Reaching out to the red states

I realize from a lifetime of "reaching out to the red states" - i.e. to my parents - the apparent impossibility of making a dent in obstinate minds, so while I always hold out hope, there's always a realist to bring be back into line. Here's Janet Sullivan from Salon (through the free medium of The Gadflyer) reminding us all what we're up against if we imagine we're going to work our well-meaning way into the heart of the heartland.