(just getting back to this discussion)
I like this. I must confess that most of the time when I deal with the left it is either alpha-mode (”get away from me or I’ll kill you”) or FUD mode where I attempt to discourage the softer, non-activist leftists (“Protect yourself. obama is power hungry and will sell you out.”)
I’m going to go back and study AnonymousConservative’s blog for more tips on non-conventional approaches to cross-ideological communications.
Mama always taught me that there’s more than one way to skin a cat (I always wondered what she had against cats? ;-)
Check the Touching the Raw Amygdala link on the right side of my page, and look at the Mike Wallace video a couple of times. Particularly check when he makes the unconscious grimace.
I’ve found the key to doing that is a totally emotionally detached, but focused, hyper-logical presentation. Connell was perfect. He wasn’t out of control emotional, or wild, just matter of fact, and contemptuous.