You Gotta Have Heart

I've long argued that logic leads to conclusions and emotion leads to action. Well, in that regard, Drew Westin's WaPost op-ed is on point:

To understand why Democrats have had such a hard time winning the White House, consider two scenes from last week's CNN/YouTube debate. First, Sen. Chris Dodd offered a highly precise response to a question about energy: "The 50-mile-per-gallon standard is something I've advocated by 2017." Then former senator John Edwards told a moving story about a man who couldn't speak for 50 years because of a severe cleft palate: "For five decades, James Lowe lived in the richest nation on the planet not able to talk because he couldn't afford the procedure that would've allowed him to talk."

Which appeal was more compelling? Which one grabbed you in the gut?

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Shameless Self Promotion ...

I've got quotes today in the WaPost's "On The Trail" and the NY Times about campaign technology ...

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Don't Talk "Process"

Remember my post a few days ago?

Well, McCain is taking my advice:

"I will not respond to any more questions about process ..."

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Why Even Losing Campaigns Can Change America

David Broder makes a good point in his column today:

Unsuccessful campaigns can have that long-term benefit for their party, but only if the losing candidate identifies himself with much larger causes. For McGovern, the causes were peace abroad and reform of the Democratic Party at home. For Goldwater, it was conservatism in its contemporary definition -- low taxes, strong defense and skepticism about government.

It was the idealism of their campaigns -- and their willingness to defy the pollsters and the political odds -- that endeared them to their young followers. And their vindication came with the successes those followers achieved.

There's a lesson in this for those running for president today. There is more than one way to measure a successful campaign. Pragmatism -- setting positions to suit the current political winds -- can yield short-term victories. But sticking to principle can build a legacy for a generation.

I've long preached that losing campaigns can still have an impact on the movement. This column says it better than I ever did.

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National Political Environment Assessment

Wilson Research Strategies just releast a new assessment of the national political environment. You can check it out here.

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Rudy and the IAFF

I've got a new piece up in Politico about Rudy vs. the Firefighters Union.

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Another Trick?

The key to Obama's small donor numbers.

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How Not to Handle a Scandal

WaPost: How Not to Handle a Scandal (scroll half way down the page) ...

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So Off-Base

My good friend Jim Eltringham tells me he's been noticing a disturbing trend: More and more candidates are talking like political strategists or pundits.

As an example, he points to this quote from MKH's post about John McCain's blogger call today:

"We just totally dispirited our base with the spending and the corruption that goes on...

Our base became dispirited and didn't do the things you have to do to win an election...

Using this sort of rhetoric is a double-sin. For one thing, it's "inside baseball" (no real people talk about their "base") -- secondly, it's divisive-sounding.

A good rule of thumb is that candidates should avoid talking like strategists.

As Jim points out, if McCain had said: "The American people trusted us to make government smaller, we didn't do it, and they let us know it," he would have sounded like he was appealing to everyone -- not just the "base."

BTW, this isn't just a McCain problem. Sadly, more and more candidates are talking like strategists.

I'm not against keeping your base happy; far from it. What I am against is having our candidates use this sort of "inside baseball" rhetoric.

Can you imagine Reagan ever talking about keeping his "base" happy?

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Rudy and Baseball

A creative way to fundraise.

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TechRepublican

If you are one of the few people interested in politics and technology who haven't been to TechRepublican, do yourself a favor and GO! My friends Patrick Ruffini and David All are just two of the top-notch contributors ...

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McCain Now an Object Lesson on Bad PR

Here's the latest:

Another McCain Staffer Departs - "Mary Kate Johnson, the finance director for Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign, has resigned -- joining a stampede of senior staff on Tuesday."

... There are so many political maxims they are breaking that it's almost a perfect object lesson in what not to do. In this case, they should have gotten all the bad news out at once. As a friend emailed me: "Why the constant bleeding?"

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2 Things

Two things for you today:

1. Tech Tip - Check this out. It's pretty neat. it transcribes message for you, so I can call it and tell it i want to jott myself, then it records whatever I say, transcribes it, and emails it to me ...

2. Leadership Tip - John McCain's campaign manager is out. This is what happens when there is not a clearly defined chain of command. Of course, it is preferable for the campaign manager to actually have the authority to manage the campaign. But what is the worst case scenario for any political campaign is for there to be confusion about who is in charge ... (Heck, he even reportedly complained about wearing seaters).

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A Couple SoCa Pics

Just got back from Southern California. I hit LA, the OC, La Jolla, and Carlsbad ...

Here's the sunset from the deck of George's on the Cove in La Jolla.
... And here's a shot from Torrey Pines State Park.

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"Breathtaking Arrogance"

As Marc Ambinder points out, pick your headlines carefully ...

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