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Traditional political scientists say you should ask voters to vote for you. A smaller group believes it’s better to insult as many potential supporters as you possibly can.

Just a short story I am proud of from my own party work. In 2000 Bush lost New Mexico to Gore by 300 votes. One villain was a snowstorm on election day in the southeastern corner of the state which is oil country, the most Republican part of the state.

So Bush created an incredible state organization to win the state in 2004. As part of the effort I agreed to take the day off from work on election day and drove to Hobbs, where I saw the most organized effort I’ve ever seen in any election . Volunteers everywhere. They had identified their supporters who didn’t vote often and marked them off as they voted at their precincts. I was assigned to a rural area with addresses of people who would vote for Bush but hadn’t voted yet. They sure had their demographics right. These were trailer homes with horses in the back. No Gore voters, but any voters at all? Most everyone told me they had already voted. How many of them said “oh crap, I need to go vote after I left?” How many votes was I worth to Bush? Who knows? I would guess a dozen or so. It was pretty depressing because I remember listening to Hannity on the radio and he was saying the exit polls were showing a big Kerry win but keep working anyway. I did and did my little part to help Bush win NM by 5,000 votes.

I could have worked for Bush, I could have sat it out. Those were my only choices. I wasn’t going to vote for Kerry.

Traditional political scientists say you should ask voters to vote for you. A smaller group believes it’s better to insult as many potential supporters as you possibly can.

Traditional conservatives believe in personal responsibility, and taking responsibility for your own actions (or inactions). A smaller, more "progressive" group believes it's better to make your responsibilities someone else's problem, ultimately.

Your vote -- however you elect to utilize it, or surrender it -- is your own responsibility, and yours alone. If you can't handle that, don't try lumbering or guilting me with the duty of handling it for you.

You're either up for the job, or you aren't. Not my problem, either way.