LetterstothePresident

Great Presidents Over Communicate...So Communicate, Communciate, Communicate! #172

Good Morning!

In Conservative Support,

You must feel like the knats are spoiling your second-term picnic! From Congress to the media, they’re committed to attacking and distracting you at every opportunity. While you try to focus on what is important, your message is not getting through to America. After all, the media is your translator to the citizens. You have fans out there, but they are the ones who do not trust the media. But for those who aren’t motivated to look deeper, what they are receiving is neither accurate nor positive.

I have but one emphasis this month—communicate, communicate…communicate! Speak to Americans directly by taking a lesson from FDR and initiate weekly “Fireside Chats.” Don’t go to friendly audiences; instead, come to America eyeball to eyeball from the Oval Office. Make it comfortable, balanced and informative. They are in a war, and deserve to know what is happening from the Commander-in-Chief!

There is another focus on communication that needs to be expanded, funded and talked about to the American People. The Arab street is a closed street! They are programmed by the enemy, and we are not reaching them directly. We need a Radio Free Middle East that is effective and persuasive. Give them the truth and give it in a way they can understand. As has been said over and over again, the military alone is not the answer. Show the world that you know that.

Finally, the pressure the Democrats are putting on you for deadlines for withdrawl has one goal—they don’t want to be stuck with having to deal with Iraq when and if they win the White House. There is a positive as you can use these forces as “good cop/bad cop” in putting pressure on Iraq. Let them know that you, the good guy, is ready to go to bat for them, but the bad guys, the Democrats, are demanding withdrawl. You need demonstrated progress in bringing stability to the region. The deadline is clear whether it is in writing or not—that deadline in November 2008. Use this to your advantage, and it just may help.

In Conservative Support,


Terry L. Paulson, PhD

It's Time for "Radio Liberty" for the Middle East (Letter # 164)

Good Morning!

I'm not sure the ceasefire has any hope of working. Last month I was pleased that you had given Israel time to take the war to Hezbollah. That cover and support for a sustained assault was clearly short-lived. I think Israel's slow progress and unwillingness to take the attack aggressively into Lebanon may have been the reason for your agreeing to the ceasefire. But the comedy of arranging for a viable UN peacekeeping force is painful to watch. France keeps waffling. Although Hezbollah has taken clear losses, there seems no expressed will or plan to disarm them. As a result, I think the buffer zone may very well turn out to be a source of more frustration than protection for Isreal. I call on you and Secretary Rice to push the UN and our allies to honor the commitments they made to your administration privately. Israel is too important of an ally to let them down at this critical time.

I appreciate your recent calls to stay the course and your clear resolve to do this. But it seems to be perceived as the same tired message. I was one of the speakers at the California Federation of Republican Women Southern Division event this week. One of the other speakers was Congressman Eward Royce. He shared something I have long called for and mentioned in my recent Ventura County Star column on "The Perfect Enemy." We need more than staying the course militarily; we need to increase our investment in communicating our message to the citizens of the Middle East directly! Ronald Reagan knew the importance of information in defeating communism. His investment in Radio Liberty brought truth and hope to the people who needed it. It was not just Reagan's strong military that worked; it was his belief in people to respond to truth and freedom. We cannot wait any longer. There is so little accurate information reaching the average citizen in the Middle East that they are left vulnerable to the message of our enemy.

We need to use every delivery vehicle possible to bombard the people os this region with hope and truth about what freedom and opportunity can do. We need moderate Muslims to enliven that message. We must win the war for peace. By making a substantial investment in Radio Liberty and by making this a cornerstone of your new message this fall, you can portray both your resolve and your willingness to make needed course-corrections in your plan. Don't let Democrats take this message; make it yours. Rep. Royce promised me he would push for such legislation. Please use his support!

In Conservative Support,


Terry L. Paulson, PhD

Ready for a New Year of Political Change (1-5-05, #144)

Good Morning!

In the midst of the disasters and loss of life in Asia, I appreciate your quick and strong leadership in providing relief and your non-partisan team of your father and Bill Clinton to drive public support. America doesn't just have a government that gives money; it's the people who make this nation work and it's the people who should give to make a difference. They are giving.

Your new team has arrived in Washington, and, in the House, they have already sent a message to the Democrats that the Rules Committee will not be settling for life as usual in Congress. May you make progress in getting the judges we need to make a difference for years to come. I think they are ready to take a stand to help you do just that.

I'm enclosing two columns, one on the media bias that I did for the Ventura County Star and a statement in support of tax relief that I did for the Costco Connection. That Costco statement went to 4.5 million American families and many have replied in support. I will be going to more columns for the Star and they plan on syndicating the messages. I am a voice for the Republican values you are driving. I just finished doing a column on the Good News coming out of the Middle East. I hope to send that to you next month.

As a professional speaker, I have made the decision that at this point in my life that speaking in support of public affairs issues and helping to drive the need for change in support of addressing the growing problems in social security, terrorism, global competition, healthcare and illegal immigration. You are addressing the problems. I hope to sell the need for action now before problems grow.

Keep focusing on making a difference. Just keep selling the need and sharing your ideas to the American people. Don't let the media define you; go to Fox News. Go to the people direct and make it happen over and over again. You are your best translator of your vision to the American people; don't leave it to the media here or around the world. I look forward to the Iraqi election and your State of the Union address. Keep up the pressure to make a difference early in your second term.

In Support and Celebration,


Terry L. Paulson, PhD

Make Health Care a Major Domestic Issue (12-1-04, #143)

Good Morning!

A month into shaping your new administration and the excitement keeps growing-new people in your cabinet, a new Congress coming, and a new agenda to be shaped for your second term! I join your faithful fans in their excitement for the opportunities! But rather than scatter my focus, let me make two suggestions-one relating to a critical opportunity and another to how you can better rally the American people to your side!

First, there is a yellow light blinking in the exit poll data that we ignore at our own peril. Though only 8 percent of voters said health care was the 'most important issue' in this campaign, they did register worry about it-a worry that could become more decisive should foreign policy and the war in Irag become less critical. Ninety-three percent of "voters described themselves as 'very' (70 percent) or 'somewhat' (23 percent) concerned about the cost and availability of healthcare." It is going to be a critical problem at some point. You can set the stage for positive change by weaving the healthcare agenda into your vison of an "Ownership Society." The drug relief plan and the medical savings accounts are a good first step, but they do not go far enough. Take a bold stand and put health insurance back to where it should be-owned by the person, not corporations. Take the major medical component of insurance out of the "benefit package" nightmare that isn't working.

Require every American to include proof of major medical coverage with their income taxes. They show proof of auto insurance to get a license. All Americans should own their major medical insurance and have their own medical savings account to manage additional costs. This is possible NOW because corporations are tired of paying for it, too many Americans are without insurance or afraid they will lose critical coverage and the costs are high enough to make people want to see a change. If people are required to own a major medical policy as a condition of employment, ALL would be covered. The costs would go down because the pool would be greater. Private plans would compete to create attractive insurance options coombining coverage with various deductibles and a medical saving option. The money that corporations would spend on healthcare benefits would come to the employee as income, but the tax credit for the new plans and the "ownership" advantages will offset the potential tax implications. When they own their plan, they will work to keep costs down! If we don't get people to own their own policy, Americans will begin looking to the government to own this mess. Don't let that happen. We both know that will only make things worse.

Finally, the media is still doing the best they can to prove that Americans are stupid for electing you. You have the ability to shape your own coverage by going to the public weekly to keep America informed on the War on Terrorism. We deserve to hear from you directly. You are a master at the fireside chat; use it to assure Americans of our direction and sell your vision for freedom in the Middle East and your drive to create the Ownership Society. Sell your vision; the media won't. Your Republican faithful know what you are doing, but the majority of people are clueless. They let the media lull them into cynicism! You deserve better!

In Support and Celebration,


Terry L. Paulson, PhD