Author Archives: Luke Crumley

The Six Deadliest Words

Imagine yourself in the waiting room ahead of a meeting with the key legislator you need to advance your agenda. You’ve spent days, maybe weeks, gathering the data, building your narrative, rehearsing your talking points. Your feet are a little sore because you’ve been walking the halls all day from meeting to meeting, getting intoContinue reading “The Six Deadliest Words”

We will have our cake

One aspect of my life that I’ve yet to share much about on this platform is my time in uniform as a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps. From 2007-2011, I served as a lieutenant – leading Marines as part of the 3rd Battalion of the 2nd Marine Regiment (3/2) stationed in NorthContinue reading “We will have our cake”

BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?!?!?!?!?!

Frankly, we just don’t know. Kind of. For the last 24 hours, pundits have been filling open air with an irrepressible stream of conjecture. The cumulative effect of all this speculation is a growing sense of angst over what direction we’re heading in as a country. Unfortunately, there’s not a clear answer. And that’s notContinue reading “BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?!?!?!?!?!”

Special Election Edition: Coalition Building, Rule 2 – Win or Lose, Graciously

Chances are 50-50 that “your guy” is going to lose tomorrow. Not literally, but let’s get real here. Anyone who tells you they know definitively how tomorrow’s general election will turn out is, more than likely, a shyster. Innumerable variables remain. At this point, we are predicting the outcome of an election based on aContinue reading “Special Election Edition: Coalition Building, Rule 2 – Win or Lose, Graciously”

Octob-Her: A lasting lesson in soft advocacy

Those who’ve taken a moment to read the home page of this site will stumble upon a quote at the very bottom from my favorite President, Calvin Coolidge. The quote captures the core concept of this blog, that there is always something we can do to advance our causes. As I write this final installmentContinue reading “Octob-Her: A lasting lesson in soft advocacy”

Octob-her Continued: Legislative Staff with a Long View

There are a lot of women on Capitol Hill these days. Many focus on the number of women holding office in both the Senate and the House – as they should. But just as important are the countless career women who have stormed the hill in recent years and assumed roles as legislative directors, chiefsContinue reading “Octob-her Continued: Legislative Staff with a Long View”

Coalition Building, Rule 1 – Help Others

I’ve spent the last couple of hours in conversations with folks who are frustrated because they feel limited in their options to effect change right now. I get it. We’re in the part of our political cycle where the general election steals attention away from the long game of advocacy. However, there are still thingsContinue reading “Coalition Building, Rule 1 – Help Others”