I think if this stuff continues the winners will be those who went long on torch and pitchfork futures, among others. Me, I’m pouring my money into tar, feathers and rails.

the bad GOP Primary system is getting progressively worse.  so if they break it beyond repair will they scrap this mess and institute something better?  or will it even matter by then because it will be to late?  as they say on Ace’s site we are so boned.  

reminds me of the brilliant idea of making senators elected by popular vote.  the progressive movement… a century of fail.

The old way was by State Legislatures?  Go back and look at the history, it was rife with corruption and problems.  Yes it was promoted by progressives of the time but the progressives then were not the same as the progessives now (regardless of what Glenn Beck would believe). 

And let’s say it was abolished and it went back to the old way.  Would we really have a much different Senate than we have now?  Most states would compromise and pick one Dem and one Republican.  The liberal states would be all Dem.  The conservative states all Republican. 

I am not against gettng rid of the 17th amendment.  But I doubt it would have that much impact. 

Now the 19th amendment?  Does Stacy want to start stumping for getting rid of that? 

It would be defeating the purpose of having primaries, which is by having candidates battle it out for the votes of all the different states. A lot of people that promote that are the same people that want to do away with the electoral college, just another means of lessening the influence of the smaller states and eventually doing away with the electoral college all together. Which was also meant to make sure the small states had some influence over the election.

Brass and lead here. These boys have found my last nerve and are dancing the fandango all over it….

“Surging” is a very relative term.  4-8 weeks ago, Perry was the one who would have been thought to benefit.  8 weeks from now, who knows who will be the Flavor of the Week?

I think the accelerated schedule hurts Perry and Cain the most.  Perry needs the time to repair the damage he’s done to himself with poor debate performances.  The man is very good on the stump and could come back, especially in the “First Four” small states with their emphasis on retail politices.  Cain needs the time to raise money and build an organization.  He has a skeleton staff and isn’t even in most states yet.  Earlier primaries means he has to spend most of his time in those states, where he already has some organization.

So from the aspect of inconveniencing his main rivals, the early schedule probably helps Romney somewhat – but that could be said of any frontrunner in any circumstance that doesn’t directly hurt him.

It is obvious the Party’s rules and penalties are insufficient to persuade states to follow the agreed process.  The Party needs to be tougher and adopt a rule that no delegates awarded by primary or caucus before X date will be SEATED.  Don’t take away their first-ballot vote, they know the nominee will restore that in a conciliatory gesture at the convention.  Take away their whole trip.  No credentials.  The state just loses that many delegates, period.

We can’t be spineless like Obama towards Iran, it only invites attacks.