Spent yesterday with Mark Ragan, a social media guru, who advised using video on Damage Control 101.  So, equipped with my $179 high definition Flipcam, here are my thoughts on the Serena Williams outburst at the U.S. Open last weekend, tying it into Congressman’s Joe Wilson’s outburst last week at President Obama’s address to Congress.  Read More →

The passing of Jody Powell was a sad event for those of us in Washington who had worked with him and gotten to know him.  I had the pleasure of conspiring with him in the early part of this decade when the Weber Group merged with Powell Tate in those incessant days of pr firm mergers and consolidations.  Others who knew him better will have more insights of historical importance, but I do have one little anecdote that shows what kind of person he was. My first job out of grad school was as an investigative reporter in the summer of 1981 working for Jack Anderson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning muckraker who was no friend of Jimmy Carter’s.  He had been extremely critical of the Carter Administration almost from day one, although he had been an early supporter during the 1976 campaign.  The final blow came when Jack reported during the 1980 presidential election about Carter’s secret October Surprise, a planned invasion of Iran to rescue the hostages and resuscitate Carter’s re-election hopes.  I have always assumed that Jack was leaked this information from Carter-hating members of the U.S. military, but Jody vehemently denied that there were any plans for that October Surprise.  Nevertheless, the charges followed... 

It probably seemed like a good idea at the time.  Or maybe his emotions just got the better of him in the heat of the moment.  In any case, South Carolina Republican Joe Wilson stepped in it when he shouted out “You Lie!” to the President.  Sometimes, while it is okay to have thoughts like that, it is much better to not actually say them out loud, especially on national television in front of one of the most serious and somber rituals we have in our political arena– an address before a joint session of Congress.  And why is it that Republicans from South Carolina seem to get in so much trouble these days?  Is there something in the water down there? Now that Wilson has succeeded in making himself a big story, and not in a positive way, what should he do?  Apologize quickly, would be my advice, which is exactly what he did: “This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill.  While I disagree with the President’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility.” I couldn’t have said it... 

As someone who spent several intense years investigating the war on drugs back in the late 1980’s for a Congressional Committee (and then of course leaked my info out to reporters), I’ve watched with dismay how the decline in investigative reporting over the past half-dozen years has virtually ended real coverage of this issue.  Top-notch journalists like Gordon Witkin, Dave Kaplan, and Brian Duffy at the late U.S. News & World Report took the time to know the law enforcement and intelligence personalities on the front line of those bloody battles, but that seems to have all since disappeared. So I was very pleasantly surprised to see an old-style, hard-hitting article in Rolling Stone Magazine about how the cartels really work– complete with solid sourcing from the DEA and local officials.  And it shows how sophisticated the drug lords in Mexico have become– and why the Mexican and U.S. governments have had such a difficult time fighting them.  The bottom line– forget what you thought about drug-crazed and brain-addled kingpins.  These guys are smart businessmen who contain their violence (bloody as it it) to south of the border, and limit any exposure from drug busts in the U.S.  Instead,... 

Last week, the deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya came visiting Washington to see what kind of support he could get from leaders here in trying to regain his former thrown.  That’s a tricky situation for political leaders– Meeting with the Dali Lama in his decades-old battle with China is one thing, and it can result in good visibility for any elected official.   Meeting with a controversial figure– even a president thrown out in a military coup– may not play so well with constituents, and have a photo taken will live on the internet forever.   Newsweek’s Daniel Stone has an interesting article on the challenges that face ex-leaders like Zelaya in trying to get support in Washington.  I an a little self-interested here, because Dan used me as one of his expert sources (and please note, I am quoted by name, but am also the unnamed senior advisor referred to, at least I think).  The bottom line– you need to have the right “ask” for each official you meet with, and make sure it is one that they can easily agree to.  Read More →