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CNN initially reported Terri's death by saying she was, "...the centerpiece for the right to die..." They have since changed the wording to, "...the centerpiece of a national debate over life and death..." In any event, it is a sad day.
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Click the above title to read our exclusive interview with Dan Flynn, author of Why The Left Hates America and Intellectual Morons.
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Narcipost
I'm very excited because today I will be working to train a group of Iraqi women on how to win elections. Very cool, indeed.
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DeLay's response: "BRING IT ON." 
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 Our soon-to-be published interview with Dan Flynn talks about how to handle hecklers on campus. Ann Couter has a pretty effective way: "Could 10 of the largest College Republicans start walking up and down the aisles and start removing anyone shouting?" Coulter asked. "Otherwise, this lecture is over."
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According to Redstate, FEC Commissioner, Danny MacDonald, opened a recent public hearing about the internet, with the quote: "Nobody in this room knows less about the internet than I do." When public speaking, it's not a good idea to undermine your credibility in the first five seconds...
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The Draft
So last night was our fantasy baseball draft. Anybody want Jeff Conine???
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Dr. Falwell
Dr. Falwell is without a doubt one of the most sincere people in the conservative movement today. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) -- The Rev. Jerry Falwell was hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday, battling his second case of viral pneumonia in just five weeks, hospital and church officials said.
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TONIGHT: Reagan's Revolution
If you live in the DC Metro area, tonight is your chance to get an autographed copy of Reagan's Revolution. You can meet Craig Shirley (the author) -- as well as Lyn Nofziger -- who was a major player in that '76 campaign. I also hear former Reagan aide Morton Blackwell will be in attendance.  Here are the details:Book Signing reception and 8th District Committee fundraiser Featuring Craig Shirley, author of Reagan's Revolution Location: Law Offices of Reed Smith 3100 Fairview Park Dr., Ste. 1400, Falls Church (just inside Beltway, ¼ mi. south of Rte. 50 - see map) Cost: $50 per person (includes book) RSVP requested by Mar. 27 More info: Michelle (pressons@yahoo.com or 703-625-9597) or David (davidavella@msn.com)
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...Is the New Tool Of the Political Underground...
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The Reliable Source says James Carville is back with another documentary: "Will the political documentary craze never end? A dozen years after his star turn in "The War Room," James Carville is back in "Our Brand Is Crisis," which explores how American political operatives are reshaping campaigns around the globe -- specifically, how Carville and others worked to elect Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, known as Goni, in his country's 2002 elections."
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Author Daniel Pink has been gracious enough to agree to do an interview with me regarding his upcoming book, A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age.
According to Amazon: "A Whole New Mind reveals the six essential aptitudes on which professional success and personal fulfillment now depend, and includes a series of hands-on exercises culled from experts around the world to help readers sharpen the necessary abilities." Daniel is a contributing editor for Wired Magazine, but he's also a political guy (having worked for Gore and Dean). Obviously, he is coming from the opposite side of the political spectrum, but I really believe he can offer some very good insights into the future of politics in America. ...And that's our angle. Every other interview Daniel does will probably be focused on how this paradigm shift will affect business. Our interview will be about how these changes will affect the way political candidates get elected. Please read this past interview with him -- then let me know if there are any questions (of a political nature) you'd like me to ask him. The interview isn't for 2 weeks, so we've got some time). But I wanted to get us thinking about it, now...
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The Washington Post has an interesting article today about how politics/Federal Government is more welcoming to older folks than the private sector is. This opens a whole series of questions: Are people gaining wisdom and experience, or (in the case of some of these judges) are they over-staying their welcome on these jobs?
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According to Men's Health: A University of Alberta study finds that measuring a man's index finger length relative to his ring finger length predicts his predisposition to being physically aggressive.
The shorter the index finger relative to the ring finger, the higher the amount of prenatal testosterone and the more likely the man will be physically aggressive, they researchers say.
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Anonymous
I don't mean to be pushy. But, I notice a lot of you are posting comments as "anonymous". That's cool, but I think it would be better if you posted with a name -- even if it's a "pen name." This would make it easier for me to address your questions. Let me know your thoughts on this...
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 I'm not really digging the way Terri's family has turned on Jeb. Thoughts???
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Nepotism 101: Howard Dean has picked his brother to run Democracy for America...
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Former LIer, Mike Krempasky, has been nominated for a First Amendment Award for his advocacy on behalf of free speech on the internet.
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The International Republican Institute (IRI) is looking for a Resident Program Officer, Bosnia and Herzegovina . The Resident Program Officer (RPO) is responsible for designing and implementing a strategy for IRI's new program in Bosnia and Herzegovina. For more info, e-mail: personnel@iri.org. No phone calls please.
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Humor: Only in Green Bay
Dear Parishioners: The new stained glass window has arrived and is ready to be installed. Thought you would like a preview: 
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A story in the Washington Post warns parents that their child's name has a dramatic affect on his or her education: "I find that teachers tend to treat children differently depending on their names, and that these same patterns apparently translate into large differences in test scores," That settles it. My first son will be called simply, "Buckley."
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 To all you grammar snobs. Here is the correct quote: "...I always see the Conservative Political Action Conference speech as my opportunity to "dance with the one that brung ya." - President Ronald Reagan, March 8, 1985
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Next week, our premium members will get to read our interview with Dan Flynn, author of Why The Left Hates America , and Intellectual Morons.  Here's a taste of the interview with author Dan Flynn: On Public Speaking: "You know, often times when I go to campuses the protesters think they're putting a muzzle on me, when, in fact, they are giving me a megaphone."
On The Left: "In the United States of America, the left is a very small portion of the country, maybe 10 percent of the population. And if they had an influence on politics that was equal to their numbers in the population, we could just sort of laugh them off."
On Blogs: "I'm torn between whether I think blogging is a trend like I think C.B. Radios were a trend in the 1970s, or if they are here to stay."
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 The Washington Times reports that -- according to Jim Martin of the 60 Plus Association, that the term "privatize" was actually coined by Democrat Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska. "60 Plus, we should point out, was the first seniors group that some 10 years ago called for the "personalization" of Social Security, so as to modernize the system for future retirees."
"And it so happens that none other than Bill Gates Sr. credits Mr. Martin with popularizing "death tax" over "estate tax."
"Mr. Gates wrote that after Mr. Martin "hammered away day in and day out over a number of years," proponents of keeping the death tax "knew they were in trouble when CNN of all TV networks began routinely referring to the estate tax as the 'death tax.' "
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CNN's right. It's addictive. I've got one...do you?
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Fox News has a good story about how the liberal bloggers in the Dem. Party are fighting with the DLCers for control of the party...
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How Republicans Are Really Winning
 MSNBC posted -- then pulled -- the above picture. In any event, I haven't heard anybody else comment on what I'm about to say, though I'm sure it's not an original thought... It seems to me that if Republicans lose in their efforts to save Terri's life, that they will win in the court of public opinion. After all, people will say, "Republicans did all they could." If that unfortunate day comes, Terri will become a martyr. And her death will provide further proof that conservatives need to work hard to get conservative judges on the bench. Just imagine if Terri were to succumb on Easter Sunday... Ironically, if Republicans manage to find a way to save Terri's life, the Dems would likely win in the court of public opinion. They will gain a platform to spout rhetoric about, "the right to die with dignity," and "state's rights," etc. Besides, it reinforces the liberals' negative stereotype that Bush is a tyrant who goes around the law. So from the political standpoint, winners are losers and losers are winners. But while that's interesting to debate... I'm still rooting for Terri!
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Quote of the Day
"I'm doing everything within my power to make sure that Terri is afforded at least the same rights that criminals convicted of the most heinous crimes take for granted." - Governor Jeb Bush
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American Idol Publicity Stunt
American Idol says they displayed incorrect phone numbers for three singers after Tuesday night's edition of the Fox show aired. Fox has announced that the network will air a new performance show Wednesday night and re-open the voting. Two words: publicity stunt...
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 From LI:You are cordially invited to join us at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 6, for our next Wednesday Wake-Up Club Breakfast featuring Gary Marx.
Gary Marx is the Executive Director for the Judicial Confirmation Network which works to ensure the confirmation process for all judicial nominees is fair and every nominee sent to the full Senate receives an up or down vote.
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Is the GOP Changing?
From Hotline: "Philadelphia Inquirer's Polman writes that the GOP's intervention in the Schiavo case is evidence that the "core mission" of the GOP "has radically changed during the Bush era." ...The GOP has "assumed an activist role on social values"...
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My friend, John just told me of a very important book. I'm ordering it today... But you're going to see the emotive side of any issue be more and more important to people. There's a book coming out on Thursday that I've got pre-ordered from Amazon by Daniel Pink. He was Gore's speech writer when he was VP but now he writes for Wired magazine. He maybe a liberal but his ideas about what's happening in our society are dead on in my opinion.
The book is all about a paradigm shift from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age where the meaning/story behind products or activites will be more important than the actual product itself. Find out more:
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The Hill reports that these so-called "watchdog" groups attacking Rep. Tom DeLay are being funded by George Soros...
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"I believe there will be bad political consequences for people who are unwilling to sit down and talk about the issue," he said.
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 Our much anticipated interview with Genevieve Wood is currently up on the Clc website. Genevieve has held many top-tier positions in politics and the media, including working at NBC -- and as Vice President for The Family Research Council. Currently, she works for a terrific new group called The Center for a Just Society.Note: Expert's Interviews are available to premium members. Right now, that's by invitation only. But soon we will be announcing a way to sign up...
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Comments
Brad has made it easier for you to post comments. Now, you can feel free to contribute your musings and opinions. Juse keep 'em clean...
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 Will Kerry and Edwards square off against each other? "Hubert Humphrey and Ed Muskie, who comprised the unsuccessful Democratic presidential ticket in 1968, both sought their party's nomination in 1972." NPR discusses the possibility history may repeat itself. More
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The Tennesseean reports: "Tennessee Republicans are using a two-day Nashville visit by Howard Dean as a backdrop to link Gov. Phil Bredesen with a liberal agenda."
"The GOP is airing a radio commercial today and tomorrow that describes the Democratic governor as ''peas in a pod'' with Dean, national chairman of the Democratic Party, who is pegged as a ''Northeastern liberal.'" To me, it's fair game. It was Dean's idea to go to TN. In any event, we have to assume this is just the beginning.
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DailyKos has posted a very worthwhile interview with Michael Dukakis about the importance of grassroots politics.
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 Remember all the free publicity Oprah got when she gave away a new Pontiac G6 to every member of her studio audience? Well, many folks thought it would translate to car sales. Afterall, Oprah single-hadedly made Dr. Phil a star. And her book club has put numerous books on the NY Times Best Sellers List. Well, according to The Detroit Free Press, the car is a flop. Just goes to shoe you that all the "buzz" in the world can't sell a bad car.
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Democrat internet mastermind Joe Trippi is starting a new website asking donors for their email addresses -- and to pledge $100 to the 2008 Democrat nominee. The catch is that all the money will go to the first Democrat candidate who pledges NOT to accept contributions of more than $100. I'm not holding my breath. Any candidate who takes this pledge will be so broke that literally -- "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". But then again, I've been wrong before...
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The Center for a Just Society has published some terrific talking points concerning saving the life of Terri Schiavo. Any conservative who is going to be debating this issue ought to read them!
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Reagan's Revolution
 As you may know, I'm a huge fan of Lyn Nofziger. I like this picture from Craig Shirley's new book Reagan's Revolution. If you live in the DC area, you can meet Craig Shirley, the author, at an upcoming booksigning.
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Some Hispanic friends swear I look just like Spanish singer Christian Castro (I've heard Jakob Dylan, Ben Stiller, the guy from Office Space, DC Meteorologist Topper Shutt -- but this is new.) So what do you think? Can you tell the difference? 
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It's all about TIMING...
While I disagree with ending the death penalty, the folks who are in favor of it certainly understand the PR lesson called: "riding the wave." In short, timing is everything. Hotline: "The week before Easter, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops "is launching a campaign to end the use of the death penalty" in the US."
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"Palm Sunday Compromise" -- Good Use of the Metaphor
"Calling the bill a 'Palm Sunday Compromise' that will keep" Schiavo alive, House Maj. Leader Tom DeLay (TX) said, "It won't take a miracle to help Terri Schiavo. It will only take the medical care and therapy that all patients deserve." House Speaker Denny Hastert "presided over the three-hour debate, and he quoted Pope John Paul II on the subject of life-sustaining treatments" (Babington and Allen, Washington Post, 3/21).
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The Left is gearing up for some negative "attack" politics. According to The Hill:"Democratic House leaders are casting about for squeaky-clean congressional candidates -- even if they're long shots -- to challenge prominent GOP incumbents who have been tainted by news reports of their allegedly unseemly connection to lobbyists..." (...)
"Explicitly borrowing from the anti-corruption planks in Newt Gingrich's "Contract with America," and hoping to replicate the 1994 watershed victory that followed, the new plan suggests that Democratic leaders believe they need to weave themes of abuse of power into any successful campaign to recapture the House."
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New Rules May Apply to Web Ads, Bloggers' Endorsements...
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 Just when you thought all you could get from CMT were "drinkin'" and "cheatin'" songs -- CMT introduces: 20 GREATEST SONGS OF FAITH. Tune in to CMT Saturday at 8pm.
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The anti-life liberals over at DailyKos are upset with Sen. Reid. In fact, their current subject heading is: The Schiavo Compromise: Reid Blows ItHere's why they are upset: "I am pleased Senator Frist and I were able to pass the bill that protects the life of Terri Schiavo by allowing her parents to go to federal court. If the House Republicans refuse to pass our bipartisan bill, they bear responsibility for the consequences." - Harry Reid Here's what Kos has to say about Reid's quote:"...You, Sen. Reid, have just snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, letting the GOP off the hook for this sheer abuse of power and lunacy. This is simply a terrible terrible decision, not because it will hurt Dems, but because it doesn't allow the American people to have a clear view of how extremist and out of the mainstream the GOP is. I deplore your statement and fear you have made a terrible terrible mistake."
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"Godcasting is the latest advancement in online religion, in which preachers convert their sermons to audio to be heard on portable digital audio devices..."
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Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley is giving up his Irish rock band as he prepares to run for Governor of MD. The question is, does playing guitar in a rock band make a politician, "cool" and "in touch," -- or merely "childish"?
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Former Connecticut governor Rowland was sentenced to a year in prison today for a corruption scandal.
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 As part of our continuing effort to help make conservatives technologically advanced, we bring you Google Mobile. You can get directions, images, product prices and lots of other useful information on your web-enabled cell phone with Google Mobile.
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Feeding Tube Removed. A Sad Day for America.
 I cannot believe what I'm seeing... The attorney for Terri Schiavo's husband is on Fox right now spinning like you wouldn't believe. He says it would be, "cruel and unusual" to start feeding her again. He says to start feeding her again would be, "to trample on her rights." "We might have expected that from the majority party, but from the minority party, absolutely not..." Friends, the lines are being drawn in the culture war. Pick a side.
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"...In America today all big stories have three dimensions: a legal angle, a public-relations angle and a political angle. In the Schiavo case some of our politicians seem not to be fully appreciating the second and third. This is odd." More:
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 I wonder if this is legit? It appears someone on Ebay is trying to auction off a lunch with liberal Congressman Jim Moran (VA). It's not going well. I think the price is actually dropping...
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Dress for Political Success
 ...So I'm working on an article about how to dress for political success. I think this will be a good resource for political candidates. ...And if I can stop just one more candidate from doing the hair "comb-over" -- wearing white socks with a dark suit -- and buttoning both buttons on a sports jacket -- I'll have done my job. More to come...
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Keep the Internet "Free"
Sen. Harry Reid introduced a bill yesterday to exempt the Internet from campaign finance laws. The bill reads: Paragraph (22) of section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(22)) is amended by adding at the end of the following new sentence: "Such term shall not include communications over the Internet." Good work, Harry. Now, about that social security thing...
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Today's Washington Post:- VA Gubernatorial candidate Tim Kaine (D) proposes a tax break for homeowners...
- PA Governor Rendell clears the field for pro-life Democrat Casey to run for Senate...
- LA Democrat Senator Mary Landrieu signs on with Sen. Brownback to ban human cloning... Question: Are the liberals giving up? Or are they "pretending" to be conservative because they know liberalism doesn't "sell". Or (even more cynical) are they hibernating...just plotting to return nastier than before???
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According to Wonkette:"In a scheduling decision that speaks volumes about the decline of American newspapers over the last half-century, the National Press Club is holding an event called "How to be a White House Reporter" at 7 P.M. tonight." Guess I missed that one. THANKS MAUREEN!
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ForOurGrandchildren.org has some good talking points for 'ya on social security.
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Accuracy in Media reports that members of the White House Press Corps are dismissing "Gannongate." According to the article, the White House press corps has long attracted, "an array of unusual personalities." For example: "...Naomi Nover of 'Nover News Service' whose work no one ever saw published. 'Lester Kinsolving, conservative radio commentator, wore a clerical collar to White House briefings in the Reagan years,' she notes, 'His loud voice and off-beat, argumentative questions often provoked laughter.' The article points out that most reporters failed to place this story in the appropriate historical context.
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Matt's April Speaking Schedule
Upcoming events: -April 9-10, Wilmington, DE
-April 15, Harrisburg, PA (Pennsylvania Leadership Conference)
-April 23, Orange County, CA For more info, email Trainers@campaignleadership.com.  (No, I won't be playing guitar...sorry).
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John Edwards Starts Blog/Podcast
From National Journal's Hotline: "John Edwards announced on his One America Committee blog 3/16 that he "will post his very first podcast" on www.OneAmericaCommittee.com next week. Edwards wrote: "In case you aren't familiar with podcasting, don't worry -- I just learned more about it recently too." In the podcast, he will discuss "the fight against poverty and" answer questions from supporters. Edwards: "I'm going to keep utilizing new and different ways on the web to talk about the causes that we are committed to"
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Richard Cohen has a column in The Washington Post today called " Secretary of Spin," where he criticizes Karen Hughes: "...her uncanny ability to answer a question over and over again, each time with the same inflection, volume and, of course, words." Sorry, Mr. Cohen, that's called " staying on message." Getting your message out is not "manipulating" the media. Bottom line: The liberal media is mad because the Bush Administration is good at getting their message out.
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A "Lucky" Friendship
 Today, Matt Lewis & The News honors the friendship of Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neil. Matt Lewis & The News will drink a toast to the friendship at Murhphy's in Old Town at 5 pm. Are there any Democrats who'd like to join me?
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The Washington Times reports: "Congressional Republicans used a vintage Ford automobile to call attention Wednesday to the need for reforming the U.S. Social Security program."
"What worked in 1935 isn't going to work in 2035,' House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill, said while standing next to a refurbished Ford Three Window Coupe built in 1935, when Social Security was created."
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I've really gotten into The Boston Globe lately. For one thing, you don't have to give them your first-born child, social security number, and a finger print, just to read their online edition. The Globe's Jeff Jacoby has a column worth reading about how the "politically correct" crowd is attempting to change behavior by changing our language. According to Jacoby, in the near future: "The meanings and status associated with words like 'husband' and 'wife' will be erased from the law; most likely, the words themselves will be replaced in statutes with the unisex 'spouse,' just as 'father' and 'mother' will give way to 'parent.' "
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According to The Washington Post, (Rep.) "DeLay received a standing ovation when he addressed about 1,000 party donors at a National Republican Congressional Committee luncheon," yesterday. You have to hand it to who ever was coordinating the music: "DeLay strode in to the strains of "Still the One."
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 "Sons of successful men are almost always pushed to succeed, but something even more powerful seems to happen when the successful father falters. For young men, seeing their hero-dad fail is both a trauma and an opportunity to free themselves of the pressure that has bound them -- essentially by outdoing their dad." - Peter S. Canellos, Boston Globe
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Enough about PR techniques to " brand" a political candidate... The Boston Globe reports on how to " brand" America...
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I Second the Motion!
National Journal's Hotline:Free Congress Fndtn. chair Paul Weyrich "urged conservatives not to abandon (Tom DeLay)." Weyrich: "If we let him hang out to dry, how many others in leadership will ever risk trying to accomplish bold objectives? DeLay also needs our fervent prayers. This is spiritual warfare." Thank GOD for solid conservatives like Paul Weyrich. Now is the time for conservatives to rally behind Rep. DeLay.
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Dean Pushing Party Leftward?
 NY POST:"...Democratic parties -- in Colorado, North Carolina and Arkansas -- have dumped longtime party 'insiders' for liberal activists who promise to reconnect with the party's allegedly neglected 'grassroots.'"
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Michael Barone has a good review in the Washington Times of Major Garrett's new book ( The Enduring Revolution) about The Republican revolution of 1994. Barone praises Garrett for understanding that the 1994 campaign permanently reshaped the political landscape: "It is a maxim in politics that he who frames the issues tends to determine the outcome. The Contract with America and the Republican victory in 1994 framed many issues in ways that are still decisive; Mr. Garrett ingeniously notes that many of John Kerry's 2004 campaign stands were Contract-inspired."
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 Yesterday, I blogged about Bush's effective use of humor. Well, according to The Washington Post:"A joke President Bush told recently in Montana struck several readers as very familiar when it was recounted in yesterday's Style section. In Bush's telling, the joke involved a city slicker asking for directions in Livingston and being told to look for two "cattle guards." Now, everyone in cowboy country knows a cattle guard is a metal grate that keeps livestock from straying. But this fellow is so clueless, he asks: "Hey, what color uniforms do those cattle guards have on?"
"In 1978, when Dubya was running for Congress in Texas, the very same joke was on him. His Democratic opponent, Kent Hance, used that punch line to portray the 31-year-old Republican as a carpetbagging easterner. At a candidate forum, Hance got laughs by recounting how he'd given a lost motorist directions to a ranch, telling him to turn after seeing a cattle guard. And the man asks: "What color uniform will that cattle guard be wearing?" Hey, ain't nothin' wrong with recycling a good joke. Like Ronald Reagan used to say, "It's easier to change audiences than it is to change speeches."
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Bon Jovi Plays Well in S. VA?
 The Kilgore Gubernatorial campaign (VA) has come up with a clever idea to poke fun at their opponent... It seems they "unearthed" a campaign memorandum put out by the campaign of Democrat Tim Kaine. The memo, "lays out Tim Kaine's thoughts and strategies as he approaches his kick-off." Of course, it's really just a joke to point out how out-of-touch Kaine is with the rural voters of Southern Virginia. Here's a taste of the fun: Memorandum
To: Lt. Governor Tim Kaine/Kaine 2005 Campaign Staff
....Note to field staff: Can we do signs in camo? You know the stuff the soldiers wear. Look into it. Also, do we know people with accents? Besides Jerry Kilgore of course! What about NASCAR...
Attire: That camo stuff. Lots of it. And blaze orange. Is flannel still in?
Good Event Music: Livin' on a Prayer (Bon Jovi)."
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The Leftist website, DailyKos has launched a "YearlyKos Convention."
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Attacking a Good Man
 Boy, the liberals are really coming after Tom DeLay. They want to destroy him because he is a good man, worse yet, a Christian -- and even worse -- an extremely effective political leader. As if fighting off the Left weren't enough, Hotline reports that some Republicans are eyeing his leadership position: "...those 'who might succeed him have begun quietly positioning themselves to make a move if the opportunity arises." Let's keep Rep. DeLay in our thoughts and prayers as he endures these slings and arrows.
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 Humor works. President Bush is great on the stump. He's been getting some press lately for his ability to be humorous. According to The Washington Post: "Like many politicians, Bush has always used humor as an icebreaker or all-purpose tool of endearment..."
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Branding: Be "Distinct" or "Extinct"
 Well, I was just down at the Alexandria Barnes & Noble doing some reading. I'm especially proud that this time, Barnes & Noble didn't make a dime off of me -- not even a coffee... In any event, after being depressed by Tuesday's With Morrie, I was re-skimming Never Eat Alone when I came across the perfect line. It illustrates the point that in order to "brand" his image, a candidate must show clear contrast between himself and his opponent(s). The book makes the case more cleverly than I ever have: "Become distinct or become extinct..."Now why didn't I think of that line?!
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Today's Washington Post reports, "Rice's image-conscious staff has refined the way she is portrayed on television, compared with her predecessor, Colin L. Powell." 
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 National Journal's Hotline: Karen Hughes "plans to return to Washington soon to rejoin" Pres. Bush's WH staff. Hughes "has continued to advise Bush from her Texas home, particularly on major speeches and communications strategies, and she traveled with him during the most difficult days" of WH 2004. Fred Barnes of Fox News. says Hughes' return will help Bush with his "feminine side."
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Coming Soon...
Our interview with the charming and brilliant media expert, Genevieve Wood. Stay tuned... 
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The Leadership Institute's Advanced Internet Activist School is coming soon -- March 14-15, Arlington, VA!
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AOL's Fear Factor
 If I've said it once, I've said it 1000 times; logic leads people to conclusions, emotion leads people to action....And that's just what AOL is counting on with their new virus protection commercial. (You've probably seen the television commercials, where people are eluding to how much they enjoy receiving and dealing with viruses.) "I want to catch a virus that will make my computer freeze up like a banana daiquiri," says one woman. While the commercials are "cute" they are also meant to "scare" the viewer into action. Now fear isn't always a bad thing. There are legitimate things to be afraid of -- and getting a computer virus is no picinic. Public service announcements have also found it effective to "scare" viewers about the dangers of smoking and AIDS. But the point is that AOL is using a very effective marketing technique -- fear. They could have made a very logical commercial that simply says, "Virus protection is an important and responsible thing to have." Instead, they chose to barge into an episode of The Simpsons with an interruption that makes you "feel" violated -- like the feeling you get when you've got a computer virus. In marketing -- as in politics -- emotion sells.
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"Leno-naide?"
 Matt Lewis & The News, normally a Letterman fan, tips his Washington National's hat to Jay Leno this week. Subpoenaed to appear as a defense witness in the Michael Jackson trial, Leno was issued a gag order prohibiting him from talking about Michael Jackson (one of the easiest marks ever for a late night comedian). But to put it simply, when handed a lemon, Leno decided to make "leno-naide"... Jay has turned this whole thing into a PR circus for him. Every night he brings in a different "guest" comedian to do the Michael Jackson jokes. The whole thing is so ridiculous that it's entertaining. And, at the very least, it's earned Leno a lot of free publicity. By finding a creative solution, Leno has earned the free publicity he is receiving.
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"The Dan"
On his last day as host of CBS Evening News, Hotline has posted some old quotes from Dan Rather. This was my favorite one: "In Texas, one of the worst things you can do is send your wife out to try to defend you" -- Dan Rather on Ken Lay, Hotline, 2/7/02.
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Listen to NPR's interview with Ari Fleischer on his new book, Taking Heat.
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Michael Moore's War Room
 Vanity Fair has a good article about Michael Moore. It's easy for us to write him off now...since Bush won. That's a mistake. The thing I found most interesting is just how political he is. ...I don't mean ideology -- everyone knows he's a Leftist -- I mean how "political" he is in terms of tactics. Here's an example from the article: After one of Moore's friends overhears someone say that "he's going to recommend to Eisner not to distribute 9/11," Moore turns into James Carville: "So he (Michael Moore) went into war-room mode...Lehane plotted their very next step: call The New York Times, give them the story of Eisner's defection. Then the 10 members of the war room, which was financed in part by the Weinsteins, began work in earnest. A comprehensive fact sheet entitled, 'Opponents' was typed up, complete with details. 'The decision was made that it is better to be on the offense scoring points than on the defense being scored upon,' says a war-room insider. 'The first imperative,' he adds, 'was always to be on the attack.' Three weeks after the Eisner story broke, Moore was the toast of Cannes."
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"Learning to Win" vs. "Just be Yourself"
 There is this constant feud in politics between the people who want to let candidates "just be themselves" -- and the folks who want to script every last detail. In truth, it comes down to a compromise. Clearly, Ronald Reagan studied how to be a good communicator. According to his aides, he spent hours rehersing his speeches so that they would look, "natural". But during the first Mondale debate, Reagan was "over-prepped" and thus, didn't do well. So folks started saying, "Let Reagan be Reagan" -- and he won in a landslide. The reason I have always disliked the, "just be yourself" rhetoric is that it's a convenient excuse to not improve. It's easy to say: "Hey man, I'm just being myself..." The key is to learn all you can about politics and message -- but never let go of where you came from -- because voters can spot a "phony" a mile a way (and that's why Al Gore lost). ...And that leads me to this quote from Tony Blankley. I found it on Hotline: Regarding Al Gore: I think he was a guy who, from the time he was born, was being groomed for president. He was proper. He combed his hair neatly. ... He kept his weight down. He did everything he was supposed to do. And then he lost. And then he lost it and he thought, I'm going to be me. And me is this kind of goofy left-wing guy calling the president a betrayer. ... And by his performance in 2004, he precluded being a serious candidate" ("Hardball," 3/7).
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 Chuck Todd of the National Journal has an interesting column out this week titled: Does Word Choice Trump The Issues?. I recommend reading the article, but the question asked is do Democrats face a marketing problem or a positioning problem? The Marketing Problem "There's a group of Democrats who believe the party is now in the minority because its ideas have been marketed and branded poorly. This group includes House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who has become enamored with the work of linguistics experts like George Lakoff." The Positioning Problem "On the other side of this debate, there are Democrats who believe personality matters more than marketing. These are the Democrats who are open to pro-life candidates running for the Senate in places like Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Louisiana. This group subscribes to the mantra preached (though not really practiced) by former President Bill Clinton, which states it's better to be "wrong and strong" than "weak and right."
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 I've often encouraged conservatives to use the internet to involve voters in the discussion. The downside is that your opponents will attempt to skew the results. (On my last campaign, we encouraged folks to help us decide which TV ad would be our first. The thing is, we felt both ads were equally good. So we weren't afraid of our opponents' "fixing" the election.) A story in today's RollCall demonstrates the pitfalls of online polling: Quick Poll. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) has removed a poll on his Web site that didn’t go his way. The question in his online poll asked, “Do you support the creation of voluntary Personal Retirement Accounts as a part of Social Security reform?” Answering yes were 9.2 percent of respondents; 90.8 percent clicked “No, Social Security should not be reformed to include Personal Retirement Accounts for Individuals.”
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The best ways to get news coverage involve 1. Creativity, 2. Timing, and along those lines, 3. Throw in a splash of what I call "riding the wave" (latching on to a story that's happening with -- or without -- you) -- and you've got news coverage. By holding a fundraiser to celebrate Dan Rather's last broadcast -- Rep. Tom Feeney is covering all three bases. For more info, read today's story in The Hill.
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"Garrett M. Graff, who writes a blog about the news media in Washington, has a pass for the daily White House press briefing today."
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AP STORY: "Reliance on the Internet for political news during last year's presidential campaign grew sixfold from 1996, while the influence of newspapers dropped sharply, according to a study issued Sunday." More
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Book review coming... 
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 MSN has posted their list of the 10 Most Powerful American Women.Let's skip past Hillary and Pelosi -- and see if we can pick up a few leadership lessons from Condi.
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How to "Talk" Religious...
Fox News reports Howard Dean opened up a meeting in Mississippi with a prayer for our soldiers in Iraq. Obviously, praying for our soldiers is a noble thing to do, but most would doubt Dr. Dean's sincerity. Make no mistake. The Left in America is attempting to learn how to talk religious. They are currently reading briefing books and attending lectures on the subject. For more info, read: How Democrats can talk of Religion.Look, politics is about building coalitions. That means reaching out to a diverse audience and bringing folks together. And of all people, I certainly value the importance of using language to get your message out. But the big secret in communications is that you can't sell something you don't believe in. There's a story about Mike Deaver trying to get Ronald Reagan to pose with his blazer slyly draped over his shoulder (the way JFK did). Reagan (who usually followed Deaver's advice) flatly refused to do it because 1. He wasn't comfortable with it, and 2. As a trained actor, Reagan knew that folks can sense if you're faking it. Communications training is great, but you've got to be sincere. You can't "pander" because voters can spot a phony -- and that's the trouble with Howard Dean and the Democrat Party.
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Teaching Elephants to Tango???
 Someone recently posted this review of my book at Amazon.com.Teaching elephants to tango, March 1, 2005"If Matt Lewis ran all campaigns, every election cycle grown men would flip on the news and cry like babies. Children would fly down the banister on Christmas morning and find a tax break in their stocking and fewer illegal immigrants in their Easter basket. A fine line must be drawn between emotional appeal in an election and PMS on parade, Matt Lewis attempts to walk that tight rope." Well, at least this person gave me 4 out of 5 stars. I still have to wonder: ...So do you think this is a compliment...or not???
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LBJ's Lesson: Hang a Lantern on Your Problem
 I'm re-skimming a great old book about Lyndon Johnson called The Path to Power. This influential book by Robert A. Caro basically became Lee Atwater's bible. According to Caro, one day LBJs father was schooling him on how to deal with the fact that LBJ was starting his political career as an outsider. Sam taught his son an old political maxim that I would refer to as: "Hang a lantern on your problem." Here is what he told him: "If the leaders were against him, he told his son, stop trying to conceal the fact; emphasize that -- in a dramatic fashion. If he was behind in the race, emphasize that -- in a dramatic fashion. If he was younger than the other candidates, emphasize that." This tactic has worked for many politicians over the years. Here's one example: Jimmy Carter's weakness was that he was an outsider from the South. So what does he do? He runs -- and wins -- as an "outsider from the South". So how did LBJ put this to work in a practical fashion? "If no leader would introduce Lyndon, Sam said, he should stop searching for mediocre adults as substitutes, but instead should be introduced by a young child, an outstanding young child. And the child should introduce him not as an adult would introduce him, but with a poem..."
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Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs...
 Last night, I brought some folks to a Town Hall meeting to support President Bush -- and FIX Social Security. The reason I've included this picture is to demonstrate the importance of visuals. In politics, a picture is worth a thousand words...
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I had a chance to catch Richard Mason of AmericansforRice.com on Fox & Friends this morning. Richard attended some of my communications training at CPAC the other week -- and it must have worked because he did a terrific job.
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The Washington Post reports that Moveon.org is hosting a "Talent Search With a Liberal Twist". "The liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org announced this week that it is sponsoring a nationwide contest to develop an Internet ad attacking the Bush administration's plans to restructure Social Security." Moveon.org is totally wrong when it comes to the issues. But they do understand that the information age is really the "empowerment age".
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Why Leaders Must be Networkers
 It's vital that conservative leaders learn to be good networkers. Some people, like my friend Tygh Bailes, are born being good networkers. Tygh's secret is that he genuinely cares about people, and it shows. Others have to work at learning how to network. Frequently, when you think of "networking" you think about trivial events like cocktail parties. But according to Keith Ferrazzi's book, Never Eat Alone, the ability of a leader to network may have dramatic consequences. For example, Ferrazzi talks about Paul Revere: "Revere’s connections were crucial to him that fateful night...Chased by Redcoats, Revere was diverted north of Lexington, to the town of Medford. Because he knew the head of Medford’s military, Revere rode to his house and warned him. With the militiaman’s help, Revere alerted the town of Medford before heading to Lexington." Okay, fair enough. But what happens when you don't have a network? "Most of us know the Lexington part of the story. Less known is that on the same night that Revere made his midnight ride, a man named William Dawes went galloping off in the other direction to muster the militias to the west of Boston. Revere’s ride stirred up an army, while something like three people showed up from the towns Dawes visited. Why? Revere was a connector: He knew everybody, and so was able to storm into one village after another, banging on all the right doors and calling out all the right people by name." Paul Revere is rightly honored because he was a courageous patriot. But most folks don't realize that he was successful because he was a good networker...
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Character is Destiny
The Hill reports that Sen. John McCain is working on writing a new book. This one is sort of a Profiles in Courage. The title will be Character is Destiny: True Stories Every Child Should Know...
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 Some of our newer readers probably wonder: "Why is Matt doing this"? For many years now, I have worked with top-notch conservative groups to train candidates and activists how to be more effective. I came to realize is that training is very important. In fact, "Being right isn't enough to win". "Political success is determined, over time, by the number of effective activists on the given sides". While I became a HUGE believer in the transforming power of training, I also started to see some things that could be done to make the training even more effective. My theory is this: 1. People put too much stock in "events" and too little stock in "process". In other words, we tend to believe attending conference or a seminar and it will totally transform them. Now don't get me wrong, I am a HUGE believer in attending training conferences. But studies show that people only retain a small percentage of the information they learn at training conferences. 2. To me, a training conference is really a catalyst for change. Someone once said, "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." Now, when I train conservatives at conferences, my real goal is to have them make a commitment to continue reading and learning how to be effective. And the good news is that this site is devoted to that very purpose. 3. People learn by habit. I once heard a preacher say, "Men don't determine their futures. Men decide their habits, and their habits determine their future." Well, if we can get more conservative leaders in the habit of learning about campaigns and communications, we will ultimately have a better chance of electing good men and women to office. 4. People like it when you're topical. One of the things I really like about this blog -- and the weekly emails, Teaching Elephants to Talk Tips, is that we can comment on current events (as they relate to campaigns and PR).
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Tom DeLay on Leadership
Today's Washington Post includes a story about Rep. Tom DeLay. Although they probably didn't intend it to be flattering, the article illustrates the fact that Rep. DeLay is a terrific leader. During re-districting, Rep. DeLay could have created a "safe seat" for himself. Instead, he led by example. To me, a great leader must demonstrate he is willing to sacrifice for the common good -- particularly if he's asking others to sacrifice. Here's a quote from the article: "When you're drawing the lines, you have to set the example," DeLay explained late last week as he traveled his district during the Presidents' Day recess. "If you're going to maximize the number of Republicans that are elected, everybody can't have an 80 percent district. If you're the guy that's sort of leading the effort, you can't tell your members, 'Well, I'm going to dilute yours, but I'm going to pack mine.' " Famed leadership expert (and author) John Maxwell says that, "In order for a leader to go up, he must be willing to give up." Kudos to Tom DeLay for his willingness to sacrifice for the movement. If we had more Republicans like him, there's no telling what we could accomplish... 
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 I recently stumbled upon a VERY GOOD but VERY LIBERAL website called PoliticalStrategy.org. (Note, our website is about LEADERSHIP -- not just STRATEGY. Well, it seems that one of their goals is "Teaching Donkeys to Talk" the values talk. Here is a taste: "And, avoid using their language at all costs. If discussing taxation, do not use the term 'tax relief', 'death tax', or 'marriage penalty'. If discussing abortion, do not use the term 'partial-birth', and so on. Using their language elicits, legitimizes, and strengthens their frames, not yours. In addition, by using their language, you subject yourself to a constant evaluation of your position through the filter of their frame. this is the last thing you want." ...SO why am I telling you about this website? 1. Political technology is philosophically neutral. In short, you can learn something about politics from them -- just don't buy into their liberal agenda. 2. As Sun Tzu said, "know thy enemy as thy self." It's good to know what the other side is up to.
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Getting Candidates to "Get It"
Bob in Illinois writes: "Matt, Please address us non-paid dedicated volunteer operatives how we can get the candidates to be honest and realistic about their candidacy and not live in wishful thinking."I hope to be able to pull my thoughts together on this one and create a cogent email on this some day. And I've actually considered writing a book about Campaign Leadership -- which would address many of these same concenrs. Until then, I have this blog. Here are my initial thoughts: - Thank God for people like you. I know a ton of people who are political junkees -- and it's still hard to find "activists" willing to roll up their sleeves. Thank you for what you do for the cause! - To paraphrase my mentor, Morton Blackwell, "Upon filing for office, a candidate promptly loses several IQ points." What Morton is trying to say is that candidates are too close to the situation to analyze it. In short, they tend make decisions based on emotion. - Reading Bob's email, it was obvious he was very intelligent and had good political smarts. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people who give out free advice don't know what they're talking about. As a person who does campaigns, I can tell you that every person you meet wants to tell you how to run the campaign (never mind the fact that you have polling information that says differently). - For this reason, candidates are trained (by their managers, usually) not to follow unsolicited advice. Often, this is smart because every person who gives you advice won't be Karl Rove. However, the down side is that many people who volunteer their time on campaigns are actually smarter than the so-called "professionals". - My advice to Bob is this: Be as diplomatic and persuasive as possible. Read some good books like How to Win Friends & Influence People and Influence, The Psychology of Persuasion. Try your best. But if you reach a point where the candidate still won't listen, do not waste your time. You can lead a horse to water...
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The Washington Post is reporting that Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) of Indiana wants you to help decide what color to paint his campaign RV. Asking supporters to "vote" on things -- even on a paint job -- is a good way of using the internet to encourage supporters to get involved in your campaign. To vote on the add, go to votervone.com.
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Halle Berry isn't a politician, but she could be. She was very smart to show up in person to accept the Razzie Award for Worst Actress for her performance in Catwoman. Public figures earn points by using self deprecating humor. Insecure politicians can't make fun of themselves. Good ones can. 
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"I have finally figured out why the Pope continues to put up with pro-abortion Catholics such as Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and Mario Cuomo. He doesn’t want to go down in history as The Great Excommunicator." - Lyn Nofziger
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 I'm very excited about a new project we're about to launch for our premium members. Once a month we will be posting an interview with a conservative political expert. This is an excellent resource for conservatives who are looking for ways to continue to educate themselves and become even more effective. Our first interview is with political consultant/media expert Paul Wilson of Wilson Grand. Paul is without a doubt one of the most innovative and knowledgeable media gurus out there. This interview will be posted in the next day or so. Paul, thanks for being our first interview!
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