Campaign Finance

This Ann Coulter piece sheds some light on how the political process has changed over the years. Why are there no good candidates nowadays?

If Tuttle found Ronald Reagan today, he couldn't form "Friends of Reagan" to
raise money for a possible run -- at least not without hiring a battery of
campaign-finance lawyers and guaranteeing himself a lawsuit by government
bureaucrats. He'd also have to abandon his friendship with Reagan to avoid the
perception of "coordination." Tuttle couldn't hold a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser
for Reagan -- at least in today's dollars. That would be a $6,496.94-a-plate
dinner (using the consumer price index) or a $19,883.51-a-plate dinner (using
the relative share of GDP). The limit on individual contributions to a candidate
is $2,300. Reagan's "Rendezvous With History" speech would never have been
broadcast on TV -- unless Tuttle owned the TV station. Independent groups are
prohibited from broadcasting electioneering ads 60 days before an election.

Wow. This column brings things into perspective. That little blurb is just part of it. Annie has some highly controversial moments and says some things she probably wishes she hadn't (although she would never admit it) but this isn't one of them. This is spot on. All we have to do is look at the candidates recently.

Just an observation.