The race towards the middle, and stupidfying America

The nomination process mirrors the, Hotelling Theory and shows that Americans are all about popularity. In the primaries we search for a candidate that appeals to our vanity, a candidate that has a familiar name or face, or a candidate that really says nothing, harking back to the pre-Jackson era of seeking office is too "ambitious". Elections are all about trickery and deception and stating that we are not as good as we really are. This way if we do bas, it is expected and if we do great its a miracle! (even though we planned it like that, but shhh....do not tell anyone!) This process allows America to whittle the candidates down based on what? Popularity? Who kissed the more babies?

Does anybody remember Rudy Guliani? Some don't, stating Rudy who? and "Giuliani is done," said Andy Smith, the director of polling at the University of New Hampshire's Survey Center. "He has run possibly the worst campaign of a leading candidate that I can remember." (National Post)

But Why? He started to talk. Of course everyone knows about his personal trouble, but all he had to do is go along for the ride, but he didn't. I equate him to Darren McFadden the new running back sensation the performed better then anyone else at the NFL Scouting combine, yet has tons of personal baggage. But he has not addressed it, or made public statements, hes just fixing it and letting his work talk for him. "Americas Mayor" could have easily done that but did the "noble" thing and spoke about the issues and went the way of everyone who does that....home.

Its amazing to see the change of topics after the nominations, we start to talk about real issues, and drop the damn jokes of Hilary insulting her husband and appealing to women. We get down to the nitty gritty, but shouldn't that be the whole election process? I think so, leaving the propaganda and mudslinging to the past. Remember Lincoln almost lost the election because of his daughter...illegitimate daughter...oh wait that was made up.

Chris Brower

Works Cited:

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/03/giuliani-wouldnt-go-for-a-ride/
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/story.html?id=223972