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Outdoor Training
 Last weekend in the O.C. I had a difficult problem. 1. The weather was great... 2. We were conducting a campaign training seminar... This is what I came up with...
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 If you ever doubted whether or not training conservatives to run campaigns is worth it...meet Carlos Bustamante..
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THESE INTERVIEWS ROCK
I just finished 2 super interviews. SOON TO BE POSTED...- Campaign Expert Interview: Gary Marx worked for the Bush Campaign, heading up their outreach to conservative coalitions. Currently, he is heading The Judicial Confirmation Network. - Author Interview: Reagan's revolution didn't begin when he took office in 1980, but in his failed presidential challenge to Gerald Ford in 1976. Author Craig Shirley will talk with us about his book, Reagan's Revolution, and the campaign that changed America.  THEY SHOULD BE POSTED SOON!!!
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Consider this an OPEN THREAD...
You can have your Wonkette, your Agitator, and your Drudge Report.. Those sites don't have a comments section, and that's fine...but we're trying to build a community, here... I just read an article about blogging that said that only seven percent of the folks who read political blogs ever post comments. To me, that number seems high. We average only about 2 or 3 comments per blog. In short, a fraction of a percentage of the people who read this blog ever comment. I want this to be a dialogue -- not just a monologue. So if you're out there and you are debating whether or not to chime in... We're Ready to Believe You!
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Recommended Listening: Washingtonpost.com's Terry Neal asks conservative pollster and wordsmith Frank Luntz about the legitimacy of using words to change public opinion on issues like the estate tax.
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California Dreamin'
Sorry for the lack of posts. Flying across the country is never easy. Last night I spoke for the Republican Party of Irvine, CA. (This weekend, I'll be doing some training for CA conservatives in Orange County, or as we say, "The OC.") In between, I'll try to keep up with the blogging...and I'll eat lots of good lobster bisque. Happy Earth Day!
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Western Revival
Here's an excellent article by Daniel Moloney from NRO today. This is an excerpt: Much of the chatter before the conclave suggested that the cardinals ought to elect a third-world pope, because the future of the Church was not in a secularized Europe but in the growing regions of Latin America and Africa. In his two homilies before the conclave, the future Pope Benedict XVI seemed to agree that the secularization of Europe was a real problem for the Church, that “a dictatorship of relativism” has taken control of Catholicism’s historic home. In so quickly rallying around the man who, more than any other in the Church, is identified with a developed and public critique of Western European mores, the College of Cardinals were sending a message: The Church is not giving up on the modern West. It seems fair to read this message too in the name taken by the new pope: that of St. Benedict, the patron saint of Europe, the founder of Western monasticism, whose followers preserved classical culture through the Dark Ages after the decadence and fall of Rome. Having seen the long shadows that a guilt-free Europe once cast, the new Pope Benedict can be expected to remind us all of the great responsibilities that accompany the historic freedoms we in the West enjoy.
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German Church Taxes
In an earlier post, I wrote that the German tithe to one's church was voluntary. I was incorrect. Much to my shock and horror-- 8-9% of an individual's income tax goes to churches. A German pays this if he/she is a card-carrying Roman Catholic or mainstream Protestant. The taxes are sent to the German government and then returned to German churches. This brings up several things: 1. How an economic downturn would discourage Germans to attend church/continue membership. Lower incomes mean less taxes which means less money for churches. 2. There is no separation of Church and State. Shouldn't voluntary attendance at church be free of government taxation and bureacracy? 3. Church leaders in Germany will continue to lay off their employees and close churches. What does this mean for the future of Christianity there? Here's an article about other countries in Europe and their church taxes. It may be slightly out-of-date...but I plan to research this more.
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Matt's Schedule Update
I'm out of the office today. Speaking for LI -- and then heading to the Nat's game tonight. As you know, I'm still struggling with my baseball identity (considering the Nat's and the O's are both kicking serious butt.) But tonight, I'm jumping on the Washington bandwagon and will be wearing my "Dubya" baseball cap proudly (Go Schneider!) Then, early tomorrow (thanks Davis!), I leave for "The O.C." to do some campaign training. As such, Tuesdays with Maureen will be given the spotlight for the next several days. That means more "big government conservative" bashing...and lots more on the Pope. I'll check in with ya' here and there (when I'm not working on my tan). I'll be back full-time on Monday with some cool pics from CA.
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This article answers Matt's question about the church tax. The decline of church attendance has led to less donations--both of these things going back to a lagging economy.
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This is an excellent article by Alejandro A. Chafuen at the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. I think this idea really gets to the heart of a voluntarily spiritual society that can hopefully emerge from Europe (and the rest of the world): Cardinal Ratzinger focused on teaching the importance of convictions, rather than force. On November 6, 1992, at the ceremony where Ratzinger was inducted into the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences of the Institute of France, he explained that a free society can only subsist where people share basic moral convictions and high moral standards. He further argued that these convictions need not be "imposed or even arbitrarily defined by external coercion. Thanks for the link, Brad Lips
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The Bizness on Pope Benedict
Yes, Matt is right. I was on official bizness. But if I told you what it was, I'd then have to kill you. While at my undisclosed location this afternoon, I caught a glimpse of the televised coverage of the conclave's announcement of the new faith leader, Pope Benedict XVI, or formerly known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. For many Catholic scholars, this isn't an especially shocking announcement. For most regular Catholics, it was up in the air. I'd be hopeful and enthusiastic about any Catholic leader, out of loyalty. But I'm especially more so at this decision and I think non-Catholics might be too. Pope Benedict offers a few great qualities to his willing followers: For one, he's German. According the U.S. Library of Congress, "between 1980 and 1992, about 1.0 million German Roman Catholics and 1.2 million German Protestants gave up their church memberships." Some of this is attributed to what Germans perceived as a burdensome financial obligation to their local parishes. Rightfully so. The "church tax" collects some 9.0 billion DM.
Between 1970 and 1989, the number of Roman Catholics attending Sunday mass in West Germany declined from 37 percent to 23 percent. Between 1970 and 1990, the number of annual baptisms fell from about 370,000 to around 300,000. Approximately 470,000 Roman Catholics officially left the church between 1985 and 1990. In the same period, about 25,000 returned to the church, and another 25,000 converted to other religions.All in all, Christianity or even a loosely-defined belief in God is on the decline in Germany...and really Western Europe in general. A lot can be argued about why this is the case. (I'd say it's due, in large part, to a dangerous union of Church and State. Many European countries have relied on Catholic Church doctrine as a basis for dictating codes of conduct and law. Religion is voluntary and should spring from a want for God and eternal life). I pray that Pope Ben brings much-needed spritual life back to western Europe. Also, he is respected. Clearly the Catholic Church is controversial. Whether it's birth control, the war in Iraq, child molestation cases or just male-dominated tradition--opponents will poke holes in the long-standing traditions and decisions of papal leaders. It is a natural result of leadership. But I think Pope Ben's strong record of integrity among fellow bishops will assuage the ney-sayers. There is strength in numbers and those numbers will be important as Pope Benedict fights his battles. Bishop Ratzinger offered this statement at Pope John Paul's funeral: ``Having a clear faith, based on the creed of the church is often labeled today as a fundamentalism,'' he said. ``Whereas relativism, which is letting oneself be tossed and swept along by every wind of teaching, looks like the only attitude acceptable to today's standards.'' This is a call to arms. I'd say that he was elected after this statement ensures a great level of respect among his comrades in the Church. On a more personal note, I'm very fond of the Benedictine tradition. For those of you who don't know, the Order of St. Benedict (or OSB), is a monastic tradition adopted from the life of St. Benedict. This life is characterized by common prayer, work and reading. While there is a lot of emphasis on internal contemplation, fasting and prayer--the community is also central to Benedictine tradition. Benedictines live the outside life with "understanding and zeal." I was taught by Benedictine monks and nuns in high school outside Chicago. It was an enriching four years. I'm happy that the important name, Benedict, is on the scene once again. As leader of the Catholic Church, I hope the Holy Father calls on the great traditions of contemplation and hard work in and outside the walls of The Vatican. All in all, Pope Ben will bring a good deal of continuity to the Church. This doesn't mean he won't be vocal. But it does mean that reformers will likely be forced to the "back of the church." The dialogues will continue, especially in the U.S.--where the call for reform seems louder and louder. It will be very interesting to see how Pope Ben handles these outcries.
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Tuesdays with Maureen?
Maureen is slacking this morning. ...Actually, she's on official business. In any event, we probably won't see a posting until this afternoon. Stay tuned...
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My interview with author Dan Pink is posted. Click here to read the transcript. 
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According to Drudge, Ann Coulter is blasting Time Magazine for supposedly distorting a cover photo of her. Folks, I was five feet from Ann Coulter at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference this week -- and (in my opinion) the photo is an accurate representation (scary as that may be.) Let's see if this story has "legs." 
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Very interesting night tonight. I had the pleasure of interviewing author Daniel Pink about his brand new book, A Whole New Mind. Despite the fact that Dan and I come from opposite points on the political spectrum, he was very gracious during the interview. In fact, we get along quite swimmingly.  Clearly, Dan is quite popular. After our interview, I hung around the party for a while. Dan was swarmed by friends and fans.  The folks who threw this party were pretty good at marketing, too. In fact, the way they decorated the desert "really took the cake."  I couldn't resist giving Dan a copy of my lesser known book. (Dan holds my book while I toast his book).  Sure, I have seen a lot of celebrities, politicians, and authors. But that doesn't mean that I'm not a sucker for getting an autograph. I'll post the interview very soon...
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PA Conference -- and Chocolate
Just returned from the PA Leadership Conference. Had a great time speaking to some excellent students who really seemed to love the training. I'm also very happy that they are working to build the conservative "movement" in PA! The training was in Harrisburg, but Harshey, PA is just 10 miles away. So, obviously, I took the Hershey chocolate factory tour: This town is obsessed with chocolate. Even the street lights look like Hershey's kisses...  Of course, Hershey Pennsylvania is also the home of a great amusement park (sadly, it was closed). 
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 If you're as interested in how technology is changing politics as I am, sign up for the Personal Democracy Forum's upcoming conference.Here's why: We need to get more conservatives involved in using technology and the internet to advance our philosophy. Right now, this is one area where the liberals seem to have a slight edge... Special Deal: Reader of Matt Lewis & The News get a discount of $70 discount off the general registration cost of $295, making your cost just $225. (When registering, use promo code "edit225.") I hope to see you there!
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Thursday: Blogs and Baseball
Rep. DeLay apologizes for "inartful" comments.Nick Danger makes a good point about junketts over on RedState.Meanwhile, Emmett Tyrrell has a good article where he predicts DeLay will "survive easily."Lyn Nofziger has posted a good -- and funny poem -- in defense of DeLay. Today is the home opener for our beloved Washington Nationals. Bush will be throwing out the first pitch -- and no doubt -- sportin' a "Dubya" baseball cap. Meanwhile, the O's are on a roll winning their second straight series, so my conversion into a pure national league fan is faltering...
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The latest edition of John Maxwell's newsletter: Leadership Wired is out today. This edition discusses how to engage in creative thinking, and how to grow future leaders in your company or organization. If you're serious about becoming a leader, I recommend reading as much of Maxwell's stuff as you can get your hands on...
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As a native of Maryland, I follow MD politics fairly closely. I try not to blog about it much, though (after all, it would bore people from the other 49 states). ...But I can't keep quiet. This legislative session has been horrible!. With the rest of the nation moving in the right direction, it is particularly disheartening to see my home state become more and more liberal. Here's the latest.
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 I'll be doing some training at The Pennsylvania Leadership Conference in Harrisburg, PA. If you're in the area, swing by...
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Today at 11:00 am (eastern) -- join the show's producer Michael Kirk as he takes questions on the program and the Bush adviser...
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 Celebrate this Independence Day at the Biggest Conservative Bash in Washington! 34th Annual National Conservative 4th of July Soiree July 4, 2005 - Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville, Virginia Noon to 5:00 p.m. Rain or Shine
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'Oink Oink'
One of my favorite things every year is seeing the annual Congressional Pig Book published by Citizens Against Government Waste. Every year they reveal some of the most egregious, pointless, absurd and deplorable uses of taxpayer money. Here are some good ones: 1. $100,000 federal grant given to Tiger Woods' foundation to help build a $25 million education center in Orange County, California. 2. $25,000 for the Clark County School District in Nevada for curriculum development to study mariachi music. 3. $6.7 million in YMCA funding 4. $100,000 for the Punxsutawney Weather Discovery Center Museum 5. $300,000 for Anaheim Resort Transit (read: Disneyland) bus and bus facilities in the district of Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif) Now we could have a healthy discussion on what does or doesn't constitute an appropriate program fit for government spending. These amounts of money are a drop in the bucket for most lawmakers. Appropriations bills estimated in the billions are the norm--so maybe $100,000 isn't much to some of these beltway bandits. But this is serious money to most taxpayers. It is college tuition, mortgage payments, cars. You name it. It's a travesty that American lawmakers are putting large sums of money into stupid projects like "mariachi" music and the Disneyland bus route. Shouldn't these programs be left up to the local community to pay for? How exactly will I-- the average taxpayer who lives in one of 50 states--benefit from a bus route in California or a weather museum in Congressman Peterson's district in Pennsylvania? As the needs of each state reflect the diversity of its inhabitants, are these pork barrel projects only going to get fatter and fatter?
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If you're interested in learning about polling...this is your crash-course.
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Are we Stashin' the 'Stache?
I laugh out loud at two fellow bloggers: Radley Balko and Jonah Goldberg. Both men are incredibly talented, nuanced writers and have cult-like fans. I will sometimes post their observations to pass a little humor your way. Today, Goldberg touches on a slightly less-publicized problem plaguing John Bolton as he awaits approval as the new U.S. Ambassador to the UN: The 'stache. Even though our own Matt Lewis contends that you absolutely cannot get elected in the great state of North Dakota without one (as Governor Hoeven will attest)  ...it looks like a no-go when asking America to like you. Yes, there was a time when sporting the 'stache was cool. Magnum PI is a great example of man who embodied ALL that was good about tight jeans and facial hair. But like much of the styles in the 70's and 80's...we've progressed past that look. Since I'm stuck in Northern Virginia--I don't see too many mustaches on men below the age of 65. Are there politicians out there in the Great Wide Open who can take back the reputation of the mustache? BOLTON'S TRUE ACHILLE'S HEEL... [Jonah Goldberg]
...is obviously that mustache.
I'm only partly kidding. I think we've discussed it around here before, but I think it's fascinating that mustaches endure in America as much as they do despite the fact that almost no politicians have them and with the exception of Tom Selleck -- and Burt Reynolds in the late seventies and early 80s -- virtually no popular Hollywood icon wears one. Am I wrong for thinking that Bolton will be the highest-ranked government (or at least most prominent) official in years with a full-blown Marlboro man lip-warmer?
I've had beards and goatees (or van dycks) before. But I've never been a fan of the straight out 'stache. I think it works on some people. But I think that having all of that hair at, shall we say, a hygenic crossroad is just a bad idea.
Regardless, one obvious part of the equation is that mustaches have regional resonance. I'm not very up to speed on country music or Nascar, but the 'stache seems to be alive and well where such passtimes are thriving. Similarly, professional baseball seems to be another holdout. With all of the discussion of the south and west's political ascendancy in American politics, it's a bit surprising we haven't seen more politicians with mustaches in recent years. Could it be that at the national level, facial hair is too much of a red-state identifier?
So here's a question for you to discuss amongst yourselves (i.e. please don't inundate me with email on it): Looking forward, in what order will we have: a female president, a Jewish president, a black president, a president with facial hair?
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Don't Worry...We'll Take Care of It...
Does this scare anyone?California Controller Steve Westly is looking into a new state program called ReadyReturn that would allow a government office to complete your taxes with personal information, salary info etc. and then send it back to you. Essentially, it's government-style TURBOTAX. It is still new, so it's tough to draw conclusions. But a few quick thoughts: 1. How long until this program will cost the taxpayer a lot of money? Oh the irony. 2. Is this an intrusion of privacy? Government employees assuming your rights as a taxpayer. 3. What's margin of error here? California is a highly-populated state with a lot of new residents and...well..immigrants. How updated/factual will this personal information be? More importantly, will Californians diligently check that information before sending in the returns? 4. This is not my idea of an "ownership" society. Aren't we trying to promote responsibility and active participation on taxes? This idea may not go far...then again it might considering it's a goldmine for California's revenue. Either way, if I were a Californian, I'd be skeptical.
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Welcome to Tuesdays With Maureen
Greetings! Thanks to Matt for a warm welcome to the wild world of blogging. It's cherry blossom season in the beltway. Birds are chirping, people are getting engaged, children are playing--but this doesn't stop America's top leaders from arguing about Tom DeLay. And yes, I did just link to USA Today and yes, it is still considered a real newspaper. I had an interesting discussion with a friend this weekend about this sort of witch-hunt style politics. He, playing the part of a liberal, let me know that his side simply doesn't stoop to the conservative level. When someone like Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh sounds off about the lack of ethics in America's left, it would never even OCCUR to a liberal to come back with a similar response. In other words, Democrats are above the fray. Of course this isn't true. Both sides do it. In fact, I'd argue that conservatives do it better and have more practice from the Clinton years. At any rate, here's a good example of stooping to new low levels. Similarly, conservatives rebuked John Kerry for being anti-American (a successful PR campaign that led to his election demise). This is the nasty side of politics. Take it or leave it. The next question is then --what does the losing side do? What should Tom DeLay and the GOP do to combat this particular assault? In the Corner on NRO yesterday, I read this idea: Mr. Goldberg - Something I have noticed, regrettably, for the last thirty years or so, is that Republicans are almost always too slow to react to attacks, appear to be on the defensive most of the time, and lack something I call the "Atwater gene".
Once again, the Democrats have launched a carefully planned, choreographed and executed assault on one of our very best people, Rep. Delay, and here we are, sitting and waiting for the next wave of attacks rather than counter-attacking with everything we've got.
Every attack on Delay was predictable -- heck, it was even announced by Rahm Emmanuel months ago -- and we certainly should have (or at least could easily have) a mountain of data proving that Democrats (think: Harry Reid) have not only done everything Delay has done, but have bent and shredded every ethics requirement ever conceived by Congress!
Why then, are we not calling press conferences, complete with charts and graphs and photos, of Democrats doing everything Delay has done, and much more?? Why are we not attacking the very publicly debauched and corrupt behavior of Sen. Edward Kennedy? How about Nancy Pelosi?
I want to see your wonderful online publication put all of your formidable muscle behind a counter-assault and behind Rep. Delay, who just happens to be a very nice man and one heck of an effective champion of everything conservative.
Look, they couldn't get President Bush because, in the end, his character is well known by Americans, even ones who don't pay much attention. Now, they've trained their sights on a victim who is unknown by most, and if we don't stand up, bare our teeth and support this man, they just might get him.
Then what will we do? Sit around waiting for the next victim? You cannot fight aggressiveness with luke-warm words of support. You have to get dirty with them and kick their teeth in. Make them so afraid of what will happen to them, that they never, ever again go after one of ours.
Do something!!!!What's your impression of this situation? Is it better for the GOP to keep quiet and wait for the next new media story? Or should we "take it the mattresses?"
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Tonight, PBS' FRONTLINE tells the story of Karl Rove -- "The Architect." President George W. Bush called him "the architect" of his reelection victory and he has been the president's chief strategist from the beginning. But Karl Rove is much more than a political guru, he is the single most powerful policy advisor in the White House... 
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...more tips on how to remember names.
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PR Tips From Mickey Mouse
If you've ever visited Disney World -- and stood in line to ride a rollercoaster -- you probably noticed a sign that says, "From this point, the wait is 30 minutes." ...And if you're like most people, when you made it to the front of the line in 15 minutes -- you were actually happy! Why were you happy to waste 15 minutes of your life??? Because Disney exceeded your expectations. The wait was shorter than you expected. Disney understood the following PR principle: Under-promise / Over-Achieve. How it relates to politics:Let's say a reporter asks how many people will attend your campaign "kick-off." If you say 100 people -- you'll look foolish when only 50 people show. The headline might read:
"Fewer than Expected attend Sparse Campaign Kick-Off."But if you tell the press you expect, "an intimate crowd" (and book a room to hold 25 people) -- you'll look like a rock star when 50 people show. The headline will read: "Standing Room Only Crowd Rallies to Support Campaign Kick-Off."(Notice that in both cases there were 50 people who attended the event...) And just like the Disney example, the way your event is portrayed depends completely on the expectations you set. You can learn a lot...from Mickey Mouse.
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Give me Liberty!
I had a great time speaking at Liberty this weekend. The weather was great, and the campus is terrific. I was also impressed with the professionalism of the faculty and staff.  Perhaps even better, were the top-notch students I got to speak to...  It's hard to tell in this picture, but there were actually over 90 Liberty students who gave up a beautiful weekend to learn about politics! Knowing that we are training these superb young people to be conservative leaders lets me rest assured that America is going to have some great leaders in the future.
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Admit it. It's entertaining. Hillary Rodham's makeover is looking like a text-book, slam-dunk success. Like Madonna or Martha, she's "wowing" the average American into believing she's the new, "Queen of Nice." In fact, yesterday's Washington Post published a new poll by Rasmussen Reports that shows the number of Americans who view the former first lady as liberal has, "dropped from 51 percent to 43 percent in January." Hillary's manipulation is further fueled by America's forgiving nature. We believe in redemption. We like to think of ourselves as open-minded. And the truth is that right now, Hillary's stated position on abortion isn't too far left of Rudy, Arnold, and Condi. In fact, after the 2004 election revealed that moral values are still the biggest issue for voters, Hillary referred to abortion as, "a sad, even tragic choice to many, many women..." And aside from social issues, with all her recent talk about national defense, she's also positioning herself as a "Hawk." If Hillary continues to "sell" her new-found conservative image consistently for the next couple of years...I'm afraid to say that her makeover will work...for a while. There's a reason political candidate's -- and movie stars -- study marketing and branding: Because it works. The average person is not a political junkie. And if what they see is a moderate Hillary, this is what they'll believe. That's why this sort of political manipulation makes those of us who live and breathe this stuff want to pull our hair out. I'm a conservative, but I respect her political maneuvering. She's good at politics, and for that, I tip my Washington Nationals hat to her. It's fun to watch. But as they say, politics isn't a spectator sport. Here's my prediction on how this will play out: You will be amazed at how well Hillary's makeover works. You'll see more Republican lawmakers singing her praises. Friends will tell you how much they like Hillary. She will effectively position and brand herself as a moderate/conservative Democrat. But Hillary's makeover will only work until conservatives once again lead a strong fundraising and grassroots campaign to set the record straight. Just as the Swift Boat ads re-positioned John Kerry from a "hero" to an "anti-war protester," Hillary's true colors will ultimately be revealed. You see, makeovers only flourish in a vacuum. Their natural environment is dark -- like a bar in Old Town at two o'clock in the morning. When exposed to the light of day (through the scrutiny of a political campaign) voters will see how cheap this makeover is. In other words, once the high-heels, hair extensions, and makeup come off, voters will say, "Dated Hillary, Married a Republican." So here's my message to conservatives: For now, sit back and enjoy the show. Chuckle a little. And then get back to work on growing future Republican leaders!
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No Pie, Please
 Instead of speaking in Delaware (as was originally planned), I'll be speaking to a nice group of conservatives at Liberty University, this weekend. The good news about speaking at a conservative campus is that there is unlikely to be an incident regarding pie being thrown at me...
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 An article in yesterday's Financial Times underscores a point most of us have already figured out: Wireless devices will replace TV as our most important medium. While the article talks about the effects this will have on business, it doesn't discuss the huge ramifications this transition will have on campaign politics... Recently, I conducted an interview with political consultant Paul Wilson of the media firm Wilson/Grand. When asked about this issue, he said: "We're going to see people in politics try very hard to make the internet work. ...We know the voter is trying to hide from intrusive ads and that's the problem with the internet. And we, on the other hand, as political advertisers don't care at all about being intrusive. We're happy to be intrusive. We're happy to spam. We're happy to buy their email address. But what we're really trying to do is force-feed them some political information that we think would be useful -- and whether or not we can get through the filters will determine whether or not it is effective." His point was that this new technology is great for people who seek out information. However, when it comes to mass-based communications, we've created a world where people can easily avoid information. While this sounds like great news for the consumer, it could result in an even wider gap between those who know about politics -- and those who don't. It could also dramatically change the way political campaigns are run. Next weekend, I'm interviewing Dan Pink, a contributing editor of Wired Magazine, and author of the new book: A Whole New Mind Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age. Dan formerly worked for Al Gore. I will be sure to ask him his opinion on this phenomenon. I have no doubt that in the next five years, campaign technology will be dramatically different than it is today. And whichever side figures out how to use it -- I mean really use it -- will be way ahead of the game.
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 I have to give the liberals some credit for their new Phil A. Buster ads. These ads (which are reminiscent of the "School House Rock" TV commercials from my youth) seek to "educate" the public about the importance of the filibuster... The Republican leadership in the Senate is threatening to destroy me and hurt my friends, Checks and Balanz. Our founding fathers created this system of checks and balances over 200 years ago. And now Republican leaders in the Senate want to take that away from all of us. Here's the thing. I don't think "educating" voters works...in the short run. For example, if your campaign strategy is to "educate" voters, you will probably lose your election. But in the long run, this propaganda can be very effective. And these ads work because they are fun and interesting. Heck, most cartoons are easy to watch -- that's why we like King of the Hill, The Simpsons, and South Park.In the short run, I don't think this is a big deal. But if the left continues to use these fun pop culture tricks to "educate" the public, we might have some problems...
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