bushturkey2.jpg Over at Daily Kos today, DHinMI has a post on a theme that I've written about here in the past:

We're approaching an election where it's not just Democrats or the left side of our national political spectrum that hungers for bold, assertive politics and a dramatic change of course. The views of many of the people associated with the Netroots really are the majority because they’re not just the left, but they’re the left and the center. We are the mainstream.

. . . The principles and beliefs of "the left," or the Netroots, or the Democratic party have long—and effectively—been derided by the GOP as "elitist," as fringe, as hostile to Middle America or "mainstream values." But it’s becoming clear to Americans who aren’t strong partisans that it’s the GOP that’s out of the mainstream. It's the GOP that’s out of touch with "mainstream values," and that it’s actually the Democrats who best represent the beliefs, aspirations and values of most Americans.

I know TRex passed along some thoughts about Thanksgiving conversation gambits last night, but I'd like to add my own advice on what you can do around the dinner table tonight to support the realignment mentality DHinMI discusses.

Don't worry, this isn't going to get wonkish and/or philosophical -- I've been there and done that. I'll just keep it simple: When the subject turns to anything related to Dubya or the Republicans and their view of the world, respond as any "mainstream" person would when a ridiculous notion is brought up -- with a dismissive laugh and as much disbelief as you can muster that anyone would espouse such nonsense.

I'll let you work out the specifics to match the subject matter... just remember that a large part of the GOP effort to pose as "mainstream" all these years has been to marginalize Democrats by making them seem ludicrous (hence all the huffing and puffing about haircuts, earth tones, etc.). It's long past time that we turned the tables.

So please, whatever you and your relatives talk about this holiday, remember to make as much fun of George Bush as possible. Keep the handy riposte, "Yeah, right. Don't you feel stupid believing that?" written on a napkin or something, if it helps.

Have a great Thanksgiving, and thanks for honoring the vital role that scorn plays in our national discourse.