But this race has gone on for over a year. Kerry has had plenty of time to use serious, coalition-building rhetoric. It turns out no one is listening. One reason, other than Dean, these guys are dull.

Damn that democratic process, anyway!

"elections are just a big popularity contest, and grossly unsuited to picking the best nominee."

In a way this is true, though not how Kerry sees it: the current way most people get their information biases itself against in-depth explanation and questions of principle, so politicians run on soundbites and "my opponent is satan". The democratic process has become too impersonal, and it's high time we figured out ways to reverse the trend.

If Kerry were ahead in the polls, he'd be singing a completely different tune.

That^^^^ is one inherent flaw in popular governance: to work properly it requires candidates that either don't have much of a formed self-interest (impossible) or have one that coincides as evenly as possible with the ones voting for them (which can be gotten around simply by lying).

Is it any wonder fewer and fewer people vote? What's the use anymore? It's like going to a resteraunt and ordering lasagna but always being brought a hotdog instead.

Check with people living in countries where they can't vote and find out.

Of course. I just fear that our vote is becoming worthless, it's still better than not having the option.

The debates aren't the problem, it's the candidates. If any of them were slightly inspiring or interesting people would tune in. Is Barry Bonds demanding two baseball teams be eliminated so he gets more face time?

The problem is that these guys are a broken record, and no one wants to sit there and hear a bunch of wannabes talk trash about our country day in and day out. Their message is totally negative and hateful. They don't inspire at all. Even when they manage to tell the truth, it's so covered in venom that it pushes people away instead of making them want to embrace the candidates.

Here's a hint, Dems. Start saying things that more than just rabid partisan liberals want to hear and maybe more people will pay attention.

Well, if *you* looked like Herman Munster, wouldn't you be nostalgic for the days of the smoke-filled rooms too? Less likely to frighten the people in charge of picking the nominee. ]:-)

"elections are just a big popularity contest, and grossly unsuited to picking the best nominee."

Not finding this quote: 3 possibilities
(1) It's from a different article.
(2) the Find function on my browser is defective.
(3) Someone forgot his sarcasm tags.

I'm guessing (3).

I'd say the readers of this blog need some help with comprehension. It was blindingly obvious to me that our esteemed host was being facetious with that last remark.

That block quote followed by "and then he added..." is straight out of any humor or satire site.

Mike M is right! As Emperor Misha would say, the only thing liberal Democrats need is a liberal application of the ClueBat™!

I came in here looking for a drink...

...but ever'body seems t'be plotting th'verthrow of th'world.

Hic. Count'me in! I cn'fly! I'ma pilot!

interesting....seeing as the democrats are the ones who introduced the Primary System in the first place.

Just you wait...they'll return to the smoke-filled backrooms at the DemocRATic National Convention and nominate Hillary! Just like they did it up until 1968.

The Whole World is Watching!

Chicago never left the smoke-filled rooms and don't forget the pinky rings.

JK Kerry's going to find out the hard expensive way he's not very popular.

I guess he'll just have to console himself w/Theresa's multimillions. Those still do buy a lot of popularity in some circles.

The shrill tone is annoying but also the severe quantity of debates. Seems like there is one every week. And they are all exactly the same. And the candidates are almost all exactly the same. Why would people watch?

Brent -- I was actually just giving a heads-up to B Psycho.

However, it's amazing how often satire is taken seriously. Email and internet are very susceptible to that.

It sounded a lot like something that him or one of the other Dems would say in private and not want leaked.

True, b psycho. I also agree with the rest of your original post. Glad we have elections, but they could be done better (but only if we demanded it, which we do not).

If they're having debates every week, wouldn't it have made sense to pick a certain topic and discuss it one week then another topic another?

Their positions could have been fleshed out.