’s buffoonery inspires nothing but fear. Who knows what he would do in the Oval Office with his finger on the nuclear trigger.

And, if that phrase sounds like a Clinton political ad, so be it. She may be the best of the two bad options.