The Walmartization of the American Political Process

[Hardrada]

With the drastic compression of the campaign schedule (so many caucuses and primaries in first couple months of 2008), it would appear that only the "big box" type campaigns can succeed now. The mom and pop campaigns are over. This is so wrong.

[dmkinsey]

1. Well, it's too bad about Mom & Pop but

voters in big states are tired of standing on the sidelines while important decisions are made by a few rural voters.

[Hardrada]

4. California used to be decisive. That's why RFK was

campaigning there in May of 1968. The primary elections should be spaced at intervals to give everyone a fair chance.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. Good and bad (but mostly bad)..

The bad part is that the big states can now decide the whole primary before the candidates have had a chance to "work the circuit", debating and campaigning in states with fewer delegates. A lot of information is learned by big-state voters watching "mom & pop" campaigns. In the past, they could take their time and consider carefully before bringing down the hammer. There's no time for relatively unknown "cream" to rise to the top. The winner will be the early big money.

The good part is the primary campaign could be significantly shortened. Win a few big states early, and the show is over, just kick back until the convention. We can get back to our regularly scheduled programs.

[Hardrada]

3. Yes, we would rather not miss an episode of "Lost"

and it is so good to get stuff prepackaged. (I know you were being satirical at the end there). You got what I was trying to say.