A few years ago, a friend of mine had a minor medical condition, for which I suggested that cranberry juice might be a good, natural palliative.  Never one to delay overlong, he went into my kitchen, opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle labelled "Cranberry Juice".  Then he poured a good-sized glass, downed a big slug - and damn near choked to death.

What was really in that bottle, you ask?  Cranberry juice, of course - just like the label said.  JUST cranberry juice.  Pure, unfiltered, unweetened, un-messed-with-in-any-way, cranberry juice.

Strong stuff that.  But damned good for you.

Folks, we Libertarians are selling cranberry juice to a generation raised on Coke, Pepsi and (Gawd help us) Mountain Dew.  Why are we surprised when the powerful taste puts off our new prospects.  Ocean Spray isn't surprised.  That's how and why they sell a vast array of beverages with cranberry juice in them, from a little to a lot.  They don't let the image bog them down.  (Sorry - I couldn't resist that one.)

I know!  I know!  I'm talking about peddling some watered-down form of Libertarianism, right?  Only the pure article will do!  No.  I'm talking about making it possible for our prospects to transition from the total garbage they drink today to a progressively better and better brew.  We've got to get our cranberries into them without killing them off in the process!

What would that freind have done if I'd told him, "Yes - that's cranberry juice, and that's the way you have to drink it."  You and I both know that he'd never have touched another drop - and more importantly he'd never have listened to me again when I recommended something. 

But I didn't do that.  Instead, I said, "Sorry, I didn't realize you were going to just take a big swig without asking me first.  There's a jug of apple juice in there too.  Why don't you mix them together?"  He did.  And it worked.  And to this day he still mixes cranberry juice with other beverages.  AND he still listens to me when I recommend things.

Hey, I know that cranapple juice isn't as effective as straight cranberry.  I also know that the commercial stuff on the grocery store shelves has about as much real cranberry in it as you would get waiving a picture of a cranberry bush at a soda bottle.  But I also know that even then it's better than the Kool-Aid being served by the Democrats and Republicans.

Cranberries for EVERYONE, Please!