The best part of any Arizona election is the ballot measures, which in AZ and CA can be put up for a vote by citizens and interest groups. There were ten this time and it was very easy to tell which way to vote, with a little bit of study.

As for voting for office-holders, that was a fucking trainwreck this time. Basically it comes down to two questions:

–Exactly how batshit is the Republican?, and,
–Exactly how ineffectual and centrist is the Dem?

Two examples.

For Governor, the R is a true believing Trumper, so no. The D was so lame that she refused to debate the R. So again, pass. There was a semi-official write-in candidate, who I actually saw interviewed on some fringe channel. The impression I got was that he was quite high on the Asperger’s syndrome, a little twitchy even, and his paperwork lists him as a Buddhist.

So, way better than the mainstream options, and good enough to get my vote.

For Senate, the R is better than some, but still very conservative and pro-lifey. The D votes dependably with Biden every time and talks real tough about “the border”, apparently trying to peel off a few independents by selling out the wetbacks. In this one there was a Libertarian on the ballot, and although he dropped out days ago and endorsed the R, I checked the box next to his name with satisfaction.

So it went down through the State Treasurer and the local Constable.

I actually voted for more Dems than I thought I would in the mid-ballot, especially and strategically for the Secretary of State (who runs the elections). This is merely a testament to how bad the R’s were. Even so, I wrote-in on my fair share. The poet Bukowski got my vote in one case even though he’s dead. Chris Hedges got another even though he’s an old blue-blood socialist New Englander.

The propositions still matter, a little. And no one cares if you just sit it out. So I voted, in my toxic hopeless way.

I’m sure you’re very proud of me for it.