Imagine this wild political thriller of a movie: Being Bill Gardner. Well, it seems there is no shortage of explorers waiting to travel into NH Secretary of State Bill Gardner's brain as he contemplates what date to set the New Hampshire primary.
Of course, Gardner is not lacking for advice including for folks like me who can't shut up about the topic. But, Bill, here's a thoughtful conisderation for you. In my daily link, veteran political reporter Walter Shapiro of Salon makes a valiant plea to Gardner to avoid being foolish enough to either (1) schedule the primary in December (we would become Grinch-style laughingstocks) or (2) schedule it too close to Iowa is they go Jan. 3 or Jan. 5. In other words, screw Michigan (by ignoring its boorish attempt to elbow in this time around) and don’t get stuck on a date or a legislative terminology. I agree with Shapiro 100 percent: if we believe in the importance of the primary, don’t demean by giving into outside pressures. We will stop being the first-in-the-solar system primary when we downgrade its vitality by choosing a more controversial than necessary date.
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