The Spectacle Blog
Robert Novak explains today that the anointing of John McCain as the GOP standardbearer for 2008 has begun, just as it did for Bob Dole in '96 and for President Bush in 2000.
The GOP, abhorring competition and
detesting surprises, likes to establish its presidential nominee
well in advance. I first appreciated this in 1996, when Robert J.
Dole's candidacy was dying after he barely won in Iowa and lost New
Hampshire, Arizona and Delaware. He then won eight of eight
primaries on a single Tuesday. When I asked a Dole adviser how this
happened, he said it was ''Dole, Inc.'' repelling outsiders seeking
the nomination, Steve Forbes and Pat Buchanan.
Viewing Republican presidential campaigns through this lens finds the corporate party selecting one candidate -- and invariably nominating him. It has nothing to do with ideology.
Viewing Republican presidential campaigns through this lens finds the corporate party selecting one candidate -- and invariably nominating him. It has nothing to do with ideology.
No kidding. It's the same behavior that returned Trent Lott to power, and kept John Boehner over Mike Pence for House Minority Leader.
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http://spectator.org/blog/2006/12/14/novak-on-mccain
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