It is not the job of the parties to nominate the most qualified candidate. Their job is to nominate the most electable candidate. This has been the watchword of the Democrats for years. They, mistakenly, believe that an identifyable leftist is unelectable. They point to McGovern and Humphry but they forget that Harry Truman was re-elected after he integrated the army, no small feat in the 40's. How do you htink he would handle this don't ask, don't tell nonsense? I think that Goldwater would have been a lot like Truman. He, too, was a very principled man.
Thompson will be nominated because he is the most electable candidate they have Besides, the party needs to appease its base and Thompson is conservative enough for them.
If the Dems were smart in 2004, they would have nominated a fringe candidate with some attackable ideas. Someone like Harrison Wofford or Ralph Nader. This year, they have some, potential, stars. They will, again, disdain substance for style but, this time, their style is more stylish. What a delightful choice, a Negro, a famous
lady and a grieving husband with movie star looks. I can't wait to see how the Dems blow this one.

                            Mike