Letters to the Editor
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"The most recent primaries were marked by Republicans voting in the Dem primary knowing that they had no need to vote for their guy in order for him to win. That's unacceptable."
I honestly don't find that unacceptable. Its part and parcel with the game of politics, and its a darn good idea. If the Republican primary campaign had been a free-for-all and the Democrat's pretty cut and dried, I planned on registering as Republican and voting for Huckabee. He was the looniest of the bunch and electorally weakest of the that motley crew. Its certainly frustrating watching Republicans play spoiler in the Democratic primary, but that's part of it.
The Republicans were much smarter. They read the numbers, the real numbers, and wrapped up their primary season before any damage was done. Its not like they didn't get pretty nasty with each other, but they recognized the reality when it became clear and they regrouped as a party. The conservative backlash against McCain was really just jockeying for position. The social conservative wing wanted to guarantee themselves a place at the table. Much of the blame for this Democratic fiasco rests on the Democratic party itself. After Wisconsin the party leaders should have stepped in declaired a winner. The numbers were there. Allowing the Clintons to attack Obama when the nomination was out of reach, and, in effect, support the Republican effort in the fall was a deadly mistake. At this point, the election is probably John McCain's to lose, and the Democrats can thank themselves.