Reply #54: Hello, my fellow Cascadian Comrade,.

[Buck Rabbit]

The primary system is hardly a pure demonstration of democracy, and this is the first time in my long life I can remember our own state primary having any notice on a National level.

But while acknowledging the flaws of the current system, indulge me while I point out some positive observations I have made while watching this play out.

The drawn out primary season can allow a dynamic force to come out of no where and build a populous groundswell to overtake a front runner whose main attribute may be no more than name recognition. Dean in 2004 and Obama this time forced the media to pay attention to them by creating a grassroots groundswell of support. When the media turned on them, Obama had the ability to fend off their change of fickled favor, Dean did not.

Obama imposed himself on the media. If you're a Republican you own the media, a populist must have the personal dynamics to compel them to cover you. Chris Dodd and our beloved Dennis K. lack this ability.

Presidential races these days are a media war and I think that we are ending up with the best media warrior the democrats had running.