Washington Watch
3rd District Race in Spotlight
The Politico points to the May 10 party nominating convention in Utah's 3rd Congressional District race between Rep. Chris Cannon, David Leavitt, and Jason Chaffetz as an example of the perils and advantages such nominating conventions represent for incumbents and challengers.
Cannon: Energy Act Will Hurt
Rep. Chris Cannon voted against HR 6, the Energy Independence and Security Act, and said: “The federal mandates will harm consumers, slow the economy, and impose unrealistic alternative fuel expectations. These mandates do not represent a responsible energy policy (and) will mean higher prices at the pump and further delay in releasing us from the grip of foreign oil. This wrong-headed policy will be felt on America’s dinner tables as well, as food prices rise because of federal ethanol mandates. This bill is bad science, bad policy, and bad economics. For Utah, this bill is especially onerous. This legislation will stop oil shale development on federal lands and cost Utahns billions of dollars." (Read press release.)
Hatch: Modernize FISA
Sen. Orrin Hatch delivered speeches supporting efforts to modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. He defended immunity against litigation for telecommunications companies and rebuffed criticism of those “seeking to incite fear of alleged government activities.”
Regional Politics
Reid Fails to Block Plants
Associated Press: "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid failed to get language into a year-end spending bill that could have blocked new coal plants in Nevada by boosting air quality requirements at Great Basin National Park."
Today in Political History
Dec. 19, 1776: “These are the times that try men’s souls”, writes Thomas Paine in his first “American Crisis” essay. (Source: NBC5)
Dec. 19, 1984: Britain and China sign an accord returning Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997. (New York Times)
Dec. 19 1998: President Bill Clinton is impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives. (Source: Perspicuity)
Wise Words
“I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.”
-- Thomas Paine, The Crisis, (Source: Patriot Post)
Communications Tip
Staying on Message
Your main message is the most important information to communicate to your audience. It's the whole reason you developed a communications plan, gave an interview, or wrote a news release in the first place. Here are some tips on how to get your main message through the clutter:
Keep it clear. It's vital that you're clear on exactly what your message is, and why it's urgent to get it across to the public. To identify your core argument, ask yourself: "What do I care most about?" Also ask: "Why should the audience care?"
Keep it simple. Your main message can have several points to it, though it's best to have no more than three. The more points you try to cram in, the harder it will be for your audience to identify them, and the weaker their effect will be. You want each part of your message to be easily identifiable in your news releases, Web sites, etc.
Keep repeating it. Weaving your message into everything you do takes practice. In the world of public relations, this is known as spin. The key is consistency. Decide on two or three main points, and use them -- either word-for-word or paraphrased -- in all the answers you give, all the news releases you write, all the emails you send. If you can, use facts and figures. These are indisputable, and give credibility to your spin. (Source: Media Awareness)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- Washington Post: Columnist E.J. Dionne: "The Democratic contest in Iowa ... hangs on whether Hillary Clinton can use the next two weeks to encourage second thoughts about Barack Obama ... A month and a half ago, Clinton was widely seen as the inevitable victor. Now, she faces a moment of great peril."
-- Des Moines Register: Columnist David Ypsen: All the focus on the battles in Iowa between Clinton/Obama and Romney/Huckabee "tends to overlook two other candidates: Democrat John Edwards and Republican Fred Thompson. They're both showing real potential to come up fast here at the end."
-- National Review: Columnist David Fredosso: "After a full year of partisan rancor and insubstantial political votes taken on the House floor, [Nancy Pelosi's Democratic majority] is crashing on several important deadlines this week as members prepare to leave for Christmas. And Pelosi is about to be owned by the Republican minority. That's right: By the end of this week, she will likely have lost five major legislative battles, almost simultaneously."
-- The Politico: "The inability of the Democrats ... to change Iraq war policy is the definitive loss of this congressional session. But ... a variety of traditional Democratic allies made major gains. Trial lawyers, labor unions, good governance reformers and the environmental community all achieved significant wins since Democrats took control of Congress."
Blog Watch
-- Rep. Steve Urquhart discusses the current status of budget talks between the House, Senate, and Gov. Huntsman as the three gear up for the '08 Legislative Session. (See also related Senate Site post.)
-- Jesse Harris explains why "the real culprits of low teacher compensation" in Utah are "school administrators and teachers unions."
-- Bill Keshlear is unhappy with the amount of coverage being lavished on Mitt Romney by "Republican editor Joe Cannon and his Deseret Morning News."
-- David Fletcher posts his top 10 list for IT accomplishments in Utah state government in '07.
Lighter Side
History’s Regrettable Quotes
(Great Quotes)
-- "There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home." Kenneth Olsen, President and founder of Digital Equipment Corp., in 1977
-- "Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value." Marshal Ferdinand Foch, French Military Strategist and Future World War 1 Commander, in 1911
-- "(Man will never reach the Moon) regardless of all future scientific advances." Dr Lee De Forest, inventor of the Audion Tube and Father of Radio, in 1926 |
