At some point, the two parties made common cause with each other and set it in law that any other political party has to meet much more stringent criteria than Republican or Democrat party candidates even to be considered “in the race.” And since the people who make those laws are the ones in Congress, and the rules as they stand make sure that they continue to dominate it, well, let’s just say I think that Satan will be wearing ice skates before the disparity against other political parties gets changed.

Personally, I’d like to scrap primaries AND the utterly nonsensical Electoral College. The latter might have had some possible reason for existing up to a century ago, but there’s certainly no need for it now.

~David D.G.

Why not have multiple candidates for President like other countries and then have a runoff election between the top two candidates? That way you could vote directly for Clinton, Obama, McCain or whoever else wants to run.

Just cut out the middle man (primaries) and save yourselves lots of time and money.

The Democrats have already lost November. So much internal bickering and fighting has pretty much cinched this one for McCain

Only because we’re buying into this media lie. Since when did a competitive political race become “bickering”? Since when did having all 50 states have their vote truly matter become bad? Since when did having record turnouts in the primaries become a negative thing?

Maybe, I’m idealistic, but…the Dems will sort this out at least by the convention (they’ll also hopefully scrap superdelgates) and whoever loses will get behind the winner (or maybe be the VP nominee) and will have three months to remind everyone that we’re unified against John McCain, the one-time “maverick”, but recent Bush ass-kisser who wants to stay in Iraq indefinitely, comes nowhere close to reforming health care and the economy, and is generally seen as a liability because of his age. I know he’s a war hero, but so was John Kerry in 2004 (compared to Bush who has never served in the U.S. military) and he lost.

On a final note, I support Obama, but Senator Clinton has the right to continue in the race as there are eight more states and a convention to be had. We need to get away from this “Americans want everything fast, including their presidential nominee at the expense of democracy” attitude. This is a good thing people!

5. physical conservatives who will vote Republican

We’re all “physical,” you meant fiscal.

Related to Obama, I saw Rev. Wright’s Moyers interview. Nothing in the interview was disturbing or unheard of. Of all the statements he has made that I have seen, even the “controversial” ones, the only one that I don’t agree with is the conspiracy theory about aids being introduced into the black community. He’s conventionally liberal in the black, religious tradition.

Speaking of conspiracies, the idea floating around amongst some that Hillary is intentionally undermining Barack so that she can come back to win in 2012 I cannot believe. She wants it too much, she wants it now, and in four years the political climate may have changed to the point that the country will no longer be interested in her. Besides, it would be a tremendous risk. What if McCain turns out to be a great President? If the economy turns around and things settle down in Iraq and the middle East, he’ll get the credit and the Dems may have lost their chance.

Having said that, it is interesting to consider the merits of a McCain Presidency: if McCain is President, he gets stuck with all the problems the country is facing (a good measure of which we owe to his Party). If things continue to get worse, the Dems build an even bigger, more energized coalition, the Republicans sink further into ignominy, the Christian Right will be finished off in politics, there is plenty of time for all the crimes, lies and cover-ups of this Administration to begin leaking out of Washington, and for their investigation, the full implications of the war in Iraq will be more fully known, the health-care crisis and others will have come to a head, etc., etc. Most of all, the many, many stupid Americans who are to blame for our present set of crises may have learned something about how to run a country well.

Nothing like hard times to make you get real.

McCain will “play the high road” and try to get the party not to do all the dirty tricks, but dirty tricks they will do. All the “right” buttons will be pushed and history will repeat itself. The supreme court will shift WAY to the right. Orwell’s novel “1984″ will be upon us. Perpetual war. Double-speak.

That is unless there are lots and lots of bloggers (and blog readers) that actually bother to vote.

As an atheist and a friggen frustrated registered Republican, I don’t see the Dems clearly being the more sane or competent. All 3 top candidates are religious wackos or sucking up to religious wackos as far as I can tell. I *HOPE* that Obama or McCain are just playing with the radicals and will completely shut them out of any important decision if they gain the Presidency. I am not betting on that.

My personal regret over the last 8 years? Not voting for Gore; went with the independent. My personal consolation? Not voting for Bush either time.

Clinton’s health care proposal seems more progressive to me.

Is the progressive part garnishing wages of those who don’t want to participate in her plan?

And what’s with the basketball cartoon? Isn’t that a bit racist?

Milena said,

April 27, 2008 at 10:23 pm

Mriana, the use of “Billary” in relation to Clinton would be like me calling Obama “Osama”, or something equally inane. This is exactly the kind of attitude that’ll get McCain in office.

I seriously doubt it and even though I’m for Obama, I’m not bothered by Osama. Let’s face it though, if Hillary gets into office we will have two pres for the price of one and it won’t be like a first lady deal. Bill will be right in that office too, thus Billary. Even so, I’m not worried about McCain winning over silly words nor am I worried about Billary winning either. I seriously doubt they will.