The Problem.

Gary Gross has a great post on the unfortunate defeat of Fred Thompson during the primary process, and there isn't one sentence of his screed with which I do not agree. Gary, also citing Andrew Ferguson's piece in the Weekly Standard, suggests that a low-key candidate of Fred's calibre, while possibly a whirlygig in years gone by, is unfortunately unelectable in today's American-Idol brand of politics. While I agree in part, I think the bigger problem lies with the current Primary system in general. The following is the comment I left on his post:

IMO, the whole primary system is a sham, and needs to be re-worked on a national basis.

With the ability of both parties to gerry-rig the others’ primary elections, the outcomes have absolutely nothing to do with the will of the rank and file of the respective parties.

I heard yesterday that McCain was counting on the support of democrats and independents. He knows he can’t win via the rank and file of the Republican party.

The rank and file, via the primary process, is effectively disenfranchised.

IMO, we need to go back to state nominating conventions, with the Party faithful made up of locally-elected delegates determining who they will support. The result will be an election untainted by agents provacateurs on both sides, and will be a move toward more ideologically pure candidates.