Let's say the Democratic electorate regains its senses, stops voting for Kerry, and we are left without a presumptive nominee come game time. What happens then? Each of the four candidates has obvious flaws:
Kerry changes his stance on the war about as often as he switches campaign slogans. He has no record of opposition to George Bush, a sophorific affect, and an inability to raise funds.
Edwards' voting record is even worse, adding a pro-tax cut vote to Kerry's pro-war and pro-PATRIOT Act nonsense. His funding comes almost entirely from $2000 donors, he's got virtually no political experience, and has no more foreign policy credentials than Howard Dean.
Clark continues to come under fire as to whether or not he is a Democrat, and his political experience is non-existant. Nevertheless, he should be a very strong candidate, and the voter's building rejection of him is puzzling, if undeniably present.
Dean, well, let me not dwell on poor Howard. Suffice it to say that the good doctor could be the second coming of Christ, and the media would still question the vintage of any water he turned into wine.
Of course my above list is grossly oversimplistic, but it reveal certain inherent flaws in our field. Edwards and Kerry cannot inspire the anti-war base, and will open the door to a Nader insurgency. Clark, beyond all reasoning, is going nowhere, and Dean has been unjustly knocked from RFK to Hulk Hogan by an unspeakably hostle press. The activists just won't unite under Edwards or Kerry, but the establishment can't bring itself to support Clark or Dean. The selection of any one may bring about tragic party division, division we cannot afford in the face of a Great Enemy. As such, I suggest the following:
Should we come to a brokered convention, tensions will be riding high. The anti-war base will be furious at the political assassination of Howard Dean. Likewise the DLC establishment will refuse to back any candidate who has shown nutsack. There is, however, one national figure who can unite these two sides. One person who is both trusted by the establishment, and revered by the Deaniacs.
If we reach a brokered convention, the nominee must be Al Gore.
Ebo