Does Mississippi GOP Primary Prove We're "Rome"?

by JASmius

Are we Rome? Is Nero fiddling while Rome burns? Is Thad Cochran's close victory in Mississippi symbolic of a modern-day Nero?

Well, Mr. Root, I think equating Thad Cochran to Nero is a bit much.  At least depending upon which Nero you're talking about....



....no, it's a bit much with either Nero.

The thing to take away from the Cochran-McDaniel runoff election is that Chris McDaniel won a majority of the GOP vote.  Given that this was a GOP primary, it stands to reason that only Republicans should have been eligible to cast ballots in it, yes?  But noooooo, it was an "open" primary in which Democrats could vote as well.  Not surprisingly, they exploited this opportunity to stick Republicans with the senatorial nominee they didn't want.  Just exactly how is that either just or rational?

I am well and truly sick of the term "establishment," Mr. Root.  There is a helluva lot more than just a "dime's worth" of difference between Republicans and Democrats.  In lieu of fratricidal indulgences, I would suggest focusing on actual solutions to the submarining of Tea Party victories, like a call for re-partisanizing, or "closing" primaries.  That way, at least you'll ensure that the "establishment" has no loopholes, and no excuses.