Submitted by John Spencer Yantiss, Jan 11, 2008 17:02

Why is it that seemingly no print, radio, or TV journalists, essentially no politicians, and, by their blazing silence, effectively no poitical scientists can wipe the sleep from their glamoury-fogged eyes long enough to point out that the caucus, primary, and election process in this country is in fact a PROCESS!? Though myriad commentaries refer to the schedule of selection venues and dates, nary an expert, presumed or otherwise, points out that the selection of candidates by the two parties, and the neverending-story-third party, is SUPPOSED to be a PROCESS, and not decided after two rounds, or three, or four. The 21st century nano-second/soung byte modern mentality does not wish to allow anything as protracted as a year long process for anything.

Of course the press cannot predict anything! If we needed to learn that, we did in the Truman and Dewey contest of 60 years ago--not that anyone else can accurately predict the outcome of an American election. And why in God's name would anyone really want to do so?! Except that apparently society no longer really wants a true election process. Our culture simply wants to moveon.org everything immediately if not sooner.

"So it might be worth stepping back from the business of predictions to ask some substantive questions of the Republican candidates." Well, no kidding! It might even be worth stepping back from the business of predictions, period, as in the insipidity of polls, etc. And while you are at it, why not ask the Democrats some substantive questions. What a concept! The fact that grown men and women, of supposedly scientific mind, still believe that meaningful statistical extrapolation of group, human opinion can be achieved is staggering. As the old proverb goes, "people believe what they want to beliieve."

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