Jen Kuznicki
This is the second in a three part series by Barry Dale. Part 1 is here.
SWOT the Bully in the pulpit, Part II
by Barry Dale
Strategic Planning for Dummies- So easy, a Republican can do it!
Warning: Having zero experience in the fields of strategic management and political strategy, I should not pontificate about those topics. I took a strategic management course in college 25 years ago. Can’t even find the darned textbook. I know I put it somewhere…
THAT is the underlying point: If suggestions from little ole me would be effective in battling President Obama’s ideology and tactics, then what would that reveal about the competence level of Republican leadership?
Here I will briefly discuss planning and SWOT analysis. In Part III, we can have some fun applying it to real life events. Part IV will show how Ronald Reagan brought it all together in one glorious 18 ½ minute speech.
Nothing is more important than disciplined strategic planning combined with the relentless pursuit of a vision- a vision based on solid values and principles. Most often, that ends with some degree of success in spite of any missteps along the way. At all times, it means you are giving it your best shot while remaining anchored to your core.
Let’s assume (big assumption, I know) that a unified Republican Party has defined its overarching Vision and values- its idealized, long-term view of how America should be. For example, “A prosperous and virtuous nation whose federal government secures the blessings of, and promotes the responsibilities of, ordered liberty for all citizens in accordance with our timeless founding principles.�? Think how much is packed into that statement, each part properly understood.
The House GOP should have a mission statement. (Do they?) The mission would be the House’s basic purpose for existing, and it must support the Vision. From this lofty perch, they can set objectives that will achieve a mission that always moves toward the Vision. Strategies and tactics are developed to achieve each objective.
Vision -> Mission -> Objectives -> Strategies -> Tactics -> Energetic Implementation
Part I of this article focused on Obama as the skilled, demagogic Bully and GOP leadership as the weak and feckless target. We finished with a link to a short piece describing (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). You may want to look at a - a simple 2 x 2 matrix. Internal ‘strengths’ and ‘weaknesses’ occupy two boxes across the top. The bottom two boxes consist of external ‘opportunities’ and ‘threats,’ in that order.
First, we list and fully describe all relevant items within each of the four boxes. This alone can be a revealing process. Then we ask, “How can we apply our strengths to take advantage of or create opportunities? Can we minimize or repair our weaknesses- even convert them into strengths? How do we neutralize external threats? Can an external threat be converted into an opportunity by changing the way we perceive it and respond to it? Are we overlooking opportunities?�?
With all that accomplished, we can design specific strategies and tactics to achieve realistic objectives. The environment should be constantly scanned and the analysis updated regularly. As a bonus, we will be prepared to react confidently to unexpected events, and we can avoid sabotaging our own cause, Boehner style.
Now we have a broad, constitutionally grounded vision. We have a mission and a plan. We have a structured, disciplined, creative process to keep us aware, active, and on track. Everything, from the vision down to tactics, is guided by our shared principles and values. We have a core.
This approach forms a great offense, and we are prepped to play defense when necessary. Just add passion, execution, outreach, relentless repetition, and LEADERSHIP! Is it just me, or are millions of us incredibly frustrated because we have not seen anything resembling the above package? I am beyond ready to put on a helmet, strap on some pads, and go full contact all the way into sudden-death overtime!
The best (and most fun!) way to demonstrate all of this is to play off actual events. There is so much to choose from: The failures and fumbles of the GOP House from 2011 through today. The aimless, sheepish, defunct Romney campaign. Countless Obama speeches, policies, and tactics. His divide-the-nation-to-conquer-it strategies…
One observation before we wrap up Part II: President Obama’s speaking style is considered by many to be his greatest skill. I consider it an opportunity, practically every time he speaks, to dismantle his vision, his objectives, and his persona. He follows a demagogic pattern that involves misleading the people, constructing straw men, denigrating his opponents, and offering solutions that bastardize American founding principles. He has been allowed to get by with that for over four years. Obama’s repetition unchallenged by the major media, and the display of weakness by the GOP, has decimated the Republican brand.
Part III will pick up just after the 2012 election. As presumptuous as it is, I will play the role of Speaker Boehner. Obama will be the adversary. The objective will be to SWOT that Bully from his pulpit.
I look forward to it.
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