The 2010 AZ gubernatorial race to the bottom begins

… with candidate John Paul Mitchell’s announcement that he is joining the group called “Oath Keepers”:

"I was first introduced to the Oath Keepers prior to their establishment and knew it was a honorable group that wants to uphold our Constitution. As a student and defender of the Constitution, it is only appropriate that I make my commitment personal and public.

“Though the Oath Keepers is mainly focused on reaching out to military and law enforcement, citizen members have an unique place within this association. As citizens, who can ask our military and law enforcement to remember their oath.

“Furthermore, as a candidate for public office, I have the ability to influence and remind other candidates, as well as public officials, to honor and defend the Constitution at all costs!”

Oath Keepers is a faddish group on the far right. It’s mostly military folks who mumble ominously about dark forces undermining the constitution and make noise about not following orders if they are told to do things they deem extra-constitutional.

Now, on paper it’s mostly loony; here’s an example from their list of “Ten Orders We Will Not Obey”:

6. We will NOT obey any order to blockade American cities, thus turning them into giant concentration camps.

Chances of that happening are a little remote. But it’s really just another way for the right to stir up paranoia and resentment among—let’s be honest here—people lacking some basic critical thinking skills.

And now John Paul Mitchell’s one of them.