I was a Iowa precinct captain for O’Malley (long story) so my own hopes for the season ended early and abruptly. There was no reason to settle on a second choice as I intended to vote blue no matter who. This allowed me to experience the past primary season with an unusual measure of negative capability, a frame of mind in which I could read and observe with no pressure to act or immediately form a judgment. Along the way I wrote about my observations, sometimes to capture humor, sometimes with meta that has more general applications as well, and sometimes with comments specific to this race and these two candidates. My next “Listening to the money” diary will be posted in a few days.
I have a plan to reform caucuses so that they have the best of both approaches. That diary will wait until the primary dust settles.