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Sagebrush Advice

In this "high tech" world today, nothing beats personal contact.

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.