By Liz Ciancone
Special to the Tribune-Star
March 03, 2008 05:24 pm
—
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had it up to the lower eyelid with political debates.
George W. had yet to be sworn in for his second term before the guessing game began. It was wide-open season in both political parties. The conventional wisdom was that Hillary had it sewed up for the Democrats, but that was before Obama and Edwards and the usual perennially candidates had gone through their respective closets looking for a hat to toss into the ring.
For the Republicans, Guiliani figured it was time for his coronation as payback for his stint as mayor of New York on 9/11. He had, after all, summoned New York’s finest into the breach. So sure was he that he wasn’t going to waste time and money on primaries and caucuses, but sat waiting for the Florida primary before taking any action. So sure was he that you can imagine his surprise when Florida actually spoke.
For that matter, imagine McCain’s surprise after he had been counted out even before the first voter get-together in Iowa.
I’ve reached the point where no one is saying anything new, so I’ve quit watching debates where it has boiled down to name-calling and endorsements from those wanting to prove they are not sore losers. I figure I’m about as informed as anyone else.
I am beginning to look back fondly on the “smoke-filled room” of yesteryear when presidential candidates were selected by political professionals. The in crowd would get together with a box of cigars and decide who of the party faithful would be the best candidate and best represent party views — not to mention which hopeful stood the best chance of getting elected.
Oh, there WAS a convention. How else could it appear that the little guy actually had some sort of choice? Besides, it was an excuse for a good party every four years. Often at the convention there was more than one candidate nominated and there was actually a bit of suspense on who would finally get the party endorsement. Usually the political pundits won, but hey!
I say I look back fondly to the smoke-filled room. Then I remember learning about the scandals of the Harding and Grant administrations. And it was just such a room which tried to silence the popular Teddy Roosevelt by trying to bury him as vice president. Little did they know that someone would shoot Garfield and they’d get Teddy anyway.
I am weary of it all and it’s still a good eight months before election day. I would like to see a “none-of-the-above” category — and that includes the usual third-party hat flinger, Ralph Nader.
Will it matter? The electoral college has ignored public opinion before.
Liz Ciancone is a retired Tribune-Star reporter. Send e-mail to opinion@tribstar.com.
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