Lincoln’s Sword
Effective communications is essential to success in politics. Now a terrific new book looks at how Abraham Lincoln used his writing and literary skills to his political advantage. Lincoln’s Sword, by Lincoln scholar Douglas L. Wilson, “tells the story of how Lincoln developed his writing skills, how they served him for a time as a hidden presidential asset, how it gradually became clear that he possessed a formidable literary talent, and it reveals how writing came to play an increasingly important role in his presidency.”
A friend of mine, Gary Lawrence, a California pollster who has done a lot of work in Utah, sent me (and other of his clients) a copy of the book as a Christmas gift. Writes Gary, “You’ll … find how Lincoln used ‘aw shucks’ stories from his rural background to illustrate a point, educate the listener, or defuse anger. Reagan had to have learned it from Lincoln. And then we have … targeting (responding to Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, but placing it in a competing newspaper), strategy (inviting underestimation: his ‘yahoo’ persona was a means to an end), and metaphors that run from goodies to groaners – ‘broken eggs cannot be mended”, “I can ride on now; I’ve got a pumpkin in each end of my bag’ (when Chase and Seward both resigned from the Cabinet, balancing each other out), and ‘Uncle Sam’s Web-feet’ (the Navy).” Read editorial reviews at Amazon.com.
Washington Watch
Cannon: Pro-Family Efforts Recognized
Rep. Chris Cannon is recognized "as a 'True Blue' Member of Congress by FRC Action and Focus on the Family Action for his unwavering commitment to the family" (see press release).
Legislative Preview
The University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics is hosting a legislative session preview Thursday at noon. Sen. Pat Jones and Rep. Carol Spackman Moss will participate.
SUWA Opposes Corridors Plan
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance is urging its members to attend a public meeting in SLC on Thursday to voice their opposition to a Dept. of Energy plan that would create over 6,000 miles of energy corridors through public lands in eleven western states. Says SUWA: "Thousands of acres of Utah’s scenic public lands are in the draft plan’s cross-hairs, including Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Arches National Park and remote and scenic proposed wilderness areas including Goldbar Canyon, Duma Point, and Hatch Canyon." For more info, click here.
Today in Political History
Jan. 16, 1786: The Virginia Legislature adopts the Ordinance of Religious Freedom, which guaranteed that no man would be forced to attend or support any church. This mandate later became the model for the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Jan. 16, 1920: The 18th Amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting alcohol, was ratified by the 36th state on Jan. 16, 1919, and became effective on this date. (Source: Perspicuity)
Jan. 16, 1991: The White House announces the start of Operation Desert Storm to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. (New York Times)
Wise Words
“I have always claimed Americans didn't want a drink as bad as they wanted the right to take a drink if they did happen to want one.”
-- Will Rogers (Source: Quote Garden)
Communications Tip
Be a Good Listener
Political success depends on voters feeling that you really care. Showing you care requires being a good listener. The first skill that you can practice to be a good listener is to act like a good listener. We have spent a lot of our modern lives working at tuning out all of the information that is thrust at us. It therefore becomes important to change our physical body language from that of a deflector to that of a receiver, much like a satellite dish. Our faces contain most of the receptive equipment in our bodies, so it is only natural that we should tilt our faces towards the channel of information. (Source: Resources.net)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- Slate: Columnist John Dickerson: "So we're back to square one in the Republican Party. ... [T]here have now been three major GOP contests and three different comeback winners. At this rate, Thompson will win South Carolina and Giuliani Florida. The GOP primary is starting to look like a Pee Wee soccer tournament: Everyone gets a trophy!"
-- Associated Press: John McCain vows he'll win in South Carolina on Saturday.
-- The Hill: "The three leading Democratic presidential candidates opted for civility and contrition in Tuesday night's Nevada debate in the aftermath of a nasty racial storyline that marred their nominating contest in recent days."
-- The Politico: Barack Obama is winning the support of Democratic politicians "who have won statewide in places where Republicans dominate presidential politics. Among a barrage of prominent statewide elected officials to back Obama publicly this month is Arizona governor Janet Napolitano, and U.S. Sens. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Tim Johnson of South Dakota."
Blog Watch
-- At Out of Context, Thomas Burr relates: "In an unusual moment of spontaneity, Mitt Romney wandered back to the press section of the plane [Monday] night just before take off to chat. His first remark: 'Lisa Riley Roche!' 'You all are wondering, who is Lisa Riley Roche. She is the Olympic reporter,' Romney told the seated journalists, praising the Deseret Morning News reporter. 'I saw Lisa everyday for three years -- almost everyday, for a long, long time. Well, it's good to see you again after all these years.' ... Romney gave yours truly a cursory glance, indicating he either has no clue who I am or doesn't care for that other, non-Mormon owned paper in Utah."
Lighter Side
Some 2,500 car geeks weighed in when asked to name the worst car design of all time. Here are the top five worse designs, with comments: 1. AMC Pacer. “Six feet long, eight feet wide, bicycle tires all around – and 0 to 60 in 4.5 hours.” 2. Yugo. “A car that fell apart while your drove.” 3. Ford Pinto. “My neighbor had a vanity plate that read IXPLODE.” 4. Pontiac Aztek. “There must have been a front-end design team and a rear-end design team, and the two never spoke.” 5. Chevrolet Vega. “The beginning of the downfall of the world’s greatest automaker.” (Business Week)
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