The Writer's Poke

Problems that can be avoided can be safely ignored.

Forget creative solutions to problems; go with standard "common sense" solutions.

When (and only when) you've exhausted all other options, be transparent.

The world revolves around the United States; ever must it be so.

Focus on what you perceive, not on what you observe.

Make it clear that the opposition's ideas don't work, and whenever the opposition's ideas are implemented, do whatever is necessary to make sure that they don't.

Everything must be labeled. Those things not properly labeled are dangerous. (Example: That's why we must always use phrases such as "Radical Islamic Terrorism.")

Drone on incessantly about threats that aren't likely to happen, and then take all of the credit when they never come to pass.

Provide simple solutions to complex problems.

Before making any decision, first calculate what is best in your own self-interest.

Power requires party loyalty.

I have a confession to make. I compare every state park I visit against Indiana’s Turkey Run State Park. Turkey Run is my ideal state park, and although it’s the state park of my childhood, I know it’s not just nostalgia speaking. I have visited Turkey Run a few times as an adult, and it hasn't ceased to impress me. It has a total of ten trails, and to access most of them, you must cross Sugar Creek on an impressive, well-maintained pedestrian bridge. The trails themselves are everything that you might want – they go through narrow sandstone gorges, some require ladder climbing, and others follow “creek beds.” For me, Turkey Run is about the hiking, but I also have fond memories of canoeing down the shallow (sometimes too shallow) Sugar Creek. But this post isn’t supposed to be about Turkey Run. It is supposed to be about Minnesota's Whitewater State Park, which may well be the nicest state park in the southeast Minnesota region. It is much smaller than Turkey Run, a...

Find a way to win and maintain power. That is the prime directive.

The political process is finite. There are winners and losers.

The purpose of examining the evidence is simply and solely to help support the GOP’s stated ideology. An examination of the evidence should never be allowed to be used to disprove it. 

Passionately argue that the iceberg is solely what is visible above the surface of the water.

Perpetual distraction is the best defense.

Some things, such as National Security, are never attainable. Make the promise that you can attain it anyway. Make it clear that your opponents do not want to attain the worthy ideal, and will do anything within their power to stop you.

Lanesboro is one of my “what if?” places. What if we moved here? What if we opened a coffee shop downtown and lived on the second floor above it? After a recent day trip to Spud Boy’s Diner, my head was full of “what if?” thoughts. A quick real estate search showed that two storefront locations were currently available in downtown Lanesboro. One was right next to Spud Boy’s, a prime location, and it included a one bedroom loft. The other, just off the main street, included a two bedroom apartment. The asking price for both was roughly what we paid for our current house. Breakfast at Spud Boy's Diner. I asked Linda what she thought about moving to Lanesboro to open a coffee shop. Surprisingly, she didn’t immediately scream “NO!” Not that this is her typical reaction to my silly “what if?” propositions, but she often is my voice of reason. For this idea, however, she said, “Well, it would be quite a life change, but it would be doable.” The doable “what ifs?” are th...

Make policies to defend the strong so that they will be able to protect the weak.