Better dead than red?

Here they come. As part of their jihad to turn this country into a one party system, the Republicans are targeting Illinois as a state that stubbornly won't turn red.

An outfit called Renew Illinois is launching an ambitious, and no doubt lavishly funded effort to employ the tactics used at the national level to continue to manipulate good people of the state to vote against their own interests. They're calling it "THINK RED". Of course, this would seem counter to their usual efforts, which involves massive efforts to convince people to NOT THINK, or at the least, to think in a simplistic and illogical manner. Karl Rove is quoted as saying "As people do better, they start voting like Republicans...
...unless they have too much education and vote Democratic,
which proves there can be too much of a good thing."

An outtake from their introductory e-mailing:

Show your commitment to making Illinois a "red" state once again!

The Land of Lincoln and Reagan remained solidly "blue" for Kerry in 2004. The tide must turn - Illinois Republicans must start THINKING RED.

We may all live in a "blue" state, but that's all the more reason why we should THINK RED.

THINK RED is an obvious reference to what has become one of the most talked about ideas in politics today, the Red State vs. Blue State divide.

THINK RED leverages this well understood concept to emphasize the need to become a red state - one that can win for a real Republican like George W. Bush.

THINK RED represents a new paradigm for thinking about how to win.

THINK RED is designed to remind people of the principles contained in the National Republican Party Platform (http://www.gop.com/media/2004platform.pdf) and Renew Illinois’ Contract with the People of Illinois (http://www.renewillinois.com/mission/).

THINK RED is a strong reference and show of respect to our fine Commander in Chief, and a recognition that while we didn't make the state "red" for him in either of his races - we are committed to recognizing our state's and our Party's problems and making the changes necessary to regain the voters' trust.

They're even going to jump on the mania for little rubber bracelets which has sprung up in imitation of the yellow Lance Armstrong foundation's "Live Strong" campaign. Then they can tell the good people from the heathens by whether they're wearing a red rubber bracelet. Kind of like a secret handshake or decoder ring.
This will no doubt be a massive effort to swing people to the right by any means necessary, up to and including simply buying them off.