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Consistency, Control, and Presidential Outlook

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Mark Penn and his constant ridiculous spin seem to be just another sign of Hillary Clinton's lack of ability to manage and lead when the going gets tough. Yesterday it seemed apparent that even people close to her, Harold Ickes, were laying blame on Penn and yet today he is releasing memos in the campaign. I am shocked that for all of the "shake-up" talk we heard when Obama's win streak took hold that we have not seen a substantive, CONSISTENT change in her tactics. The changes that I have noticed seem to come in bursts, soon to disappear. They seem like trial balloons. Saturday she rails "Shame on you, Barack Obama!!!" but the next day she recoils from the anger saying she got caught up in the contentiousness of the campaign. It is hard for me not to read that set of events as a decision to see if the attack and anger would stick and if they don't retract them, citing the intensity of the campaign. I know none of this is shocking in politics but what does it speak to her ability to lead.

As President their will be times when one's back is politically against the wall, that is unavoidable, and she seems to be failing the tests a rigorous presidential campaign provides to prove her capability in handling  precarious political situations. For all of the talk she has thrown around about  the tremendous ways she has been "vetted" I would like for someone to have her answer a question about the inconsistencies that are apparent in her campaign management. A reporter should ask her how voters should think of a presidential candidate who hadn't planned on her campaign existing past Super Tuesday and summarily seemed to fall into disarray.

For all of the hyperbole about Obama's lofty rhetoric he at least has handled himself with grace when pushed. The depth of management, on all levels, in the Obama campaign is phenomenal. No one can argue that he hasn't proven his ability to lead. They aren't perfect but they have handled their mistakes well. This is, I dare to say, the largest organization that Hillary Clinton has ever had the opportunity to lead and she seems to be at a loss. I will not question that she has had many great accomplishments in her life that would make her a great president but her campaign management has not proven itself to be of presidential quality.


Comments (2)

I won't say I see a strong focused Hillary brand being pushed, and I do wonder why.

I would be curious as to what people high up in the campaign are thinking - whether they think this is the best they can do, whether its effective for the crossover dynamics that need to happen, bolstering the voters that will come out for her.

I wonder what the lessons they got out of California, when it seemed that her campaign was at its best even when challenged.

At the same time, whatever move she makes will be taken by some as hypocritical, evil, dirty politics, ineffective, a sham, etc. I haven't watched the debates, but I haven't heard any serious discussions regarding handling crises, and it should be a valid topic. But that's raising the "fear" card, not the "hope" card, which supposedly isn't allowed.

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Lot of mixed messages from the Clinton campaign.

They send out a press release touting the 35 million raised in February.

By contrast, on Hillary's blog, they're making pleas for even the smallest donations---talk about the fierce urgency of now.

I'm an Obama supporter but wish none of the other candidates ill-will.

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