WEST Virginians go to polling places today to advance their gears in the clanking machinery of democracy. The choice for Democrats is between two members of the liberal wing of the party - Sens. Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.

Interestingly, two of the state's superdelegates - Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Rep. Nick Rahall - committed to Obama before their constituents even had a chance to register a preference.

This whole process may not sit well with rank-and-file party members this fall. People who had no real chance to express their views before a nominee was selected may feel like free agents when frost settles in.

Many Republicans felt disenfranchised by their party's state convention earlier this year, too. When they go to the polls today, they, are voting despite the fact that the "presumptive nominee," Sen. John McCain, was chosen months ago.

The bonds of party loyalty have been loosened on both sides.

But at least West Virginians can chill out until the Democratic National Convention Aug. 25-28 in Denver and the Republican National Convention Sept. 1-4 in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The midsummer slump will give delegates to the Democratic convention time to figure out how to buy carbon offsets to offset their plane trips to meet the Green Delegate Challenge

All they have to do is help a renewable energy project "that will displace energy that would otherwise come from burning fossil fuels."

Like coal, say, which the party apparently opposes.

Offsetting their "carbon footprints" may be a daunting challenge for delegates from a coal state, but it's been a strange political year all around. Why should the conventions be different?

WEST Virginians go to polling places today to advance their gears in the clanking machinery of democracy. The choice for Democrats is between two members of the liberal wing of the party - Sens. Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.

Interestingly, two of the state's superdelegates - Sen. Jay Rockefeller and Rep. Nick Rahall - committed to Obama before their constituents even had a chance to register a preference.

This whole process may not sit well with rank-and-file party members this fall. People who had no real chance to express their views before a nominee was selected may feel like free agents when frost settles in.

Many Republicans felt disenfranchised by their party's state convention earlier this year, too. When they go to the polls today, they, are voting despite the fact that the "presumptive nominee," Sen. John McCain, was chosen months ago.

The bonds of party loyalty have been loosened on both sides.

But at least West Virginians can chill out until the Democratic National Convention Aug. 25-28 in Denver and the Republican National Convention Sept. 1-4 in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The midsummer slump will give delegates to the Democratic convention time to figure out how to buy carbon offsets to offset their plane trips to meet the Green Delegate Challenge

All they have to do is help a renewable energy project "that will displace energy that would otherwise come from burning fossil fuels."

Like coal, say, which the party apparently opposes.

Offsetting their "carbon footprints" may be a daunting challenge for delegates from a coal state, but it's been a strange political year all around. Why should the conventions be different?