Going UnGreen: Blogger Talks Himself Off The Ledge

As really dedicated readers know, I have for years been a registered Green Party member. I have opined on the positives/negatives of said membership here and here.

Put into mathematical terms, I'd put my Green Party thing thusly:

Love of Dadaism + Too Lazy To Change Registration = NM Green Party Membership.

Or something like that. Plus, it's cool to be in a group of .0000001% of the population and shrinking every day.

So it was with something of a heavy heart and even heavier conformity that I called Bernco yesterday to request a form to get a new registration card.

And on that card, it's going to read.....argh, I can' t bring myself to say it. Double argh....head beginning to spin...will slipping away...must keep hands on keyboard....

Democrat

Of all the closets to come out of, this might have been the toughest. In fact, somebody needs to talk me off this high ledge, this Golden Gate Bridge of politics. My feelings about the NM Democratic Party fall somewhere between those felt for Barry Bonds and Josef Mengele. For those wondering, that's not good in my book. There is so much not to like.

Example: A few weeks back I call the NM Democratic Party to ask about folks who might be running against Teresa Cordova for County Commissioner District 2 (down here in the South Valley) in '08. I'm just calling out of the blue, having never contacted the party before, ever. A guy who shall remain nameless calls me back and I ask him about Cordova and potential Dem competitors. The very first thing out of this guy's mouth (and remember he's saying this to a person he's: 1. never heard of; 2. never talked to before; 3. talking to over the phone) is "well, to win that District you have to have a Hispanic surname". He then continues to monologue about the other attributes needed for a successful District 2 candidacy, his personal feelings about Cordova, and a bunch of other details that combine to make me: 1. cringe repeatedly; 2. want to take about five showers, one immediately after the other.

And I'm thinking of joining ranks with this cringefest?

Now, you might be saying to yourself: "Well Scot, you do need to have a Hispanic surname to win in District 2". I understand that, and you might very well be right, and right until the end of political time. Still, should one join a group whose assumptions are so glib, cynical and kinda outright discriminatory?

I think the glibness is what bothers me the most. I mean if Dem Dude had thrown the Hispanic surname card after we knew each other a few months I'd understand him, and the context of the position, and probably be only mildly bothered. But here's this guy representing the entire Party and in the first three seconds of communication he casually drops this as an absolute given. As a starting point for discussion.

I'm kinda phobic about groups in general, but it is especially creepy to contemplate joining an outfit with group think like that. Not to mention the many, many positional differences I have had with the Party and individual Democrats over the years. Then there's the whole "baa! baa!" sheep thing, quietly shuffling into the large motley herd as we wait for Nanci Pelosi, Harry Reid or Hillary Clinton to possibly, possibly feed us.

Nope. Can't do it. Sorry to waste your time, but becoming a Democrat just so I can vote in a primary ain't worth it, even with the Worst President Ever hanging around. Forget I ever wrote this thing. Move along, nothing to see here, as they say. Again, sorry to waste your valuable 'Net viewing seconds.

Still, this morning's navel gazing has resulted in something. I know what my new registration card is going to look like. The space under "Party/Partido" is going to be blank. Deliciously, liberatingly blank.