Did anyone watch the debate last night?
I did not. I avoided it like I would the plague. Why? Because I wanted to see what normal "non political- junkie" type people would hear from the press the morning after. I wanted to see what the average Joe would see, and not have that tarnished by my own recollections.
Here's what I know so far:-
1. Huffington Post tells me that the republican candidates have lots of kids, that Ron Paul delivered over 4,000 of them before becoming a politician, and that Romney is definitely a spicy kinda guy.
OK...all good stuff to base an election on!
2. Fox news tells me that Pawlenty failed to deliver a killer blow to Romney when given the opportunity to attack Obamaney care.
3. MSNBC tells me that Cain runs from his black roots and hates Muslims, while Romney clearly won the debate.
What a lot of dribble. The only thing substantial to come out of the reports was that Michelle Bachman appears to have solidified as a serious contender, and should not be underestimated. Several reports covered that angle.
Here is my problem.
The reporting of the debate is nothing but a big yawn to me. The candidates did not create a moment that the press could not ignore. AND I suspect that the debates will have NO influence on the election results.
So I am addressing the rest of this post to the Republican candidates!
You Republican candidates need to understand this. At every opportunity you MUST take a risk and say or do something that the press cannot ignore. Now, you need to take care and not do or say something stupid that will set your campaign back weeks or months a la Newt Gingrich, but you must create a moment. Just one...just one EVERY time you are in a public meeting.
If you want to win the next election here are my thoughts on what you must do:-
1. have a simple plan and slogan that everyone can understand....Obama had his with Hope and Change....your's does not need to mean anything but DOES need to tug at the emotions...
How about something like..."It's time"?? Let the electorate determine for themselves, the individual voter, what exactly it is time for...they could read that as "It's time to stop illegal immigration" or "It's time to lower taxes" or "It's time to cut spending"....whatever THEIR issue is can be wrapped up in those two little words...It's time!
(Makes a great and easy sign to hand out too!)
2. OK...so you have a simple message that means exactly what the voter needs it to mean. What next? You have to deliver on plans that support the notion. You have to have objectives....you have to sell the people the belief that not only is it time...but YOU are the person to make it happen.
To be effective you have to be strong on several simple issues:-
a). be strong on illegal immigration, strong borders, no amnesty, and rapid deportation of existing illegals. Be strong on supporting state rights on illegal immigration. Be strong on borders. Do not budge from your position. When people call you racist (and they will) stand proudly and say you are American. Do not give one inch on your position. Let everyone know exactly where you stand. Do not get caught up in explaining why you are not racist, do not play into their agenda...play ONLY on your own.
b) be strong on small government/ cutting waste/ lower taxes. Do not allow the opposition to smear you with talk of unemployment rates, poor people eating dog food and reduction in handouts. Keep it simple...a possible simple step that EVERYONE will understand is to immediately slice 15% off the spending of every department in government. We all understand that. Do not talk budgets, do not talk about future reductions. Keep it simple. A sharp knife to cut 15% of spending TODAY. If businesses can do it, Government can do it. At the same time, reduce taxes, with a promise to revise the tax system to a fair tax or a flat rate tax in your first term.
c) you will not win without some suitable plan to deal with the likes of Social Security and Medicare, some plan to reduce entitlement spending in the future. This plan will be unpopular but has to be packaged in a way that the loss of entitlements can be seen as a benefit. The easiest way to do this is to tie it in with massive reductions in the nations debt. Every time you speak of changing the entitlements you must relate it to the reduction in debt and the near term future for everybody. Take time to show how it will assist the children and grandchildren by reducing their debt burdens.Talk about the future and it's successes, and how the changes in the entitlements programs will be the direct cause of that NEAR future success.
d) the economy. It will all be about the economy at election time. You MUST have a simple plan to develop the environment where jobs will be created. You MUST not suggest that you will create jobs. You must NOT suggest that the Government will create jobs. You MUST state clearly that the Government will get out of the way and allow free market forces to enable the flow of capital to the most efficient and competitive industries, creating job growth and economic growth. You must state clearly that the Government will NOT be deciding which company's get funds, but the free market will determine that.
e) Finally you must wrap all this up in a platform that makes sense to the non-political person. They must see your sign saying "It's time" and know in their hearts that it is, and that you have the knowledge, skills and strength to make it happen.
Above all, you must be believable. You must be strong and positive. You need to call on their help, to make them feel like they are part of the team that will do it. You need to draw on their emotional attachments while also bringing them into your action plan. They need to know that by voting for you they are also saying that they will get into the trenches WITH you...and be a part of the change that is needed.
Just as Obama did in 2008, you need to empower the voters. You need to infuse them with a sense that they and you create an unbeatable and unstoppable force that can and will achieve all that you promise. You CAN achieve it because your voters are doing it too.
3. You need to ignite the imagination. Obama did that with his hope and change thing. He did that with his clever use of race. He did that with his ability to change "how" he spoke depending on his audience. He became one with the people he wanted to vote for him.
While I think he is a dope, and has really screwed up this country, I cannot refute the fact that he can campaign. He knows his message, his knows his voters. He promises them what they think they want. If you wish to be a truly competitive candidate you have to do this better than he does. You need to be able to change your delivery style while maintaining the strong message. You need to be able to be seen as "at one with the people" even though one day the audience may be scholars and the next day simpler folk. Your words must be changed, your language changed, your appearance changed. Your message NEVER changes. Just your delivery.
You need to become a chameleon...with one message for all people.
And you need to create moments. You need to be real, you need to put people above presentation. You need to speak from the heart, while never deviating from your message.
You need a simple message. If it cannot be stated clearly in 50 words or less, it will be too complex.
Do you want to win the election against Obama? You have just read the secret recipe!
But what do I know? My suggestions are free. I do not have a pedigree of political achievements behind me. I just know what appeals to me, and I suspect many millions of folk in this country who are sick of mealy mouthed politicians who lie at every opportunity and spin every statement. No more.
Someone who stands up and says...this is me, this is who you get and this is what we will do together...will have a huge advantage over the current actors in this Shakesperean tragedy.
By the way...if anybody wants to use that slogan, "It's time"...by all means do. Just make sure that you do everything else right as well!
............devereaux
Showing posts with label elections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elections. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Once upon a Wednesday - how to defeat dragons!
Wednesday already!
Where has the time gone? So much to do, so few days in which to do it.
Today I want to talk about dragons...you know...those fierce fire belching creatures of fairy tales. Well I am here to tell you they are real...they exist...but they can be slain.
As C.K.Chesterton wrote (and I paraphrase)..." Fairy tales do not teach children that dragons exist. Children already know that. Fairy tales teach them that the dragons can be slain."
What is the dragon attacking 21st Century USA? What vile creature is appearing out of nowhere with no more warning than the sounds of its wings beating the air as it selects its target and attacks?
It is the dragon of 21st century progressivism. Liberalism gone mad. Nothing more than a rabid memory of the democrats of yore.
To label the current crop of liberals as democrats is just wrong. They are a truly different beast. They are dragons circling the ineffective conservative defenses, their acrid breath turning staunch conservatives to jelly as they await the moment to fully engage with fire from their belly devouring the last remnants of common sense.
Dragons...with no sense of moral right or wrong, with no sense of integrity, but with an extremely well developed sense of survival. Dragons who will turn on their supporters, their friends, perhaps even their children, if it means political survival. Dragons who are crafty enough to succor their enemies, give credence to straw men and support any vile untruth if it gets them one step closer to total annihilation of this country.
We have one such dragon sitting in the White House, enjoying caviar and lobster while his dragon wife tells us what to eat...and warns of the danger of obesity while serving fries and hot-dogs (a healthy combination) to guests at their super-bowl party.
We have these dragons entertaining friends and people they believe can assist their nefarious dreams (from his father) at regular concerts held at the White House. (have you ever noticed how many black entertainers have been invited to perform? How many white entertainers have been?)
There is a way to defeat the racist dragons that plunder our economy, belching their nonsense and lies as they steal the very bread from your table. But, as with fairy tales, the brave prince who tries to defeat the dragon has many trials and dangers ahead of him. I intend to provide some sign posts for that brave prince to follow, so that he (or she....let's not be sexist here) can avoid the pitfalls that have destroyed those that went before....
1. The first piece of advice is to grow a pair! Do not be afraid to stand up and tell the world the truth. One thing I admired about Donald Trump was his willingness to stand up for what he believed. He was not cowed by the army of dragons huffing and puffing ...he stood his ground and refused to bow to that greatest injustice of all, political correctness. If anyone wants to fight these dragons, he/she must stubbornly hold their ground in the face of political correctness. Trump could never be the man to lead the revolt against the dragons, but he was sure able to show how it could be done!
2. Have a tough skin. It does matter what color this prince/princess is. This hero of mankind will be subjected to taunts because of color. If a black person, it will be said that he is running because he is black , and because white people know that a white person cannot compete for fear of being called a racist. If a white person is the hero, the race card will be played EVERY time. The dragons think they have this locked in...either way they can win. What they don't understand is that it works ONLY IF the hero cares what they say about him. A thick skin that does not give a hoot what the dragons think is essential for success.
3. NO COMPROMISE. How many times do conservatives make a stand only to fold at the last minute. Well, it is time they acted like they held 4 aces....the house is controlled by conservatives now yet they fall like dominoes every time the dragons say something like"if the budget is not passed it will be your fault"...pathetic!! Nobody holds any faith in the heroes when they give up and surrender at the first sign of disapproval from people whose opinions are based on ideologies completely opposed to their own. What sort of mamby pamby emasculated girly men do we have in conservative politics today? For success we conservatives must KNOW what we believe, act strongly on those beliefs, and not compromise on anything. Compromise means that the left wins, albeit a little slower than they wanted. Nevertheless, the dragons gain a little more strength and confidence. No compromise...compromise feeds the dragons!
4. Know your enemy. Our hero is going to be facing the impossible task of not only battling a political machine of enormous strength and firepower, but a media that long ago stopped reporting news and started campaigning for the prince of dragons. Add to that the millions of ordinary folk who have fallen under the spell of the dark prince and believe he will lead them to the promised land if only they will take up arms and help him defeat the voice of reason. Our hero has to have the strength of emotional Hercules to defeat such odds and the wisdom of Solomon to know where the next deceptive attack will come from. Our hero is limited by his adherence to truth, which must not be sacrificed on the alter of success as that further emboldens the dragons to victory. The only thing these dragons fear is truth itself. Our hero must stand strong and deliver truth to the masses, simply, coherently and not be distracted or diverted by the straw men the dragons continually build. Do not believe a single word from your enemies, or your friends. Know what is true in your heart. Do not fight to win an election. Fight to defend truth, for it is only by defending truth at every turn that you will find the strength to battle the vast array of dragons that will form a never ending line to destroy you. Know the enemy within as well as the enemy without.
Is there anyone who can withstand the brutal attacks that will be aimed at whoever has the nerve to go against the prince of deceit? Does anyone have the honor to admit when they are wrong? To change their opinions as they seek the truth? To show the world that the dragon ways are not the natural way?
I honestly do not know. I see signs of possibilities in the likes of Herman Cain, and Michele Bachman. I see supporting actors in large numbers. I have not yet seen the person who will stand up and say..."I do not care what anyone thinks of me. I am here to kill the dragon. And I will do that, whether you follow me or not. I will never give up and I will fight until that metaphorical dragon's head is stuck on a spike and displayed for all to see what happens to enemies of this country!"
Do we have any heroes left? I have to believe we do.
If we don't, then every child will know that fairy tales lied...and dragons can not be defeated.
Do we want our children to live in fear of dragons? Or do we want to show them that while dragons do exist, and that sometimes they gather sufficient strength to terrorize all that is good in this world, there will always be a hero that comes galloping on their white stallion with no more than his or her faith as protection, who will fight for good and slay the dragon.
More than any other time in modern history, we need a dragon-slayer. But history has always shown that great heroes appear when great heroes are needed.
................................devereaux
Where has the time gone? So much to do, so few days in which to do it.
Today I want to talk about dragons...you know...those fierce fire belching creatures of fairy tales. Well I am here to tell you they are real...they exist...but they can be slain.
As C.K.Chesterton wrote (and I paraphrase)..." Fairy tales do not teach children that dragons exist. Children already know that. Fairy tales teach them that the dragons can be slain."
What is the dragon attacking 21st Century USA? What vile creature is appearing out of nowhere with no more warning than the sounds of its wings beating the air as it selects its target and attacks?
It is the dragon of 21st century progressivism. Liberalism gone mad. Nothing more than a rabid memory of the democrats of yore.
To label the current crop of liberals as democrats is just wrong. They are a truly different beast. They are dragons circling the ineffective conservative defenses, their acrid breath turning staunch conservatives to jelly as they await the moment to fully engage with fire from their belly devouring the last remnants of common sense.
Dragons...with no sense of moral right or wrong, with no sense of integrity, but with an extremely well developed sense of survival. Dragons who will turn on their supporters, their friends, perhaps even their children, if it means political survival. Dragons who are crafty enough to succor their enemies, give credence to straw men and support any vile untruth if it gets them one step closer to total annihilation of this country.
We have one such dragon sitting in the White House, enjoying caviar and lobster while his dragon wife tells us what to eat...and warns of the danger of obesity while serving fries and hot-dogs (a healthy combination) to guests at their super-bowl party.
We have these dragons entertaining friends and people they believe can assist their nefarious dreams (from his father) at regular concerts held at the White House. (have you ever noticed how many black entertainers have been invited to perform? How many white entertainers have been?)
There is a way to defeat the racist dragons that plunder our economy, belching their nonsense and lies as they steal the very bread from your table. But, as with fairy tales, the brave prince who tries to defeat the dragon has many trials and dangers ahead of him. I intend to provide some sign posts for that brave prince to follow, so that he (or she....let's not be sexist here) can avoid the pitfalls that have destroyed those that went before....
1. The first piece of advice is to grow a pair! Do not be afraid to stand up and tell the world the truth. One thing I admired about Donald Trump was his willingness to stand up for what he believed. He was not cowed by the army of dragons huffing and puffing ...he stood his ground and refused to bow to that greatest injustice of all, political correctness. If anyone wants to fight these dragons, he/she must stubbornly hold their ground in the face of political correctness. Trump could never be the man to lead the revolt against the dragons, but he was sure able to show how it could be done!
2. Have a tough skin. It does matter what color this prince/princess is. This hero of mankind will be subjected to taunts because of color. If a black person, it will be said that he is running because he is black , and because white people know that a white person cannot compete for fear of being called a racist. If a white person is the hero, the race card will be played EVERY time. The dragons think they have this locked in...either way they can win. What they don't understand is that it works ONLY IF the hero cares what they say about him. A thick skin that does not give a hoot what the dragons think is essential for success.
3. NO COMPROMISE. How many times do conservatives make a stand only to fold at the last minute. Well, it is time they acted like they held 4 aces....the house is controlled by conservatives now yet they fall like dominoes every time the dragons say something like"if the budget is not passed it will be your fault"...pathetic!! Nobody holds any faith in the heroes when they give up and surrender at the first sign of disapproval from people whose opinions are based on ideologies completely opposed to their own. What sort of mamby pamby emasculated girly men do we have in conservative politics today? For success we conservatives must KNOW what we believe, act strongly on those beliefs, and not compromise on anything. Compromise means that the left wins, albeit a little slower than they wanted. Nevertheless, the dragons gain a little more strength and confidence. No compromise...compromise feeds the dragons!
4. Know your enemy. Our hero is going to be facing the impossible task of not only battling a political machine of enormous strength and firepower, but a media that long ago stopped reporting news and started campaigning for the prince of dragons. Add to that the millions of ordinary folk who have fallen under the spell of the dark prince and believe he will lead them to the promised land if only they will take up arms and help him defeat the voice of reason. Our hero has to have the strength of emotional Hercules to defeat such odds and the wisdom of Solomon to know where the next deceptive attack will come from. Our hero is limited by his adherence to truth, which must not be sacrificed on the alter of success as that further emboldens the dragons to victory. The only thing these dragons fear is truth itself. Our hero must stand strong and deliver truth to the masses, simply, coherently and not be distracted or diverted by the straw men the dragons continually build. Do not believe a single word from your enemies, or your friends. Know what is true in your heart. Do not fight to win an election. Fight to defend truth, for it is only by defending truth at every turn that you will find the strength to battle the vast array of dragons that will form a never ending line to destroy you. Know the enemy within as well as the enemy without.
Is there anyone who can withstand the brutal attacks that will be aimed at whoever has the nerve to go against the prince of deceit? Does anyone have the honor to admit when they are wrong? To change their opinions as they seek the truth? To show the world that the dragon ways are not the natural way?
I honestly do not know. I see signs of possibilities in the likes of Herman Cain, and Michele Bachman. I see supporting actors in large numbers. I have not yet seen the person who will stand up and say..."I do not care what anyone thinks of me. I am here to kill the dragon. And I will do that, whether you follow me or not. I will never give up and I will fight until that metaphorical dragon's head is stuck on a spike and displayed for all to see what happens to enemies of this country!"
Do we have any heroes left? I have to believe we do.
If we don't, then every child will know that fairy tales lied...and dragons can not be defeated.
Do we want our children to live in fear of dragons? Or do we want to show them that while dragons do exist, and that sometimes they gather sufficient strength to terrorize all that is good in this world, there will always be a hero that comes galloping on their white stallion with no more than his or her faith as protection, who will fight for good and slay the dragon.
More than any other time in modern history, we need a dragon-slayer. But history has always shown that great heroes appear when great heroes are needed.
................................devereaux
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