Brad,
   I think you are using the terms "proper" and "improper", "correct" and
"incorrect", and "blooper" in misleading ways. When most of us say
"correct" or "proper", we have some established authority in mind. The
rules you expect us all to know about seem to be Brad's rules, so it
seems strange to us that you present them as if they are "given" or
agreed upon.
   In almost every instance, I prefer O'Bama's choices to yours. But I
would not call your choices or his "bloopers".
   If you want to make an argument for a rhetorical shift away from the
past perfect, go ahead. But you will have to make it an argument, not
just an assertion, and it won't help if you continue to denigrate texts
that the rest of us find exemplary.
   If you are, as you implied in an earlier post, the best user of English
in the world, you should be able to do a better job of bringing us
along.

Craig


Brad,
>
> For those of us who don't have the book, why don't you give us a few
> examples?
>
> Craig.
>
>   ~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>   After two terms during which I labored in the minority, Democrats (had)
> gained control of the state senate and I (had) subsequently passed a
> slew of bills.
>
>   For the first time in my career, I began to experience the envy of
> seeing younger politicians succeed where I (had) failed, moving into
> higher offices, getting more things done.
>
>   It was an ill-considered race, and I lost badly -- the sort of drubbing
> that awakens you to the fact that life is not obliged to work out as you
> (had) planned.
>
>   But he still had unlimited money in his family, as well as a genuine
> integrity that (had) earned him grudging respect from the voters.
>
>   I felt like working harder than I (had) ever worked in my life.
>
>   That's 5 of 34 had-before-past-tense items. Then there are the 'had
> been's.
>
>   I (had) preserved my independence, my good name, and my marriage, all of
> which (had been) were placed at risk the moment I set foot in the state
> capitol.
>
>   I knew once again just why I (had gone) went into politics.
>
>   And the irregular verbs.
>
>   In me, one of those flaws (had proven) proved to be a chronic
> restlessness.
>
>   I began to harbor doubts about the path I (had chosen) chose.
>
>   By my count, there are 56 such bloopers in the first 21 pages.
>
>   Others will look at it and tell us what count they get.
>
>   .brad.18feb08.
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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