[grania]

I don't get the feeling, in the states I've lived in anyway, the nominations for US Senator are an open, fair process. Seems the folks who have the backing to run have already jumped through a lot of hoops. Same with governors.

The HOR, on the other hand, does seem to occasionally get nominees who got the nomination on their own merit.

JMHO

[Reily]

I am talking about prior to the passage of the 17th Amendment. If you pick up a history book the reasons cited for the 17th Amendment were corrupted state legislators.

In pre-17th Amendment days influencing the people was still important. The Lincoln-Douglas debates was not to crowd of legislators but to a crowd of ordinary people who would influence those legislators.

Other then that, I am not quite sure of your point.