Elan Barnehama's Page

Clinton supporters are sore losers which may cost the Democrats the White House I have a lot of experience with the agony of defeat. Sure, winning is better, but that’s the way contests go. And it’s certainly the way a democracy works. As a candidate, you don’t always win. As a voter, you don’t always get to choose the winner. In either case, you gather yourself up and get ready to try again. Or you throw your support to another candidate, another bill, another policy. This does not se… Continue

Our collective standards for choosing a president haven’t gotten any higher By Elan Barnehama I was recently surprised to discover that George W. Bush was still in office. Two years of a relentless rush to press with every nuance of primary coverage (gossip) had produced a news blackout. And then, after it was over, I barely had time to catch my breath before the six-month election campaign coverage began. The primaries were replaced with daily score sheets rating the McCain and Obama campaign… Continue

Waiting for a Great Good Idea to Emerge The primaries are over and the election is not for another half a year but I’m ready to call the race. Without any results having been reported, I can say with complete confidence that we the people have lost. Again. After all the debates and with what started out as dozens of candidates drawn from our best and brightest political minds—not a single great idea, or even a very good idea has emerged. I’m still waiting to hear something bold wrapped inside… Continue