Gladiator Presidential Campaigns

There is growing concern in country about the forward loading of the presidential caucuses and primaries not just in the ranks of political wonks but also John and Jane Q. Public. California is just the latest example of the rush to be first to elect nominating convention delegates, a rush that may have the electoral system go rush right off a cliff.

All the candidates, while they may have many good qualities, show themselves to be fools on this particular issue. A system is being put in place that allows the moneyed interests to preordain the candidates and use the candidates' customary political battling and bickering as entertainment.

I wish the national committees would set some rules for their respective parties. If it were up to me I would say to the individuals who want to run--go ahead, declare whenever you want, start raising funds as soon as you like, go gallivanting around the country campaigning whenever and wherever the feeling grips you.

But to the States I would say have your caucus or primary whenever you like provided, however, that any state holding its caucus or primary before February 5th of the electoral year will have each of its delegates counted as half a delegate at the nominating convention.

Further, no delegate shall be elected later than May 5th of the electoral year. And further, no more than 25 percent of the total delegates of the entire nominating convention shall be elected in any continuous 21 day period beginning on February 5th. If a state moves its caucus or primary to a date within a 21 day period that already has caucuses or primaries scheduled that would result 25 percent of all the delegates to the convention being elected then the state moving its caucus or primary date would have its delegates counted as half delegates.

It would be nice if every 3rd weekend, or so, 25 percent of the delegates where chosen during state caucuses or primaries that were NOT strictly regional.

For instance, the first weekend after the 5th of February might include caucuses for one of the largest states coupled with non-regional states that total no more than 25 percent of the total delegates to the convention, say California, Mississippi, Alabama, North Dakota, Vermont, and other states until a number equal to 25 percent of the convention delegates is reached.

Two or three weeks later Texas, Washington, and some more non-regional states followed by Florida and some non-regional states.

One major problem with my plan is implementation. The national committees, as far as I know, have no authority under law, to change the dates of primaries or caucuses. The state legislators and governors do.

What we have going on now, I think, is the smoke-filled, back-room selection process done in the light of day under the guise of open elections.