Lesser evils or lessen evils?

Don't mind me. I'm still basking in the afterglow one works up by doing one's civic duty yesterday. Or maybe it's a hangover from a late night's eavesdropping on the machinations of Cook County politics.

Either way, my brain feels numb.

That numbness could've been induced by the unending list of circuit court judges I had to approve on our elephantine ballot. (And me without my hit list.) But no, I think it comes from seeing so many third party candidates in so many state and local races.

Sure, it's nice to discover the notable presence of viable female and minority candidates nationwide. 'Bout time. Yet I'm more intrigued by (and hopeful because of) the strong presence, if not strong showing, of third parties. As far as trends or lessons of the '06 campaign go, this one is way under-reported.

Granted, none of these outsiders came close to the 10% of the IL Green governor-dude or the 15% of my favorite Jewish cowboy in TX. And at least one independent - the incumbent formerly known as Joe Lieberman - was a turncoat who will mostly end up running with the new majority. (All this talk about a center returning to US politics, but look what a prominent independent-minded Democrat had to do to stay in office.)

Nevertheless, anytime the electorate choose a "democratic socialist" and a Minnesota Muslim to join Lieberman and Co. on the Hill, there's hope.

Fancy that: a representative democracy where "None of the Above" is just about a viable option, where we can finally settle for the least of many evils. Can instant run-offs be far behind? Or, Heaven forbid, the death of the electoral college?? Stay tuned.