Completely Unnecessary

Firstly, the FEMA thing. I love things that get on my dad’s radar because then I get the equivalent from him of what I give to you all when I’m not talking about puppies.

If you’re a federal agency that everyone wants to nail, why on earth would you stage a fake press conference with questions by your own staff? Why? Why waste everyone’s time with the exposure, the newscycle about how dumb you are, the inevitable Congressional investigations? Anyway, that’s enough about that.

I also read in Editor and Publisher that Stephen Colbert could be the front runner within a month. Sigh.

Okay, I totally heart Colbert and I think the stunt he’s pulling is vaguely amusing and highlights the ridiculousness and theatricality of the primary process… if it were in a different state.

If he were doing this in a Super Tuesday state or Florida (that’d learn them to move their primary) I would be more or less behind it. But he’s chosen South Carolina. It’s the fourth primary, one of the key states that’s going to determine the presidential candidates.

I realize that, the way the system is supposed to run, this shouldn’t matter. If the conventions were real nominating conventions instead of bland coronations, I would totally back Colbert. But it’s not the way the system works right now. We got Kerry because of a scream. I don’t want Mitt Romney choosing (what, probably three?) Supreme Court justices because of Colbert.

This is the first time in 28 years it’s an open field (no incumbent or veep running) and this is probably the best chance the Democrats have to break up the New Republican Majority. Only two of the last seven presidents have been Democrats - that’s two Dems in nearly 40 years.

I should also say that if he were mounting a full, nationwide presidential bid, I would be less against this. I wouldn’t support him, obviously, but he would affect everything in the system instead of just one very important facet. I just fear that swinging out South Carolina could have an impact on the strength of the Democratic candidate, or help choose a stronger Republican candidate (though I’m not exactly sure who I think that might be).

This just really isn’t the time to be messing around in the gears of our democracy. It’s not doing so well as it is.

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