Ideological identification and the implications for 2008

[Lunar]

I think most people would agree that Democratic activists are more liberal than Democratic voters and Republican activists are more conservative than Republican voters.

This is the crux of the problem with our nomination process and I'm not sure exactly how to fix it. It goes without saying that the party activists have an inordinate impact in the primaries and, thus, who is nominated--very often with little regard to actual electability.

I know how to fix it.  Scrap the primary process and let the leaders of the party choose intelligent moderates like they used to.  Or at least reduce the number of delegates the primaries have.

This also means that winning primary candidate doesn't emerge into the general election already bruised and battered.

Anyway: In response to the original post.  Kerry came close - and he was a blatant liberal.

[Lunar]

You know, I wouldn't have a problem with this idea personally, but in our rush today to make everything bend to the will of the majority, I don't see it as realistic. Perhaps we could increase the power and number of the "superdelagates."

Yeah, I know it's not realistic.  Most people fail to see the merits of scrapping the primary system and would accuse any such proponents to be "anti-democracy" and whatnot.

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Bush commercials constantly reminded all of the swing voters who the #1 liberal was.