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By Bart Koehler
When asked about my "tactical philosophy," I responded that "I do
what works."
I'm a war-horse, a grizzled scout who has helped to guide
journeys along tortuous trails through the perilous halls of
Congress and ultimately to the White House. I think of myself as a
pragmatic idealist. A Congressional staffer once told me that I was
"very good at actualizing your agenda." I said, "those are pretty
big words, but I like to think that I get shit done.”
This “sagebrush advice” is designed to get people thinking about
how to deal with different situations that arise during the course
of wilderness campaigns. No one tactic or idea can work on its own,
but there are a variety of tactics that can and will work when used
in different combinations for different campaign situations. The key
is to think creatively and come up with the best combination of
tactics to use for your particular campaign. This is not meant to be
a complete list by any means. Have fun as you add your own new
thoughts to this list.
Here are a few couplets that don't rhyme but illustrate some
timeworn words of wisdom:
Shoot for the moon.
Don't overreach.
Any press is good press.
Bad press is BERATED press, and
just might kill your effort.
Damn the torpedoes.
Circle the wagons (and fight another
day).
Use a stick.
Use a carrot,
(and sometimes you need to do
both).
Take the path of least resistance.
If there's a hard way,
we'll find it.
Fight fire with fire.
Fight fire with water.
The best defense is a good offense.
Defense wins
championships.
Basically, all of the above means that you need to use your
best judgement every step of the way, as you try to go from here to
there.
I don't give sage advice. I give sagebrush advice. Here's a
list of things to think about when you're in the heat of campaign
action.
GENERAL STRATEGIC ADVICE:
- Slow and steady wins the race.
- Take the high ground. Define the debate. Always try to get the
last word.
- If timing isn't everything, it's pretty damn close.
- The most effective way to influence decisions is to "be
there."
- Don't give the opposition an easy target, or pitch to hit, but
if they hit it, make darn sure that you have a good enough defense
to catch the ball and prevent them from scoring. (use your own
sports analogies!)
- Trust your instincts. You can outsmart yourself.
- Prepare for the worst and hope for the best...and work to make
sure the best happens.
- Always stay a step (or more) ahead. Always ride a bucking
horse uphill.
- Don't paint yourself into a corner or get caught in a box
canyon.
- Be creative, consistent, and accurate.
- Use Coyote Planning Theory: Be a coyote (wily and wise, and
opportunistic) not Don Quixote (quixotic -- foolishly idealistic)
- If you demand "all or nothing" you may end up with nothing at
all.
- Never assume anything...EVER.
- It's been said that you can catch more bees with honey. Just
be smart, and be careful that you don't get stung in the process.
- A good idea's only useful if you use it.
- Don't forget to practice strategic avoidance when you need to.
Pick your fights.
- Don't bite off more than you can chew. And if you bite off
more than you can chew, make sure you know what you can spit out.
- People love the underdog. Dream the impossible dream. Climb
every Mountain. And remember that no tactic can be used in
isolation.
BUILDING YOUR CAMPAIGN
- "With wilderness campaigns, know there isn't one way to skin a
cat; there are thousands of ways to skin a cat, move the ball,
make the sale, fight the war, get the votes, or win your true
love." Dr. Tim Mahoney.
- All successful campaigns were built on strong bedrock
grassroots support.
- Have fun -- fun is good.
- Don't always let conventional wisdom be your guide. Dare to
buck the tide and swim upstream with the salmon.
- Don't be afraid, or too proud, to ask for advice. Everyone
needs good coaches.
- You gain power by giving it away.
- "Every citizen has a responsibility toward this planet. I'm
counting on the new generation coming up. I have to believe in
their spirit as those who came before me believed in mine." Mardy
Murie.
PROTECTING PLACES
- Seeing believes.
- A picture is still worth a thousand words.
- Focus on a sense of place.
- We lose when we talk about acres. We win when we talk about
places.
- Believe in the “Art of the Possible.”
WORKING IN WASHINGTON
- Members of the House and Senate are people too. Pushing too
hard on an issue can drive your champions away. Let a good idea,
become their idea.
- Don't make public predictions about what Congress or a member
may do. They will come back to haunt you.
- Don't talk tactics, etc....in elevators or bathrooms in DC or
anywhere else where you can be overheard. Always try to listen in
on discussions in elevators, bathrooms...etc.
- Learn to read upside down.
- Staff people are very busy, when contacting them be sure that
your first words are: “Do you have a minute?”
WORKING IN WASHINGTON, cont.
- In this "high tech" world today, nothing beats personal
contact. Remember to say “thank you” for good deeds done. Members
of Congress and their staffers never get thanked, they always get
beat upon. A hand written thank you note is not only the right
thing to do, but it will carry you and your effort a long way.
- Be yourself, no one else can do it better. When you go to DC,
dress like where you're from. Stand out from the swarm of suits.
- You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.
You can lead a Congressman to the moment of truth, but you can't
make him vote right.
- Follow-up work doesn't have the glory of testifying at a
hearing, but it still is 90% of the work that really needs to be
done, if you're going to be successful.
- Attack the issue/position/decision -- not the person; the
person you attack could be in office for a loooong time. Although
you may want to call Don Young a "bonehead", instead describe his
statement as "boneheaded".
- In general, the majority rules in the House of
Representatives. But in the Senate, it only takes one person to
stop a bill from moving. Basically, there are a lot of things that
go on in the Senate that you were never taught in civics class. As
James Madison once said, the Senate is a “necessary fence” which
protects private property and rights (go over, under, around or
through the fence – find a way.)
- "Respect, honesty, and courtesy will carry you far in
lobbying. Lobbying succeeds through trust." Ernie Dickerman
WORKING WITH COALITIONS/PARTNERS
- Three sagebrush rules about working coalitions: 1) you need to
understand your role in the effort; 2) you need to understand and
respect the roles of others and 3) you need trust. If you don't
have all three - you will go nowhere.
- It's easier to keep your team together in a defensive
campaign. It's a lot harder to keep them together in an offensive
campaign...unless you're all in it together.
- Don't attack your allies/friends ...at the very least, not in
the public eye.
- Work with people when you can, fight them when you have to.
- "You can get an awful lot accomplished if you don't worry
about who gets the credit." Hubert Humphrey.
and finally, a Classic...
- "Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground."
Teddy Roosevelt.
Now, that's good sage advice.
About Bart Koehler
Wilderness Support Center Director, Bart Koehler, gave this
presentation on his "tactical philosophies" for wilderness
campaigners at the Pacific Northwest Wilderness Conference, Seattle,
April 1, 2000 (no fooling). He gives a great talk, but until he has
his own web page, it will reside here.
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