The Democratic primary for the Virginia Senate race is this Tuesday. As the lucky residents of a battleground region, we've been getting fliers. Lots of fliers. At least 2-3 a day, for each of us, sometimes multiple different fliers a day for the same candidate. So many fliers that we have to have a separate trash bag just for the Senate candidate fliers.

The problem? Both guys seem like enormous douchebags. On one hand, there's the former corporate lobbyist who sends out vast quantities of negative attack ads, baseless pandering (my personal fave - "Which candidate can women count on" - I wish I could post the pictures on the front), meaningless endorsements, and no actual substansive proposals.

On the other hand, there's the former Republican who sends out vast quantities of negative attack ads, meaningless endorsements, and no actual substansive proposals.

Now, I have no problem with former Republicans. Many of us here were Republicans once. But we got our heads out of our asses long ago, in our early youth. This guy was actively campaigning for Bush, Allen, et al just a couple of years ago. So it seems more like opportunism than a genuine change of philosophy. I realize that Kos is endorsing him, but meaningless endorsements that aren't backed by any proposals of substance just leave me cold.

So what are our options? Hold our noses and vote? Then we're just perpetuating the problems of shitty candidates pulling shitty campaign tricks. Not show up? Again, I don't like that idea, either. What about go to the polls, sign in, then either leave the ballot blank or write in a clear protest (e.g. not "Micky Mouse").

It's kind of a tough call. This is a off-year election, and a primary at that. Poll turnout will be miserable, at best. Moreover, most of the contributors here are impossible to poll - we're young, educated, somewhat affluent, and totally off the radar of traditional polling (no landlines, don't respond to canvassing, etc.). Not showing up says that we don't care. Showing up and leaving it blank says that we want better candidates. And since it's going to be a low-turnout election, our voices have a real chance to be amplified.

Comments?