How would you describe this primary season? I am not sure who came up with this description, but it is an excellent way to describe the process. If you have been following the whole enchilada from its beginning, about a ba-zillion months ago, you just have to agree with this depiction. The primary season was there to inform the electorate. So far it has done little to accomplish that end.
The first thing that makes it the silly season is the length of the primary process. Come on people, do we really need a year and a half of BS? Jefferson said that the strength of the country and the government relies on an informed electorate. (A paraphrase) But how informed can they be when they are bombarded with slogans, innuendos and out right lies? What has the electorate really learned from this process in this election cycle? In reality, NOT MUCH substance was there, just the normal political clap-trap. The unfortunate part of this whole drama is that the electorate had rather form an opinion based on email lies, suggestions of impropriety and ignorance. Instead of going to the candidates offices and getting position papers of them all and then pick the candidate that best represents their concerns. So I question, just how informed can an electorate be using the BS to form an opinion?
The second thing that makes this a silly season is 20 debates, most of which were moderated by corporate media. The questions asked were not pointed and not informative. They instead allowed more stump speech rhetoric to confound and confuse the voter. Slogans and zingers were the rule of the debates. Everybody tried to get their line in so that it would make the evening news. What did the voter learn about the positions of the candidates from a zinger? Does that mean they have a sharp mind? HA! Not necessarily so, just they thought of something cute to say and wait for an opening.
What have we learned from this primary season? Time has come for a change to the existing system and it must be done quickly!
I have a thought for you to consider. How about a primary season that last no more than 9 months? It would be limited to 4 regional primaries only. Two months of prep before the first and 2 months between each primary. This way no one region would be more important than another. All would be of equal importance, something we do not have at this time. Then there could be two debates within each region. These debates would be moderated by non-corporate interests, such as the League of Women Voters, et al. These debates would be covered by ALL media outlets. All announced candidates would be included; no one that is in the running could be excluded for any reason.
So yes, this is the "SILLY SEASON" and nothing done by any candidate has changed that perception. I am sure that I am not the first to call for this type of primary contest, and hopefully I will not be the last. We need to change this silly, silly drama and find a solution to what Jefferson was looking for, an informed electorate.