Is it that the American people actually get wise to Bushes in the WH...

[lucidmadman]

...after one term?
Do even the dimmest among us recognize the intellectual inferiority and moral degeneracy after a few years?
Yes? No? Maybe?
This time the X factor is the religious nuts. The people who find GWB's name in Revelations via the bible code. That and the steady advance of the great dumbing down. '92 is not '04. People are 12 years stupider. 12 years more of the repetitious lies of the snarling heads on RW talk(and talk and talk and talk) radio.
I see good things happening in the electorate. People wising up. But I'm worried. How anyone could spin JK as the 'wimpier' in a comparison with GWB is beyond me.
I see JK and I see a considerable human being. I see GWB and I see a fake surrounded by dreamers with ideas untested by practical experience and hideous war profiteers.
I hope what's happening is that JK is waiting and watching the train wreak that is the Bush administration and come August some of the most awesome whoop-ass we've ever seen is gonna be unleashed in the form of attack ads on TV and radio. The clowns in power have certainly provided the ammo. In my mind I see the juxtapositions of clown prince George(and company) and the havoc they've wreaked on American society and the world.
It's like the last few minutes of a good play-off basket ball game. I can barely stand it. My heart. My sphincter. It's almost too much to take. And it's only May!
I work within my circle. I've had some success. I've changed a few minds. I trust everything will work out alright.

[ecoalex]

1. MSNBC poll

MSNBC had a poll yesterday, if the election was now who would you vote for ? Kerry 60%+ shrub 24% Nader 6%

I think maybe some groups, like aware Christians, are not happy with the shrub, for many reasons. True Christians do care , know the Golden Rule, and see the shrub defies reason in so many areas. The above poll is encouraging, as is the general cnn/nbc poll that has 58% saying the country is going in the wrong direction. Baring a coup, the shrub is "cooked". Rock the Vote , register , and Vote !

[Lefty Pragmatist]

2. Identify intelligent non-partisans and Republicans...

... and have calm and respectful converations with them. I have convinced dozens of people who initially bought into the empty promises of the Republican message to consider the more complicated but ultimately more real Dem prognosis and prescription. Many of these people have changed their voting patterns and even gone on to work within their circles. Hell hath no fury like an electorate who discovers they've been played.

The GOP has a rock solid core constituency who their policies genuinely serve: the rich and the righteous. We aren't going to ever make inroads with them and all breath spent debating (i.e., being slandered by) them is wasted. But that's at most about 25% of the country. It's probably much less.

The effective strategy is to talk to fence-sitters and give them good reasons to consider voting Democratic. Whining "people are stupid" does not work. Fantasizing that we "really" are a huge majority except that we're being disenfranchised doesn't work. Having respectful conversations works. Numerous times I've responded to ad hominum or illogical conservative debate tactics by staying cool. I haven't convinced any of the ideologues, but I've had plenty of non-partisans and Republicans come up to me later and say, "I respect the way you conduct your argument. Maybe there's something to what you're saying."

Build bridges. It works.