The New Republic has posted “ Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about party platforms–and then some,” also titled, aptly, “The Corncob Pipe of Politics.” It’s very good, comprehensive, on the current platforms and debates, and also the history of platform fights–a history that led to today’s obsession with keeping the peace, and keeping it light. It’s about image. Past platform fights were principled and divisive to the point of schism–slavery, civil rights–but were they better than today’s evolutionism? Or does that process result in nothing more amusing than a classic Rube Goldberg? (As seen here)

In any case, I think this is a handy reference guide for the coming months.