Exhibit A: Operation Clark County

An iniative by the British newspaper The Guardian to get Brits to write undecided voters in Clark County in Ohio to urge them to vote for the best candidate (i.e., not Bush).

Personally, I don't have any problem with people writing letters, though I think it has a greater likelihood of backfiring, if anything.

Other Americans weren't as, um, refined in their opinions:

Have you not noticed that Americans don't give two shits what Europeans think of us? Each email someone gets from some arrogant Brit telling us why to NOT vote for George Bush is going to backfire, you stupid, yellow-toothed pansies ... I don't give a rat's ass if our election is going to have an effect on your worthless little life. I really don't. If you want to have a meaningful election in your crappy little island full of shitty food and yellow teeth, then maybe you should try not to sell your sovereignty out to Brussels and Berlin, dipshit. Oh, yeah - and brush your goddamned teeth, you filthy animals.
Wading River, NY

Real Americans aren't interested in your pansy-ass, tea-sipping opinions. If you want to save the world, begin with your own worthless corner of it.
Texas, USA

Of course, not all the reactions were like this.

I just read a hilarious proposal to involve your readership in the upcoming US presidential election. At least, I'm hoping that it is genius satire. Nothing will do more to undermine the Democratic cause in Ohio than having patronising Brits wander around Clark County telling people how to vote. Just, for a second, imagine if the Washington Post sent folks from Ohio to do the same in Oxfordshire. I'm saying this as a Democrat, and as someone who has spent the last few years in the UK. That is, with all due respect. Please, please, be rational, and move slowly away from the self-defeating hubris.
United States

Yeah, that's probably about right.

And then, I think Kenny, or was it Matthew, pointed out...

Exhibit B: Operation Snowbird

An attempt to get part-time residents of Florida to register to vote in the swing state, because:

Under Florida law, if you maintain a mailing address in the state of Florida and intend for Florida to be your state of legal residence, then you are in fact a Florida resident. In fact, you do not even have to be a homeowner in Florida, but could merely be a part-time renter who wishes to become a Florida resident.

Gosh, let's not exploit loopholes for dodgy electoral gains. I don't know if Operation Snowbird will actually be a factor or not, but it's pretty pathetic. And obviously it points out the stupidity of the winner-take-all Electoral College system. We wouldn't even have this kind of nonsense with a one person/one vote Presidential election.

So anyway, how about this, Operation: Read about the Issues, Watch the Debates, Learn about the Candidates, and Friggin' Vote for who you think is best?