Perspectives, the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s annual public affairs forum, is a study of contrasts this year: Karl Rove and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., columnists Bob Beckel and Cal Thomas, wellness guru Dr. Deepak Chopra and impressionist Frank Caliendo. This event—set for Sept. 19 at the Sacramento Convention Center—continues to be the largest and longest-running forum of its kind in Northern California. Perspectives draws more than 3,000 attendees and has featured personalities such as Margaret Thatcher, George H.W. Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger. This year’s program is proudly presented by Bank of America. “The Sacramento Metro Chamber is once again pleased to bring together a lineup of top speakers for our region’s businesspeople to enjoy,” said Matt Mahood, president & CEO. “Perspectives serves many functions—a day to relax, a great way to network, a reward for employees or a premier place to host clients—and it puts Sacramento on the map as a world-class speakers venue.” Tickets are $195 for Metro Chamber members, $245 for nonmembers and can be purchased online at metrochamber.org. Seating placement is determined by sponsorship level and ticket purchase date. Karl Rove—Republican Political Strategist Architect of George W. Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns, Karl Rove served for seven years as deputy chief of staff and senior advisor in the White House, overseeing strategic planning, political affairs, public liaison, intergovernmental affairs efforts and policymaking. Described by US News as “unique...no Presidential appointee has ever had such a strong influence on politics and policy, and none is likely to do so again anytime soon,” Rove has been called a master political strategist whose “game has always been long-term.” He plays “with an intensity and attention to detail that few can match.” For the 18 years before the start of the 2000 campaign, Rove ran an Austin, Texas-based public affairs firm that worked for Republican candidates, nonpartisan causes, and nonprofit groups. His clients have included more than 75 Republican U.S. Senate, Congressional and gubernatorial candidates in 24 states, as well as the Moderate Party of Sweden. As a Fox News contributor, Karl Rove is now commenting on this year’s election. The Colorado native attended the University of Utah, George Mason University and the University of Texas at Austin. Rove holds a joint appointment from the Journalism and Government Departments at the University of Texas at Austin. He was a member of the Board of International Broadcasting, which oversaw operations of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, and also served on the boards of regents of two Texas state universities. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—Environmental Attorney Named one of Time magazine’s “Heroes for the Planet,” Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reputation as a resolute defender of the environment and award-winning author stems from a litany of successful legal actions, including the fight to restore the Hudson River. Kennedy serves as senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, chief prosecuting attorney for the Hudson Riverkeeper and president of Waterkeeper Alliance. He is also a clinical professor and supervising attorney at Pace University School of Law’s Environmental Litigation Clinic. Earlier in his career, he served as assistant district attorney in New York City. He is credited with leading the fight to protect New York City’s water supply, and The New York City watershed agreement—negotiated on behalf of environmentalists and New York City watershed consumers—is regarded as an international model in stakeholder consensus negotiations and sustainable development. Among Kennedy’s published books are the New York Times bestseller Crimes Against Nature (2004) and The Riverkeepers (1997). His articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Atlantic Monthly and others. His award-winning articles have been included in anthologies of America’s best crime writing, best political writing and best science writing. Kennedy is a graduate of Harvard University. He studied at the London School of Economics and received his law degree from the University of Virginia Law School. Following graduation, he attended Pace University School of Law, where he was awarded a master’s degree in environmental law. Bob Beckel and Cal Thomas—Political Analysts of Common Ground Liberal Bob Beckel and conservative Cal Thomas write the syndicated USA Today column “Common Ground,” using their politically savvy differences to find the “common ground” that unites all Americans. One of Washington’s top analysts, Bob Beckel began working in politics 40 years ago for Robert F. Kennedy’s campaign, later served as deputy assistant secretary of state in the White House for the Carter administration and was campaign manager for Walter Mondale. For the past several years, Beckel has advised clients on communication strategy, consensus building and public policy, and he appears regularly on CNN and CBS This Morning. Beckel is a contributing columnist for the Los Angeles Times, commenting on the last three presidential campaigns. Cal Thomas is a widely read and highly regarded voice of the political scene, with a twice-weekly column in more than 600 newspapers nationwide. He is a panelist on Fox News Watch show and also has worked for NBC, CNBC and PBS. He has earned a George Foster Peabody team reporting award and Associated Press and United Press International awards. Thomas authored 10 books, including The Wit and Wisdom of Cal Thomas, Blinded by Might: Can the Religious Right Save America? and Liberals for Lunch. Beckel and Thomas’ newest book is Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That is Destroying America, a call for liberal and conservatives to work together to get the United States back on track and to end the partisan war dividing the nation. Although Beckel and Thomas hold countering opinions on most subjects, they want to show Americans that bridges can be forged across political boundaries. With contentiousness and partisanship the rule now in Washington, the duo hope to usher in a new era of American politics by inspiring audiences to find a common ground in their own beliefs and put aside politics as usual. Deepak Chopra, M.D—Wellness Motivator Deepak Chopra, M.D.—one of the world’s leaders in the field of mind body medicine—has transformed the meaning of health by integrating the best of western medicine with natural healing traditions. In 1995, Dr. Chopra created The Chopra Center for Well Being in California, a formal vehicle for teaching his healing approach. Through partnerships with numerous health care professionals in both conventional and complementary healing arts, Dr. Chopra’s work is changing the way the world views physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social wellness. Formerly the chief of staff at Boston Regional Medical Center, Dr. Chopra built a successful endocrinology practice in Boston in the1980s and realized a potential in western medicine for establishing a new life-giving paradigm. This encompasses the fundamental principle that perfect health is more than just the absence of disease—health is a lively state of balance and integration of body, mind and spirit. He is also widely credited with melding modern theories of quantum physics with the timeless wisdom of ancient cultures—“bridging the technological miracles of the west with the wisdom of the east.” Having just authored Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment, Dr. Chopra is known as the prolific author of more than 150 books, and audio and video works. His book, Peace Is the Way (Harmony Books) won the Quill Award and The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of your Life was awarded the Nautilus Award. Dr. Chopra appeared at the inauguration of the State of the World Forum, hosted by Mikhail Gorbachev, and the Peace and Human Progress Foundation, founded by the former president of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace prize winner Oscar Arias. Esquire Magazine designated him as one of the top 10 motivational speakers in the country. Frank Caliendo—Comedian and Impressionist Known for his “dead on” impressions of actors, politicians and broadcasters, Frank Caliendo is seen regularly on the Late Show with David Letterman and weekly on the FOX NFL pregame show with Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson. A comedian/actor/impressionist who has been all over television the past few years, Caliendo is a high-energy act, blending observations, impressions, characters and anecdotal stories that build to a frenetic pace and was once described by the Hollywood Reporter as “a combination of Robin Williams and Jim Carrey.” He is famous for turn-on-the dime impressions of actors Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Robert DeNiro, politicians George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and broadcasters John Madden, David Letterman and Jay Leno. A seven-year veteran of TV sketch comedies MadTV and Hype, Caliendo makes regular appearances on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Conan O’Brien, The View, Last Call with Carson Daly, Comedy Central Presents Frank Caliendo, and Mike and Mike on ESPN 2. Caliendo graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Journalism and Mass communications department in 1996.