8:20AM

Hi, Josh said, looking right at me and winking, do you want to help beat George Bush today?

I stopped walking about two feet in front of him, repressed the urge to snicker, and folded my arms instead. “Sure, and how do you suggest I go about that?”

Well I’ll tell ya, he said. Name’s Josh, I’m with the Democratic National Committee. He held out his hand, I uncrossed my arms and took it, shaking back with an exaggerated enthusiasm.

“Alright, you see that?” he said, still shaking my hand, smiling big. “Was totally simple, right?” I nodded – it was totally simple. “And that’s half of your job right there.”

It was 8:20 AM on August 21st. My life as a political activist had begun.