tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post4400006823063285832..comments2023-10-16T07:13:12.123-05:00Comments on A plain blog about politics: Why The Primaries Matter Even If Romney Has It WonJonathan Bernsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15931039630306253241noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-47876036436359329342012-01-05T16:37:55.224-06:002012-01-05T16:37:55.224-06:00Finally, something about primaries and caucuses I ...Finally, something about primaries and caucuses I agree with.<br /><br />This is, indeed, the reason primaries matter. Not the horse race; they don't determine the nominee 99 percent of the time anyway-- the party insiders do. But candidates are forced by the primary process to make promises to their base; the longer the primaries last, the more promises they may have to make to win them.<br /><br />I would add that this is also why Iowa matters. Iowa doesn't decide the presidency to any extent at all. What it does do is force Presidential candidates to promise to give the money of coastal liberals away as corporate welfare to ethanol con-artists. And that's why it's actually a vital national interest to at some point deprive Iowa and New Hampshire of the right to go first.<br /><br />Unfortunately we have a media and a consultant class whose vested interest is in pretending that it is actually the horse race that matters. As a result, the issue of what panders they are making and to whom rarely gets covered.Dilan Esperhttp://www.twitter.com/dilanespernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-71479691769653040712012-01-05T15:28:11.161-06:002012-01-05T15:28:11.161-06:00Andrew,
The problem is that you never know absolu...Andrew,<br /><br />The problem is that you never know absolutely, for sure, without question that you've got the nomination wrapped up (until after it's over, when everyone will say they knew all along) and people will never let you live it down if you blow it.Scott Monjenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-54747059611596422552012-01-05T14:35:57.677-06:002012-01-05T14:35:57.677-06:00This sounds circular.
The primaries still matter,...This sounds circular.<br /><br />The primaries still matter, even if Romney already has the nomination wrapped up, because he'll have to make promises to various constituencies, which he's likely to keep. But why would he have to make promises if he's already got the nomination wrapped up? <br /><br />Seems to me, if he's making promises, that's an indication that he does <i>not</i> have a lock on the nomination. And if that's the case, well, of course the remaining primaries still matter!Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15913245096162048743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926413038778731189.post-85593061899500516442012-01-05T13:39:53.077-06:002012-01-05T13:39:53.077-06:00Note that this isn't necessarily always a good...Note that this isn't necessarily always a good thing (*cough* ethanol subsidies! *cough*)Matt Jarvisnoreply@blogger.com