VDH, as he's fondly known, has just written the finest summary of the 2008 primaries and present state of the presidential campaign that I have seen anywhere. As a veterinarian, I have a minor quibble with his title, "Autopsy of the Primaries: The only Democratic Candidate who can lose the General Election; the only Republican one who can win it.." He should have used "necropsy" rather than "autopsy," because only another primary could autopsy a primary. (Veterinarians learn early in the course of their studies that only another horse can autopsy a horse. If a human performs it, it's a necropsy.) Aside from that minor nitpick, though, it's an absolutely brilliant piece of work. Here's how he begins:
Both Obama and McCain have pulled off the once unthinkable. The former dethroned some 16 year of Clintonian political hegemony by the sheer force of personality and charisma, when initially all the hierarchy and political machinery were against him. The latter by sheer force of will, stubbornness, and a certain courage, never gave up when most had written him off, and simply out toughed his opponents.
There is a certain irony here. In a year that for historical and contemporary reasons should be a Democratic shoo-in, the Democrats have nominated about the only candidate who can lose in November, the Republicans the only one of their own who can still win it.
By all means, go read the rest for yourself. You'll be glad you took the time.
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