Mitch Daniels Has Some Advice for Mittens...
by:Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny
Mitch Daniels offered the above advice to Mitt Romney, the presumptive republican presidential nominee.
In this age of political platitudes, sophistry, hyperbole, and driving negativism more appropriate words would be hard to find. Coming from any politician.
A few key excerpts from a CNN Politics article.
Sometimes it seems America in large measure is suffering from ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder. Many have lost the discipline and patience to focus on, and remain focused on salient and critical information about the health of our nation. Er,I mean lack of health.
When large segments of the population fail to educate themselves on the key important issues of the day the nation we live in becomes fertile soil for, well, I guess the best example is what we are witnessing today.
When appearance becomes more important than substance, when doing the expedient becomes more important than principle, when integrity no longer trumps winning, and when these things cease to have any real clear defined meaning a nation always finds itself in deep sh*t.
The presidential candidates will spend millions (Obama may hit the billion mark) just to get elected. They will say anything, true or not so long as their handlers advise them it will secure the election.
As we've grown accustomed to seeing, the more negative and personal the campaign literature and ads the more effective they seem to be. This is something a truly reasoned mentality has difficulty grasping. Yet it seem Americans are all to receptive to the madness.
Maybe it's the media that is at greatest fault. Or possibly the millions of partisan blogs that populate political blogistan. Perhaps it is the monied interests that control the levers of power. Possibly it is the politicians (political class) themselves. Most likely it is all the above.
Daniels is so right in saying, "Spend the precious time and dollars explaining what's at stake and a constructive program to make life better... look at everything through the lens of folks who have yet to achieve."
An effective and principled political leader begins with a vision. They develops the plan and strategy necessary to achieving their vision, their road map if you will. During the campaign to sell their vision to the electorate the effective and principled leader 1) defines the vision 2) tells the truth, both the good and the painful 3) stays on message 4) stays positive while being truthful 5) never makes it personal and refrains from character attacks on opponents 6) asks for support but never compromises their principles and ethics, 7) maintains consistency and in doing so integrity 8) Maintains a strong forceful presence while maintaining an air of humility.
It doesn't appear, at least to this observer that Romney will take Governor Daniels advice. I don't believe the other guy, the President is paying any attention either.
Via: Memeorandum
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs- Tyranny
"You have to campaign to govern, not just to win." - Mitch Daniels, Indiana Governor
Mitch Daniels offered the above advice to Mitt Romney, the presumptive republican presidential nominee.
In this age of political platitudes, sophistry, hyperbole, and driving negativism more appropriate words would be hard to find. Coming from any politician.
A few key excerpts from a CNN Politics article.
The governor, who's often cited as a potential Republican running mate for Romney, reportedly told the newspaper that "political victories that follow 'slash-and-burn' campaigns seldom lead to great accomplishments," referring to the already-bitter war underway between Romney and the president's re-election campaign.
"Spend the precious time and dollars explaining what's at stake and a constructive program to make life better," Daniels said. "And as I say, look at everything through the lens of folks who have yet to achieve."
"You don't change one thing about the policies you advocate or your principles,' he said, noting instead that candidates should simply make clear how their policies would lift up those who are struggling." {The Rest}
Sometimes it seems America in large measure is suffering from ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder. Many have lost the discipline and patience to focus on, and remain focused on salient and critical information about the health of our nation. Er,I mean lack of health.
When large segments of the population fail to educate themselves on the key important issues of the day the nation we live in becomes fertile soil for, well, I guess the best example is what we are witnessing today.
When appearance becomes more important than substance, when doing the expedient becomes more important than principle, when integrity no longer trumps winning, and when these things cease to have any real clear defined meaning a nation always finds itself in deep sh*t.
The presidential candidates will spend millions (Obama may hit the billion mark) just to get elected. They will say anything, true or not so long as their handlers advise them it will secure the election.
As we've grown accustomed to seeing, the more negative and personal the campaign literature and ads the more effective they seem to be. This is something a truly reasoned mentality has difficulty grasping. Yet it seem Americans are all to receptive to the madness.
Maybe it's the media that is at greatest fault. Or possibly the millions of partisan blogs that populate political blogistan. Perhaps it is the monied interests that control the levers of power. Possibly it is the politicians (political class) themselves. Most likely it is all the above.
Daniels is so right in saying, "Spend the precious time and dollars explaining what's at stake and a constructive program to make life better... look at everything through the lens of folks who have yet to achieve."
An effective and principled political leader begins with a vision. They develops the plan and strategy necessary to achieving their vision, their road map if you will. During the campaign to sell their vision to the electorate the effective and principled leader 1) defines the vision 2) tells the truth, both the good and the painful 3) stays on message 4) stays positive while being truthful 5) never makes it personal and refrains from character attacks on opponents 6) asks for support but never compromises their principles and ethics, 7) maintains consistency and in doing so integrity 8) Maintains a strong forceful presence while maintaining an air of humility.
It doesn't appear, at least to this observer that Romney will take Governor Daniels advice. I don't believe the other guy, the President is paying any attention either.
Via: Memeorandum
An example of campaigning to govern, not win, was when Obama chose Biden as his VP pick. He didn't cave to the racists and sexists who demanded that he choose someone on skin color or gender, and went for someone that he believed was competant and would help him govern.
ReplyDelete(All this aside from how useless and gaffe-ridden Biden has turned out to be).
Les, I'm having trouble leaving comments again. The only way that I could get the box to come up and stay up was when I clicked reply to dmarks.......I was just going to say that it was kind of too bad that Daniels himself didn't get in. The man is civil, reasonable, and nondivisive. At the very least, I would have listened to him.
DeleteYou get absolutely no argument here. Perhaps he has such integrity that he will not lower himself by running for national office. Maybe he will become a trusted adviser confidant to Mittens if he should win the nomination and ultimately the Oval Office. At least I hope so.
DeleteI'm really looking forward for more clarification from Romney on his plan for the big two: jobs and healthcare. To me he still seems wavering about the latter http://reallycheaphealthinsurance.com/romneys-real-position-on-pre-existing-conditions-unclear/. Though I understand the issue is big and complex, he should have a solid plan by now he can communicate to voters.
Delete