For decades, the powerful communications machine of the conservative movement has controlled our national political discourse. One of the biggest obstacles to progressive victory has been seeing what American political speech looks like when it is not "framed" by the Republican noise machine.
Framing the Debate: Famous Presidential Speeches and How Progressives Can Use Them to Change the Conversation (and Win Elections) is about unleashing the power of communication in contemporary progressive politics. The book presents fifteen key speeches by American presidents-George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George Bush-in order to define the big ideas and images-the "frames"-that each speech evokes to show how those framing techniques can be applied to today's political debate in order promote a progressive perspective.
An essential book in today's political climate, Framing the Debate will be instrumental in helping to reshape progressive political language and rhetoric.
I know it's short notice and all, but Jeffrey's book is widely available now and I read it in one sitting on a flight to LA a couple of weeks back. I so hope tht you'll join us for the discussion of this great piece of work and the ideas therein.
From the publisher:
Framing the Debate: Famous Presidential Speeches and How Progressives Can Use Them to Change the Conversation (and Win Elections) is about unleashing the power of communication in contemporary progressive politics. The book presents fifteen key speeches by American presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George Bush - in order to define the big ideas and images - the "frames" - that each speech evokes to show how those framing techniques can be applied to today's political debate in order promote a progressive perspective.
An essential book in today's political climate, Framing the Debate will be instrumental in helping to reshape progressive political language and rhetoric.
The first meeting of our Book Club happens tonight at 6:30pm right here at TAP. Tonight we will be joined by former State Senator Seymour P. Lachman to discuss his outstanding book, Three Men in a Room: The Inside Story of Power and Betrayal in an American Statehouse . Senator Lachman will be here online to answer your questions about his book and about the problems of New York state government.
A few weeks ago, we traveled to Wagner College on Staten Island where Senator Lachman now teaches to interview him about his book and about his experiences as a State Senator. This is part 1 of that interview. I will be posting more of our talk with Senator Lachman throughout the day.
Feel free to use this as an open thread. See you here tonight at 6:30!
UPDATE: I'm having a hell of a time uploading the rest of the interview. Seriously, I'm pulling my effin' hair out. It's coming. It just may be a while...
Note: This is largely a repost from yesterday. It got lost in the special election shuffle and with all the talk about potential party switchers in the wake of Joe Bruno's party crushing defeat on Long Island, I think this is worth bringing up again.
Former state Senator Seymour P. Lachman has written a book about his experiences in New York state government called Three Men in a Room: The Inside Story of Power and Betrayal in an American Statehouse that we will be discussing with him next Monday for the first edition of Book Club. We spoke with Senator Lachman a couple of weeks ago and will be posting clips of our interview all week.
In this clip Senator Lachman describes a meeting in Joe Bruno's office and a phone call from George Pataki. The governor offers him loads of member item dollars and "the best district in the city. You'll never be challenged."
I think it can be useful to hear from someone who has actually been approached by the other side as we contemplate the possibility that something similar may be happening right now.
I'm off to Penn Station for a hot date with the LIRR, but I thought I'd leave you with something interesting to look at. Former state Senator Seymour P. Lachman has written a book about his experiences in New York state government called Three Men in a Room: The Inside Story of Power and Betrayal in an American Statehouse that we will be discussing with him next Monday for the first edition of Book Club. We spoke with Senator Lachman a couple of weeks ago and will be posting clips of our interview all week.
In this clip Senator Lachman describes a meeting in Joe Bruno's office and a phone call from George Pataki. The governor offers him loads of member item dollars and "the best district in the city. you'll never be challenged."
I think it can be useful to hear from someone who has actually been approached by the other side as we contemplate the possibility that something similar may be happening right now.
Now, I'm off to Nassau County. Keep an eye on this space for updates, alerts and results all day long...
It's time for a little housekeeping here at TAP. Here are few things you need to know:
Spotlight: You may have noticed the blue "Spotlight" link at the end of every post. "What the heck is that?", you ask. Well, Spotlight is a really great tool that we are now using. Spotlight allows readers to "spotlight" a worthy post to members of the media. It lets you share newsworthy posts through a huge database of media contacts. When you click the link, it will take you to the Spotlight Project site where you will find a form that allows you to send that post to media contacts that you select from the list. You can send the link to up to 10 folks at a time. The database is pretty nimble and there are a number of ways to find exactly the folks you want to send it to. You will have to enter a personal message as to thy you are sending it, but it is very easy to use and it's a potentially very powerful tool for driving the media narrative about the issues we are concerned with.
Now, what Spotlight isn't. It's not a toy. It's a tool and judicious use will make it more effective. Overuse will make it less so. Me referring to Joe Bruno as "kind of a dick" isn't particularly newsworthy. Pontificator writing about the odd adoption of the senate rules just might be. Think before you link.
Also, please be respectful when writing your (mandatory) personal message. Reporters and editors are people too. Being an ass only alienates them and that doesn't help anyone or anything. Be factual and polite. It will make the tool that much more effective that way.
Really cool Book Club update and request for blogroll submissions on the flip...
I'm very pleased to announce the TAP Book Club. From time to time we will choose a book and get as many folks as possible to read it and then have discussion about it here. I'm really hoping that plenty of folks will choose to jump right in and I am also hoping that we may be able to get some of the authors themselves to join in the discussion and perhaps even be interviewed.
First, some ground rules:
1. The first rule of Book Club is that everyone talks about Book Club. Tell your friends. Tell anyone and everyone. Not only that, but everyone is welcome at Book Club and that all are encouraged to participate.
2. Anyone can nominate a book for Book Club. Hell, it doesn't even have to be official. Start one in the diaries if you want. Doesn't matter.
3. Have fun and hopefully learn something from both the books and the discussion. Dissenting voices are always encouraged.
Our first book chosen for the Book Club was chosen by myself. (Feel free to tell me why I and the book itself suck in the comments.) It was chosen because a number of TAPpers received it as a holiday gift. (Thanks, Hannukah Harry! Thanks, Santa! Or, ya know, Mr and Mrs NYBri, as the case may be...) It is also a rather new release and is therefore pretty easy to find in bookstores and libraries for those who may have found themselves on the "naughty" list. What book am I talking about?
I'm talking about Three Men in a Room: The Inside Story of Power and Betrayal in an American Statehouse by Seymour P. Lachman (w/ Robert Polner). This book seems to me to be a perfect one to start our discussion from as it deals most intimately with the subject most pertinent to most of the discussion here at TAP. Hell, just read the first two sentences from chapter 1:
Democracy takes decades to take root and flourish. New York is learning that it takes just three men in a room to maim and seriously harm a vigorous and representative system of government.
Our first book chosen for the Book Club was chosen by myself. (Feel free to tell me why I and the book itself suck in the comments.) It was chosen because a number of TAPpers received it as a holiday gift. (Thanks, Hannukah Harry! Thanks, Santa! Or, ya know, Mr and Mrs 
