In the end this entire convention (or conventions) seemed like a sad, cynical charade, in which two "little kings" try to pretend to be major contenders while all they really do is shore up and enrich their petty little fiefdoms. Neither of these candidates even BELONGED to The Reform Party one year ago, yet here they are fighting for center stage and the free moolah that goes with it, while in effect splitting the party in TWO. Some state governors who were too disinterested even to hear out each sides' arguments pulled names out of a BOWL, lottery-style, to see which one would get to represent The Reform Party in their state! How hilariously humiliating!

So it was with great delight that I watched that $12.6 of OUR money held up in court as these doofuses fought over who would get it, knowing that by the time either of them does get it it'll be too late to do them any good. While The Hagelin camp may technically deserve the money, their naiveté over what a political campaign is really all about (not to mention their barely concealed greed) makes them as morally UN-deserving of those matching funds as the Buchananites are.

What's even more ironic is that the one issue both sides agree upon is the need to take money OUT OF political campaigns, via "campaign finance reform," yet here they are putting on a clinic as to just how impossible that concept is. Politics is ALL ABOUT Money, and always has been. What's so horrible about that? It's just a plain ol' fact of life. So DEAL WITH IT, you "Reformers"!

ADDENDUM: The latest news as of this writing is that the FEC has ruled that PAT BUCHANAN is the legitimate Reform Party candidate, and thus is entitled to the matching funds. The Hagelinites have dropped their appeal, so it looks like the money will go to Pat and Bay. What's makes this decision even more amazing is that it came the day after ROSS PEROT himself declared that Buchanan's rivals represent the true Reform Party, and that Buchanan is the impostor. Oh well! Stay tuned for the next wacky episode, folks!

(PS: A tip o' the toupee to Eric Reynolds for all his help — PB)

THE END