Alan_H's Blog

I love the fact Super Tuesday and Mardi Gras fall on the same day this year.
 
While revelers in New Orleans and other parts of the country let the good times roll all day long, candidates and supporters must wait until the polls close to determine how much they can celebrate.

In New Orleans, Fat Tuesday ends promptly at midnight, when police officially close Bourbon Street.  City workers follow close behind, using large trucks and high-pressure water hoses to clean the streets.  Years ago, one sign of Mardi Gras success was measured by how many much garbage (in tons) was collected on Ash Wednesday.  The PC cops killed that tradition off in the mid-90s.

Tuesday, political junkies will gorge themselves on exit polls, delegate counts and primary/caucus analysis.  Beginning Wednesday, many Christians will spend the following 40 days fasting and in prayer before Easter.  During that time, politicos will have to survive on leaner fare (smaller groups of primaries).  There's a red meat analogy there, but I can't find the right words.

Candidates, who have emptied their war chests for Super Tuesday, will fast on spending over the next 40 days, except in the 12 states holding primaries/caucuses.  Efforts to raise the money won't.

The celebration on Easter (March 23) marks the end of Lent.  Will either party have their nominee sewn up in the next 41 days?  Personally, I hope not, because North Carolina's primary is May 6.  We began 2008 thinking the party would be over by the time it got here.  Now, we may get to sit at the table with the grown-ups.  We can only hope by then, candidates will throw us some cash like people will be throwing beads, doubloons and other shiny objects off of Mardi Gras floats Tuesday.  Let the good times roll a little longer.