It goes without saying.
Posted by snark at April 11, 2008 06:06 PMp) Nuclear power!
Just kidding.
Well, I'm pulling for Hillary, but I don't see how it's even remotely possible that she wins at this point unless she "steals" the primary. She'll win Penn, lose NC...
And the whole thing is tiring. Seems like the primaries have been going on for 2 years. In CA, we have 2 primaries. (Super Tues in Feb, and one in June). Good grief.
Obama has a chance to make this thing really interesting since he's such a motivational speaker and the young folks really like him.
Posted by Muck at April 11, 2008 06:13 PMI took the link to your post of Dec. 31 and agree. The problem is, I've believed for some time, the unintended consequences of the requirements of the McGovern Commission. The solution for most states was to institute primaries or public caucuses. The damage is palpable.
Time: before McGovern, candidates declared 10 or 11 months before the election and then only if they chose to participate in one of the 14 or 15 primaries. The only reason for participating in primaries was to prove something. JFK to prove viability for a Catholic candidate (WVA) and to blunt Hubert Humphrey (Wis). McCarthy in '68 established an anti-war faction in the party. His strong showing in NH got RFK in the race. And so it went. Adlai Stevenson didn't enter the race until after the '52 convention began.
Now candidates declare as many as 22 months before the election. The first year traveling about the country getting their names and faces known. Enables a complete newcomer without a real track record and little experience to become a 'viable' candidate.
Money: Talk about tainting the process. The need for massive amounts of cash to establish identity in the first year, the cash to set up campaigns in many states led to nearly $500 million in candidate expenditures before 1/1/2008.
From 1932 until 1968 the Democratic Party nominated 4 winners and 2 losers. Since 1972 the score is 2 winners and 5 losers. The Presidential candidates chosen at the convention in back room deals, etc. passed the most liberal legislation in our history. The two chosen in primaries are the most conservative Democrats since Grover Cleveland.
Still worse, not all primaries are closed. Crossovers and independents are allowed to chose candidates and gaming is not uncommon.
We're stuck. There's no way of going back; of removing power once given.
Posted by cal1942 at April 11, 2008 06:41 PMcal1942,
no matter who wins, i hope this campaign has taught all of us that the system needs fixing. we've never had such a close race, so we've never before seen how poorly the system is designed. now we know...
Posted by Turkana at April 11, 2008 07:02 PM"And the whole thing is tiring. Seems like the primaries have been going on for 2 years."
Not only that Muck, it has kept the state of this Country off the front pages, and the Occupation of Iraq has totally disappeared.
Posted by Judith at April 12, 2008 04:05 AM
Al Gore!
Heh. The present primary season has been an exercise in the classics of psychological devices like identification, rationalization, projection, scapegoating, plus the devices of sophist rhetoric as described by the Ancient Greek philosophers. Interesting stuff as long as one isn't hooked by any of it. The human condition is still plugging along.
I've subconsciously identified the factors that are important to me and internet-ordered the blow up doll for those.
Posted by Rolfyboy6 at April 12, 2008 05:58 AMYou're such an asshole, Turkana.
Posted by Rosemary Woodhouse at April 13, 2008 04:00 PMthank you for noticing, rosemary. at least someone here appreciates my efforts!
Posted by Turkana at April 13, 2008 08:44 PM