Having just mentioned the Electoral College in passing, I thought I'd take a moment to point out the Every Vote Counts Amendment, which Boston Confidential officially endorses. 

A proposed amendment to the Constitution, Every Vote Counts would, if ratified, effectively abolish the Electoral College and allow for the President to be directly elected by the people of the United States. 

Despite what your "short ballot" might imply, when you go into a voting booth and vote for the President, you are in fact voting for a number of electors who are not constitutionally required to vote as they have pledged (though the law of your state may require them to).  There are many arguments for and against the continued existence of the College.  A comprehensive discussion of the relative merits of each is beyond the scope of this post.  The amendment, however, is worth reading if you feel, as I do, that the President should be elected popularly.

I am continually pleased to see Massachusetts Congressman William Delahunt's cosponsorship of this bill.