1. Identify an event that is not a crisis
...a. Best time is when the crisis can be linked to a legislative pet project (universal health care)
...b. Next-best time is when attention needs to be diverted (budget bill)
2. Hype the non-crisis event as a crisis
3. Make sure everyone is frightened
4. Wait one to two weeks
5. Proclaim that the crisis is over
6. Give credit to Obama for “responding” to the crisis