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Clinton Strategists a Hot Mess
May 9th 2008 12:15PM
Filed Under:eHillary Clinton, Democrats, 2008 President, Media
As aides looked over the campaign calendar (last year), chief strategist Mark Penn confidently predicted that an early win in California would put her over the top because she would pick up all the state's 370 delegates. It sounded smart, but as every high school civics student now knows, Penn was wrong: Democrats, unlike the Republicans, apportion their delegates according to vote totals, rather than allowing any state to award them winner-take-all. Sitting nearby, veteran Democratic insider Harold M. Ickes, who had helped write those rules, was horrified - and let Penn know it. "How can it possibly be," Ickes asked, "that the much vaunted chief strategist doesn't understand proportional allocation?" And yet the strategy remained the same, with the campaign making its bet on big-state victories.Ouch! Then, last night on Countdown, Keith Olbermann reported from an "unimpeachable source" (pun intended?) that Howard Wolfson is in talks to write a book, tough to do if you plan on going all the way to the White House. (Wolfson denies it.)
Dismissed campaign manager Patti Solis-Doyle is also purportedly working on a book deal. Aside from the fascination of comparing the Rashomon-like accounts of various insiders, these books will serve as a primer on how to run a wildly entertaining campaign.
Whatever you think of the Clinton team's strategy, there is no denying that they are a helluva lot of fun, much more fun than their counterparts in other campaigns. If Wolfson writes a book, I will be first in line to snap that puppy up, even if he leaves me out of it. Some tantalizing details from Radaronline:
The rumor says that Wolfson is shopping the "what went wrong" story about the Clinton campaign, and has already approached at least one leading New York agent about the possibility of a deal for the book. It could be true, but it's precisely the sort of nasty rumor Clinton's enemies-or Wolfson's-might float to bury her dying campaign or his reputation."What went wrong?" Well, from a strategy standpoint, that's easy. They didn't trust their candidate. If I could paraphrase an earlier Clinton campaign, "It's the Hillary, Stupid!"
They had everything they needed packed into those famous pantsuits, and they did everything they could to distract attention away from her. I said it a long time ago, they just needed to let Hillary be Hillary, instead of scripting one-liners for her to toss out during the debates or at press conferences, launching political attacks that would give Karl Rove a feeling up his leg, and amplifying gaffes by refusing to give ground.
The Penn anecdote is instructive here, in that this was a very ego-driven strategy team. I can say this, in the close-quarters combat of press conferences, these guys have dazzling skills, but I think that's what hampered their long game. They remained overconfident for far too long, so when panic set in a little bit, they veered too sharply. Going negative at Obama had measurable short-term benefits, to be sure, but took an equal toll on Hillary's credibility. If they had listened to me and went after McCain in March, by now the talk would be about how strong Hillary is against McCain.
I hope Wolfson is writing a book. The stories that come out of the Clinton campaign now are awesome. I can only imagine the stuff Wolfson's seen. I will pledge right now to buy a stack of them as gifts for all of my friends.
I contacted MSNBC for comment on Wolfson's denial, I will let you know what I find out. Here's the video of the Penn story from Countdown:
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 2)JOHN MANN12:51PMMay 9th 2008
"Hillary Clinton Says Why She Should Not Be Nominated".
Nov 21, 2007.
In her speech "Policy Address on America's Economic Challenges" she states that: "but there is one job we can't afford on- the-job training for: That is the job of our next president. That could be the costliest job training in history." In a previous address, "Remarks at the Iowa Jefferson-Jackson Dinner", she said: "Change, change is just a word if you do not have the strength and experience to make it happen. We must nominate a nominee who has been tested, and elect a president who is ready to lead on day one."
Senator Clinton's entire public service has been less than seven years as the junior senator from New York. Prior to that she has the experience of a dutiful politicians wife.
It has been reported that upon assuming her senate post she maintained a low profile while attempting to learn the job. This act is not unusual. It takes time for most junior senators to learn the ropes. A review of her senate activities show her proposing bills for building and park naming, this type easily passes both houses. She has also "joined" bills other senators have proposed. To my knowledge, she has not proposed any major piece of legislation in seven years.
Based on her senate activities, if elected president she will need time to learn the job. As she said, this "could be the costliest job training in history".
On a church billboard was posted the saying: "Captains are selected, leaders lead". A leader does not have to be in a senior position in order to lead. A leader stimulates others to follow their will. If Senator Clinton was a leader, she would have been able to propose and drive through the type of legislation she talks about in her speeches. Leaders do not wait to be selected captain. As she said "elect a president who is ready to lead on day one". ~~ Steven Cotterman.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/455686/hillary_clinton_says_why_she_should.html
sblum12:57PMMay 9th 2008
i think the paid obama bloggers are working overtime refreshing their cookies cache to vote over and over in montana,
for 3 weeks , on aol straw poll obama could not win majority in one state , now all of a sudden he can win montana, i guess that's to prepare us for a rigged landslide victory in montana,
just like the rigged north carolina primary, i mean come on, 74% percent of nc is white, 22% is black, he won 92% of blacks, heck, even if you give him 100% how does he get up to 65% percent of the vote, come on no way that can happen, unless all 400,000 mail in votes were blacks,
yea , right
David W.1:02PMMay 9th 2008
May 9th, 2008.Returning to Washington yesterday, Obama was mobbed by well-wishers as he walked onto the House floor. But behind the scenes, his campaign worked with a light touch to win over uncommitted superdelegates and allies of Clinton, mindful of not appearing overconfident and of the fact that they would need the backing of the candidate, her husband and their supporters in the fall. With numerous prominent Democrats believed to be waiting in the wings to endorse his candidacy, Obama appears poised to win the pledged delegates and superdelegates he will need to claim the Democratic nomination as early as May 20, when Kentucky and Oregon vote."
Returning to Washington yesterday, Obama was mobbed by well-wishers as he walked onto the House floor. But behind the scenes, his campaign worked with a light touch to win over uncommitted superdelegates and allies of Clinton, mindful of not appearing overconfident and of the fact that they would need the backing of the candidate, her husband and their supporters in the fall. With numerous prominent Democrats believed to be waiting in the wings to endorse his candidacy, Obama appears poised to win the pledged delegates and superdelegates he will need to claim the Democratic nomination as early as May 20, when Kentucky and Oregon vote."
"A stark cover of the new ECONOMIST shows Senator Obama gesturing, with just two words: "Almost there." Inside, the magazine writes: "More than any other candidate this year, he has articulated an idea of a nobler America."
http://www.politico.com/playbook/
Pauline1:08PMMay 9th 2008
Now they've got another issue against Hillary. They need to quiz her about her role in harrassing Kathleen Willy after Willy complained about Bill groping her in the Oval Office. Hillary was the enforcer and probably still is for Bill's notorious meanderings. So Demo candidates, put this in your list of questions. And when are the "mainstream" media going to mention Willy's new tell-all book?
M2D51:25PMMay 9th 2008
"Sitting nearby, veteran Democratic insider Harold M. Ickes, who had helped write those rules, was horrified - and let Penn know it."
How ironic, Richard Reeve of the L.A. Times wrote a column several weeks ago about this "proportional allocation" and how the Clinton campaign had ignored the fact while the Obama team had read the rules carefully and ran their campaign accordingly. But to have one of the Clinton "brain trust" be aware of this fact and things were still done the way they were is sweet. Running for president: is worth a gazillion dollars. Doing right and winning: priceless !
Peter Swanson1:31PMMay 9th 2008
Good reason ~~ to not to vote No Hillary.
I'm not sure that the voters can stand a full year of squealing Hillary. Many are repulsed by Hillary and her gutter tactics. Supporting her policies just so because their author comes with a set of ovaries attached doesn't move me. America has come far enough in the battle against sexism and we see woman everywhere in high offices but that's not a reason that I should vote for her or for her to think she is special. That Hillary Clinton has two X chromosomes is not seen as unremarkable. The REAL issue is her falseness, her bullish nature, how she covers her lies and most of all her background that has been very questionable and very shady. That is why she is unelectable. Why she is down for the count. It is all over for Hillary. She pretentiously has now set her sights on luring and fool donors so as to be able to regroup her huge money losses. She can not cover her fat ass anymore so she is concentrating on covering her fat debts.
Peter Swanson1:35PMMay 9th 2008
Sorry I mislead you all into reading my post by altering the title but miss-leading information is what politics are made of. :-)
Que sera sera2:04PMMay 9th 2008
Mr. Swanson, Just what we have come to expect from typical Barack Obama voters.
Obama Proud2:32PMMay 9th 2008
It's Over - Will Durst | Bio
I'm saying Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's historic presidential run is toast. Finished. Down the drain. Caput. Washed up. History. A memory. In the archives. Defunct. Extinct. Artifacto. Took a hike. Sleeping with the fishes. Part of the vast past tense. Joined the choir invisible. Totally obliterated. Entering Sidekick City. Sheer finito. Thoroughly through. Down goes Frasier. Swept away by the Tahiti Express. See ya: Wouldn't want to be ya. So long and sayonara sweetheart. Became an ex- presidential run. Experiencing fossilization. Stick a fork in her--she's done. Game over, man. Say bye.
cbleelaw2:34PMMay 9th 2008
To Sblum
THe posts this year have flamed so forcefully that many web sites are mostly made up of supporters of one candidate or the other, or McC. The straw poll has been dominated for several months by Hilary Supporters, who have widely posted here to one another how to get additional screen names and vote more than once. If you notice the sigs on the postings, there are relatively few here, and those post their stuff over and over again until you want to gag. And some of the anti-O posters and some of the anti-H posters have used foul language and ideas, driving the rational to less abusive sites.
Meztico3:08PMMay 9th 2008
This man has been anti Hillary from day one. I do not trust anything he has to say.
La Mano Fresco3:15PMMay 9th 2008
Have you been READING TC's stuff since "day one", Meztico?
La Mano Fresco3:18PMMay 9th 2008
And from this very story:
""What went wrong?" Well, from a strategy standpoint, that's easy. They didn't trust their candidate. If I could paraphrase an earlier Clinton campaign, "It's the Hillary, Stupid!"
They had everything they needed packed into those famous pantsuits, and they did everything they could to distract attention away from her. I said it a long time ago, they just needed to let Hillary be Hillary, instead of scripting one-liners for her to toss out during the debates or at press conferences, launching political attacks that would give Karl Rove a feeling up his leg, and amplifying gaffes by refusing to give ground."
I don't think that's anti-Hillary. That's more anti-Clinton campaign managers.
Mary O\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\4:34PMMay 9th 2008
We do have a mess because Obama cannot win even with Hillary's help. Say states and Puerto Rico left to vote, thank you for now recognizing Hillary for her strengths, not her gender. Remember, it is not too late, despite what the pundits, etc. are saying. Let's save America the land that we love not, necessarily the Democratic Party. If Hillary doesn't get the nomination please either encourage her to start a new party or, if she must remain loyal to the Democrat Party that has thumped her and Bill, write-in her name on the ballot. She may very well win if we all do just do that. Also, as soon as I vote in the KY primary on May 20th, I'm going to go directly and change from a life-long Democrat (55) to Independent. I have had it with our Party. Rise, Hillary, Rise and stay in to the end because Obama will be exposed for the real “empty and dangerous suit” he is. Keep the faith Hillary supporters. We can still do this and save America the land we love, not the Democratic Party.
fesh news from clinton aides5:31PMMay 9th 2008
fresh news from clinton's aids:
todays news paper carries an article called, exit strategy in works for clinton. her circle of advisors and donors are discussing how to make a dignified exit. saying outwardly she operated thursday as if the disappointing results from indiana and north carolina never happened and made a few stops in west virgina and south dakota while bill held a conferance call with her fundraisers before dawn, mark j. penn, her advisor, crafted a memo outlining the exit strategy accepting the reality that the democratic nomination is out of reach. one aid said there is a profound sadness among the staff but noone sees that there is a clear path to victory here. hillary suggested she will at least stay until thursday's primary. even her trusted aides say she can not wrest the nomination from obama.
now you have heard it from the clinton camp verbatum.
teresa jones5:41PMMay 9th 2008
SEEN A CARTOON TODAY IN OUT LOCAL PAPER. SHOWED HILLARY CLINTON MELTING AND SAYING "OH MY GOD GORE, I'M MELTING.
ALL JOKES ASIDE,CLINTON WILL BOW OUT GRACEFULLY SOMETIME THIS MONTH. SHE HAS CONSULTED WITH ALL HER STAFF ALREADY. IT IS ALL OVER THE PAPERS AND WEB. ARE NOT KEEPING IT A SECRET. RICHARD SCHIFFRIN, A NATIONAL FIANCE CO-CHAIRMAN FOR CLINTON IS MEETING HER FUNDRAISERS NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS HER EXIT AND MARK J. PENN IS ALSO INVOLVED. BOTH HAVE SPOKEN TO THE PRESS.
barry8:03PMMay 9th 2008
Mayor Koch of New York, was once asked why a certain loud and irritating incumbent lost her long-held city council seat. His reply was to the effect of "Because her neighbors knew her". Letting Hillary be Hillary would have yielded even worse results for her campaign.
BDU
Proud American1:07AMMay 10th 2008
Keith Olbermann is a GREAT AMERICAN...
Isn't that what FOX NOISE says when they want you to attack someone for the good of the country?
mafresources11:04AMMay 10th 2008
Clinton won the popular vote in more congressional districts than Obama. Leaving dozens of DNC Superdelegates who are now supporting Obama although their own constituents voted for Clinton.
You need to visit the site below and get the info into the hands of their Dem. friends.
Why hasn't the media mentioned that Hillary has won the pop. vot in more congression districts that Obama.
Read these articles The Obama Strikes Back and The New American Disnfranchisement at
www.politicallydrunk.blogspot.com
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TJ12:45PMMay 9th 2008
IF YOU WANT ANY INFORMATION REGARDING HILLARY CLINTON AND HER CAMPAIGN, YOU DEPEND ON KEITH 'MADMAN" OLBERMANN?
SWEATY AND ALL TALKATIVE AND NO-COMMONS-SENSE KEITH OLBERMANN..?
I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE HILLARY BASHING. HILLARY AND HER SUPPORTERS WILL GET THE LAST LAUGH.
OXOXO
TJ, THE OBAMAMANIA BUSTER.