If you aren't already sick of seeing Barack Obama every time you turn the TV on, you will be by this time next week. Next Wednesday will be the third night of the Democratic Convention. On CBS, NBC and ABC it will be all Obama during prime time.

Back in the bad old pre-cable days, I hated the time when the conventions were on. We only had the three networks, and they all showed the convention at night. Also, the conventions always ran over time, messing up late night TV too. There basically was nothing else on TV.

Then again, back then the conventions really meant something. They were where the parties chose their presidential nominee. Now that is done through the primaries. The conventions are nothing more than free advertising for the nominees.

When the rules were changed making the primaries the way to choose nominees, it was hailed as a great innovation, giving the choice to the people instead of party leaders. Based on some of the choices the people have made, maybe we should find a new system.

I've always believed that if we had had the old system in place in 1984 and 1988 the Democrats would have had different nominees

In 1984 the nominee was Walter Mondale, who reminded the people of Jimmy Carter, who had already lost to Ronald Reagan. By the time the convention started, most Democrats thought Gary Hart would be a stronger candidate but they were stuck with Mondale.

Four years later it happened again. After Gary Hart sank his candidacy by being caught in an affair, Micheal Dukakis ended up as the nominee. There couldn't have been a worse choice. He was the one Democrat that could make George Bush seem interesting.

Now the Democrats are set to nominate a candidate who will likely lose. That once seemed impossible. After eight years of you-know-who, 2008 looked like a wipeout year for the Democrats. But no, once again they will manage to pull defeat from the jaws of victory, and set the stage for President McCain.

When the parties switched to the primary system, I thought it was a great idea. Now I find myself missing those smoke filled rooms.