We need to start reminding people that AMERICA WAS FOUNDED to be the ALTERNATIVE to the REST OF THE WORLD.

And the rest of the world needs an alternative as much now as it did 200+ years ago.

My new one, only tried twice, has been “If we wanted an expensive insoluble problem to tackle that helped the actual poor, we should have chosen homelessness. The poor already had health insurance. Obamacare is about eliminating feelings of insecurity in the middle class, not helping the poor.” I haven’t got the phrasing down the way I’d like it, but on one occasion, it was actually the most liberal person who looked startled and was clearly prompted to actually think.

My typical strategy when dealing with these people is to ask them questions that I know they will have a hard time answering. Such as, “How much is Obamacre cutting out of Medicare Advantage to help pay for other insurance needs?” If they can answer that then I know we can have a discussion – otherwise, they will just repeat talking points like, “We’re the only industrial nation without socialized medicine.”

The Arizona immigration law was a major issue for a lot of them. How dare we ask people who have broken a law to identify themselves? My question was, “What would happen to you if you broke a law in Mexico and were stopped by the Mexican gendarmes?” That allowed them to at least consider if this was such a draconian law. But some were still outraged.

My opinion remains that we have a fight on our hands if we want to elect more fiscal conservatives in November.

First – no one begrudges you your cruise, JJ. Have another. But there are sectors of the economy that are somewhat insulated, which don’t feel the pinch personally for quite a while in a down economy, and such would likely be over-represented (though not universal) among cruise-goers.

The article’s closing – that traditional Dems might not switch votes but just not vote, is a wise caution. I hope that local Tea Partiers take especial note in those districts. DirtyJobsGuy’s assessment of the area is on point, and should keep us all alert. Yes, it is a single district, with its own idiosyncracies – but every district is a single district, not reflecting national opinion trends entirely. If we can’t preach small government but we can preach honest government, start there. And barely anyone is arguing for bigger government at this point, even among those who have generally approved of what the government has done since 2006. Even Bobo’s are wondering whether we’ve jumped the shark.

Well, except in DC, of course. They are still ravenous.

If you have cruise-mates, NoCal relatives, arts & humanities-employed acquaintances or the like, you might have to ratchet down and just shake your head solemnly saying “These are all good things, but I have to wonder if it’s just too much. We may regret this down the road.” That may strike a chord even among the Blue Believers.