Very much in agreement. TigersEye and I were discussing this in the truck the other day. We concured that in order to reach people who have not come to logical conclusions on their own about the direction of politics in general in these United States, i.e., that we are on the downhill side of socialism and thus of tyranny and the taking away of basic human rights, one must start with where the listener is.
Liberal Democrats are indeed 'Bushophobes.' They have - for whatever reason - accepted as fact that President Bush in particular, and Conservative Republicans in general, are the worst thing to happen to America...ever!
It is difficult, but I have found that by avoiding the terms 'Republican,' 'Democrat,' 'Liberal,' and 'Conservative' in conversation with these folks, and concentrating more on the basic truth of differences in ideology and philosophy, I can at least win a hearing. Without a hearing, without the removal of basic assumptions, I can not reach these hardheads at all. I'm learning. And I am finally winning some hard-fought ground with some folks.
When speaking with Moderates I have found that by avoiding the hotter subjects and focussing on the issues that even middle-of-the-roaders care about, I can get them thinking in more traditionally Conservative ways. One example would be speaking to Moderates about Parental Notification, Partial Birth Abortion, and a Woman's Right to Know versus the Roe v. Wade decision itself.
I've found with "moderates" avoiding hot-button words- a semanticist would call them "loaded"- and cute but irritating slurs ( hitlery! comes mind... ) seems to get a better hearing.