(April 15, 2001) One of the benefits of a liberal arts education and a job in academia is that chums pop up in all walks of life. A political strategist in, hmm, let's say other causes than ours is such an example of someone with whom I've stayed friendly over the years. When it became clear that HB 791 was greased to pass, I set up a consultation at the usual rates (i.e., I buy the 'good stuff' at a bar we enjoy downtown) and asked: How bad is the damage from this law?

"Wow, you gun guys really are like dinosaurs working to bring on your own ice age. Let me get this straight. You worked a special interest group hard to expose a member of leadership in his home district, and what he gave you to get right is a law that we'll use to own your kids. Along the way, Republicans piled on to give him cover, so no party wedge issues will dog him next election, and he's come close to totally neutralizing you guys too. Jesus, we thought Miller was the top dog, but this Casper Taylor is a genius."

Run that 'neutralizing' by me again?

"It's all about resources and how you use them. You use what you've got to get out your vote, we use what we've got to get out our vote. Gun control won't elect a candidate, but it can reject one. We just lost a Presidency over it, so we're cautious about guns now. Even though Maryland isn't a state we agonize over, we apparently gave you a good and proper [thumping] with that smart gun thing, so there's always the slim risk your people will actually use it effectively for a change. That's the background, am I right?"

That's textbook. I'm still waiting for the neutralizing part.

"Every time we drink together, you whine about not having the long green to run a bigger operation. Jim old buddy, now you'll never have the cash to get involved everywhere you need to be. This education thing puts you in a lose-lose box. Whatever resources you bank, you've got to make a decision. Do you get into every school board race to affect gun education policy? Maybe, but you won't have much influence once you divide your effort and cash into more races. Besides, it won't work - teacher unions there are ours and you can't take us on labor. Can you watch every classroom once you've given us entrée? Our people know what to do. Your other option is to focus effort on legislative races like you did before. But that abandons your kids, and besides, it's not like you're blessed with a candidate everywhere you need one. Take this option, and in twenty years we'll be hunting your kind with dogs."

So what's my play? Any good advice I can share with my readers?

"Hey, you and I work different sides of the street, remember? A drive to rally your people around education sounds super to me. Seems like a great way to keep 'em busy. We can't risk having them mucking around in elections that determine who controls the real power. Have them donate a lot of money to schools too. Every buck I can get them to spend on promoting safety stuff in schools is one less dollar I have to worry about disrupting my clients' races."

I'll be sure to tell them that. Any more good news for me while I order another bottle?

"Let me guess, your [groups] are going to make a big media buy on this, right? Our people won't even have to pay to put this on at [conferences that legislators attend in order to pick up bill ideas], you'll get the blueprint out for us nationwide. Here, Jim, let me buy the next round. You've got to get something out of this besides [screwed.]"