I've always been intrigued with politics and what makes this country tick. The current admin and their tactics are creating a highly charged and emotional atmosphere - on both sides. The trick is to not get sucked into the screaming, but actually do something constructive. As CVC stated, get involved, starting on a local level.

I do feel that the town hall meetings and protests are important. It allows individuals to speak their minds, but also sends a message to Washington that we're simply not going to let the current admin roll over us and play us all for fools. Obama thought he could steamroll his philosophy of "change" and no one would object.

Cowgal you're right about remaining civil.

As I mentioned I've volunteered for two statewide campaigns. I feel like that I not only have to help candidates I believe in, but help shape the party too.

The problem is that most conservatives are waging political battles like most wars have been fought -- by sticking to old tactics and techniques rather than adapting to changes in the battlefield. In warfare, it was demonstrated by using Napoleonic tactics against machine guns in WWI, France's rapid loss to the Germans in WWII, and us misunderstanding asymmetric warfare in Vietnam.

In politics, conservatives seem to be locked into methods of the past that relied on civil discourse that played out slowly in legislative halls and print media. Today's news cycle operates so fast that perception matters more than fact when it comes to motivating the masses.

Today's liberal playbook is Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals." Buy it, read it, or at least Google it. Sun Tzu said that if you know your enemy and know yourself, you won't fail in a thousand battles. The trick to beating them at their game is to know their game.