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I wrote a month ago in this space that the greatest threats to the Obama and Clinton campaigns were their own campaign strategists, who were too infatuated with their own long-held theories of politics to adjust to the particular demands of this year's electorate. So I'm disappointed to read that in the wake of Super Standoff Tuesday, and Barack Obama's rise to at least co-frontrunnerhood, guru David Axelrod still thinks it's all about his conceptual genius. Quoth the Financial Times today:
"Obama represents the change the people are looking for," said David Axelrod, the Illinois senator's campaign chief-of-staff, as he yesterday savoured victories in a majority of Super Tuesday states. "The more they are exposed to him, the more they get his message."
. . . Its substance, long on inspiring rhetoric but sometimes short on detail, according to his opponents, will not change. "It's the message that's going to lead him to the nomination of this party," Mr Axelrod says.
This is ironic, since what's had everyone talking over the last couple days about Obama as the emerging favorite in the campaign isn't his message -- it's his daunting advantage in raising money, which is becoming the same tool of perceived inevitability that Hillary Clinton's circle no doubt thought their fundraising prowess would be a year or so ago.
If Clinton does manage to overcome Obama's lead in ready cash, it'll be because she found an effective way to undermine the superficiality of Barack's platitude-laden ads and speeches. That's the weak underbelly of his campaign, and if Axelrod was less egotistical smarter he'd be looking for a way to shore up Obama's high-concept appeal by connecting it to more specific and tangible policy results before it starts to wear thin under prolonged media scrutiny.
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No more kumbaya.
Accountability please.
And
ZED
Sorry to go OT but the Senate passed the Stimulus bill 81-16…
Actually, I think what is doing it for Oama is his excellent ground game. His campaign does really good GOTV. They even had campaign spnosred election monitoring the NYS.
You would have thought they would have conceded Hillary’s home state, but nope, they put serious resources into pulling the vote and protecting that vote wonce it got to the polls.
Hillary, not so much.
I think Obama’s money is a result of support, people buying into his campaign. It is not cause, it is effect. That also happens to be a positive reinforcement loop.
I like the change aspect of his campaign. I like the aspirational appeal. I do not like the unity component. As the last thread covered so well, there needs to be some accountability. And that aspect involves a little ugliness.
The message of change must not change. That would be way too meta.
If you were his speechwriter, how would you deliver the aspirational “change” message while still conveying the accountability message? Do you think that could be done?
Yeah - Unity - like when he leaves out “Gay or Straight, or Transgendered” in his “Not Black or White” rhetoric at MOST of his campaign stops.
Nicely done, Mr. Needlenose.
PS: how is that jacket? Still a favorite with the ladies?
I just gave him $500.
Hillary isn’t only fighting the Obama campaign, she is also fighting most of the media.
To even try to attack Obama as superficial compared to the Clintons requires a reboot. I saw Senator Clinton this morning trying to explain “her” $5mm loan to her campaign. HRC has never earned $10mm in pre tax dollars in her life as far as I know. She has had one safe job after the next, never worried about a paycheck at her end. Even the beginning and the end at the Rose Law firm played off political nexus as opposed to lawyering ability. It takes a hell of an effort to legitimately acquire $5mm in post tax dollars.
So here we are with the Clintons seemingly financing their re-election off Bill’s speeches to corporate pay out’s over the last years. MSM did not even raise the issue of the “joint” net worth of the Clintons. As much as I dislike and disrespect Romney, running Bain Capital is not risk adverse and HRC has always had the safety of her various “positions”. But her supposed ability to have accumulated $5mm in post tax dollars?
Whattyamean?
Obama has lots of change.
Wow, “It’s raining “Concern Trolls“… Did Paul Shaffer write that tune, to?
If I’d felt like writing a longer post, I would have mentioned this — from an organizational standpoint, his campaign is spectacular. The candidate is very charismatic, but the way they’ve been able to translate that into field work and turnout will be the stuff of textbooks.
I cannot think of a way that both messages could possibly be conveyed without sounding, seeming contradictory. He’ll clean up, though. And he’ll do it making the point that the accountability is a point of pride for ALL AMERICANS. How much accountability does anyone think we’ll see from his esteemed opponent? We have a history of example on THAT one!
Hey Jacqrat,
I agree, but I still think that will bring out Right-sing foot soldiers to vote not FOR McCain, but against Obama.
Sad, but still true. And it won’t help if a Dem loses in November and says “But I was right”.
This is something I nearly wrote about, too — it’s a valid counterargument. But it seems to me that Howard Dean was able to tap into a similar passion without having to be so vague.
Not to mention a large portion of AMERICANS!
Yesterday I was speaking to one of my Mormon friends in the Phoenix area. He said that he was disappointed in Romney’s showing on Super Tuesday. When asked about the general election, whether he would support McCain, he wasn’t excited about the prospect. Then he added “My wife said that if it is between McCain and Obama, she would vote for Obama.”
I think Obama has positioned himself very well to win in November.
Last time I checked, Hillary had more AMERICANS voting for her on Super Tuesday than did Obama.
you know what?
if clinton takes on edwards and promises vice president status, she can use his platform to get the votes and money she needs to win
but then again, the same thing is true for obama
I am very nervous though, of all years for us to conduct an experiment to find out if america will vote for a women or a black man, I would not this to be the year
we are taking quite the gamble
Hey, don’t get me wrong. I want to see the end of GOP rule as much as you.
I guess I’m not clear on what comment you’re responding to, SteveA…
Oh my goodness. I admit to being old fashioned and perhaps, some might say conservative. When choosing between Hillary and Obama I look at the record of each candidate (starting with Iraq) and their pronouncements and the company they keep and from where they derive their campaign financing.
Maybe explaining change in terms of making Washington work for the American People? In terms of rolling back the Monarchical Preznitcy? In terms of applying the Rule of Law to everyone, no matter how high their office or (offshore) bank balance? Unity in terms of “let’s get this mess cleaned up” by not sweeping it under the carpet?
That’s the kind of change and unity I could get behind, but it doesn’t make for feel-good music videos or nifty soundbites or Kumbaya moments.
HELP! I’m still really uncomfortable with the idea of another Clinton Administration or two, but taking Senatorial capitulation all the way to the WH isn’t going to work for me, either.
FunnyD
That’s not the story here in Colorado.
Ah, nevermind, Steve. I get it now. You think he is right to leave out “teh Gay” when talking to Americans…
Sigh.
AND PS: I do know the difference between “TOO” and “TO”- Typo’d it after the Paul Shaffer comment - should have been TOO…
I think you have to cut the guy some slack. His first goal is to inspire people to get involved. He has. They have given money, time and showed up to vote. Good on him.
Policy wonks will not get elected. Too dull and uninspiring. Even if a candidate has lots of great ideas, he needs to inspire more than present ideaas to win. That’s the reality.
Now that he seems to have the media’s attention in a serious way… and his “followers” in their belief in change… he has to start moving into message… specific message without losing the passion he has inspired in his supporters. They want change from Bush, I want change… 90% of America wants change. I trust he will get some good people to implement that change and I expect to hear more and more specifics as time moves on.
Money is the measure of how he is gathering support and not so much in the total, but in that it is coming in small donations.
He’s not perfect, has crap in is past, as most of them do, but I am willing to see what he does not that he is neck and neck with Hill.
You just expressed my own feelings onthe subject much better than I could have
As always, an excellent Thurs. afternoon posting, Swopa. A drive by here, but my take on potential problems w/the BO phenomenon also includes the voicing by both Obama & Mrs. Obama that if they don’t get the nom, they’ll pick up their ball & jacks & go home.
What was that about unity again…
Party unity will be the penultimate truth in Dems winning the WH this fall.
Ultimate, of course, is showing up St. John for what he has actually become in the era of BushCo- nothing but another enabler.
Cutting through all the crap: vote Democratic next November. The alternative come next January to a Democratic president moving into the White House, just could possibly prove to be horrendous and rather dreadful. We need to sooner or later unite. Don’t you think.
The rupukes are going down the house and senate drain and regardless of whose da guy in the big house he won’t be able to veto the legislation they send up.
The congress is where it’s at this time and we need a strong veto proof, fillbuster proof majority in both houses. And GOOD dems too. please
McCain as pres will have no choice then to sign the bills… if he gets lucky and wins and lives til inauguration.
*blush*
That means a lot coming from you, LHP!
FunnyD
PS: (for SanderO) I’m not buying the idea that being charismatic and a policy wonk are mutually exclusive. Or that being superficial on policy to keep the charisma bright and the nerd label at bay is a good idea. It’s going to be a tight race from here on out. It’s time to see some nuts and bolts. I have had way too much of the “reality” of this administration: TRUST US…but all the proof is TOP SECRET.
OKKiddo cuts through the crap, as per usual ;-)
You & Lahoma always get to the meat of it. You guys rule…
I don’t think that’s weak at all. If it’s so weak, why has he pummeled the Clinton machine so savagely?
The Clintons didn’t think that message was weak in 1992, when they used it. You didn’t hear a lot of that “experience trumps vison” s#it from them in ‘92. When, exactly, did Hillary decide that experience was the key criteria? Does she think that people who gambled on the governor of Arkansas over the experienced incumbent president in 1992 were chumps? Did she vote for Bill in 1992, or GHW Bush?
Well, I agree about the Accountability, but I’m a member of the kumbaya generation. Yes, Obama’s hot at money raising. And yes, his ground game is good. But if he didn’t have a good message for people to rally around, his ground game would fall flat and he wouldn’t be able to raise any Do Re Mi.
The hope thing is important. I give you as authorities not only I Corinthians 13, but Paolo Freire’s Pedagogy of Hope. Freire, as you know or should know, is famous for the gritty realism of his Pedagogy of the Oppressed. But he knows that the Revolution will never succeed without Hope, and that people need to identify the right things to hope for. Obama is doing that.
I am seeing more indications today that many of the biggest sins of the Bush-Cheney regime began as small sins under Bill Clinton, with the full knowledge and compliance of Nancy Pelosi and other senior Democratic leaders. All the more reason why we need a clean start.
Bob in HI
If kmdala is right, while Axelrod, et al, are patting themselves on the back and cooing over how smart and high-minded they are, McCain is shoring up his Southern Strategy, and the Rethugs have made or are making the necessary moves to be able consolidate their torn up party and win in Nov. Obama and his campaign are diddling while “Tara” burns. Our chances to win in Nov. may go up in that smoke! Once again, will Dems manage to grasp failure from the jaws of victory? What do we want more, our ideology or the WH?
I continue to maintain that Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama is a winning ticket. Of course there are possible serious egos to consider. In which case we could just hand the election to big bad ill tempered, and unsuited to be president Bush sycophant, John McCain.
LHP or Christy or any of you attorneys, maybe you could give me your take on my questions, since this is the third and last time I’ll ask this or bring this up here:
I beg to differ D… people were fooled by the bush marketing nonsense without policy and all silly phrases like compassionate conservatism.
Obi is no dumbi and he will have to deliver policy. His strategy if that what it was has defied all odds and all the pundits and so the spotlight is on and he is not going to have to begin to deliver some steak with the sizzle.
And he, I think, he will. Just a hunch.
707! OKK meets British Phlegm? Who knew that would be good comic relief?
FunnyD
“If you were his speechwriter, how would you deliver the aspirational “change” message while still conveying the accountability message? Do you think that could be done?”
I think they go together rather well, since accountability has been conspicuously lacking, even with Democrats in “control” of Congress. And, BTW, I see no reason to restrict accountability to Republican incumbents. Justice should be blind. It is part of the accountability thing that needs to change.
Bob in HI
Whoever ends up nominated, I’d like to seem them choose Jim Webb as VP…that would really counter McCain.
She wrote a couple of successful books.
Together they ARE a winning ticket.
Can we just take one moment to reflect on how cool it is that FINALLY being black or being a woman is seen as a positive in a candidate?
“see them”….
Check AGAIN…they are pretty even…..
“No more kumbaya.
Accountability please.”
With all due respect, what makes you think you are more likely to get accountability from Clinton than from Obama? She wants to re-hire Bush Cabinet official Colin Powell as a goodwill ambassador. She floated that dreadful trial balloon about sending Bill Bush’s pa abroad. I see no evidence whatsoever that she will hold anyone from this administration accountable for anything.
I’m picturing Hillary holding her couch over her head and shaking it hoping for change to fall out.
Bill and Bush’s pa, I mean.
Me too!
What, exactly, would John McCain do that Hillary wouldn’t?
why, he would bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb iran
I think it would be pretty easy.
“We need accountability. We’ve had 7 years under this no account George W Bush. We’ve had 7 years of his no accountability policy.
Before that we had Bill Clinton who didn’t hold his predecessor accountable for crimes under his watch.
I’m not afraid to be held accountable…yadda yadda.”
Apparently Hillary has raised about $6 million in the last 24 hours.
The average person is contributing to Obama’s campaign I would suspect. Hillary doesn’t have the average person supporting her, however, so it appears she needs new friends. LOL Isn’t it hard to make new friends as one gets older?
I read today that Mr. Inspiration refused to be photographed with the mayor of San Francisco because of Gavin’s support for gay marriage. Combine that with McClurkin and his dropping the “gay” from his unity speech, and I’d almost think he wasn’t too fond of us. Oh well, he’s still perfect and wonderful and everybody hates Hillary.
I read that earlier. Is the number reflecting before or after the $5 million was put in? I guess we’ll have to wait until the financial report comes out of her campaign. ;-)
I don’t hate Hillary. I just think she’d be a dreadful president, and she’s not that great a presidential candidate.
Do ANY of you think that Hillary would expose or release info about the Chimpy administrations war crimes if she was elected?
Curious what you all think!
Chriss, Both Obama and Clinton have given speeches in support of gay rights.
My understanding is she put the $5 million in last month.
gailonfong, the Clintons would have to release their info first and I don’t think they will do that.
I have been going back and forth in my mind for quite a few days and have finally decided. I will support Hillary - I am disgusted with all this hate Hillary stuff. And I don’t think Obama, despite his charm and his speech making, is nearly as progressive as I would like him to be. Too many signs otherwise.
I think there would be a lot of pressure to do so.
I was at a dinner with the Dean of the Medical school here in Florida and he said he had 3 meetings with Obama in the past, and worked with him on LGBT/HIV issues, he said Obama was smart had great ideas and followed thru on his promises. So as a gay man I am convinced Obama will be great on LGBT issues.
The Southern Strategy doesn’t work if ONLY the south votes for a candidate. That well is pretty empty.
-G
As a very frustrated, froze my arse in NH Deaniac, I hear you on the specifics. But let’s remember what happened to him. Though I don’t actually think it was too much specificity that buried Dean (I happen to believe that the Dean organization wasn’t there and that’s what killed him in Iowa).
Obama has a very similar approach to Dean tapping into disillusionment through a *positive* message, creating a movement and getting followers to buy in and own the effort. He’s been much more effective in translating that aura into effective action (community organizing background perhaps?)
I think part of creating the positive aura is not making it too specific. A broader set of people can then identify with you and not have cognitive dissonance problems. Except of course for the rabble here and elsewhere on the blogs for deep content.
The last two speeches I heard from Obama–his speech of this tuesday evening and at Ebenezer Church in Atlanta on MLK day. I didn’t view either as platitude-laden. I thought they were both superb.
His ability to articulate and communicate is one of the things that sets Obama apart from Clinton. And it is an ability that is sorely needed in the president’s office. If much of the utility of that office is the “power of the pulpit”, then Obama is ideally suited.
Who said anyting about geting it from Clinton?
I was talking about Obama’s message.
Clinton would actually have a special problem going after the rethugs b/c it would be spun as payback for Ken Starr.
My biggest problem with Obama is that I don’t think he would be able to get a grip on the governing mechanism. I think the Administration would run amok under him. And then there’s his well meaning intervention in Keyna in favor of his cousin. I just don’t trust him.
I agree and I still have no idea what he plans to DO - all I’ve heard is hope, change and bi-partisanship.
Kobe recently added Webb to the ever growing list of famous people he has inappropriately jumped on.
As Marcy warned at the time, “Watch out, Kobe, we think he’s armed…”
Right - let’s wait for another year when we have a black man and a woman fighting for the nomination.
Now that would be novel, common sense jeesh who knew
Re: money raising, it might be interesting to see which candidates, on both sides, depend more on corporate donations, as opposed to relatively small donations from citizen-supporters. I’d like to think that Obama would not top that list, but frankly don’t know.
Yes. ;0)
L. and okk
You trust bush more?
Look the pres doesn’t have to do much as long as he surrounds him or herself with smart people who know how to act and think. Obi is smart enough to do that. I wouldn’t worry about him running amok. That’s silly.
It’s about the people you bring on board as much as anything else. Though granted, having the gal/guy at the top a person who knows the nitty gritty is very helpful.
I’ve always heard that one reason Carter was not a particularly successful president was that he was a bit of a control freak and that slowed a lot of the machinery down. Great ideas, but follow through suffers.
how much was that worth?
Hello.
L.
Don’t stop asking I think that is an important question to ask in light of the FISA bill. I would like to have a definitive answer on the same question… How can congress legislate in violation of the 4th amendment?? Or in fact any part of the of the constitution???
No
Ken Starr was the Clintons fault and problem. Albeit, Ken Starr is a flake.
OMG that is funny. Did Kobe lick him? Dog’s always know about people…
I so agree.
Personally, I prefer the former Constitutional Law professor to the former corporate lawyer.
I need to know that “Unity” does not promote accepting all of the scary Repubs appointed but now “career fed employees” - especially in Justice, Homeland Security and Pentagon. I want the next Dem administration to be prepared to be able to fight to the death to get rid of these ideologically-scary people working in our govt.
I agree
That’s a bit of a stretch. I think you would agree that Starr’s predecessor, Mr. Fisk, who found nothing to investigate, was their “fault and problem” also?
You appear to be a Progressive. Full of common sense. ;0)
Laughing with eyes rolling around in his head..common sense you say?
Think Goldwater was scary? Check out John Chucky McCain.
If Bill Clinton and his lawyer had not protested too much and if Clinton had told the truth and resigned, then we would all have been better off.
there are fights we can fight, at the right time, we can’t fight all the right fights all the time, we don’t have the resources
this election, we have got to get into office, the country cannot afford another 4 or 8 years of republicans handing our country over to the wealthy
if we win this election and do what needs to be done, it will surely be a snap for any next battle to be fought
this election, we need to win
I support anybody we run, however I wish neither of these two were our choice
I wish we had a corporate fighter not corporate enablers running for the office of president
kiddo’s a scream. I get to deal with him everyday. ;0)
Lahoma
Hello, Lahoma & Kiddo.
Back to work now :)
And Obama 7.4 Million
“LOL Isn’t it hard to make new friends as one gets older?”
Boy, you Obama supporters are trying real hard to piss-off the 50+ crowd, aren’t you? You probably mean this facetiously, but it is an underlying strain in many pro-Obama comments… just roll over and die old woman, and don’t try to keep up on funds. You loan yourself $5 mill, we raise more than that in one day. Get out of the way as we heal the lepers and walk on water!
I was an Edwards supporter and after his departure, I had to decide which candidate I could support. I don’t pretend to speak for anyone but myself and for me, a grad student studying ‘textual economics’ in travel literature, it’s the words, the sentence structure, the meaning. When he speaks, he uses the words, ‘we’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ quite a bit. Yes, he uses it in his speeches but he also uses it when he speaks off the cuff. Is it attributable to his community organization roots? Could be. I don’t know but when I hear those words, I feel personally invested. I feel the sense of urgency because it isn’t about him, it’s about us and what we can do together. That is what fuels me and maybe that is what fuels others. Issue wise, there are some things that I don’t agree with but the main ones are there.
I guess when I read or hear how his message is weak, I respectfully disagree and find think it ironic that they would say words like, ‘us’, ‘we’, ‘our’, ‘us’ are weak. Far from that, they are powerful for their personal meaning and their inherent meaning of unity. After seven years of division and divisive discourse, I’m just ready for something new.
“Clinton would actually have a special problem going after the rethugs b/c it would be spun as payback for Ken Starr.”
Good point!
She might have other reasons, as well.
Bob in HI
And I helped. :)
I’m worried that the Dem nominee will look like a winner all the way to November and then Diebold will crown McCain or Bushco won’t leave. The whole McCain thingy stinks.
I’m worried that McCain beats Clinton even if the vote machinery is flawless.
To put it quite simply, the reason that Obama has momentum is that the voters feel that his promises of change are more likely than Hillary’s promises of change. Some feel this wholeheartedly, and some feel it incrementally, but this has been the sense of it. My feelings fall somewhere in between, having backed Dodd and then Edwards previously. Furthermore, a future doublecross by Hillary as president would not come as a surprise, as it would be somewhat expected, where one orchestrated by Obama would be a direct shot to his persona and strength. Clinton also seems more likely to continue part or all of the current imperial nature of the presidency and dominate Congress, where Obama seems less likely to do so. Guess that’s it in a nutshell. No offense intended.
P.S. I would support HRC completely if nominated, but I know many who wouldn’t. Can the converse be said of Hillary’s base when Obama is nominated? Thankfully and gratefully this is not the case.
Final thought: Much was made of the value of Howard Dean’s idea of the 50-state strategy both during his candidacy in 2004 and presently in his tenure as party chairman. I think there is great wisdom in it. Which candidate has been following a 50-state strategy and which has not? I think everyone knows the answer.
I don’t see how. 70% of the country, at least, wants us out of Iraq. He wants a permanent presence there and more wars, including with Iran — I don’t see why he’s the nominee…both parties hate him. He’s old and ill too.
“I continue to maintain that Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama is a winning ticket.”
I favor Clinton/Obama. They complement each other in terms of support demographics, and eight years of experience would do him good. Besides, if McCain picks Huckabee, they could be a formidable team because they, also, strangely complement each other.
I filed my taxes online and I received this today:
Because Congress was late this tax year passing some legislation related to the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), the IRS has let us know it expects a delay in processing some tax returns and refunds, including returns affected by the AMT and returns for people claiming the Hope and Lifetime Learning and the Home Energy credits.
If you are in this situation, you will be receiving your refund later this year.
Oh my goodness. I admit to being old fashioned and perhaps, some might say conservative. When choosing between Hillary and Obama I look at the record of each candidate (starting with Iraq) and their pronouncements and the company they keep and from where they derive their campaign financing.
reply
I think Kiddo is correct. And my concern with Obama is that he has not been throughly vetted by the repubs, and Clinton, for the most part has. Come the general election, the repubs are going to splat that Illinois trouble (connections with the guy (don’t remember his name) on the housing deal) and what ever else is out there. Most of Clinton’s previous questionable actions have been vetted by the repubs, so it will be much easier to defend. And with the media fully on the repubs side (or almost), this could be a very dangerous time for Obama if his is our candidate.
I am not saying this to discourage anyone from their candidate, but getting a democratic president is absolute top priority, and all angles need to be viewed as completely as possible. This is a very very serious presidential race.
Shhhhhhh…they don’t have any money…the country is..bankrupt…shhhhh