I converted a Bush voter today.

[Cuban_Liberal]

I came in to work at our bookstore as soon as my last class ended today, and not long afterwards a 'regular' customer came in. This lady is an extremely nice woman, but she is a Republican to the core, although of the paleo-con variety. She is a former precinct committeman, vice-chair of the county's Republican Party and the mother of a Republican circuit judge. Any way...

As I said, Nancy is a nice person, extremely kind and gracious; as soon as she saw that it was me behind the desk, she came over to tell me how sorry she was about my nephew's death, and to please convey her sympathies to my sister and brother-in-law. I said I would do so and then, just from her body language, I sensed that she might be willing to talk further about Carlito's death.

"Nancy," I said quietly," you know what the most tragic part about his death is? It's that it need never have happened." Although she replied "How do you mean?", I noticed that she had nodded her head in agreement. I continued quietly, but earnestly.

"Nancy, Carlito is the same age as your grandson, Brandon. They went to school together, I understand". She nodded again. "Carlito died for a lie, Nancy. President Bush told us--- assured us--- that Saddam Hussein had WMDs, and he didn't mince or hedge his words in any way that I recall. Dr. Blix from the UN didn't agree, the CIA didn't agree, the DIA didn't agree, but we still invaded Iraq because President Bush told us saddam had WMDs. It's been 18 months since we invaded, Nancy, and not one shred of evidence has ever been discovered that Saddam Hussein had WMDs when President Bush made up his mind to invade Iraq. Carlito died for a lie, Nancy." She nodded again, and I could see the tears welling up in her eyes. I handed her the Kleenex box, and went on.

"I know I'll never make a Democrat out of you, Nancy, so I won't even try. Go ahead and work for the county Republican candidates, the state ones, for Congressman Johnson and even Dr. Keyes, but please, don't vote for the man who sent my nephew to die, and who could wind up sending your grandson to die, too. Please, Nancy." At this last, I reached over and took her hand in both of mine, and looked her right in the eye. She didn't look away, and quietly she put her other hand over mine.

"I've never voted for a Democrat for President in my life, Tony, and I'm 74 years old, but I'll do it this one time. I'm a mother, just like Rosie (my sister) is, and I can't imagine anything more terrible than having to bury your child, unless it was knowing that he died for no good reason." She hugged me, and when we broke off I stuck out my hand and asked, "Shake on it?", and she shook my hand, and smiled. We had a deal.

You don't need to be shrill, folks; if anything, being quiet, respectful and earnest when you make your case is likely to get you much, much further. We won't 'flip' them all, but we can flip some of them, maybe just enough to make a critical difference in November.

:)