Hillary is running the show now - unprecedented control over her message, advisors taking orders

[Herman Munster]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/06/AR2008010602534.html

In an unscheduled conference call with senior aides on Sunday morning, Clinton took what her advisers described as an unprecedented level of control over the direction of the daily message -- issuing orders rather than soliciting advice. According to one participant in the call, Clinton did not explicitly relieve any advisers of responsibilities, but she made it clear that she intends to reorient her campaign toward sharpening her differences with Obama on the trail. Two advisers, separately, used the term "very determined" to describe Clinton's attitude toward winning Tuesday's primary -- a characterization matched by her pace and aggressiveness on the campaign trail Sunday.

"It is important for you to have the facts, and last night we saw some of what the differences are," Clinton said during a rally that drew thousands in Nashua, referring to a Democratic debate the night before.

Of Obama, she said, "if you give a speech saying you're going to vote against the Patriot Act and you don't -- that's not change. If you say that you're going to prevent members of Congress from having lunch with lobbyists sitting down, but they still can have lunch standing up, that's not change."

She continued to use the "that's not change" mantra, with an enthusiastic audience eventually joining in the chant. Clinton's challenges in regaining an advantage in the race with an emboldened Obama go beyond sagging poll numbers, some of her own supporters acknowledge. Campaign officials have sounded the alarm about shortcomings in their organization in South Carolina, the next major contest on the Democratic calendar, causing concern that she will be outmatched in the primary there on Jan. 26.

[still_one]

1. That is good, except she still hasn't explained her vote on the Kyle/Lieberman ammendment

It doesn't matter that Obama copped out and didn't vote on it, why did she vote for it?

and even though her criticism is right on about the patriot act with regard to Obama, it still resonates that she voted for the patriot act also, and that is a weak position to be coming from

She has a point with the issues she is presenting against Obama, the only problem is she doesn't have a particularly good record herself on those points

This could actually boost Edwards standing instead of elevating hers though

[Lucinda]

10. Actually...she has explained her K/L vote. Several times. If you search DU you'll find it.

I'm on slow dial-up right now or i'd find a link for you.

[DUyellow]

2. Sure she is

[Renew Deal]

11. She's starting to remind me of Lieberman

He went crazy when it became realistic that he'd lose to Lamont.

[Renew Deal]

3. South Carolina is not the "next major contest." This lie is everywhere.

Nevada is next.

Besides that, what can Hillary do in a day or so to "win NH?" She can do a crazy amount of negative press against Obama, but I'm not sure how much that helps in a day.

[Herman Munster]

5. it's a longer term strategy

NH is probably lost but it's a month till Super Tuesday. Plenty of time for the seeds of doubt about Obama's change to grow.

[loveangelc]

19. so instead of saying what she is for, she is going to say why people shouldn't vote for her opponent

what a winning strategy.!!1

i think most people won't buy it.

[enough already]

25. In other words, she's offering nothing but slime

How inspiring...

[still_one]

7. Some of those points presented by the OP are valid against Obama

However, that in no way can justify her position on those same issues

If that is her strategy, I don't think it will particularly help her

She needs to articulate exactly what she is going to do, and distinguish why her approach is better than her opponents

[glowing]

4. Didn't Edwards say that in the debate about the standing up thing?

She's really all over the place. If Bush hadn't been there, she'd make perfect sense and be a shoo-in... but Bush has messed so much up that we can't allow or afford for business as usual.

[oasis]

6. So take of the gloves and go to work on "The Great Pretender".

:spank:Take that Barack.

[Lucinda]

8. Good. She should have been doing it earlier.

[Renew Deal]

9. Interesting item about endorsements

" Bill Bradley (N.J.), a favorite of moderate and unaffiliated voters and among the vanguard in a wave of establishment endorsements that is expected to break should Obama prevail again."

[Lucinda]

13. The last part of the quote baffles me...why are they waiting?

Or am I misreading this? Why wait till he "prevails again." Why not just support him now if they like him?

It's late and i'm foggy. But that comment seems weird to me :)

[Renew Deal]

14. You read it right

Politics is about calculation. He's less of a risk if he wins NH.

[Occam Bandage]

12. Good. Maybe she'll start running a campaign instead of a disaster.

[sandnsea]

15. If you lie the way you have for 16 years

that's not change either.

[Perry Logan]

17. Then why do black Americans support her so much? Are you saying they're stupid?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

22. Where? in Illinois? hardly.

and what of women?

Except for the old, retired grandmas, Obama beat her in every category.

[Perry Logan]

23. Just a feeble effort to get you to ease up on the smears.

[sandnsea]

29. a lot of people don't know she's lying to them n/t

[annie1]

16. THanks.

[indimuse]

18. This is how a TRUE LEADER ...Leads.

:applause::applause::applause:

[crawfish]

28. Wrong. True leaders aren't micromanagers.

TRUE leaders put people they can trust in key positions. And TRUST them.

Having to take unprecedented control of your own campaign is a weakness, not a strength.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

20. this is what? Ver. 6.2.1 by now?

And after tomorrow, a brand new change in direction?

There are two famous statements regarding the practice of law, both of which see to apply to Hill's campaign.

"If the law's against you, argue the facts. If the facts are against you, argue the law. If both are against you, argue."

and

When everything falls apart, keep throwing shit against the wall. Maybe something will stick.

[enough already]

26. So many versions, so little substance

Tomorrow, she'll be the Change Candidate for Experienced Change Experiences. Film at 11.

[Skidmore]

21. I'd say that her choice of advisors has been a test of her judgment.

[zulchzulu]

24. If you are voting for a Clinton after a Bush after a Clinton after a Bush, that's not change

Game. Set. Match.

[rucky]

27. About time! And Penn's out in 5...4...3...2...

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. Isn't that a harbinger of doom?

It's like taking back the Baghdad airport, isn't it?