Latest definition of the word politics I have seen indicates that ‘poly’ means MANY and ‘ticks” means BLOOD SUCKING INSECTS. – former Wyoming U. S. Sen. Al Simpson

         The world of politics in 2012 is described as both a place where it would be difficult getting elected and an even more difficult place to get anything done. Those conclusions were made during a far-reaching discussion among some of Wyoming’s most legendary politicians.

         Former U. S. Republican Sen. Al Simpson and former Wyoming Democrat Governor Mike Sullivan were joined on-stage by current governor Matt Mead during a session at the recent Wyoming Business Alliance forum in Cheyenne.

         Simpson and Sullivan worked together for decades, despite being in different parties, in the 1980s and 1990s. Both bemoaned what they see as a lack of cooperation on the national stage today.

         Simpson said today that national politics has been taken over by “100 percenters,” as he called them. He said they are “seethers,” where in the past national politics involved honorable people he described as “seekers.”

         “Today the word to describe someone who compromises is wimp,” he exclaimed.

         Gov. Sullivan rolled his eyes as he recalled his two elections. He defeated Simpson’s brother Pete in the first one and Matt Mead’s mother, Mary Mead, in the second one. “And yet, here we are, “ he said. He said they finished the campaigns better friends than they were at the beginning.

         And Gov. Mead pointed out that he campaigned against Simpson’s son for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. “He was first to call and wish me congratulations,” he said.

         Mead also recalled his mother’s campaign against Sullivan and how both candidates kept things clean during the intense race. He said one of the photos on the wall of his state capitol office is of Sullivan and his mother dancing together during a campaign event back in those days. Amazing.

         On the contrary, today Sullivan describes national politics as “the extremes are driving the bus.”

         The governor, who served from 1987 to 1995, said the 24-hour news cycle and the Internet have ruined the minds of the American people. He said “discourse, truth and compromise” is what always got things done when he was governor.

         He also recalled the bust he dealt with as governor. Times were so tough that one year they managed to balance the state budget because a wealthy woman died in Jackson. Her estate taxes provided $20 million to the treasury.

         Simpson couldn’t help but tell a story about Sullivan’s predecessor, Ed Herschler, who was Wyoming’s only three- term governor. Herschler was a World War II veteran and did not want to meet with a delegation from Japan but grudgingly went ahead and had the meeting. He discovered that one of the Japanese men had fought in World War II on Guadalcanal where Herschler had also fought and been wounded. He recalled Herschler telling the guy: “You S. O. B., you shot me!” The meeting went downhill from there.

         Though both men spent most of their time complaining about the national political scene, Simpson said he believes he could not be elected to the senate today from Wyoming. He reminded the large crowd that he is pro-choice and feels strongly about a woman’s right to choose. He also had no issues with gays. He said that would make it very hard for him to get elected.

He also blasted what has been happening lately on the national scene. “There is rigidity and hypocrisy. You cannot pretend you are a moral giant when you are having an affair with your secretary,” he said.

         Simpson, who served as senator from 1978 to 1997, also complained about how much money is being spent in Washington. “One big problem today is that the folks in Congress do not really know each other. They only work there Tuesday through Thursday and then they are off trying to raise money,” he said.

         Simpson and Sullivan agreed that politics in Wyoming is different from other states and from the national landscape. Both described Wyoming politics as “hard-fought battles but when it was over, we always tried to work together for the best of the state.”

         The CEO of the Business Alliance, Bill Schilling, brought the men together for the program. Bob Price moderated it.

         Sullivan served a very successful tour as Ambassador to Ireland after being governor and currently practices law in Casper.

         Simpson, who lives in Cody, has been on the national stage in recent years as co-chairman of the National Deficit Commission.

       Sure, Yellowstone and Devils Tower are natural wonders but what about one of the largest natural stone arches in the world near Cody? Or a Grand Canyon-like expanse south of Green River? Or the mysterious Sinks near Lander? Or a canyon near Buffalo named after a crazy woman? Or some magnificent desert vistas northwest of Rawlins?

       These places were among what a hundred Wyoming residents thought were the greatest natural wonders in our great state.

       This outpouring of strong suggestions started five years ago when I published a column listing what seemed to make sense as the state’s top natural locations.

       The result is a new book that is now for sale. Those folks with all those suggestions are to blame for generating this unique product – the first coffee table-type book about Wyoming since 2006.

       Yours truly is listed as author but the real stars are the 31 photographers and seven writers who provided spectacular images and stories.

       The book is titled Wyoming’s 7 Greatest Natural Wonders + 33 Other Fascinating Places. It retails for $39.95 and persons wanting to buy one or more books can go to the web site www.wyomingwonders.com to make their purchase.

       The book is also available at designated retailers.

       Over 3,500 books have been pre-sold to gung-ho Wyoming businesses using them as holiday gifts for their customers and other promotional purposes.

       We were lucky to convince regional experts to write about the seven main wonders, including: Yellowstonepark.com founder Shelli Johnson writing about Yellowstone, former Grand Teton Lodge Company CEO Clay James writing about Jackson Hole, former Tourism Director Randy Wagner writing about South Pass, former Tourism Director Gene Bryan writing about Devils Tower, former Thermopolis publisher Pat Schmidt writing about the Hot Spring there, veteran explorer Jim Smail writing about the Red Desert and U. S. Sen. Mike Enzi writing about the North Platte River System.

       The book is large, measuring 10” by 14” with 14 huge fold-out photos measuring 14” x 30.” This is unique. There has never been a book about Wyoming with so many foldouts.

       As author, it was my job to study 2,500 spectacular photos before deciding which ones would be used.

       Originally, this book was going to be mainly pictures from my personal collection of 3,000 color slides taken over a 40-year period. My original plan was to ask Lander native Randy Wagner of Cheyenne and Lander resident Scott Copeland to also submit photos. The three of us still have more photos than anyone else in the book.

       Photo chaos started when it seemed to make sense to contact an old colleague Dewey Vanderhoff. He was a photographer at the Cody Enterprise when I was a part owner of that newspaper in the early 1970s. He blew me away with the quality of the photos he submitted.

       Then, Daryl Hunter of Jackson offered some of his most incredible wildlife and natural scenery photos.

       Next, Laramie’s Dan Hayward came up with amazing images of the desert and places all over Wyoming.

       The book’s cover photo came from a series of spectacular images provided by Tim Doolin of Sheridan.

       Retired photography department head from Northwest Community College in Powell, J. L. Woody Wooden, was generous in allowing me to publish many of his unique photos.

       Three of the state’s best photographers of this type are Jeff Vanuga of Dubois, Fred Pflughoft of Pinedale and Paul Ng of Rock Springs. We were able to use some of their best photographs.

       Ken Stoecklin and Steve Schlager of Casper have nice pictures included in the book,

       Reed Wolcott worked a short time in Riverton at the Weather Bureau, but we still managed to publish two of his unusual photos.

       Jonathan Green is known as a radio guy, but he has two photos, including one of the foldouts.

       It made sense to honor two photographers who have died in recent years. Families of Lander’s Mike McClure and Cody’s Bobby Model provided wonderful scenic images.

       Lots of other photographers contributed, too, including newspaper photogs Mike Smith of Cheyenne and Lara Love of Thermopolis.

       Greatest coup, though, was to acquire two photos by perhaps Wyoming’s greatest magazine photographer, Dean Conger of Casper. He was chief photographer for National Geographic for 20 years. Now 85 and retired in Durango, CO, I talked him into providing two wonderful images taken 40 years ago with fisheye lenses. 

They are used as both the first and the last photos in the 158-page book, as a tribute to this great artist.

         How to keep your windshield from freezing up, how to avoid a black ice and what is the single most necessary item you need . . . these are things that I think should be considered when you drive as many miles as I do in Wyoming’s winter weather.

         So, in the interest of public safety and preserving the health of my readers, here are some tips that I have found useful over the years:

• Chevy Suburban and Tahoe-type cars have been my family’s choice of winter vehicles over the years. But they seem to have a horrible windshield wiper system.

         In snowstorms, the windshield would constantly ice up from snow falling and then melting on the warm windshield because I had the defroster on.

         Some years ago with the advent of heated seats, I came up with a system, which works very well.

         First of all, dress warmly and turn on your heated seats. Then turn your defroster off and try to keep your windshield as cool as possible.

         Once this happens, you may find that falling snow just flows right off your windshield and your visibility problems are over. If you do not have heated seats, just setting the heat on vent or heat may work.

         Key is keeping that windshield cold so snow does not melt when it falls on it.

         • Obviously a cell phone is probably the most important item to have with you in today’s world.

         But here in Wyoming, the second most important is your emergency kit. It should have lots of water, a blanket, some food (like trail mix), extra flashlight, a first aid kit and anything else you can think of. Wyoming lore is full of stories of folks whose vehicles have slipped off the road down a bank where you are trapped and days can pass before someone finds you.

         • Helen Higby, Lander, has driven lots of winter miles in Wyoming as she commuted to Cheyenne and Green River. She prefers a sleeping bag rather than a blanket and says she speaks from the experience of spending a night snowed in on a lonely road.

         Charlie Ksir of Laramie says to be sure to have matches and a “votive candle” and a small coffee can. Amazing how much warmth can come from a candle inside a cold car in the winter.

         Leslie Blythe of Casper says to pack some flares, bungee cords, a rope, hand warmers and sterno can and some water, cheese and fruit for energy.

         Steve Mossbrook of Riverton and Clay James of Jackson both suggest wintering in warmer climes! Mossbrook also said it was good to have a tow strap in case someone comes along to pull you out, but who does not have one with them.

         Marian Schulz of Cheyenne keeps kitty litter in her car to help get un-stuck plus help the Wyoming economy (where much of the country’s kitty litter is made). 

         • Ken Smith of Laramie says the worst place to drive in the state is a certain curve in Shirley Basin on the east side of the Shirley Rim. Lots of black ice.

         My daughter Shelli reminds me that we should always check the conditions on I-80 before heading in that direction.

         • Former Wyoming Speaker of the House Fred Parady offers the following advice:

“One thing I always do is keep my distance from semi-trucks if it is slick. I will pick out a well-lit one to follow if it is low visibility.  When I was teaching our girls to drive, I took them out on I-80, stopped on the shoulder and had them get out and feel what an a truck with an 80,000-pound load going by at 80 mph was really like.

          “Always watch bridge decks for ice.  Watch light trailers (U-hauls and campers mostly) in the wind for weaving.

          “When I am passing a semi I always watch the left front tire. It will move first if the driver is coming over.

          “Finally, I always scan the road ahead and behind horizon to horizon for early indications of trouble.” Good advice.

         • The Parody’s live in Alaska but were in New York City for daughter Sarah’s wedding and got caught in the Superstorm Sandy’s wrath.

         They were trapped for five days but did have power and food. They were staying near the Brooklyn Bridge. “It was weird seeing lower Manhattan without lights,” he said.

         He said they were glad to get back to the frontier.

       Election thoughts:

       • Tuesday’s presidential election sure feels similar to another one back in 1980.

       That election featured a weakened Democrat incumbent Jimmy Carter being contested by an aggressive Republican Ronald Reagan. And yes, turmoil in the Mideast was rampant and the economy at home was flat.

       Polls had the candidates close on election eve with Reagan slightly ahead. It ended up a near-landslide for Reagan.

       Self-described casino odds maker Wayne Root recently recalled that earlier election when he predicted a similar result for 2012.

       “On election day Romney will win by a landslide similar to Reagan-Carter. Understanding history, I am even more convinced of a resounding Romney victory,” he says.

“So why do most pollsters give Obama the edge? First, most pollsters are missing one ingredient- common sense. Here is my gut instinct. Not one American who voted for McCain four years ago will switch to Obama. Not one in all the land. Many millions of people who voted for an unknown Obama four years ago are angry, disillusioned, turned off or scared about the future. Voters know Obama now - and that is a bad harbinger,” he concludes.

Not sure if this fella could be right but what he writes adds an interesting insight to the race.

University of Wyoming Historian Phil Roberts sees it differently. He says patrician, East-coast-types like Tom Dewey, Michael Dukakis, John Kerry and now Mitt Romney all lose when regular-type folks make that final decision in the voting booth.

• We were recently in Colorado spending time with our grandchildren. Watching TV was true political over-kill. With that state viewed as a “swing state,” millions of dollars of TV ads for both Obama and Romney are dominating the television screens at night. The ads were non-stop, vicious and over-the-top.

Their home phone rang three times during the TV airing of the third Presidential debate. These folks were all urging my daughter’s family to vote for their candidate.

• An interesting ballot measure in Colorado is to allow individuals to legally possess one ounce of marijuana. The state already has 104,000 “legal” users of medicinal marijuana.

I guess the rest of the population wants to use it, too. Interesting how that will turn out.

• Back here in Wyoming, we will probably see our state voting more overwhelmingly Republican than any other state. Hanging out at the coffee groups and listening to the spirited conversations in the bars reveals our state as the GOP dominated place that it is.

But what about the rest of the country?

The president did a wonderful job four years ago in winning votes from Catholics and young people. These two groups are not nearly as enthusiastic for Obama as in 2008.

Catholics continue to endure an assault on their values and even the ability of the church’s institutions to abide by core beliefs. Obama’s total support of abortion (even third trimester) and his administration ‘s insistence that Catholic institutions pay for employees’ contraception expenses will have a small but significant effect at the ballot box.

And those young folks who voted for Obama in overwhelming numbers four years ago? Across the USA, this group has been hit hardest by the lack of good jobs available. Almost half of college graduates have moved back home with their parents. 

Not likely Obama voters this time around, it would seem to me.

• I hope everyone votes on Tuesday. Here is my favorite election joke:

Three decades ago, there was a wild and crazy governor of Louisiana named Edwin Edwards who was a good friend of Wyoming’s Gov. Ed Herschler. Edwards told the following “un-true” story on his friend at the Lander One Shot Antelope Hunt Banquet:

According to his tale, Herschler went down to Louisiana to assist Edwards in a reelection campaign.

The story goes, they were out in the cemetery writing down names off tombstones of folks that Edwards needed to cast votes for him.

After a couple of hours of writing down names, they were about half done, when it started to rain.

“Hell, Ed, let’s call it a night,” Gov. Edwards recalled saying to Herschler.

Edwards said Herschler replied: “Well, governor, I am not sure how you do things down here in Louisiana. But up in Wyoming, where I am from, we are known as the Equality State. And, by gosh, the folks in this end of the cemetery have every bit as much a right to vote as the folks over in your section!”