I like your piece about techy politics. And I may agree with you that the SoS ought to be an appointed position (provided that the appointment process promotes nonpartisanship somehow). But, if you desire change, I think going to nonparty primaries makes more sense. I’m sure you already know the arguments, but there’s a great piece on the subject in the NYT by former SoS Keisling of Oregon: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/opinion/22keisling.html

To be clear, I’m not trying to wiggle out of any hole. I stand firmly behind my Mark Johnson words. See, e.g., my response to Jack McCullough’s comments on GMD post. More in the weeds than you probably care to get, but I just don’t want you to think that I’m whimping out. I believe passionately in what I said.