Washington Watch
Hatch, Cannon Websites Honored
The senate and congressional websites of Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Chris Cannon receive the Gold and Silver Mouse awards, respectively, from the Congressional Management Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan management consulting and research organization (see Hatch and Cannon press releases).
Community Change Councils
In its latest newsletter, the United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL) says it has organized four Community Change Councils and is bringing together skilled professionals from government, business, faith groups, nonprofits, and the private sector to address critical social issues. Bruce Reese, president and CEO of Bonneville International, serves as the overall Community Change Councils Chair. To learn more about the Change Councils, read UWSL's newsletter.
Today in Political History
Jan. 15, 1870: A Thomas Nast political cartoon first symbolizes the Democratic Party with a donkey. (Source: NBC5)
Jan. 15, 1929: Martin Luther King, Jr. is born on this date. The national holiday, "Martin Luther King Day", is celebrated the third Monday in January.
Jan. 15, 1973: Citing progress in peace negotiations, President Richard Nixon announces the suspension of offensive action in North Vietnam. (Source: Perspicuity)
Wise Words
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
-- Martin Luther King, Jr. (Source: Brainy Quote)
Campaign Tip
Think Goals and Audiences
“Think about the ends before you think about the means. BEFORE you start any communications project, online or off, ALWAYS stop to think about what your ultimate goal is and who your audience is — your goals and your audience should drive your tactics. Who are you trying to reach? What will you be asking them to do? Are there intermediate targets that need to be reached first? A campaign designed to motivate college students to vote will probably be structured very differently than a campaign designed to encourage senior citizens to put pressure on their state legislators about Medicaid long-term care coverage. Your online campaign, whether for advocacy or office, is much more likely to succeed if you’ve thought about these basic questions FIRST. Never be afraid to try something, but please please please THINK before you act.” (Source: E-Politics)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- TIME: Columnist Michael Duffy: "Whenever longtime Democrats gather to note how the chemistry and calculus of the 2008 campaign seem to favor their party this year, one or another will always add some version of the following: 'Yeah, but we could screw this up before it's over.' After the past few days, the pertinent question to ask is, is the crack-up happening already? Far-fetched as it would have seemed a month ago, the seeds of self-destruction are being planted in the war of coded words about race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama."
-- Commentary Magazine: Columnist/blogger Fred Siegel: "The Hillary/Obama race vs. gender dustup has just given the country a taste of why the Democratic Party spent so many years in the wilderness. The game of competitive victimization reminds swing voters in general and white men in particular why the Democrats can be problematic."
-- The Politico: "Competition between two of the modern Republican party's most essential impulses -- strength on national defense and conservative stands on issues of values and faith -- have seldom been put in starker relief than in the McCain-Huckabee showdown" in South Carolina.
-- RealClearPolitics: Columnist Barry Casselman: "The 2008 presidential nominating contests are going to be remembered as a cycle of political 'musical chairs.' The subtitle of this show might be a variant of Andy Warhol's famous dictum, i.e., 'Everyone gets fifteen minutes as the frontrunner.'"
Lighter Side
“I’m will follow Osama Bin Laden to the gates of hell and I will shoot him with your products.”
-- John McCain, campaigning at a Smith @ Wesson factory (Campaign & Elections Magazine)
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