Forewarned Is Forearmed

With Halloween having struck a dramatic finale to October, my students find themselves heading into the home stretch of the semester. Research papers will be due soon, followed by a breath-taking sprint to Finals after Thanksgiving break. Studies that began in the sultry heat of Summer and greeted the arrival of Fall's vivid foliage masterpiece will at last come to fruition in the growing darkness and nipping chill of Winter's onset in December.

Over the course of the semester, a few recurring themes and issues have come to dominate class discussions. In International Relations, America's waning influence in the international arena, a rising China and a declining dollar have been all the rage. This dovetails nicely with concerns over soaring budget deficits and an exploding national debt in my American Government class.

In International Relations, one of my previously blissfully uninformed students admits to having become an "alarmist". Meanwhile, in American Government the prospects for our children's and grandchildren's futures are bemoaned. The American Dream of a better life for our beloved progeny are darkened by ominously gathering fiscal and economic storms on the horizon. Having been buffeted by the howling winds of what many hoped to be a finally receding recession, there is a palpable fear that the clearing skies are nothing more than the eye of a far greater and more perilous storm than we originally imagined.

This unsettling realization, reverberating from my classroom across the heartland, is beginning to sink in to the nation's collective psyche with predictable results.

As Peggy Noonan so astutely notes, "The biggest long-term threat is that people are becoming and have become disheartened, that this condition is reaching critical mass.....Americans are starting to think the problems we are facing cannot be solved."

Yet, the objective in our discussions, both in class as well as on-line, is not to alarm or dishearten my students, or you, my faithful readers and fellow countrymen. To the contrary, the objective is to inform and enlighten. As the old aphorism goes, forewarned is forearmed.

One of the principals on which our republic is built is the idea that power is derived from the people, not from government. While the Second Amendment states that "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State...", I would postulate that a well informed public is equally critical to the security of our free State.

To that end, I aim to secure our free State by forearming you with knowledge and whatever illumination and insights I may bring to it. As my students are well aware, my personal motto is "Knowledge is power". Accordingly, I hope to in some small way do my part to empower them and you.

At times our discussions will indeed alarm the previously blissfully unaware. On occasion, differences of opinion, interpretation and ideology will give way to impassioned and dogged debate. At times, that debate may become heated and unruly. Passions and blood pressures will run high and disparaging labels and insults will fly like poison arrows.

Yet, in the heat of battle, amidst the snakes and arrows, let's take a moment to remember a few things.

The road ahead will be challenging, difficult, at times despairingly daunting and potentially perilous.

In order to successfully navigate it, it will take all of our energies and efforts - Conservatives, Liberals, Libertarians, Democrats, Independents, Republicans and non-registered, taxpaying Joe Sixpacks alike.

We are indebted to our forebears whose labor and sacrifice paved the way for us and responsible to our posterity whose futures are rooted in our decisions and actions.

These challenges we face are indeed daunting, but no more so than those faced by a small band persecuted for their faith, sailing to an uncharted wilderness in search of religious freedom hundreds of years ago; or a rag tag group of patriots facing down the greatest empire on Earth in the quest for independence; or a tortured president paying the price in the blood of hundreds of thousands of his fellow countrymen as he struggled to preserve the republic itself; or a nation beset by Depression at home and the howling dogs of war abroad that confronted the now dwindling numbers of our "Greatest Generation".

As the Minutemen at the initiation of this great experiment we call American democracy responded to the alarm, the clarion now calls us to action. We must face it with a courage and will equal to that of our ancestors. To do any less would be a disservice to them, bring dishonor to ourselves and threaten the future of our cherished republic.

So let alarm give way to resolve, my friends. Let us embrace candor and rigorous debate, that the course we select will lead us, our posterity and the nation to that brighter future and the promise that her best days are ahead of us in the renewal of the American Dream.

Rest assured, faithful readers. It's out there on the horizon, if we have the courage, strength and discipline to seize it.

Stay tuned for further updates as events warrant and we see if the clouds give way to blue skies or grow darker still.

The President, the Comedian and the Journalists

The President wraps up his latest media tour-de-force tonight with an appearance on "The Late Show With David Letterman". While I personally believe it diminishes the Office of the President and it's attendant stature, I understand the rationale behind it.

Having lost control of the debate over health care reform, the President is looking to build on the momentum of his prime time address to Congress. In addition to this, Obama is trying to reach voters who pay only passing attention to the details behind the headlines that fleetingly catch their eyes in the midst of their hectic day. While they admittedly don't normally watch "Meet The Press", "This Week With George Stephanopoulos" or "State of the Union with John King", I still have to question the choice of the venue.

Will the President give in to temptation and do tonight's "Top 10 List" in an attempt to look cool and hip? No doubt it would be an instant YouTube hit and Letterman and his producers would love it. But is the cynical comedian and his audience really a forum conducive to the serious discussion of the restructuring of 1/6 of the American economy? Honestly?

Can Letterman control the involuntary reflex of his caustic tongue and resist the urge to use the President as his straight man? Will the segment be nothing more than the President chuckling and halfheartedly defending his opponent's freedom to express their difference of opinion even as the comedian mercilessly eviscerates? Will Paul Shaffer and the band punctuate the President's remarks with comedic stingers? Will Dave wander out into the audience to take questions for Obama? Will they be serious? While it will certainly be a ratings booster for Letterman, will it move public opinion on health care even fractionally?

One wonders if perhaps Jon Stewart and "The Daily Show" might be on the President's itinerary for his next barnstorming blitz through the great electronic frontier. He did win the show's target demographic handily, after all.

In addition to closing out this latest round of media carpet bombing with an appearance on a comedic talk show, what is most striking about the President's schedule is who was excluded - Fox News.

While Fox admittedly tilts to the Right in it's "fair and balanced" coverage, avoiding it is a tactical and strategic error for the White House. Did Fox refuse to carry the President's congressional address live? Yes. Is it the home of right wing firebrand du jour, Glenn Beck? Indeed, Roger Ailes and crew are responsible for propelling the mercurial Mormon into the ratings stratosphere. Has the network been a friend to the Tea Party movement and the opposition to the proposed health care reform? Undoubtedly. Nonetheless, rest assured Chris Wallace of "Fox News Sunday" is no Glenn Beck.

Wallace, a Peabody Award and three time Emmy winner, is a serious and respected journalist of the first order. Indeed, he along with Brit Hume are the champions of journalistic professionalism and integrity at Fox. Moreover, not only have Liberal stalwarts John Kerry, Howard Dean, John Edwards and Bill Clinton survived interviews with the 34-year media veteran, the President himself has done so as well as a candidate. While Wallace may be dogged in pursuing an answer, he is by no means offensive, disrespectful or belligerent.

Though the White House believes it is justified in snubbing Wallace and Fox, it has failed to seize the moment and demonstrate that "post-partisan" is more than a mere campaign buzzword. Instead of portraying the President as an unflappable leader who has the courage of his convictions, he has cast himself as little more than a petulant and petty politician. Furthermore, the President wasted a golden opportunity to unequivocally assure his opponents he respects their opinion and doesn't buy into Jimmy Carter's scornful belief that it is rooted in racism and not principal. Indeed, rather than stand in the political lion's den and bravely address the opposition, he has deemed them beneath him and unworthy of his attention.

So much for the lofty rhetoric about engaging in a comprehensive and serious national debate. Apparently that only applies to those who are sympathetic to the President's position and those who prefer softballs to hardball. Don't fret though, Chris Matthews. No doubt you'll still make the cut eventually based on the former criteria. Patience, lil camper, patience.

Following my Grandfather's admonishment to give credit where it's due, though, I must give George Stephanopoulos Bare Knuckled Kudos for his verbal jousting with the President over the definition of the word "tax". Not only did Stephanopoulos stand his ground, he forced Obama into a fiscally focused reprise of Bill Clinton's indignant defense of his definition of the words "sex" and "is". In the end, the usually cool Obama was left visibly irritated at having been backed into a rhetorical corner and reduced to a defense based solely on semantics.

Well played, George. You might forgo holding your breath waiting on that White House Christmas party invitation, though.

Now what exactly "is" a "tax" again, faithful readers?

Stay tuned for further updates as events warrant and we see what other gems lie hidden in the dog-eared pages of the President's political dictionary and voluminous thesaurus.

Once Upon A Time...A Fairy Tale of American Democracy

Despite the cacophony and chaos that has become the hallmark of congressional town hall health care reform meetings as of late, the President has nonetheless elected to embark on a series of his own.

Filled with pride, his supporters dutifully tout his bravery in the face of flagging poll numbers and dogged opposition. They swoon at the sight of their champion riding off to battle the forces of fear and hysteria with his cool demeanor, soft-spoken logic and zen-like rationality. They point to the subdued and respectful tone of his audiences as evidence that the fury over health care has reached it's zenith and will soon subside. Logic and reason will win the day and their knight in shining armor will deliver peace to the land and health care to it's weary people.

However, a closer, more objective look reveals something distinctly different from the fairy tale the President's supporters so eagerly espouse with starry-eyed devotion.

Are the President's forums more civil and placid in comparison to their raucous congressional counterparts? Clearly, but one should remain mindful of a few facts.

First, despite our partisan passions and philosophical differences, the vast majority of Americans remain respectful of the institution and office of the presidency. Regardless of the individual, there is a level of decorum and propriety that is inherent to the office. He is The President of the United States, a title of unrivaled weight and distinction in both our political system and national history.

Furthermore, beyond these intangible elements and social customs, there is the very real and tangible presence of the highly-trained, well-armed and psychologically-intimidating Secret Service. Should someone be so bold and dim-witted as to attempt to get in the President's face and shout him down, they would quickly find themselves forcefully removed from the venue and facing potential federal charges. The combination of these elements create an imposing atmosphere that discourages the catcalls and confrontations that have greeted Representatives and Senators in the dog days of their August break.

Indeed, despite the earnest hopes of the President's supporters, the fury over health care reform rages unabated. Moreover, in spite of his best efforts, the President's attempts to extinguish the populist wildfire have been for naught. Neither prime time White House press conferences nor intimate town hall meetings have had any impact whatsoever on public opinion towards the overhaul of the nation's health care system or their understanding of the details and components of the competing proposals.

Why is that, you ask? Because the President, much like the nation itself, knows dangerously little of the proposals' specifics. Nor, as demonstrated by his erroneous assertion of an AARP endorsement, does he know who supports what.

How can that be, you ask? Because the President is following and not leading.

Despite the President's references to "his proposals", the White House has failed to produce any bill whatsoever. Indeed, the confusing and contentious proposals at the heart of the conflagration are products of the House and Senate. Adding to the disoriented discourse is the fact the Senate bill remains a work in progress, still in the hands of negotiators in no less than three committees.

In light of the President's deference to the leadership of the House and Senate in drafting the proposals for health care reform, perhaps he and the nation would be better served if the authors of the bills, the committee chairs, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid would take point in leading us through this steamy legislative jungle. Put the Speaker of the "People's House" in front of the people themselves, place the Majority Leader in front of the majority of Americans.

Pelosi and Reid are the elected leaders of the Democratic Party in Congress. They should embrace the principal enshrined in their party's name and eagerly engage in the discourse of our democracy. Allow them to unequivocally demonstrate that the courage of their convictions is equal to their desire for the speedy passage of their proposals. Indeed, if they wish to be the architects of the Republic's future, let them be as forthright as those who laid it's foundation in the past. That dialogue, between the people and their elected representatives is at the very heart of American democracy, after all.

Then again, perhaps that is nothing more than a quaint fable from the fairy tales of yore.

Once upon a time, faithful readers. Once upon a time in America.......

Stay tuned for further updates as events warrant and we see if there is indeed a happy ending to this story.

Polling Palin - Polls Continue to Confound the Pols

In light of recent polling data, reports of Sarah Palin's political death appear to have been a tad premature.

Released Tuesday, Palin's numbers in a USA Today/Gallop poll indicate she retains a significant base of public support despite the abrupt announcement of her impending resignation as Governor of Alaska this past Friday. Taken Monday, the poll found that 43% of respondents were at least somewhat likely to vote for Palin were she to run for president in 2012, including 19% who indicated they were very likely to vote for the former Republican vice presidential nominee.

While the poll identifies a solid base from which Palin might potentially launch her next foray into the national political scene, it also highlights a significant hurdle with 54% of respondents indicating they are not likely to vote for her. Of that group, 41% said they were not at all likely to do so. Significant as that is, Palin may find fertile ground for improving her standing in the 13% identifying themselves as not too likely to vote for her.

Though purveyors of conventional wisdom in the punditocracy have issued their obituaries for Palin's political career, 39% of Americans said they would like to see her take on a major role on the national political stage. Again, belying the conventional political wisdom that the mavericky Conservative firebrand's appeal was isolated solely to her fellow political travelers, 34% of Independents supported a prominent role for Palin in the future. As one might naturally expect, Democrats were least supportive with 18%, while Republicans rewarded the charismatic mother of five and grandmother of one with 67%.

Further demonstrating the inability of the punditocracy to accurately gauge the impact of Palin's enigmatic announcement, 70% of Americans said her decision to resign with 18 months remaining in her term had no affect on their view of her, be it positive or negative. This was followed by 17% who viewed her less favorably and 9% who were subsequently more inclined towards her.

Not only does the data suggest the punditocracy's pronouncement of Palin's political death were premature, it also appears that they are increasingly out of touch with the electorate as a whole. Supporting their standard talking points, 70% of Democrats said they were not at all likely to vote for Palin for president in 2012. Given the tack of many pundits and their insistence on Palin's polarizing effect, one would expect a similar number of Republicans would be very likely to vote for her. This is not the case, though, with only 35% of Republicans indicating they were very likely to do so.Further evidence of the disconnect between the pundits and the public can be seen in Independent voters. Contrary to popular belief among talking heads, Independents are not repulsed en mass by Palin. Indeed, they track closely with overall public sentiment with 44% being at least somewhat likely and 54% at least somewhat unlikely to vote for her for president. While there is clearly Palin polarization, it appears to be firmly rooted in Democrat voters.

Comparatively, Palin's current numbers trail those of Hillary Clinton in 2005. At the time, 52% of voters indicated they were likely to vote for her for president in 2008, with 28% saying they were very likely to do so. This illustrates the fact that front runner status early on is far from a guarantee of being their party's standard bearer at the end of the nominating race. Indeed, not only did Clinton lose to Obama- a first term US Senator who literally came out of nowhere over the course of four years - early Republican front runner Rudy Guliani failed to mount any semblance of a credible national campaign at all, much less seriously contend for the Grand Old Party's nomination. Palin and her die-hard supporters would be well advised to take this lesson to heart.

Nonetheless, two things are striking in the current discussion over the perpetually perky pol's future. First is the fact that in less than a year she has roared from literal political obscurity in America's Great White North to center stage.This time last year, Palin was a relative unknown even among Republican activists and Conservative pundits. I myself listed her in the second tier of potential McCain running mates, particularly in light of the recent birth of son Trig. Though I believed she might well become a prominent player in national Republican politics, I didn't see it occurring any earlier than the 2010-2012 window. To be sure, her meteoric rise is surpassed only by that of the current occupant of the Oval Office.The next point that stands out is the media's recurrent inability to accurately analyze the unconventional.

The week following the 2006 midterm election, the media summarily crowned Hillary Clinton the 2008 Democratic presidential nominee. Though they diligently covered Barack Obama's campaign announcement in February, 2007, it was treated primarily as a novelty. While his candidacy had historical and emotional resonance, Obama's odds were better of winning the multi-state Powerball lottery than bringing out of the pack of the Democratic Seven Dwarfs to even begin to conside seriously challenging the media-annointed Hillary. Not till Obama successfully repelled Clinton's dogged Super Tuesday counteroffensive did the media begin to grasp the force of the undercurrent that was swirling beneath the surface of the political waters. The same holds true for Palin.

Initial coverage of Palin's selection as McCain's running mate varied from the historical significance of the first female on a Republican presidential ticket to amused novelty to open disbelief and condescension. The stories of unprecedented gender progress in the Republican Party were quickly replaced with attacks on her pregnant teenage daughter and self-righteous calls of hypocrisy. These were then replaced with guffaws at the candidate's interview and debate performances, her homespun style and colloquialisms eliciting disdainful smirks from her detractors. Add to this the recent Letterman saga and there's little wonder why 53% of Americans consider the media's coverage of Palin to be "unfairly negative". While the media may not understand her, her ability to identify with significant segments of the electorate or be able to recognized their own polarized caricaturization of her, it appears a significant number of voters can. And do.

To some she is a dream, to others a nightmare, faithful readers.

Stay tuned for further updates as events warrant and we see if Palin begins doing warm up laps around the country in preparation for the 2012 presidential marathon.

Pondering Palin

To paraphrase the old Oldsmobile commercial, Sarah Palin ain't your daddy's politician.

If there were any doubts about the credibility of Palin's claim to being an unconventional pol, they were laid to rest this past Friday. Surrounded by family and friends with a picturesque Alaskan lake as her backdrop, the self-styled maverick announced not only would she not seek re-election to a second term, she would resign as Governor of Alaska with 18 months left in her freshman one.

Catching the political world completely off-guard while turning in a classic Palinesque performance, the former beauty pageant queen-cum-mother of five-cum-Governor-cum-former Republican vice presidential nominee-cum-grandmother of one cheerfully interlaced sports metaphors with condemnations of her detractors and antagonists. In a meandering and disjointed statement, Palin assured supporters that while she was leaving public office, she would nonetheless continue to fight for the issues near and dear to her heart - energy independence, family values, minimal government and a strong national security. Serving not only as the foundation of her policy agenda, they were also the focal points of her stump speeches during her ultimately unsuccessful run for the vice presidency alongside Republican presidential hopeful John McCain.

Many view McCain's choice of Palin as his running mate as the political equivalent of raising Lazarus from the dead. Though many in the media and punditocracy dismissed the mother of five as an inarticulate rube and hapless hillbilly, her selection solidified the Republican base while reestablishing McCain's bona fides as an independent-minded maverick. In the process, the resulting media and internet frenzy sparked by McCain's unexpected choice temporarily put the Republican ticket back into the electoral game. A game that up until then had been dominated by Democratic nominee Barack Obama's political home runs accompanying what appeared to be a pitching shut out of his Republican rival. Having unified the conservative base, Palin then proceeded to electrify it with her magnetic personality, brilliant smile, gleeful combativeness and unapologetic defense of family, God and country. Proudly on display during her resignation announcement, these qualities have underpinned her ability to remain in the media spotlight and the hearts of Conservative activists since the November electoral loss.

Covering a laundry list of reasons for her unexpected departure, Palin highlighted mounting legal and administrative expenses for both taxpayers and her family. Incurred in the defense of a series of seemingly unending ethics complaints against the first term Republican governor, the Palin family's legal bills are estimated at roughly $500,000. Many speculate that the economic and emotional costs of repeatedly fending off allegations of impropriety and corruption were major factors in Palin's decision to leave office 18 months before the completion of her term.

Prior to her announcement, Palin was considered to be among a rapidly dwindling pack of contenders for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Subsequent to it, the media, blogosphere and punditocracy have been a buzz with speculation that the erstwhile beauty pageant queen was less than completely candid about the reasons for her abrupt resignation. With a firestorm and threats of legal action sparked by allegations that the motivating factor was an impending Federal indictment, the FBI took the unprecedented action of issuing a public denial of any investigation of the greatly maligned mother of five and recent grandmother of one.

Palin's unheralded exodus and sphinx-like reasoning adds to the frustration of her media critics and political detractors. Confounded by her Reaganesque political Teflon-coating and ability to seize the spotlight, their disdain and contempt are palpable as they smirk condescendingly at her conducting an interview in fishing waders. What they fail to see is that Palin's folksiness and common man colloquialism are part and parcel of her appeal. Her genuineness and candor befuddles those who speak through politically correct filters. When one changes their personality to suit the environment much like Palin does in choosing appropriate footwear, they find it near impossible to relate to her or understand her ability to inspire such fierce loyalty among her Conservative base.

Further complicating the ability of her critics to grasp the Palin phenomenon is the fact that she refuses to fit neatly into their preconceived notions of Conservative women. Among the perplexing peculiarities Palin confronts them with are...

-She is a successful woman that places her marriage and family as the centerpiece and foundation of her life. Standing in stark contrast to hard-nosed feminists that believe marriage is legalized slavery; Palin speaks glowingly of her high school sweetheart husband, saying “….two decades and five children later he’s still my guy.”The mother of three “strong and kindhearted” daughters, a son in the Army about to deploy to Iraq and a “perfectly beautiful baby boy” with Down’s syndrome, Palin’s life is a testimony to women’s ability to have a full home life while at the same time experiencing career success. Palin’s life boldly says to women, “You can have it all and not feel guilty or incomplete.”

-“Family values” are more than just a campaign slogan to Palin; they are a way of life. When prenatal testing disclosed that baby Trig had Down’s syndrome, Palin carried on with the pregnancy nonetheless. Informed by her strong religious convictions and anti-abortion beliefs, the Palin family celebrated the birth and the “unspeakable joy” that God had granted them.

-She destroys media and Liberal stereotypes of Conservative women as either shrill shrews or hapless hillbillies. Neither Ann Coulter nor Daisy Duke, Palin is confident without being boorish; intelligent without being arrogant; principled without being archaic and despite David Letterman's best attempts to portray her otherwise, sexy without being cheap tawdry or cartoonish. Palin’s style and image says, “Conservatives can be cool, sexy, intelligent and successful all at once.” She is the 21st Century version of the 70's "Charlie" perfume girl. In a word, she is dangerous. Still.

Regardless of where Palin ultimately lands, be it on the lecture circuit, behind the microphone of a syndicated radio show, the anchor desk at ESPN, hosting her own television talk show or news journal, in the glossy pages of Playboy, or the white oval walls of an office at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, a few things are certain. She will continue to beguile throngs of passionate Conservatives, confound and irritate legions of Liberals and will invariably surprise all of us in her own unique, unconventional, mavericky way just by being true to herself and who she is regardless of what anyone else may think.

What's that sound in the distance, faithful readers? Oh yes, that's the sound of Sarah marching to the beat of her own drum. You betcha!

Stay tuned for further updates as events warrant and we see what next accomplishment the moose-hunting mom from Wasilla eventually adds to her impressive and growing resume.

Obama - President-elect, Master of Political Stagecraft

One of the areas that the Obama campaign clearly dominated its’ Republican counterpart was in the realm of political stagecraft. As the old saying goes, perception is reality. Masters of political stagecraft understand it is a powerful element in the creation of perceptions and thereby political realities. As early as June, I gave the stagecraft advantage to the Obama camp. This was due in part, to their mastery of the “shot”. Keenly aware that television is the medium of preference in modern politics, the Obama campaign was ever mindful of the “shot”. The “shot” is the image - both video and still - that frames the candidate. It is the subliminal message and subtext to the moment. It conveys strength, enthusiasm, stability, energy, experience or momentum with images, music, people and placards. As an illustration of the Obama camp’s mastery of political stagecraft and their ability to stage a “shot”, one need look no further than the candidate rallies on the historic night Obama seized the Democratic nomination. While McCain spoke to a few hundred supporters in a low-ceilinged room in Kenner, Louisiana, Obama played to a standing room only audience of thousands at the very same arena where the Republicans would hold their national convention at the end of summer. Not only did he make history, he made an impression and a statement all in one fell swoop. Speaking before Obama, McCain’s green stage backdrop appeared to be a section of Fenway Park’s legendary “Big Green Monster”. Staid and uninspired, while it may have been an attempt to subliminally reinforce McCain’s environmentally friendly image, the result conjured up images of Jimmy Carter’s trademark green campaign material. Call me silly, but I seriously doubt the Carter years and the naive peanut farmer-c**s-President are images any thoughtful Republican would want to be associated with. In sharp contrast to McCain's ham-handed efforts, understanding that coverage of each of his primary victory speeches – and even those rare nights when his remarks where concessionary – were free nationwide primetime commercials, the Obama campaign carefully crafted the tableaus in which the Senator appeared. That historic night in June was no exception. Speaking in St. Paul, Minnesota, Obama held a rally that fed into the perception of the campaign being as much a rock star tour as a march to the White House. Adoring and cheering throngs set a distinct contrast to the candidate’s own sublime emotional state on the historic night. While the electricity of victory energized the crowd, the victorious Obama appeared humbled by the weight of history. Clearly the Senator’s staff understood that a picture tells a thousand words and each rally is a montage of a thousand images. Having been labeled all style and no substance, the Obama camp embraced stagecraft with an almost religious-like fervor. They pressed their candidate's energy and charm to the forefront. His image and message were managed with Madison Avenue precision. From the night of his acceptance of the Democratic presidential nomination beneath a star-lit Rocky Mountain sky, the campaign fashioned an air of inevitability around Obama and his candidacy as it soldiered on to November 4th. Stumbling briefly in the wake of Senator McCain’s selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate and the resulting post-election Republican bounce, the Obama campaign quickly recovered and refocused on two of the three critical elements to his eventual victory – the Senator himself and his image. Nodding once again to the axiom that perception is reality, the campaign diligently labored to make Obama look “presidential”. What exactly is “presidential”, you ask? Much like pornography, a uniformly acceptable standard is elusive. Yet – again like pornography – it is easy enough to recognize when one sees it. When the campaign built a columned stage for Obama’s acceptance speech in Denver, they were openly using architectural elements common to governmental buildings. Though many Conservatives condemned it as a hubristic and egomaniacal “temple” in which the Senator would receive the anointing of the Democratic Party’s nomination, it gave the Obama campaign the “shot” and tableau they were looking for. A historic night was framed by the architecture of history and the images were broadcast across the nation and the world. Obama appeared “presidential”. Therefore, the perception successfully underscored the reality the campaign sought to create. Following the simple formulae that the “shot” was the key element of perception, the campaign repeatedly staged one event after another that alternately created the reality of enthusiasm, inevitability and presidential stature and finally victory. One might think that having labored so long and hard, ever mindful of every camera angle, the position of each flag and banner, the color of a neck tie and the entrance and exit music that the Obama camp would look forward to letting down their hair and relishing the moment of ultimate victory on Election Night. If so, they would be wrong. In the mind of the Obama campaign, his remarks in the wake of his victory were the first images – the first “shot” if you will – of the Obama presidency. Acknowledging the history of the moment and returning to the success of his primaries’ strategy, Obama opted to use his victory remarks as a platform to address the nation. In essence, it was Obama's first presidential address. In doing so, not only did he appear presidential, he was presidential. Underscoring the seriousness with which the President-elect and his staff approaches his image and the ephemeral “presidential aura”, in contrast to the giddy pop-psychobabble of Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” that wafted across Little Rock the night Bill Clinton won the presidency, grandiose symphonic overtures swept over the gathered multitudes in Chicago as Obama stepped into history as the first biracial President-elect of the United States. The evocative note was clear. Though he could not be heralded with "Hail to the Chief" that night, he would nonetheless receive pomp and flourishes worthy of his new station. From the campaign’s launch in the shadow of where Lincoln debated to the historic moment of victory, President-elect Obama and his staff have repeatedly demonstrated an almost Zen-like mastery of the art of political stagecraft. While this will certainly be an invaluable asset they carry with them to the White House, images can only go so far when the task is governing and not merely campaigning. Every picture tells a story, don’t it, faithful readers? Stay tuned for further updates as events warrant and the weight of reality distorts and refocuses its perceptions.