Letters to the Editor
rphillips111
Published Letters: 201 Editor's Choice: 3
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It will end, but maybe in disaster.
[Read the article: How will it all end?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]If this year's election ends in electoral disaster, as it seems likely to myself (all the likely nominees have very limited appeal), the fault will be mostly due to identity politics dominating the race--Blacks and racial guilt-ridden white liberals for Obama, women for Clinton, and veterans for McCain. to three huge egos: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain.
But there is another reason not far behind, and it has plagued the Democratic party for two national elections in a row: the huge egos of party stalwarts who respresent the past. Big-ego Kerry, surely a figure of the past, demanded and got the nomination in 2004. Now, Hillary Clinton, with a huge ego and representing a niche constitueancy, is following in his footsteps. John McCain might have the biggest ego of them all, but he represents the World War II--Cold War philosophy and the operational strategies of beltway insiders--perhaps the most despised and discredited political community in america (McCain has 26 lobbyist on his campaign staff, to Hillary's 11, according to one source).
Then we have Obama, the self-deprecating but egomaniacal newbie who has the cachet of his blackness and a trendy slogan--"Change"--and cultish organization. I think he knows if he doen't make it this year, the image won't last to another election.
Since McCain likely won't be prevented from getting the Republican nomination, the Democrats need to concentrate on who can best beat McCain. Here's where smoke filled rooms come in handy, and are certainly no worse way to pick a Presidential nominee than the insane primary system we have had this year--including candidates spending a billion dollars on the race.
I agree, the outcome of the democratic nomination and the election are in doubt. But on balance, I think the Democrats will be better off with reliable workhorse Hillary than pied piper of "change" Obama. If McCain and the republicans can get over their long chase for nonexistent black votes and campaign against Obama with gloves off, I don't think he can make it to the presidency on a slogan. And don't discount another "act of war" between now and November which could stampede the public toward republicans in November.
Me? Ann Coulter is right. I would vote for Hillary in a nose-holding heartbeat against McCain. I'll stay home if I have to choose between "bomb,bomb,bomb--bomb,bomb,Iran" McCain and "change" cult leader Obama.
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End the plurality vote
[Read the article: Your presidential candidate: Hot or not?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I would not have expected to read a column in Salon which castigates the plurality system of election.
Here in the South, we had required majority votes for elections forever, until the Voting Rights Act came along. Since that time, civil rights groups and the U.S. Civil Rights section of the Justice Department have waged an unending war on majority rule. For years, the NAACP and Justice Department have waged a war to end majority rule here in Georgia, and with Zell Miller's help they finally got it done in 1994. The excuse used, and which the voters bought, was that runoff elections are so expensive they should be done away with. The point is to elect minority candidates who could not get a majority of the vote in an election.
Since that time, the state has been subjected to the possibility and actuality of people being elected with far fewer than a majority to the votes cast.
I note this Presidential Primary Season. Typically, fewer than half the people eligible to vote even register, which leaves only a minority of those eligible who can vote. Even if you have a majority requirement for election, that means a minority of the population chooses officials. But when you reduce that further with a plurality, then a minority of those casting ballots in multi candidate races are chosen. That's how we have degenerated into a presidential election based on "identity"--a woman, a black, and a veteran this year.
Look at MCcain. He has "won" most of his victorious primaries with less than one in three of the votes cast. A minority ( less than half of those eligible but unregistered to vote), of a minority (those actually registered), of a minority (those actually went to the polls) has picked the Repblican candidate for President. And these candidates are spending over a billion dollars in the process, and only have a minority of a minority of a minority's support.
But you can't change the system. The Justice Department and Voting rights act won't let you. Unless the Supreme Court continues to declare sections of the VR Act unconstitutional. Fat chance if we elect a democrat who will restore the Warren Court, or probably McCain, for that matter.