Ballot-box blues

We’re just a month from Election Day, the time when campaigns hit their crescendo and politicos’ pulses soar. For this mid-term vote, we face the prospect of a power shift in Congress that could play a big role in shaping the presidential race to follow. Those are pretty hefty stakes, so we’re sure to have another October surprise or two adding fuel to the fire.

I should be really excited.

I’m not.

Take away the local council and supervisor races, and I have limited interest in Nov. 7.

More than any other time since I first registered to vote, I feel powerless to make a broad impact. Whether I vote for or against Wally Herger, he’s returning to Congress. Whether I vote for or against Rick Keene, he’ll be back in the Assembly, right along with Doug LaMalfa. Same with Sam Aanestad and the state Senate.

My vote will count in the U.S. Senate race. But for governor, unless Phil Angelides mounts an improbable comeback, I’ll make no difference at all.

I wish I could feel differently. I wish my hope for change were powerful enough to send out psychic ripples inspiring others to turn the tide. But I’m just too grounded, too pragmatic to expect a metaphysical miracle.

This is Republican heartland. I previously lived in a slam-dunk district, so I know all about the numbers game in play. There simply aren’t enough Democrats to outnumber the Republicans, even with disaffected elephants jumping off the bandwagon. There’d have to be one dilly of an October surprise here for the North State to change its tune.

I accept that.

I have a hard time swallowing the gubernatorial campaign. The Democrats made things so easy for Schwarzenegger. The primary was ugly—Angelides and Steve Westly muddied each other so thoroughly that Arnold’s staff simply had to take notes and recycle the attack ads. The process of winning in June reduced the odds of winning in November.

Out of the mire came Michael Dukakis … I mean, Al Gore … I mean, John Kerry … I mean, Angelides. Once again, the partisans who flock to primaries selected a candidate heavy on exposition and short on charisma. I’m sure Phil would wow me in person, one on one; but major offices require TV appeal of celebrity stature, particularly when the opponent is a bonafide celebrity.

Angelides is no Arnold—in some senses that’s good, but in a key regard it’s not.

So here I am, on the heels of endorsement time, finding myself seriously tempted to support third-party candidates even after the Ralph Nader wreckage in 2000 and 2004. Then, heading into November, the polls were close; this year, the die seems cast. I can vote Libertarian or Green and make a statement without detrimental consequence.

I will vote. I take that right as an obligation. I just wish more spots on the ballot made me eager to vote.

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