obviously these red, i mean swing, states don’t matter

it’s beginning to look a lot like christmas, yes?

The most cutting remark made against Clinton after last night’s enormous loss was by David Gergen who said her campaign is guilty of “political malpractice.” It’s a key indicator of how the former Clinton supporters are going to behave.

It’s similar in a way to those who supported the Iraq war; when it didn’t go right they started to blame Rumsfeld rather than admitting the war was a bad idea that wouldn’t have worked well no matter who planned it. The same will be true for those who formerly favored Clinton.

After all, Gergen and many others, who routinely insisted, after every debate, “Hillary looks presidential,” can’t now say she wasn’t presidential. That would contradict their original assessment that presumed she would rather easily ascend the steps of the White House as the country’s first Queen.

No, there’s going to be a scapegoat and that will be Mark Penn, if not others. Mark Penn’s talk at the Strand bookstore last week, which C-SPAN broadcast, was an interesting glimpse into the mind of a trend oriented pollster relying on the wrong concept: microtrends.

You know, the bible was inaccurate; there are new things under the sun. But microtrends isn’t one of them. Ironic, that Hillary bought Penn’s brand of magic because it’s one of the few instances when she got fooled more than she was able to fool someone else. Her allegiance to Penn signifies how gullible she is, contrary to all the hoopla about her brilliance.

The assumption about her “genius” has been undone by her boneheaded moves in this race. Really, How smart could she be? Microtrends? In fact, all the leading data – discontent with Washington, mass alienation as a result of political polarization, widespread anti-war sentiment, alarm about the economy – indicated how crucial macrotrends were as early as ‘05, if not sooner. Why were they macro rather than microtrends?

Because they flowed beyond narrow polling categories that segregate the public into silly little niches. Because women 35 years of age are concerned about the same things black men 20 years old are concerned about and white southern white men aged 58: restoring sanity in DC. Obama went for the aggregate – the unity – the one-for-all-all-for-one theme. And it was wildly successful because it resonates with the zeitgeist.

The Clintons, on the other hand, swayed by the fleeting notions that impress wonks, out-of-touch intellectuals, and left wing ideologues fell for the “big idea,” which turned out to be the fracturing of the electorate into relatively small, segregated factions, allowing Bill to play the race card and Hillary to play the gender card. According to the microtrend analysis, this niche targeting was going to be the key to the kingdom.

It perfectly suited the Clintons’ insular way of doing business. In the end, however, it was Hillary’s grave mistake, not Penn’s or anyone else’s. And it was a mistake she was bound to make because of her lack of an authentic tie to real life, which has prevented her from seeing the vicissitudes of human affairs.

Penn’s going to take the hit, and to some extent he should. But, in fact, he was simply exploring a sociological paradigm – something he could hang his hat on – that appeared ultra insightful.

The Clintons should’ve known better. Now, they’ll have plenty of time to reexamine how they could commit “political malpractice” with so many smart people on staff.

(DD)
SayNo,

Very articulate. Tnx for the assessment. It would have had more impact if it wasn’t polarized. To be sure, HRC has made a mistake for which she’ll pay dearly. Like many before and many to come.

But I don’t recall her calling herself a genius. I’m sure if we could have sat in on war room chats, we’d have seen a human who was faced with a lot of advice from a lot of different people.

She made a call, it didn’t work and she has to pay the bill. Obama should consider himself lucky.

As for Gergen, he could be lumped with Penn. He talks impressive. But when actually put into a position to do something, he fell flat on his face. I wouldn’t put too much stock in anything he says. I SURE wouldn’t quote him.

“She made a call, it didn’t work”

One bad call after another. One nail in the coffin after another. One face after another. Hillary is getting what she deserves. You can pity her Dennis, but she won’t care if you do.

From England, it just looks like Americans have better memories than European commentators like to think. You are all meant to have forgotten Whitewater and Marc Rich (not to mention Monica) but clearly you haven’t. And – shame on you boys for your lack of feminism – you just don’t believe that she “knew nothing”, as the character said in Hogan’s Heroes. Maybe some of you actually suspect that it’s the Bill and Hill show that led to war. However, I’d rather blame George W. one more time, while I still can.

(DD)

Flaming Father,

You’re mistaking understanding for pity. There is no reason to pity HRC. For one thing, she’s got a bazillion $$$ and if she doesn’t get the nomination/election, not exactly a done deal either way, she returns to the Senate where she’s an odds on favorite to become Majority Leader. There, she will accept young Obama, should he win the election, and do everything in her power to help him overcome about 20+ years of conservative malfeasance. This she will do because she and Obama agree on the issues and the resolution of those issues. This she will do in spite of and in defiance of that bastion of male chauvinism, the U.S. media. This she will do to the GREAT gratitude of Prez Barack.

HRC will be fine, with or without my emotional support. What is more open to debate is the ‘health’ of this country which is on life-support right now.

On Wisconsin, on to Washington and on to the promised land.

Something to ponder:

If Obama had LOST 10 straight states, I bet the MSM would be calling for his withdrawal. But, when he wins 10 in a row, “there’s still the ’significant states’ ahead….”

Obama 08 and 12

Something to ponder:

If Obama had LOST 10 straight states, I bet the MSM would be calling for his withdrawal. But, when he wins 10 in a row, “there’s still the ’significant states’ ahead….”

Obama 08 and 12

(proxies: 1)

Something to ponder:

If Obama had LOST 10 straight states, I bet the MSM would be calling for his withdrawal. But, when he wins 10 in a row, “there’s still the ’significant states’ ahead….”

Obama 08 and 12

(proxies: 1,2,3)

Didn’t mean for that to be posted 3 times folks. thanks RS

(doody for olive oil & parkay)
From eternal judgement we might all be reprieved, with Barack’s dickinson against Her taibbi until a new saviour is conceived. Let there be light and love and OJ Simpson’s throbbing member in a glove. And let no one feel deprived or bereaved.