I'm doing a 30 minute speech to Republicans this week. Suggestions?

[GuvWurld]

I have been asked to speak at no less than six events in the next month. I attribute this largely to the Voter Confidence Resolution being adopted by Arcata, CA on July 20. I will limit this post to the most immediate engagement which is coming up this Thursday, Sept. 8. I have been booked as the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Humboldt County Republican Party. I will have up to 30 minutes though I was told it would be cool if I spoke for 15 and took questions.

This particular invitation came about because of a town hall forum that the Voter Confidence Committee held in Eureka on ranked choice voting. This was back in April. After the event we called all the people who signed our attendance sheet. I had the good fortune of dialing the then-executive director of the Rs. He was not in favor of preferential voting but he took it as an appropriately responsible and respectful measure that I would call and genuinely listen to his opinions. Our 20 minute call went so well we agreed to continue it over coffee. That meeting went over an hour and resulted in the speaking invite. I was getting through to this guy, at least in terms of the need for objective review of systemic election reforms. We were beginning to build a bridge.

So why am I asking for suggestions?

Two reasons, really. First, I want to read thoughts about the points and techniques people think can be used best for further building bridges when I'm speaking to a group rather than an individual.

Second, as many have said, Katrina changed everything. The truth is I really don't feel like talking about elections anymore. I've been doing it for a year and a half and it seems I'm just starting to get somewhere with it. But given that I've been calling for peaceful revolution for three and a half years, the government's response to the hurricane has left me with complete tunnel vision. We have to protect ourselves from our government and revolution is all I feel inclined to discuss. I welcome comments on how I should connect this back to my familiar election reform material or how I can avoid that and still focus on bridge building. There is no value to simply having my say but getting shouted down and kicked out. I have to be persuasive and dignified.

OK, DU me.