It's the Deficit Stupid!

This is not an endorsement of either major party candidate for President. Rather it's an endorsement of the one and only issue you need to think about before you cast your ballot.

The Deficit. Check out the National Debt Clock for the current, and very scary numbers. It's so huge that it defies description. How it will impact us all is easy. We're going broke. In fact we are broke.

As a nation we're like a bunch of people who got together for a big fancy steak dinner. We've chowed down on prime rib, filet mignon, drinking 18 year old scotch and are ordering cheesecake for desert. We're looking around the table figuring one of us is going to pick up the tab right?

Wrong. Everyone's credit card is maxed out and our only choice is to all try and sneak out on the bill or spend a long night washing dishes. Both solutions fraught with peril to our prestige as a nation. In fact our existence as a nation.

President Obama asked former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson and former Clinton Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles to form a commission and come up with solutions. Both men are patriotic, brilliant and solution seekers. They put together a bi-partisan team and came up with a road map to reduce the monstrous deficit. Read it here.

After much praise and fanfare, it was stuffed in a drawer where it resides today. That's because there was no sugar in it to help the medicine go down. It's because it would require actual political courage to enact the measures to save us from joining Thelma and Louise driving off the edge of the Grand Canyon.

The debates are over. A myriad of pundits have opined. It's time to cast your ballot. Before you do, ask yourself which of the two candidates is best prepared to lead us in digging out of a very deep and dark financial hole. It will take no small amount of courage. It will take all of us to be part of the solution. All of us.

We can't have equal pay if there is no money. We can't have Medicare or Social Security if there is no money. We can't grow our economy if there is no money. We can't compete in the global market place if there is no money. We can't defend ourselves if there is no money.

There is no money.

The question isn't are we better off that we were four years ago. It's "Will we be better off as a nation four years from now?"

Ignore the made for TV sound bites. Ignore the nonsense being posted on Social Media. As Al Simpson says, look at the Math, not myth.

It's time to decide. While you do the National Debt Clock is ticking. Upward.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"

Presidential Debate Primer

Tonight's the night. Romney vs Obama at DU. Time now to manage expectations.

1. First, this really isn't a debate but more of a series of highly rehearsed responses to expected questions from the moderator, regardless if they actually deal with the question. It's all about the sound byte. It's a game of "Gotcha!"

If a candidate begins a response with  "The fact of the matter is ...." it means they aren't going to answer the question. Or at least try not to because ...

Jim Lehrer is tonight moderator. I've met him a couple of times. He's a nice guy but a no-nonsense questioner. This is his 12th Presidential Debate. You can't fool him. He's also convinced organizers to make tonight's event more of an interview format with fewer questions, but longer segments for questions, answers and follow-up. He'll challenge every response with both candidates.

2. There's something else on the stage tonight. An 800 pound gorilla called the DEFICIT. It passed the $16 Trillion mark during the Democratic Political Convention. How much is $16 Trillion? Well, it's about $60 Thousand for each and everyone of us. Each and everyone. It will be even more tomorrow.

Both candidates will at least mention it, blame each other for it and the key will be if either offers some real ideas to reduce it. Not likely, as it could be perceived as a "gaffe" and you know what the media does with gaffes.

3. Speaking of the media, they will outnumber the actually number of real people in the audience or at least in the building by about 3-1. As a former television news director, executive producer and network field producer let me tell you that there really is no bias in at least the national media. It's just that most of the national folks are out or touch with reality and any sense of what goes on here on Main Street USA.

One could say they're mostly stupid, but that would be impolite. Let's just use the term "Obtuse."

I can't tell you the number of times I got bizarre requests for story coverage for stories that didn't even exist. These folks live and work in Washington DC and New York City. They go to cocktail parties with the same people they cover and often inter-marry! It's incestuous. They have little if any clue as to what the real issues are that impact us outside of their world. (See previous comments on deficit)

After the debate, these folks will tell us what really was said and what it meant. They don't think we have enough intelligence to make up our own minds on what we heard. It's true.

Do don't listen to them. They're, you know, obtuse. Make up your own mind. Be your own pundit.

I will say this about local media, they're by and large very fair. They live and shop where we do and their kids go to the same schools as ours. They're clear in separating opinion from reporting. They live with us here on Main Street USA. They're worth a listen.

4. It's important we respect the process. President Obama and Governor Romney have had the courage to put their name on the ballot, to say "this is what I believe in and this is what I want to do." We are free to agree or disagree with either candidate but let's respect the fact they made a deeply personal decision to run for office. Along with wearing the uniform, the most patriotic thing anyone can do is run for office. Act accordingly, especially on Social Media. Name calling and F-Bombs do nothing to bridge the scary political divide that exists in America. (See earlier comments on deficit)

5. Do your home work. I suggest reading the report of the Simpson-Bowles Commission. It was ordered by the President, and both Republican Senator Alan K. Simpson along with former Clinton Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles put together a remarkable roadmap to dig us out of a frightening financial hole. (See earlier comments on deficit)

The report, was filed away in some box. Like the Ark of the Covenant scene from that Indiana Jones movie.

Here's the link to the report. 

As you read, or at least skim through the report you'll see there's very little sugar inside to let the medicine go down. The trouble is, it will take no small amount of political courage to make the tough decisions that need to be made in Washington and executed here at home. (See earlier comments on deficit.)

Look, listen, ponder as if the future of our nation depends on it. Because it does.

Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"

"Jumping in Puddles in Heaven"

It's hard to remember a time when a President of the United States hasn't had to step up and comfort the nation. President Bush following 9-11, President Clinton after Oklahoma City, President Reagan after the Challenger Disaster. President Roosevelt's words after the attack on Pearl Harbor echo to this very day.

Add President Barack Obama to the list. I agree with this analysis of the speech.

He ultimately succeeded by focusing our attention on 9 year old Christina Green. Pure in thought and heart and love of life and country, who died because she chose to exhibit those qualities by attending the event that turned so tragic.

"Jumping in puddles in heaven." I can't write it without tearing up, just as I did when the President spoke those words.

Christina believed in something special. Let's not let her down.

Thank you Mr. President for making her a sterling example of all we can still be as people and a nation and why we must honor her legacy.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

Obama takes it to the street. Main Street.

Local political reporter Adam Schrager of KUSA 9NEWS had a one-on-one interview this week with President Obama. One of several the President is conducting with local reporters to pitch his economic message.

I don't know about the other reporters who got the invitation, but Adam is a terrific journalist. I know him personally and professionally. What ever his political views may be, they aren't evident in his reporting. Frankly, I hope to see him hosting "Meet the Press" some day.

The President made a good decision reaching out to reporters who practice their craft on Main Street USA. As viewers we connect far better with our local reporters than those who live in the isolated and pampered world of Washington and New York. The DC political reporting scene is incestuous. After hours, reporters and political types mingle at the same cocktail parties and soirees.

Not so much here at home. No limos for reporters like Adam. He drives himself to work.

So it was good to see a reporter I respect sit down with the President of the United States. Obama was on message, but I paid far more attention because I respected the reporting about what he said.

Thank you Adam. Thank you Mr. President.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you" (And enjoy listening to other conversations)

Perception is Reality

One of the things I learned a long time ago in the news biz, is that perception is reality. It's not the story. It's how it's perceived. The viewer's perception is their reality.

A pretty good example of all this came last Friday in a rather extraordinary news conference at the White House. Putting a full court press on resolving the whole tax issue, President Obama brought in former President Bill Clinton to help sell the deal to rebellious Democrats.

Then this happened.

THE President bailed and the FORMER President stayed on at the White House Podium aka "The Bully Pulpit" fielding national policy issues. Deja Vu all over again. Clinton was in his element and Obama was heading to the residence. Clinton played on, and on despite efforts by Bob Gibbs to give him the hook.

Reaction from pundits ranged from shock and no small amount of awe to politics as unusual.

But the image of a sitting President leaving the room and leaving things to a former President who knows how to work a room as good as Reagan or Roosevelt ever did was a stunner. At least that was my perception and therefore my reality.

Ultimately it may be no big deal. Folks living along Main Street are getting ready for Christmas while worried about paying for it. Maybe we're all to pre-occupied to have even noticed. Again, just my perception.

What's yours?

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"

Obama Chamber Charges Baseless, Factless.

Before I begin, this isn't about partisanship. It's about a dangerous game being played out by the President and when he does, it's our responsibility to call him out. So far, many people have beat me to the punch. But here's a re-cap.

The President is getting desperate. Any time a politician makes things up it's not a good sign. Doubly so when it's POTUS.

President Obama along with Vice-President Biden claim the United States Chamber of Commerce is essentially funneling foreign money into the 2010 campaign. When all else fails, blame everyone but yourself.

The Columbia Journalism Review called out the President in this article, documenting what is a fake scandal. You know, the stuff fairy tales are made of. Make believe.

Claims vs fact according to the Columbia Journalism Review:
-The source of the President's "facts" was a left-wing blog that broke the basic journalism rule of assertion without attribution. It's fancy talk for "making things up."
-Then in an embarrassing exchange between Bob Schieffer of CBS News and White House Advisor David Axelrod, Schieffer asked for proof of what the administration claimed about the Chamber. Axelrod came up short. Way short.



-The Associated Press says flat out there is no evidence to support the administration's claims.

An administration that makes things up to frighten the electorate is an administration in trouble. Ultimately this is a huge insult to the very people the President is sworn to serve and protect. The President believes that if you "evade the truth" about something often enough, people start to believe it. Some sadly do. Most do not.

In a word, it's shameful and an example of all that's wrong in government that puts power and greed above the best interests of the people.

In a word, it's shameful. It's also dangerous to the very freedoms this nation was founded upon.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

Bob Schieffer on 'Net Nuts

The great thing about the Internet is pretty much everyone has access to it. The bad thing about the Internet is pretty much everyone has access to it.

Remember the old saying that a lie gets half-way around the world before truth gets it pants on? That quote is often attributed to Winston Churchill, some say it was Mark Twain. Either way, it's a point well taken. The Internet just speeds up the process.

This was all the subject of this commentary by Bob Schieffer of CBS News this past Sunday. Schieffer is "old school" and as a Texan, he talks plain. He makes the point that "Ignorance Travels Fast on Internet." He was reacting to the recent poll about people's perception of President Obama's religion. I won't weigh in on that debate, but do agree with many of the points Schieffer makes about the danger of believing everything you read or see on the Internet.

Schieffer isn't the first person to make the point that the Internet provides a platform for a lot of misguided folks who use the Internet to validate their own misguidedness. Shari Julian, a Texas psychologist says, "When you have a venue for ventilating rage, your belief in that rage is ratified. It increases their belief that their behavior is acceptable. Their behavior is applauded, seconded. In that case, it's scary. It does seem to roll and escalate."

You can pretty much post the most outrageous things about anyone or anything on the Internet. There are lots of websites that provide the platform for you. It's all protected by free speech and the folks who run these websites defend themselves by saying they're essentially a digital book-shelf and not responsible for the content of the books on that shelf.

To be fair, the Internet is an incredible source for information, research and news. But as Ronald Reagan famously said, "Trust but verify."

Just like a good journalist, seek out more than just one source for information. Just because it's on the Internet doesn't make it true. Be especially aware of anonymous posters. Anyone who posts a thought, idea or opinion anonymously makes what they say about as worthless as spit.

Imagine if John Hancock had signed the Declaration of Independence as "FreedomGuy76?"

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversation about you"

Tonight's Line-Up

I can forecast with reasonable certainty that these stories will be covered on the traditional network shows tonight.

1. Arizona Immigration Law.
2. Oil spill in the Gulf.
3. President Obama on "The View"
4. Afghanistan. At least a good chance of coverage.

Missing from the list is what our military continues to do in Haiti. I talked with my daughter this morning. She's on a mission trip in Haiti at an orphanage. She shared with me that our Air Force, Navy, Army and Marines are all involved involved in humanitarian efforts. She said helicopters are flying by where she's working all the time. Also on the scene are UN Troops from several South American Nations.

I had no idea.

Apparently the folks in New York don't know either, or worse, do know but don't want us to know. Heaven forbid we hear this sort of thing about our men and women making a difference.

But at least we'll see the President on The View. Should be a cute story.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters LLC
"We start the conversations about you"