I agree entirely. The 2008 race set a new high-water mark (or perhaps low-water mark is more appropriate), for the beginning of the presidential campaign season.
We become artificially focused on the presidential race, when we should be entirely focused on the mid-terms.
Sadly, short of a constitutional amendment, I can't see any way of turning this trend, or evening slowing it. The best idea I've heard is to divide the country into districts, or regions and have those districts rotate with respect to the order that their primaries are held. That way, the candidates would no longer be held hostage to the Iowa corn-mafia and the near criminal farm subsidies that they demand. What we have now is almost a payola scheme by Iowa.
Supposedly in 2012 the GOP will employ what they call the “Ohio Plan” Small states vote in Feb and big states in March.
IA and NH will still be first though cause no one has the pills to call BS on that setup. I’m sure all the people that flock to those states every 4 years is no small boost to their economies.
“near criminal farm subsidies “
Near? I wouldn’t be so kind.