A brokered Democratic convention? Dream on - Dan Rather

[question everything]

http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/opinion/1536663.html

(snip)

Nowadays, the major parties' "nominating" conventions do not actually nominate. They rubber-stamp presidential nominees who are decided in primary elections long before the conventions start. Good for the parties -- or at least so they think -- but bad for the guys and gals covering these dog-and-pony shows and looking for something interesting to write about in the age of the scripted and staged. There hasn't been a real, old-time, cigar-filled-room nominating convention -- a brokered convention -- since the 1920 Republican Convention in Chicago produced Warren G. Harding. There isn't likely to be another one any time soon. But the pundits can still dream.

It is, after all, mathematically possible if a long series of unlikely events gets strung together in just the right alignment. The fantasy scenario has front-runner John Kerry stalling just short of a sufficient number of delegates to ensure nomination. Meantime, one or more of Kerry's opponents would presumably win enough to gain influence but not decisive strength going into the convention, causing the convention to deadlock.

The convention, in this script, then is forced into a mad whirl of backroom wheeling, dealing and delegate-swapping. Maybe Kerry would emerge as the eventual nominee, maybe Dean or Edwards. Or maybe "other." In this world of make-believe, Sen. Hillary Clinton is the favored player for the role of "other." This make a good made-for-television movie, and, yes, such a situation could -- could -- develop. It's possible but unlikely in the extreme. And in their heart of hearts, the pundits know it.

(snip)


But dreams these are, and dreams they will almost certainly remain. Then again, if Edwards wins South Carolina and Dean manages to win New Mexico and Arizona ...

[The Zanti Regent]

1. Dannyboy is Mel Karmazan's puppet.

He won't say anything that isn't approved by Master Mel and KKKarl