With the 2010 elections coming up and the White House seemingly in-play, 'tis the season for symbolism. John Kerry is leading the way on that. Instead of going to Copenhagen in a private jet, Kerry is going commercial. Of course, he could afford the private jet.
So, what kind of symbolism is Lou Dobbs going to roll out? Just before Thanksgiving, Dobbs announced he had retained Bob Dilenschneider to assist him with reseting his stance on immigration. Likely Dobbs was going to declare himself for some political campaign. We expected plenty. Here it is a few weeks before Christmas and not a message is stirring, not even one embedded in a pinata.
Here's what I recommend to Dobbs:
Write a book, nonfiction. About 120 pages would do it. Make it heavy on symbolism of who you/America were and who you/America are now. The last chapter can present the vision of America in 1212. That date is key, not only because it's an election year. But some predict a universal game-changer, bad or good.
Write a book, fiction. The advantage of fiction, says management consultant Tom Peters in "Re-imagine!" is that it provokes questions versus superimposing answers. My first novel has attracted more new business than the combination of my earlier four nonfiction books. Through a novel, Dobbs could break open parts of himself we don't know about.
Weekly, a new download on YouTube. Once Dobbs establishes a pace to his messaging, he can try out all the combinations and permutations of humor. As Larry Dorman asserts in THE NEW YORK TIMES, "Few things can inflict the damage of comic ridicule." Cartooning was the key weapon Martin Luther used to bring down the Roman Catholic Church.
Compulsively tweet. Make this twitter site the one that's most often retweeted.
Appear on "Martha Stewart" learning how to make the holiday versions of Spanish rice as well as becoming acquainted with all the nutritional value of the contents.
Do "Letterman." Actually, that should have been listed first.
Generate a catchy line, like "No, Billy, I'm not missing 'Happy Pony.'"
Good luck, pols, each and every one. Without politics and now that the Tiger story is fading, life in America can be all work and no fun.
Full Disclosure: From the mid '90s to 1Q '09, I did freelance writing for The Dilenschneider Group.