We just had a primary election in the state of Arizona and it was really bad news for our statewide politics. Our state is always very conservative but the last session of our legislature had a new dynamic to it - moderate Republicans. Some of this new crop, spurred on by term limits and clean elections funding, found their way into the House and Senate and actually compromised with our Democratic governor and we made some plodding progress towards things such as all-day kindergarten and funding for mental health care.

Well, needless to say our state Republican party, composed of mostly neo-cons, went postal. They targeted these moderates in the primary with some very nasty and divisive campaigning, running some very scary people against them. I had switched my party affiliation to Republican to vote against the extremists since there really wasn't much to vote for in the Democratic primary. Buoyed by a dismal voter turnout (around 20%), the neo-cons took over. The moderates didn't stand a chance. There's still the general election and some worthwhile Democrat candidates to take on these idiots but in this state they have a snowball's chance in hell of even getting close.

I am so tired of the moronic voters in most of Arizona. I was born in Tucson where the electorate seemed at least to have a clue. The politics were intelligent and inclusive. My 20 or so years exposed to Maricopa County (Phoenix valley) and the rest of the state though have left me soured and hopeless. Even John McCain, who seemed to embody the pioneer spirit from the days of Goldwater and Fannin, appears to be taken under by the spell of the power of party unity regardless of the absudity of the platform.

Canada's looking more and more appealing these days but if I leave they win. Boy, do I need a fix to keep me going. Democrats just don't seem to have any good diversionary vices to get one inspired. Were I a Republican in heart, I could simply go out and beat up a gay guy or something.