“So you’ve found yourself embroiled in a scandal, huh?” Alicia Menendez wrote. “In a perfect world we’d rewind to before this ever happened, when you were just some up and comer who was running for city council or state assembly,” she continued. “I’d tell you to make a list of your real, true friends. No big donors. No one who trades your name like a baseball card. No one who is more invested in you, the mighty and powerful than in the real you. My instinct is to tell you that that person is someone from your childhood, someone who knew you when you were still wearing bad suits and actually eating the chicken dinners they serve at political functions.”

“A real friend will help you tell the truth, stand beside you while you tell it and help you pick up the broken pieces of your life when things fall apart. Who is that person for you?” she asked. “Pick up the phone and give them a call.”

newsweek:

Joe Biden vs. Paul Ryan: It’s a walk-off!

THIS.

professionality:

This video clip comes from the amazing people at epipheo. They take a humorous and animated take on current issues. Here, Anna Post of The Emily Post Institute is interviewed about etiquette and politics. Beware: You will see a slap fight between monsters and a pundit’s arm will be lost. ;>)

Couldn’t be more jealous of Chelsea Clinton in the Burberry peplum trench. (Taken with Instagram)

My two takeaways from the Chelsea Clinton profile in the September issue of Vogue. I need to be a tad more focused and it’s time to add a serious investment piece to my wardrobe.

• Be likeable
• Identify the influencers
• Be selective involving the media
• Give good quotes——and write moving letters (I really want to do this but the last time I wrote a friend a letter a few weeks ago, he asked me if I was dying.)
• Be political, when applicable

thedailyfeed:

The lagging economy has been especially hard on young Americans. Check out these scary numbers. 

ilovecharts:

What is Ron Paul and What Is A Libertarian?

Follow the link to discover some rather interesting Libertarian facts.

These are some of my favorite photos from the Champaign County Republican Lincoln Day with Gov. Mitch Daniels. The planning of this event had been one of my top priorities for about six months. It was important to me for many reasons, but mainly because I like Gov. Daniels very much and I hope that he’s our president one day, because this event was to raise significant funding for the local elections, and because it had the potential to really “fire up” local Republicans. It’s hard to believe that it’s over. And despite the economy, political climate, thousands of protestors, and so many, many details, this event went off flawlessly—-thanks to many, many people.

And, yes, I did stick my tongue to an elephant ice sculpture. It was double-dog-daring me all night!

Photos by Chris Perardi.

So about that birthday surprise. I think Chris does an excellent job below explaining how the secret mission went down. Between their amazing campaign branding, event planning, and impeccable discretion, I think it’s fair to say they’ve committed themelves to running a campaign one day. :-)

Patrick pulled together an amazing group 15 or so of my amazing friends for sushi. Ryan and Brandon provided Cakes on Walnut cupcake party favors in little box-wrapped boxes. And the rest of the gang provided a night of endless laughs.

Lucky girl. I hope I remember to say it every day.

Thank you, Patrick, Keith, Chris, Stephanie, Ryan, Brandon, Katie, T.J., Matt, Jason, Ross, Joe, Laura, Dave and the many others who made it an awesome night.

perardi:

Email, Thursday, afternoon: “We make Williamson 2026 For President campaign t-shirts. Adorable? I KNOW!!!!”

Decide on a running mate. Develop a campaign slogan. And then I bang out the logo. The belt, obviously, must make an appearance. Have to have pearls, for Kristin. Let’s make it an homage to the Obama logo, as these are all Republicans at this party. And then we’re good to go.

So, I print out a banner, of course:

And the rest of the team gets a cake made:

Go, team.

(The color on that cake turned out terribly. It’s like Walmart doesn’t have a properly-calibrated densitometer to ensure end-to-end color calibration. Should I have specced the grey as a Pantone swatch? PANTONE Cool Gray 6C?)

Political etiquette: The art of talking politics

Anna Post of The Emily Post Institute takes on the etiquette of talking politics on The Today Show. Some nice tips to help us keep it friendly at work and in social circles this election cycle.