The Convention

  

The national political convention as we have known it is gone. Aside from nostalgia--which ignores the incredibly unsavory aspects of the beast--we might give some thought to what will replace it. We may be surprised that the convention's demise will show us why it may be missed.

Reforms often do not turn out as anticipated. It's difficult to conclude that our primaries that now play the leading role in selecting nominees do a better job than the caucus or even the much-despised smoke-filled rooms. Primaries, in fact, have promoted the movement of each party toward the extremes; blame them in part for the chasm in legislatures, especially Congress, that prevents consensus from developing.

Yes, professionals, and that includes professional politicians, tend to prefer the canvas they know and on which they have been operating. But the entire raison d'etre of the convention--selection of the nominees--is gone. It's all over by the time they convene. Carl Hulse, the veteran Congressional correspondent of the N.Y. Times, emphasized today in an op-ed the role of conventions in providing a setting for political business to be done.

This is the real purpose of the parties, state receptions, impromptu caucuses, and their like. We need not mourn the demise of an opportunity for political pros to seek and gain employment on campaigns. That can happen without the need for a convention. More important are the chance and arranged meetings between attendees who may not be connected with any contender. This contributes to a political party maintaining its national focus. Understanding of the issues important in other locales spreads.

Lovers of the traditional political world--as well as those enjoying festivals of alcohol and smoke--may descry the loss, but it has occurred because the need has gradually disappeared. And some aspects of politics have not changed at all. One political chieftain--House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn was able to rescue Joe Biden's campaign with his endorsement just before the South Carolina primary. This was merely a slightly less dramatic version of the surprise switch at the convention depicted by such an admirer of the traditional politics as the late Allen Drury in his novel, Advise and Consent.