When I am approched by such "save the earth" types, my instinct is to do what you did. But, if you can stand it, a more productive approach is to pretend to be interested and ask them all kinds of questions. Invite them in for coffee. If they are inexperienced kids (which most such clipboarders are), they'll think they have a live one and give you all the time you want. Tie them up for thirty minutes and that's fifteen other houses that won't be doorbelled.

DT, that is brilliant!!!! Next time, my friend. Next time.

Nice plan, DT.

My nutty cousin is one of these idiots. I started blogging largely to neutralize her voice.

She gets nuttier every day.

RWR
www.rightwingrocker.com

Geeze, sounds scary.

I have to second Nelson suggestion Mox. While I am always tempted to take your course of action in similar situations, it is much more fun to waste twenty or thirty minutes of their time and then tell the to f***-off. You just see the air come out of them. One of life's little pleasures.

I get that here in San Francisco all the time -- most recently from a Greenpeacer a week or so ago. I was heading back from the office after lunch, saw the logo on his shirt, and said "I'm not interested." The presumptuous twerp then stepped into my path and said, "But this is important!" I didn't even slow down, and as he finally stepped out of the way at the last possible fraction of a second I turned my head and barked in his face, "I said, I'm not f**king interested!" He seemed a little taken aback to get that reaction from anyone in this town.

I don't have the time to spend half an hour screwing with these types, but I do occasionally get the chance to tweak them a bit. Three years ago I'd get accosted by callow idealistic young 19-year-olds with clipboards asking if I wanted to help get Bush out of office. I always enjoyed their reactions when I cheerfully said either, "Nah, I'd rather re-elect him," or "Oh, just wait five and a half years and he'll be out of office."

Years back, people used to be shocked to find I was conservative. Not so much anymore.

Must be the wrinkles.

Back in Madison, I used to greet canvassers with my six pet rats on my shoulders. Sometimes I'd dab a bit of peanut butter on each side of my neck.

Jehovah's witnesses usually gave the best reaction.

Here in Texas, only Austinites have to deal with those twerps. Better them than me!

Well........I dunno about the proud part, but the rest was spot on.

Earth First!
Make Mars Our Bitch!

People are shocked when they find out I'm a conservative. Usually, it's the jumper cables that does it.

Hey Moxie---know what? My partner Lynn and I are both liberal as anyone you know and even WE HATE THESE PEOPLE. Lynn has one particular guy at Trader Joe's she particularly goes out of her way to make feel like scheiss.

Some guy came to my blog today posting scary things I didn't understand, I think about you. Is everything OK? Under control?

All the best,

Joseph

Jumper cables?

Well, O.K. - but don't try to start anything!