Selling off the presidency

(Tampa Bay Times) - From time to time, especially after being exposed to a Hillary Clinton stemwinder that sounds like Roseanne Barr singing the national anthem, some Democratic Party liberals yearn for the more melodic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren to please, please, please enter the presidential campaign.

And while the Republican field of possible presidential candidates is beginning to look like Animal House's toga party, former Gov. Jeb Bush has emerged as the leading Bluto Blutarsky of fundraising bacchanalia.

There are two main reasons why Warren, despite all the entreaties, will not enter the 2016 race. First, while she may be ambitious, she is not a self-destructive idiot. And second, to be remotely considered a serious presidential candidate, one must raise at least $50 million by the end of 2015. And with all the cash gushing toward Clinton, where would Warren find even a fraction of that initial ante?

To appreciate the growing and insidious influence of money on the political process, consider this: In the 1996 presidential race, the campaigns of incumbent President Bill Clinton and his challenger Bob Dole spent $240 million — combined.

By 2012, President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney spent a combined $2.6 billion. That pays for a lot of lanyards. Read more.