The Primarys

Talk about signs of the times, have any of you pholks not seen election campaign sings for the approaching June primary election?

And if you've missed the television and radio battles which interrupt the more interesting commercials you likely are still in a coma. Print advertising is also stronger than normal for a primary election.

Let me tell you, I can't wait until the June 8 election thing is over. The sign of the times, this year, is like few, if any, I can remember. From governors, attorney general and several other top California offices, to Congressional races and assorted other contests, even including races in Tulare County, the C word is everywhere.

And since the June event is only the semi-finals in many cases, the term “Conservative” is gushing stronger than the oil spewing into the Gulf Of Mexico. At least the oil contamination was an accident. The rush to include “Conservative” into political campaign is by design.

Don't get me wrong, there is really nothing wrong with being a conservative and in many cases it is certainly important in our political fabric.

Personally, I'm not a pure political ticket voter. I don't consider myself a true liberal nor do I embrace all the conservative issues. Party registration aside, I consider myself a moderate whatever I am. I've voted for candidates of both major parties and despite a couple of regrets, I've been more pleased than disappointed in my choices but not necessarily the outcome.

Traveling up the Central Valley this weekend, and not having to drive, I was struck by the number and variety of campaign signs with the label “Conservative” in letters nearly as large as the candidate's names. Through the four counties I traveled, there were at least one campaign sign with “Conservative” included. From small sticks in the ground cardboard signs to billboards, the campaign signs were hard to ignore.

The whole “I'm more conservative than my opponent” thing is like nothing I've ever seen. I'm sure you all are aware of at least two of California's major primary contests where opponents are fighting tooth and nail over who is or isn't really a conservative, tossing out phrases which label the opponent as really a liberal just trying to pretend being a conservative.

But pholks, what really grabbed my attention and generated several smirks on my aging face were the scope of the races, especially on local levels. Races for assessor, tax collector, sheriff and county supervisor and even city council candidates don't seem to be immune even though they generally aren't considered partisan offices.

State legislative and gubernatorial and congressional races probably are the most fiery battles being fought over the conservative movement but, it seems the local political players aren't going to miss the “Conservative versus liberal” train as it speeds down the track.

I still haven't made up my mind on my June 8 choices, but I may end up making the final decision by choosing the least obnoxious campaign.

The question is: will that make me a liberal or a conservative? Frankly pholks, I don't give a darn.

And besides, after June 8h, the field of candidates and the variety of ads will be decreased by a whole bunch even though the fierceness of the campaigns will probably increase three fold.

And, after June 8, I will be one year older, which makes me an old man, conservatively speaking, of course.