Ok... I'm Gonna Get Shit For This... But The Hand-Wringing Is Gonna Be Here A While... Months Maybe

[WillyT]

I post this for information... NOT division...

No emboldened passages, no snark short-cuts, no hidden agenda... just plain putting it out.

And I think the advice might be worth considering.



Democrats Jittery Over Obama’s Sputtering 2012 Campaign
Obama’s party is worried that the economy may sink the president’s reelection and worry that he has not reacted strongly enough. Eleanor Clift on why his campaign seems out of sync.
Eleanor Clift - DailyBeast
Jun 8, 2012 4:45 AM EDT

<snip>

If the next five months are anything like the last two, Barack Obama is toast. That’s what many Democrats are saying privately, and it’s not about Wisconsin.

The effort to recall Scott Walker failed, but exit polls show the president holding an edge in the state, which hasn’t voted Republican since 1984. It’s the weak job numbers from last week that has Democrats panicking. There’s a sense that the economy has stalled, and that the Obama campaign is stuck in a time warp with a message that assumes steady if slow progress, when the jobs picture may not get better.

“Our real concern is that they’re just sleepwalking,” says a Democratic strategist, who did not want to be quoted by name criticizing the Obama campaign. His fear, echoed by many, is that Obama’s responses to the dire economic conditions fall far short of the bold leadership needed.

The latest gimmick rolled out by the White House, a To-Do list aimed at Congress that fits on a Post-it note, is emblematic of what’s missing. “A To-Do list is for little things, like picking up the dry cleaning; you don’t put "schedule your son’s MRI" or “buy a new house” on the list,” says this frustrated Democrat.

Hand-wringing is a common malady during presidential campaigns, and Obama has a history of hanging back, listening to his own internal clock, and then acting just when others think all is lost. Campaigns have a rhythm, but the worry among Democrats is that the Obama team is so focused on disparaging Mitt Romney that they haven’t laid out in a clear and compelling way what Obama would do in a second term. “If all Romney has to say is, 'I’ll do better,’ Obama will lose,” says Sam Popkin, a professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego, and author of The Candidate: What it Takes to Win—and Hold—the White House.

People still quote the phrase from the Clinton ’92 war room, “It's the economy, stupid.” Another phrase written on the blackboard by then-strategist James Carville is equally relevant today, “Change vs. more of the same.”

“The man who campaigned in ’08 on hope and change is now, whether he likes it or not, more of the same—and he has to make more of the same look better,” says Popkin. The American Jobs Act that Obama introduced earlier this year is languishing in Congress with no apparent hope of passage. “He has never said what his next three steps are. People have to have confidence he has a plan, and he hasn’t told us.”

<snip>

More: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/06/08/democrats-jittery-over-obama-s-sputtering-2012-campaign.html

[sharp_stick]

1. Why would you get shit?

I mean birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim and you've gotta wring your hands.

I don't know why this post would be any different from any of the other 39,264 hand wringing posts you manage to hammer out.

[WillyT]

4. #1

[dionysus]

51. .

[randome]

2. The debates should clear up any confusion.

Romney will sink even lower. That's not optimism on my part. It's how I see this panning out.

[WillyT]

5. Thank You For That !!!

[dadchef]

42. The debates are where our President is spectacular

I can't say I have been inspired by the latest run of bad luck. Wisconsin, was my low point. I think I can handle the weak job numbers, which I suspect can be a late October strategy play. However, these National Security breaches are dreadful, and really could have legs with the squishy middle. Stupid miscalculation if this can be traced to WH. Look at the outrage even with our own Senators, taking the microphones with stern predictions, and long faces. (When is Reid going to take control?)

I would put a 5 alarm fire hose on that problem in early summer. No one will remember this in late August if it's handled with clean, clear results and done early..

I'm hanging my hat on the debates. Rombo is a stiff, exuding zero enthusiasm, and having no real constituency. Our President is inspirational, fast on his feet, and naturally confident. He is smart enough to understand timing is everything, if your slow to start, you have the stretch run to sprint to the wire..

[sendero]

44. I think you are right..

.... if Obama is going to win this the debates are going to be the reason why.

[Aerows]

47. The other thing, too

Every week one of Romney's classmates rolls over on him and tells a horrible story about him. I get the feeling that anyone who ever knew him detested him. That's going to shine through.

[bluestateguy]

3. It wouldn't be a Democratic campaign without the obligatory hand-wringing article in the paper

Like clockwork you can expect it every four years, and the same quotes from the same anonymous cowards who won't go on the record.

These worry-grams predicably pop up every year in the papers, including in winning campaign years (1992, 1996 and 2008).

[WillyT]

8. Would YOU Go On The Record If YOU Were Worried About The Strategy Of The Campaign...

knowing you might lose your job ???

If you actually thought they were going in the wrong direction... what would YOU do?

[MjolnirTime]

6. Your agenda has never been hidden. That's for sure.

[WillyT]

11. Please Expand On Your Theory... Seems Like You Just Might Be Accusing Me Of Something...

Spit it out.

[HiPointDem]

39. how would you know, mr. 600 posts?

[sharp_stick]

41. He's still been here longer than you n/t

[HiPointDem]

43. I'm not the one talking about other posters' "agendas".

[MjolnirTime]

62. Do you prefer quality or quantity??

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Meh. This election is a snoozer. Romney's on the bus to Palookaville.

[Logical]

10. Really? What signs make you think that?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. Romney's "base" are older white males.

And, there aren't enough of them to overcome Obama's multiple bases of women, younger white males, and minorities.

I'm not a Obama fan but, in this instance, he does indeed "got this".

[Logical]

17. Well, I hope you are enough of a fan to vote for him......

I am not as confident as you. If we were dealing with intelligent voters I would feel better. We are not.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. Maybe..maybe not...and that's a promise.

[Logical]

19. Well, who would you vote for. And please do not say no one. I for one will be voting AGAINST Romney.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

23. I will probably be voting for the most progressive, anti-war, candidate on the ballot.

But, worry not, no matter how I vote, I guarantee that my single vote will not decide the election.

[Logical]

28. Well, a few 1000 like you might.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

30. Then the candidate should try and be the most progressive, anti-war, candidate on the ballot.

You have to appeal to the voters to win their votes. And, it's rather foolish to blame the voters when you don't.

[Logical]

38. And have a chance of winning!

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

31. "If we were dealing with intelligent voters I would feel better."

Actually, considering voters go for who seems like the nicer guy nowadays.......I welcome underinformed voters in this contest.

[GeorgeGist]

46. Wisconsin was a chance to prove it.

But he chose to play it safe.

[CTyankee]

61. on a "one-way ticket"?

loved that movie...

[calimary]

9. "Sputtering"?

OMG - Jesus Mary and Joseph we do NOT need language like that applied to our side's campaign. Oh, brother...

[WillyT]

13. That Is Why I Didn't Put It In The Subject Line... But... I Wanted People To Hear What Eleanor Was..

hearing...

BTW - The author of the article usually suggests a title/headline...

The final decision... is usually up to an editor...

Who usually works for, and meets with, management.

[calimary]

20. Oh I understand. I just hate seeing words like that being used - by ANYBODY - describing

our side in Campaign 2012. That's fucking TERRIFYING!

I remember feeling deeply gratified several months ago after romney was having a very rough primary season, and santorum was awarded the win in Iowa and all that - and somebody on camera mentioned that romney's campaign is "collapsing." And I thought - GOOD. EXCELLENT word choice. That's the kind of wording we need to see and hear, attached to the romney machine. The more we see and hear descriptions like that, the more that image is likely to sink in and take root, and then the perception BECOMES the reality.

I fucking HATE seeing it happen to our President!

[emulatorloo]

12. It is Summer. Nobody is paying attention now

Except people like us.

I expect the Obama Campaign has a schedule re how they are going to ramp up the campaign as we get closer to the election.

So I don't put much stock in what that strategist who won't say his name is saying.

Obama campaign will put it all out there when the time is right.

[calimary]

21. Thank God for that, that it's summer and only the wonks are paying any attention.

EVEN SO: we can't afford too much of that - because the PERCEPTION of what is - is what's critical here. It doesn't matter in the least - what you are. It's what people THINK you are. And we just can't afford too much of that. We can't afford for that kind of wording to sink in ANYWHERE - especially within our own ranks. Hell, after Wisconsin, many of us are already dispirited enough.

You CAN'T be seen or perceived as being on defense.

You CAN'T be seen or perceived as negotiating from a position of weakness. DEAR GOD NO!!!!

You CAN'T be seen or perceived in that a-little-too-uncomfortably-familiar "Democrats in disarray" cliche.

It's the OTHER side you want to have - looking like Alfred E. Newman and the Keystone Kops. You do NOT want that image sticking to your side.

[jtuck004]

25. I'll bet people whose homes are underwater, about to be foreclosed, or long-term unemployed

are paying attention.

Some of them since 2009.

[emulatorloo]

49. No doubt. Especially to Romney's work at Bain.

[jtuck004]

50. lol. Yeah, I bet they make that distinction. n/t

[emulatorloo]

52. So you feel they are eager to return to Bush era economic policies?

Who knows, I suppose they could be fox viewers. But I doubt it.

[jtuck004]

57. I don't believe most people think that far in. And with our current president

telling them that ol Mi$$ is private equity (forgetting to note that he started hurting people and making money in junk bonds), that there is nothing wrong with the business, and Clinton stumping for him talking about Rmoney's "sterling" business career...

SAY WHAT?

Romney is and was a junk bond trader, made millions from the tragedies the bastard visited on thousands of people. He identified places that could be bought and traded around, loaded up with debt by using the employees very LIVES as collateral, then walked away with a fat wallet and a sanctimonious message.

He and his ilk (KKR, Blackstone, Bain, others) - they are like cockroaches. They're everywhere. In league with their friends at places like Goldman, Lehman, AIG, and with the able assistance of at least 3 administrations have brought more pain and devastation to this country than any terrorist has dreamed possible.

How anyone could sit at a table across from those people w/o spraying them with disinfectant, hoping to prevent whatever is unique about them from crawling on you, I have no idea.

Yet we appear to be living inside a great theater, a play that is supporting the assets of the wealthy, helping them extract wealth from the lives of our neighbors, with the barest minimum of effort and investment into our people and country by our government.

Regardless of the excuses, there are about 25 million people vying for 3.5 million jobs, millions of home loans underwater and so many foreclosed on that banks aren't even showing them on the listings in some areas for fear of lowering prices - which, nevertheless, continue to lower. 4 million jobs have been created over the past 4 years - but that's just break even, doesn't come close to meeting the need. Even when jobs are created, low-wage and part-time jobs are now the largest growth category, supplanting jobs that used to support schools, communities, colleges - people's lives.

For those who have parents that still make enough to afford it, 6 million kids are on their health insurance. But 49.7 million people don't have health insurance at all, and there are 20 million in poverty, a number that, so far, has risen every year since 2008.

No, I don't think people are thinking about a return to Bush. Because they live in today, and that's hard enough.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

14. He's going to be re-elected. But, we're going to have another "free-trade" agreement.

If he didn't want one, he would instruct those in his Administration to stop negotiation for the adoption of another one.

[deaniac21]

16. Big Dog is just starting to help!!

[calimary]

22. There's still time to fix it.

Providing they go on red alert, and actually do.

[dont hassle the hoff]

53. Who is Big Dog--Willy?

Yup, he's a dawg alright!

Thanks for NAFTA, pal! 'Preciate it...

[bigtree]

24. she bases this on 'jittery Democrats?'

and they think this 'hand-wringing' helps?

By the way. Clift doesn't make these few 'Democratic strategist's case for them at all. She just hand-wrings and expects that to be an argument. The headline suggested she had something of value to say. She didn't. Reminds me of the post on here today that said the President should yell and pound the podium. If these are really 'Democratic' strategists, they need to go find something more productive to do in this campaign than undercut the Democratic nominee with their vacuous bullshittery.

[WillyT]

26. Vacuous Bullshittery... I Like That... But It Will Not Stop The Media From Pointing To The Fear...

Or reporting anonymous sources that believe we might be going the wrong way.

So I ask... what do YOU suggest we do about it?

[bigtree]

27. she cited a handful of 'Democratic strategists'

offered nothing more than someone's 'jitters.' She quoted Carville, for shit sakes! What the hell has he done for the party lately outside of swiping at us?

What should we do about Clift? What should we do about these couple of chatty strategists? I'm not sure what you think it is that we have to do something about.

[WillyT]

29. Alrighty Then... How Many Democratic Strategists Can YOU Quote ???

Or get to go on the record ???

If your standard is that EVERYBODY has to go on the record in order to be believed... it makes me think that you are too young... And are unfamiliar with... Watergate, and the Pentagon Papers, and a couple of hundred other things...

Tell me it's just a support group thing.

[bigtree]

37. why do I need quotes from 'Democratic strategists' to have an opinion about the state of this race?

You present this drivel like it's political gospel; or as if it's something more substantive than 'hand-wringing.' It's not, and, doesn't deserve rebutting. It stands on it's 'jittery' own.

[MineralMan]

56. I suggest that you stop publicizing

FUD from writers like this. This is just more of the usual bullshit, with no worthwhile sources. It's toxic, and it helps nothing.

[WillyT]

59. Thankfully... I Never Got The "Shut Up, Salute, And Do As You Are Told" Gene...

So no... I think I will post what I feel like posting...

But thank you for your concern...

[MineralMan]

60. Of course you will. And I'll be right here to comment on what you post.

And I'll make suggestions when they occur to me. DU's great!

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

32. Democratic strategists better start worrying more about Congress and the Senate.

I see no movement in our favor on the House side and we are behind the eight ball in the Senate.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

33. Europe is a problem for the USA

In the global economy, the USA is only a part of it. This is a huge problem.

Romney is a buffoon and could not handle such a problem. Obama on the other hand has the experience to deal with economic downturns. He did after all save us from the brink.

[WillyT]

34. I Tend To Agree...But Time Will Tell...

And... there are forces against us...

[DavidDvorkin]

35. "That’s what many Democrats are saying privately"

Sure, Eleanor.

[SunsetDreams]

36. Hey no fair! You took my words :)

[Tarheel_Dem]

40. And the hits just keep on comin' from the professional left.

[Segami]

45. Politics is ALL about timing. n/t

[Ship of Fools]

48. Yep. I hope Obama

remains a populist in his speeches, wonky in his interviews, and
keep mixing bludgeons and boasts WITHIN the ads. Works for me!

Timing is everything, too. Would it not be glorious if, at the last minute,
he proffers a huge, honkin' jobs program? At least I would think so.

But would someone PLEASE hire the prez an acting coach?? His pauses are too
long and he is pretty damned monotone. An occasional, loud slap on the podium for
emphasis makes my leg tingle!

Just one woman's opinion.

[MineralMan]

54. Doom, Gloom, & FUD.

More of the same...

[Zax2me]

55. I don't like quoting those exit polls.

They also showed the Gov. tied 50/50.
Little off.

[ThomThom]

58. don't forget what side Eleanor Clift is on

she is just wishful thinking
the campaign just started and Obama has been scoring points every day while Rmoney is losing them every day

[agent46]

63. Sorry

But if Obama doesn't intensify his game and stop walking on eggshells with his mannered and polite rhetoric, he's toast. I'm not convinced his agenda is much different from the corporatist agenda that comes from "across the aisle" (as he says).

So far, he's courted the gay vote and the immigrant vote at no cost to the corporatist agenda he's followed for the last four years. What's next? The Legalize Cannabis crowd? It's not enough.