THE RACE for the Democratic nomination for US President has been both messy and inconclusive. But it has been remarkable.
It is not so much that there have been prolonged rounds of fractious in. fighting - this is something the Democrats have frequently proved themselves good at. Rather, I is the candidature of Jerry Brown, Governor Brown is an oddball. From his announcement that there was more truth in the music of Linda Ronstact than the whole of Plato to his nomination of Jane Fonda to the California Arts Council, ho has always been a little unusual.
But this is hardly what makes him No, it is rather his politics, and the chord that they have struck in the popular consciousness. that has made Brown's campaign remarkable.
Every other candidate in the Democratic primarios could be DESPITE THE repression Democrat. From Tom Harkin to Paul songas, none could De coscrood e offering anything out of the ordinary.
- in style or policy have boon minor.
But Governor Moonbeam's campaign - even 7 * stands very letie chance of winning - has stood cut a mile. By the standards of US mainstream poitics, his platform put him somewhere to the left of Mao Tse Tung. While in office as Governor of vaitora, no towdised oupo smok• ing, decriminalised homosexuality. supported publicty-funded abortion, and opposed nuclear energy Now he calls for a $150 bilion cut in defence sponding, increased funding for public health and education, nonand more fundina for IDS research. But the policy that has been picked cut as particularty whacky is his call for a 13 per cent, flat-rate tax Seen from a European vierepoint this indeed sounds nutty. But given low US taxes and even lower leveis of body of a small minority of sound a little saner.
In the end though. Jerry Brown's chances of taking the nomination must be small. with around a tenth of Slick Bill Clinton's votes. But it he can insert some of the Ideas that he has raisod into won't have been wastod.