"With any luck, both these candidates would go away and leave Arkansas alone. But no such luck; they'll be all over the public prints and airwaves for the next three weeks, and, sorry to say, only one of them can lose the run-off."
Those words appeared in these columns several years ago, after another primary election in Arkansas. We think we were addressing a Senate race, but who can be sure? Those thoughts have been expressed so many times over the years, by editorialists and columnists and those who really matter, that the election seasons can hardly be distinguished. They blend together in a fog of Clintons and Lincolns and Halters and Robinsons. This year was different.
We told somebody that we've never experienced a year in which so many candidates were so impressive. For just one example, take the GOP primary for this state's secretary of state. Both candidates were over-qualified, which is good in government work. We can't remember a negative thing said by or about either man. Both had years of experience in government--and never a story about corruption or nepotism suggested. Unlike the early thought mentioned above, it is sorry to say that only one of them could win.
There were a few surprises Tuesday night. The sheriff's race in Pulaski County was all the talk at the doctor's office Wednesday morning. But again, both those candidates had decades of experience and proven ability.
(The less said about the Supreme Court race, the better.)
There's an old Chinese curse: May you live in interesting times. The last few election cycles have been interesting times. And we look forward to some less so.
Can you imagine how interesting the governor's race could have been with Jan Morgan on the GOP ticket? Talk about making national news, she might have done so daily. One thing about Asa Hutchinson, he's more effective than nationally known, more executive than ringmaster, more work-till-midnight than get-me-on-CNN. Which might be the reason he won his primary in a walk. And will be the favorite come the fall and football season.
Now comes a long hot Arkansas summer, which may get hotter as the airwaves provide more heat than light. Mr. Dooley told us long ago that politics ain't beanbag, but he never could have foreseen American politics in 2018. There will be moments of low comedy, almost assuredly. And all the usual canned speeches and dark money. (Again, the less said about the Supreme Court race, the better.)
But be of good cheer, Gentle Reader and Fellow Citizens, for the next few months this river of a democratic election season will flood its banks again, and the American system will prove messy and overwhelming, until the deed is done and the river settles back into its regular current.
Winston Churchill once compared democracy to a small raft that bobs up and down with every wave, unlike a great ocean liner that streams majestically across the waters. But the great liner may suddenly go down like the Titanic. On a raft, your feet may always be in the water, but somehow you stay afloat. Bon voyage, fellow rafters.
And rest assured that, at least this year, the two major political parties, and a couple of minor ones, give you some excellent choices in the general election this November.
As for your choices in the Supreme Court race, the less said, etc.
Editorial on 05/24/2018