When a friend of mine does something really cool, I like to give them some congratulations.
Friend.
That’s an interesting word in this day and age. All too often, we “friend” people on Facebook we hardly know, and then later act with shock and horror when those “friends” act with enmity.
Even on Facebook, I choose my “friends” carefully. Those who are there are generally people I consider actual friends; there are very few I haven’t met face-to-face, or I haven’t known for many years.
So, when I use the word friend to describe an acquaintence, I do so in the classical sense.
It puts a smile on my face to know I have a lot of really cool friends. They do a lot of really cool things, too.
But one of them has been even more fun to watch than the others. That’s mainly because his rise has come out of nowhere and it seemingly has no end in site.
His name is Steve Deace, and he’s a nationally syndicated talk radio host. I know some of you know him, and I know many of you think you know him.
But, I’ve known Steve as a friend for most of my professional journalism career. And his latest moment of coolness is going right on the bookshelf in my office, just as soon as I can manage it.
Yesterday, copies of his book, “Rules For Patriots: How Conservatives Can Win Again,” began flying off the shelves. It’s already at No. 4 on Amazon’s bestseller list in the Politics category.
Since the top three places are held by variations of the same book, in reality, Steve’s book is at No. 2.
I’m not going to pretend that it’s a book a whole lot of you will want to read. I read a digital version of it last week to write a review.
There was little in the book I haven’t heard from Steve many times. That’ not a knock on the book, but rather a resounding endorsement for its content.
This is the stuff he’s lived, eaten and breathed since he took to the airwaves at WHO-AM nearly a decade ago. It stems from his own “Ten Commandments of Political Warfare,” which he authored in 2010.
Those commandments are:
1. Never attack what you are not willing to kill.
2. Never accept the premise of your opponent’s argument.
3. Reverse the premise of your opponent’s argument and use it against him.
4. Never surrender the moral high ground.
5. Never, never, ever abandon your base (unless they are morally compromised in their position).
6. Make your opponent defend their record and/or belief system.
7. Define your opponent before they define themselves.
8. Define yourself before your opponent defines you.
9. Respond to attacks in kind.
10. Play Offense.
If you’re truly concerned, as an American, about the future of our nation, I humbly suggest you pick up a copy.
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If you’re reading this, thank a teacher. If you’re reading it in English, thank a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine.
