Someone please remind me why IA and NH get to choose our party's nominee

[dolstein]

Am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous that after only two contests, in fairly small and nondiverse states, taking place only a week apart, John Kerry now appears all but certain to become the party's nominee?

[NashVegas]

1. They Don't

Go look up past results.

[dolstein]

2. I'm afraid they will this time

When was the last time someone who won BOTH Iowa AND New Hampshire lost the nomination?

[NoPasaran]

4. 1972

Ed Muskie

[Jack Rabbit]

8. 1972

You are correct. Muskie won both the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary in 1972.

However, Muskie was starting to slide by then and McGovern was starting to come on. A few weeks later in Florida, he finished with a disastrous 9% of the vote. That's when they stuck a fork in him.

That's quite different that Kerry's position as of now. Kerry was given up for dead by many if not most as recently as three weeks ago; I confess that includes me. This is a very impressive comeback.

Kerry is the big winner tonight. Dean is barely holding on, especially given that he was supposed to win this according to what was said not long ago. I would have to call Clark's finish more disappointing than that of Senator Edwards. As for Lieberman, you can stick a fork in him.

I think Kerry can beat Bush.

This shouldn't be read as gloating. I've been uncommitted and remain so.

[bushwakker]

11. I do too

I think the WH fears Kerry.

[bhunt70]

3. the thing is...the media latches on to the winners

without giving an objective view of whats to come or whats to offer.

[asjr]

6. Yeah

just to beat up on him. Will show all his warts without showing any of Shrub's. They may show his dimples.

[cheezus]

5. Don't worry, everythings all white.

[Maddy McCall]

7. Oh! I thought it was the south everyone was griping about

for "holding our party hostage."

:eyes:

[DU9598]

10. As Bu*h would say

Don't mis-overestimate us. Really, while all this has been fun so far I really don't think that Iowa and New Hampshire have done much of anything other than clear the field a bit. But, if the campaign started in NY or Oregon, would the results likely be a whole lot different? I don't think so. Super Tuesday will likely be the more important day ... so we have a long way to go.

But, Kerry has run a great campaign - as has my candidate Senator Edwards. Wherever they would have begun, I think they would both be top tier candidates. Let's see what happens over the next two weeks.

[QC]

13. Good point!

Somehow people don't seem to get as upset over two very small, white, and rural states picking our nominees for us.

[Hokie]

9. Think college football

We still have the antiquated bowl system/BCS crap to chose a champion, therefore, we keep this caucus-primary-convention bullshit. Because the media likes it and so do the power brokers. In confusion there is opportunity to steal.

[PVnRT]

12. The media wants it that way

So that they can grab all the glory for "predicting" the winner.

Just for once, I want my primary ballot to have more than one name on it.

[Renew Deal]

14. They don't but

I don't think Dean has anywhere to turn now.

[patricia92243]

15. They won't if we don't let them- we need to go forward- vote and make them

not count. Make them obsolete and not a "bell-weather" of what is to be.

Vote, vote , vote for howard dean