I've asked Ashmi before to guest blog, but she finally contacted me about something she was passionate about. I rarely post about politics here, so this is a special treat.

Ashmi's Breakfast: Coffee, very light w/regular milk, 1 1/2 sugars

Dear Fellow Republican…so started the letter that almost caused me to have a heart attack in my office one day early this summer. Oh shit. Had I switched parties, and I didn’t even know it? I’m a New Yorker. We’re Democrats from birth until death do us part this world. Period.

Apparently, I’m very important being “among a select group of Republicans who have been chosen to take part in the official CENSUS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY,” because my “answers will represent the views and opinions of all Republican voters living in [my] voting district.” I have a very official looking Registration Number and Voting District Code. Now I’m really starting to panic. Did I accidentally check Republican when I re-registered to vote (just in case they lost me as they did in 1996)?

I kept reading and found myself laughing so hard that I grabbed the phone and rang Breakfast at Tiffany’s begging for the opportunity to guest blog from the other coast. Today the Republican National Convention descends into my home town, NYC…land of the very open minded…home of the brave enough to stay here, despite the number of Republicans loose in our midst.

Back to the letter. Defend against nuclear missile attack…permanently repeal the inheritance tax…end government discrimination against faith based organizations…ban partial birth-abortions. Immediately I’m thinking – What missile attacks? Is he [Bush] preparing to receive a big inheritance? SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!

Note to self – pick up birth control pills.

So, I’ve decided to heed my call, help the Republican Party and run a census of my own. During each day of the convention, B.A.T and I will be polling You can participate by [JS Members vote to the left under "Poll"] sending an email to RNCPoll@yahoo.com through next Saturday.

I’ll be back again next week with How Many Republicans Does it Take to Catch a Democrat, a follow up to this blog, and results from the poll.

Until then,

AshmiNYC

P.S. After some quick Googling and a call to the automated info line of the NY Board of Elections, I confirmed that I had not changed parties.

Here are the questions:

Monday:

Do you support the use of air strikes against any country that offers safe harbor or aid to individuals or organizations committed to further attacks on America?

Tuesday:

Should the Inheritance or “Death Tax” be permanently repealed?

Wednesday:

Do you support the law, passed by the Republican Congress and signed by President Bush that bans partial-birth abortion?

Thursday:

Should we build President Regan’s SDI defense shield against nuclear missile attack?

Friday:

John Kerry or George Bush for President?