I was speaking to my daughter Cindy the other day about the current state of our country and the belief that I held that there is such as division in the nation that rather than this being the United States , I would call it the divided States.

As election season is coming upon us , I have attended a number of political strategy meetings. Over the years I have gleaned a great deal from the various consultants who impart their wisdom to prospective candidates and to the various volunteers and staff that may be involved in a campaign.

I recall a Washington Consultant who compared the running of a campaign to a major sales deal where all the deals have to be closed at one time. Now of course with the rampant use of vote by mail and permanent absentee voter, this analogy does not hold the same weight.



I thought for my part in this election season, I would share a number of maxims that I consider have met the test of time and hold true today

1. Follow the money: Deep throat in the Watergate scandal who later was identified as former FBI agent Mark Felt. Remember try to see where the big money is coming from and why should the organization be sending wads of cash to the candidate.


2. Money is the mother's milk of politics: Jesse Unruh's wisdom that without the cash 99% of the time no win. Perhaps with clean money on the scene this may pass on but I do not think so.


3. All politics are local: The late speaker of the house Tip O'Neill's bit of wisdom. If you cannot get the locals to buy into your beliefs time to throw in the towel.


4. WIIIFM or Whats in it for me I do not know the creator of this maxim, however when addressing a group, the candidate must be aware that there has to be some meat for the attendees in his proposals. If there is nothing there for them, the candidate will quickly learn that they will not be voting for him. As bad it sounds, the voters' self-interest is paramount. Of course if you are speaking to a group of saints, this concept may not be too important


5. The road to hell is paved: Of course you have heard the one the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but my variation attempts that the candidate who wins may quickly slip into a pattern where the reelection is paramount and the good intentions that the candidate brought originally is lost and the candidate will join those elected who were corrupted. The road is not only paved, it is greased with cold hard cash. Ii is easy for me to say that I have not been corrupted because no one has made me an offer. In Pirah Avot or Words of father the rabbis said that the person who can control impulses is one who has mastered life.
6. The road to heaven is full of potholes: It is not easy to maintain morality for it takes great fortitude to withstand the demands that are made upon a person who has attained power.


7. Power corrupts absolute power corrupts absolutely: Lord Avon's maxim still is true today even in a democracy if there is such an imbalance the base desires are let lose and laws are passed that are self-serving simply to maintain power.


8. It does matter who votes, it matters who counts the votes. This one is from my favorite Soviet philosopher and dictator Joseph Stalin who had such control it did not matter who voted for his political machine would do the counting and the results were inevitable. In our country many elections have been observed to have been stolen by those doing the counting. Bob Hope once told a joke that there was a major burglary at the Kremlin, the thieves made of with the results of next years election.
   maybe not so funny. Make sure you have your team at the polls and at the registrars office.


9. No man no Problem: Another of Papa Joe's favorites; Of course he had the power to liquidate anyone he wanted.In our country we have to be more subtle, we tear people down and exploit any foible and humiliate to the point that the person has no influence. Watch your backside and keep track of all your skeletons safely locked in the closet. Remember whenever you say or Email anything, act as if one thousand lawyers are watching.


10. No good deed gets noticed: If you go into politics expecting accolades and notice for your good works forget it. Most of the time you will get criticism and complaint, but if you play the game as a good politician you will get backing from all the bagmen


11. No good deed goes unpunished: From my experience if you do something that you normally would not do, let us say out of compassion or exaggerated concern, nine times out of ten it will backfire and come back to haunt you.

12. Attribute your sources: This a saying from the Pikah. A sign of strong character is attributed to someone who gives credit for an idea or something original to the source. Remember it is your duty to attribute from whom you attained the knowledge. If you do not do so it is akin to stealing. Always try to maintain integrity and character unless if you want to be a politician and take all the credit for yourself.

I hope you find these statements as useful and will be a guide to for you the Perplexed Politician