I could not agree more. The Youthful Orange Hat Brigade bugged the hell out of my 35-year-old liberal ass in 2004, I can only imagine how poorly they played to older moderates and conservatives.

travelforchange.org thilly! I agree with you, for once. It is simply stupid to think some kids from elsewhere are going to convince red staters of anything.

When Fox and The Washington Times can't think of a substantive criticism, they fall back on snide mockery of idealistic, privileged youth. Which is a clue you're doing something right.

If the Obama organization is asking for people to travel, they probably know what they're talking about. They've been right so far, while every other campaign is floundering.

Thanks for the semi-positive review, Dan!

I got off the phone with a Nevada regional office an hour ago and they're in dire need of people. They seemed happy enough with our work.

If someone is going to turn away a canvasser at the door because they're from California, we're not going to get that vote no matter what. But if we have a thousand extra citizens on the street registering voters (the deadline is approaching) we can effect some real change.

I'm a very (very) liberal 50-something, and if the fresh-faced arrogant proselytizing pipsqeaks showing up at my door profoundly piss *me* off (and they do), I can only imagine how much they'd piss off conservatives.

I agree, orange hats are ugly.

Inspiring young people to get involved in politics however is always in.

The thing is, canvassing is not about convincing people to change their candidate. That hardly ever works. What it is about is identifying your supporters and making sure they have accurate voting information and get to the polls. And that can make a several percentage point difference, at least according to the campaign. So check out TravelforChange.org. The most almost-fun you'll have today.

Christ on a cracker Dan, your an idiot. Let's abandon the strategy that secured the nomination for a candidate that was virtually unknown versus the biggest brand name in American politics and re-defined the way campaigns are run now that we are in the home stretch. Just because you think that the best way to win elections is to write checks and smarmy slog posts does not make it true. Shut up, drive to a battle ground state and knock on some fucking doors. That is only way we are going to win.

Good point - people with time and energy but without cash shouldn't go to SUPPORT red-state volunteers and bridge the gaps between red and blue states.

No, instead they should use that time and energy on a job to donate to a campaign that's raising more money than any in history.

And I'm surprised you didn't mention another reason the Republicans will love to see blue-state volunteers pouring and/or trickling in...

...tender fresh meat! Most party hacks have already molested-out all their local activists.

Oh Dan, I would expect no less delightfully snarky a reply (I grew up in Seattle and am still an avid reader.) What we maybe failed to emphasize is that:

a) our url is www.travelforchange.org (our bad or yours?)

b) We don't just send old people, but anyone with enough time off to and dedicate their vacation to something they care about. Let's be honest, the sad truth is that often these people are not my young peers. Many of our volunteers are over-excited and over-50.

c) We focus on the purple battleground states, and go after the undecided or unregistered voter; giving them information to get to the polls and make the better choice.

We agree that trying to change the minds of red state supporters is not the most useful thing, but getting people who are already obsessively excited about volunteering to the places where they could make the most individual difference is worthwhile, and a good use of my young-over-educated time.

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Surely there is enough work on the campaign in the battleground states for both home-grown Obama supporters and visitors from away. Your point is well taken, Dan, but the idea is a good one and it can't hurt.

Most red states and more importantly purple states have very blue cities or at least college campuses. Out of towners would do well in liberal parts of red states pushing registration even if they can't change minds.

I wore an orange hat! Don't blame me, I just volunteered and they gave me a hat and I canvassed. And it was freezing cold in Iowa so the hat was hard not to wear. Who knew I'd lose the election?

HERE IS THE BIG DIFFERENCE:

Right now the Obama army is focusing on voter registration. People like you if you register them to vote. They hate you if you knock on their door in an orange hat. It's that simple.

#12 is exactly right. St. Louis, MO, case in point, and where I'm going on Tuesday. St. Louis, if you recall, is where the late ballots put Obama one toe over the line[sweet jesus] in the primary. And they still have a ton of unregistered people there. And by people I mean African American people. And yes, I am racial-profiling.