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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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 OPINION 
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Which Party Has Better Primaries?

NYT columnists debate merits of GOP, Democratic systems

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(Newser) – Which system is better, the ruthless Republican winner-takes-all primary system, or the Democrats’ kindergarten-inspired everyone-gets-a-prize process? New York Times columnists David Brook and Gail Collins banter on just that point. Brooks thinks the Republicans' swift, clean process is superior, while Collins notes that it’s the results that matter. If Obama wins the White House, Democrats will praise the long, endlessly vetting primary.

Brooks, who also thinks Obama will win, hopes that Democrats will realize what they really need is “a series of quasi-caucus, quasi-primary, quasi-frat-pledge-week/telethon-voting contests in which registered, non-registered and amnesiac independent voters gather to sing Dr. Seuss stories to the tunes of Wagnerian opera as a means of electing semi-pledged pseudo-undecided super-delegates."

In this Feb. 9, 2008 file photo, Nelda Thornton holds a pad showing the results of two votes taken during the Democratic Caucus for Precinct 6 in Chelhalis, Wash.
In this Feb. 9, 2008 file photo, Nelda Thornton holds a pad showing the results of two votes taken during the Democratic Caucus for Precinct 6 in Chelhalis, Wash.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
In this file photo from Jan. 30, 2007, John McCain and Barack Obama greet on Capitol Hill in Washington prior to testifying before a Senate hearing on global warming.
In this file photo from Jan. 30, 2007, John McCain and Barack Obama greet on Capitol Hill in Washington prior to testifying before a Senate hearing on global warming.   (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
U.S. map shows breakdown of states that vote before Feb. 5, on Feb. 5 and after. Includes number of caucuses/primaries won per candidate
U.S. map shows breakdown of states that vote before Feb. 5, on Feb. 5 and after. Includes number of caucuses/primaries won per candidate   (AP Photo)
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