This has been my Crocs summer.

Ever since I bought two pairs of the ugly yet comfortable shoes on sale at a local department store, they have been affixed to my feet. I have worn them almost everywhere. A few weeks later, my wife got a pair. We also got a pair for my soon-to-be two-year-old son. At times, we look like an advertisement for Crocs. Our initial enthusiasm for the shoes is starting to wane, though.

First of all, the original model Crocs don't provide great arch support. Their Swiss-cheese like design makes them impractical during the rain. They are not great for driving long distances either. Crocs has introduced new models to address these shortcomings, including the the odd looking Crocs venture leather dress shoes for men. There are also Crocs Ambler winter boots. Crocs even has something called jibbitz, "jewelry" to adorn Crocs.

Oh brother.

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Judging from Crocs' share price, many other people have grown tired of the trendy shoes as well. Shares of Crocs, which once were favorites of Wall Street, have plunged almost 90 percent this year. Moreover, loads of stores have cheap Crocs knock-offs, a trend which will only get worse.

As Crocs continues to struggle, it will likely continue to add new products. Eventually, the company will have to lower prices. When that happens, perhaps consumers will find the ugly shoes appealing yet again.

I blame the decline of Crocs -- as I do most things -- on President Bush. Last summer, the most unpopular president in modern times was photographed wearing a pair of the trendy shoes. Thank goodness this did not happen when he was meeting with the likes of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin or North Korean dictator Kim Jung-il. I am sure his enemies in Congress would have interpreted this as a sign of weakness as well.

Let's hope Bush sticks with wingtips and the odd loafer or sneaker as a footwear choice. Going trendy again could have disastrous consequences for all concerned.

The brightly colored Crocs were all the rage a year or two ago. Originally designed for gardening, their popularity quickly spread to toddlers, teens, teachers and other professionals. It was not uncommon to see Crocs at the mall, at work and even in church. But now, the company that couldn't keep up with demand has Crocs piling up in warehouses. The stock price has fallen dramatically from its heights earlier this year, when it was trading around $75, and the stock plunged nearly 51% in July after the company lowered its second-quarter guidance. There is even a new escalator warning cautioning folks not to wear Crocs on escalators. Apparently a few people have had exposed toes stuck in the steps.

What happened to Crocs? They simply were a victim of success. They became so popular, they are no longer unusual or unique. No one stops to ask you where you got them or if they are comfortable, because they are everywhere and they also probably own a pair. Crocs changed from being "cool" to being "dork."

I don't care how comfortable anyone claims Crocs shoes are, there is no way I will ever wear a pair. For me, they're too reminiscent of the horrible "jelly shoes" I wore as a kid. I wore jelly shoes by choice (so did you, shut up) but they were not something I want to relive. Rubbery shoes just aren't for me.

And Crocs are so darn ugly. They just have absolutely no fashion or style to them, no matter what color they're in. Sorry, there is just not enough comfort in the world that would allow me to wear them.

Then there's that whole thing about little kids getting their feet hacked up by escalators that dangerously suck the Crocs into them. I'm not willing to lose my baby toe just to wear a really comfortable but really obnoxious pair of shoes. Sorry.