Ready or Not, The Next Presidential Election Is About to Begin
The next election cycle begins sooner than you'd think. Today former first lady Nancy Reagan announced plans to host the first Republican presidential primary debate of the 2012 election cycle during spring of 2011 at the Reagan Library. POLITICO and NBC News will co-host the event.
Good news for politicos. Bad news for everyone else, says National Review's Jim Geraghty:
Most Americans are not like you and me. They do not like political campaigns. They do not like two-year campaigns. They do not like debates for a general election roughly 20 months away, or a primary six months away or more.
If we have them in spring, then groups will be inviting these folks for additional events every month through 2011 and 2012. By the time anyone is actually voting, we will have had six or seven. Debates are a good thing, up to a point; when a cycle has 20 or 30, no particular debate stands out or ends up making much difference. There’s a reason that most presidential years have three or fewer.
I’m an editor at Ricochet: of course I love politics. But I just don’t see any benefit to getting started so soon. And besides, we really need a whole year to see if any natural leaders emerge. By forcing everyone to start campaigning so soon, there won’t be any time to actually govern (though I suppose you could argue that’s a good thing in some cases). Furthermore, there's absolutely no way that folks like Chris Christie or Marco Rubio will toss their hats into the ring if they're forced to do so at such an early point in their terms. And think of the campaign funds! They'll need to be bigger than ever to sustain candidates for 18 months of campaigning. Good grief.
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Comments :
May '10
Re: Ready or Not, The Next Presidential Election Is About to Begin
Good grief is right, though I wonder if, with such a wide-open field for Republicans and with so much at stake, such a long process might be useful this time 'round--the cream rising to the top and all that.
We can't blow this one, so we need our nominee fire-tested, and fire-vetted, before the general.
Sep '10
Re: Ready or Not, The Next Presidential Election Is About to Begin
Diane, you are right on this one. Only established characters will announce so soon and actually want to state positions.
In the end they will set themselves up as targets for the left, and maybe that's a good thing.
May '10
Re: Ready or Not, The Next Presidential Election Is About to Begin
Agreed, both Diane and Scott. On the one hand, I think these politicians need to prove themselves through action over the next year, even if it is with one Congressional house tied behind their backs. On the other hand, we need to do everything possible to avoid a repeat of the last presidential primaries, where conservatives were split between candidates. More debates might help us to decide (or might divide us! I'm not sure).
In any case, I'm happy to hear Nancy Reagan is involved.
May '10
Re: Ready or Not, The Next Presidential Election Is About to Begin
Can anyone say "National Unified Primary Day?"
May '10
Re: Ready or Not, The Next Presidential Election Is About to Begin
Yes! "National Unified Primary Day." The idea of Iowa and its ethanol subsidies and New Hampshire (New Hampshire!) and South Carolina having such inordinate sway is for the birds.
Oct '10
Re: Ready or Not, The Next Presidential Election Is About to Begin
After going through the last presidential election cycle I definitely do not like the 2 yr campaign cycle. The president's term is only 4 yrs anyways! I think you can start the cycle in January and get all the vetting in that is needed. Never mind that McCain was the nominee last time (what does that say about vetting?) As an aside, I'd like to go back to the days when candidates didn't organize and run their own campaigns. Am I alone on that?
Aug '10
Re: Ready or Not, The Next Presidential Election Is About to Begin
Nobody but the political junkies pays attention until the conventions anyway so what the heck, give them(us) something to do...
May '10
Re: Ready or Not, The Next Presidential Election Is About to Begin
A modestly proposed calender: No exploratory committees until September 1, 2011. No established campaigns before January 1, 2012. One debate per month in February, March and April. A national primary day on May 8, 2012. GOP convention in July, Democrat convention in August. The real campaign begins on Labor Day.
Nov '10
Re: Ready or Not, The Next Presidential Election Is About to Begin
I don't have a big problem with candidates beginning their campaigns so early. They do have to raise money, develop an organization, etc. But, having so many debates, and so early, is simply unnecessary. Last time around, we had at least six or eight debates for each party's candidates, if memory serves. Talk about diminishing marginal utility...
Oct '10
Re: Ready or Not, The Next Presidential Election Is About to Begin
It's a very annoying trend, and one that encourages and rewards professional campaigners rather than real statesmen.
And to prove that point, I present to you Exhibit A: Chairman Ø.
Jul '10
Re: Ready or Not, The Next Presidential Election Is About to Begin
I was sitting next to a lady at a church supper the other night and she said, "I'm so glad the political campaign is over." "It just began," I said. The look of horror she had when I explained topped anything Vincent Price ever pulled off.