Functions of the Endless Campaign

Real Clear Politics ^ | June 08, 2007 | Charles Krauthammer

[gpapa]

WASHINGTON -- In Britain, Canada and other civilized places, national elections are often called, run and concluded within six weeks. In America, election campaigns go on forever. It used to be one year, now it's two. No one planned this, but like other evolutionary artifacts (the Founders applied intelligent design to the general makeup of the U.S. government but never foresaw formal political parties, let alone the endless campaign), this crazy improvisation embodies a certain wisdom.
First, it tests a certain kind of competence. Managing a national campaign in a country of continental dimensions requires exceptional organizational skills. A fairly narrow competence, to be sure, but of major importance in a country where the president must run the behemoth that is the federal government.

[AZLiberty]

I like the ending:

But for all its bizarre meanderings, the endless campaign serves critical purposes.

The first two -- testing the candidates' managerial and consensus-building skills -- are undeniably useful. But like most Americans, I find it is the third -- the gratuitous humiliation of our would-be kings -- that makes it all worthwhile.

[BigAlPro]

Charles is not the first one to see the storm coming: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1803637/posts

[kellynla]

oh for the days of old when campaigns didn't start until Labor Day weekend of the election year...
and here we are a year ahead of time...