Sunday, May 11, 2008

HILLARY DROPPING-OUT SPECULATION AND A NAIVE COMMENT ON THE PURPOSE OF PRIMARIES

POSTED RESPONSE TO A COLUMN BY DANIEL FINKELSTEIN IN THE TIMES

"People seem to forget that this race is about picking the BEST candidate for a run at the PRESIDENCY."

This is an unbelievably naïve comment.

American national politics are about successfully putting together the strongest coalition of private interests.

And they are about money, lots of it. If anyone "good" happens to make it through the process, it is sheer luck.

"Best" isn't even a consideration if you examine the list of American presidents, mostly mediocrities and political hacks and thugs (Nixon, Ford, Bush, Clinton, Coolidge, Arthur, Harding, Taft, Cleveland, and more), with only a few outstanding people (FDR) along the way.

Now in that sense of best - the best political thug - Hillary would qualify head and shoulders above all comers.