DA>NP> JP>Well, the first thing to keep in mind is that political
DA>NP> parties are JP>not mentioned in the Constitution at all.  The
DA>NP> Founding Fathers JP>didn't like partisan political parties and
DA>NP> had the rather naive hope JP>that none would develop here.
DA>NP> I don't buy that.  There were political parties at the time of
DA>NP> formation of the Constitution.  Namely the federalists and the
DA>NP> anti-federalists. The founding fathers were members of those
DA>NP> parties, and others, namely Jefferson, founded other political
DA>NP> parties.
DA>Read the section in the Constitution about the selection of President
DA>and VP. It's *nothing* like what happens today. They made no
DA>provision  for political parties.
No they didn't.  No where in the Constitution are political parties
encouraged or acknowledged (I think).  This does not mean they did not
exist at the time of drafting of the Constitution, or that the drafters
didn't like them.  That's the part I'm disagreeing with.  The
involvement of those drafters in political parties makes it pretty clear
that they were not anti-political party.
The original method of selecting a VP was amended, and I think rightly
so.  Truly can you imagine Clinton and Dole working together as
President and vice?  Better still, Reagan and Carter?  Or Reagan and
Mondale?  Ramming two people together who despise one another and hold
opposing views isn't a good way to make a successful team.  At least not
in my opinion.
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* CMPQwk #1.4* UNREGISTERED EVALUATION COPY
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