http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,956632,00.html?iid=chix-sphere

Re: the 1984 race. There are interesting parallels between the 1984 nomination race and this one, as well as some interesting differences. Mondale was clearly the quintessential establishment candidate, up against an anti-establishment candidate with new ideas. Just as with this race, traditional, blue-collar Democrats supported Mondale, while Hart's --

    "...voters who were younger, more educated, more affluent, whiter, and disenchanted with the orthodoxies of the Democratic Party.-" [Jeff Greenfield from Slate]

I recall the term yuppie being used to describe us. Considering how many of us were blue collar, it clearly was a sweeping generalization. Like now, there was a clear difference in enthusiasm, too.

The critical distinction between the 84 and 08 race is that the black vote saved Mondale. His campaign was also much more successful at garnering superdelegate support. Although I don't recall what the difference was in pledged delegates (it was small), much of Mondale's margin came from the superdelegates. Unlike 84, when Mondale's campaign clearly had an edge in political know how, which appeared in their ability to understand the process and out-organize the Hart campaign in places such as Texas, the situation has been inverted this time, with the Obama campaign out-organizing the Clinton campaign. Curiously (or perhaps not), at that time, we felt the system favored the insider and was somewhat unfair and undemocratic to non-establishment candidates.

Greenfield's article below, from Sept. 07, is prescient in some respects. He discusses the length of nomination race and how it's been changed because of past results. It's short and worth a read.

http://www.slate.com/id/2173455/


ad bellum purificandum - Kenneth Burke

In a very, very, very small way, I almost give 1/2 a pass to Hart, only because he thought the old rules of not publicizing the immorality of our elected officials was still in place.

Spitzer could not have possibly been under any illusions that the rules would somehow be different for him. Dammit, there are a lot of rich folks who'd like to steal even more...did he REALLY think they'd not use every tool available against him--and pay to have more tools invented--to go after him? Was he really arrogant enough to think he was above the rules? Did he really think that he was too slick to get caught? He sounds as stupid as Kwame Kilpatrick.

Not to mention that his family--especially his daughters--have likely lost all respect for him? Great role model there, Dad. Dumb ass.

I am really, really, pissed. Damn his selfishness!! I hope the sex was worth it.

Can't hear ya, Peach!