Electing the Electable

[Rhiannon12866]

By DAVID BROOKS

Published: January 31, 2004

Let us review the Democratic presidential primaries so far:

In the beginning, John Kerry surged to a big lead in the New Hampshire polls because he seemed so electable. He had plenty of experience, lots of money and big hair, and, as somebody said, he looks like an animatronic version of Abraham Lincoln. But then Howard Dean raised a lot of money, and New Hampshire voters figured that he was bringing so many new people into the process that he must be electable — and if he was electable, then they should probably support him because they wanted somebody who could beat George Bush.

So Dean's poll numbers rose, and the news media noticed his momentum, and other voters noticed how much great press he was getting. And that led to a self-reinforcing upward spiral of electability as more people concluded that he was electable because so many other people were concluding he was electable. People around the country saw that Dean was doing so well in New Hampshire they, too, concluded that he must be electable, a perception that led to an impressive rise in the national polls, which only enhanced his electability.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/31/opinion/31BROO.html?ex=1076594201&ei=1&en=4236a6c5410731fb

[displacedtexan]

1. David Brooks?

Next we'll be reading on DU why Hannity thinks Dems are stupid.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I posted this article because I thought the perspective was interesting

It's not what the candidates do or say, but the nation's perception of their electability that determines who wins the primaries or who surges ahead in the polls. At no time does this article spew the vitriol of a Sean Hannity.

[nuxvomica]

3. Mr. Brooks fails to explore the meaning behind this issue

His only attempt at explaining the importance of electability in this cycle is a sarcastic comment about ours being the "party of ideas." Electability is definitely more important an issue now than in previous campaigns because Americans that can agree on little-to-nothing else otherwise have united in their urgent goal to throw out the worst executive we have ever ever ever ever had.

[Rhiannon12866]

4. I absolutely agree

And this makes it even more vital that we choose the most electable from among the Democratic candidates. We aren't just electing a chief executive this time, but we're taking our country back from the brink of ruin!:grr: