Jay Bookman, AJC: "Clinton suffers ‘campaign bubble’ syndrome"

[madfloridian]

Jay Bookman of the Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote one of the definitive articles on the Iraq War. It was in September 2002 at a very dark time leading up to the vote for the invasion. I have kept it handy since then, will post it below. It was an amazingly clear article about the reasons for attacking Iraq. More on that.

Today he has written another clear article. It is to the point and IMO, true.

Clinton suffers ‘campaign bubble’ syndrome

I think all of our leading Democrats suffer from this ailment at one time or the other and to varying degrees. Many choose to insulate themselves from the grassroots because it is easier that way. A few elect to dig and explain and communicate.

Working very long hours side by side with fellow believers in the cause, otherwise sane people can begin to lose a sense of perspective. An “us against the world” psychology begins to take hold, and over time their counterparts in the opposing campaign —- people who in most respects are very much like themselves —- come to seem the very embodiment of evil. For those caught up in the struggle, the outside world falls away to the point that their entire lives and being are wrapped up in the campaign. And things that can seem small and insignificant to an outsider tend to get blown out of proportion by people living inside that little world.

If you pay any attention at all to politics, you’ve seen examples for yourself. When you see a campaign spokesman —- for example, James Carville —- overreact to some minor insult or misstatement by the other side, it’s easy to dismiss the outrage as calculated spin. But often, that’s not what’s happening. It is instead an expression of very real emotion, generated by living too long in the surreal bubble that a campaign often becomes.

He says those working for campaigns know their political futures are tied up with whether their candidate wins or loses.

In addition, everybody with whom the candidate interacts on a daily basis shares the same little campaign bubble. They all drank the Kool-Aid, and they all liked the Kool-Aid. So nobody on the team wants to be the first to suggest that it might be over, that all that hard work and those long days have gone for naught.

....."For several weeks now, even before the Ohio and Texas primaries, it had become clear that Clinton could not win the Democratic nomination, and nothing since then has changed that fact. Yet, surrounded by people who look to her for hope and inspiration, Clinton cannot bring herself to admit it.

Instead, she insists that the process continue, on the grounds that the people are sovereign and must be allowed to have their say. Then, switching gears, she also argues that once the people have had their say, the superdelegates have the right to overturn the people’s verdict in her favor.

Using the two states of FL and MI sort of as an out probably seems okay within the campaign bubble. The ones inside are probably unaware of the reactions from ordinary people when they gradually learn how it happened and why it is being used.

If you missed Bookman's article on Iraq in 2002, here it is. It is the kind of thing we were talking about here on Democratic Underground and around the internet. It is why we wonder why our Democrats talk as if we did the Iraqis a favor by using shock and awe on their country.

Here is the article:

The president's real goal in Iraq

This war, should it come, is intended to mark the official emergence of the United States as a full-fledged global empire, seizing sole responsibility and authority as planetary policeman. It would be the culmination of a plan 10 years or more in the making, carried out by those who believe the United States must seize the opportunity for global domination, even if it means becoming the "American imperialists" that our enemies always claimed we were.

Once that is understood, other mysteries solve themselves. For example, why does the administration seem unconcerned about an exit strategy from Iraq once Saddam is toppled?

Because we won't be leaving. Having conquered Iraq, the United States will create permanent military bases in that country from which to dominate the Middle East, including neighboring Iran.

In an interview Friday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld brushed aside that suggestion, noting that the United States does not covet other nations' territory. That may be true, but 57 years after World War II ended, we still have major bases in Germany and Japan. We will do the same in Iraq.

Read it all to know why so many here are so angry about this invasion. And why it is so hard to forgive. I wish I could post more than four paragraphs.

We are angry about Iraq because we knew then what anyone who voted for it should have known.

[Cha]

1. Yes, and..

[madfloridian]

3. Zidzi...whose work is that?

I can not figure out the signature.

[Cha]

4. Pat Oliphant..

http://www.uclick.com/client/wpc/po /

[madfloridian]

9. Thanks.

I had not seen them for ages.

[GeoK]

7. Pat Oliphant

One of my favorites

http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/patoliphant

[L0oniX]

28. LMAO

[americanstranger]

2. K&R

Good article. thanks.

- as

[madfloridian]

8. You're an oldtimer here....you must remember Bookman's Iraq piece.

It was before the vote, but there were already dark days as our Democrats were not listening to us about the vote.

[Kaleko]

11. Let me get this straight - Bookman wrote this before HRC et al voted for the IWR?

*Recommended*

[madfloridian]

14. Yes, in Sept. 2002. It was only one of the things we posted here often.

It is why we are angry about this needless war.

[americanstranger]

16. Indeed I do.

He pretty much nailed the whole scenario, didn't he?

- as

[madfloridian]

18. And congress ignored it all.

They had their blinders on.

[Nine]

5. Funny, I think many here suffer from "DU bubble" syndrome. (nt)

[madfloridian]

6. Yes, I noticed.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/...

[HooptieWagon]

10. K&R

nice job, as usual.

[Scurrilous]

12. K & R

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. Mad...I so enjoy reading & highly appreciate your work. Thanks for

reminding us all why we were all so upset with our leaders in Congress. Randi had a pro Hillary caller today, and she touched on some of the same points expressed here. A lot of very smart people knew what was going on. Some have apologized, and others can't admit a mistake. Thanks again.

[madfloridian]

15. Thanks. I have found it saves my sanity to post about it.

We have lost friends over all of this Florida mess.

[tishaLA]

17. An excellent article. Thanks for posting it. n/t

[flor de jasmim]

19. Thanks - it reminds me that some in DC "fear to negot." w/ their constituents...

Every now and then I am reminded of Bush's (and then Cheney's, I think) affirmation that we EXERCISED OUR VOICE in 2004....and therefore we are supposed to crawl back under our rocks and let them just get on with things.

Anyway, I always enjoy your postings--thanks.

[madfloridian]

20. Hillary's FL co-chair fought the revote all the way. Wasserman Schultz

Someone just shared this article with me. From TPM...good one.

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/04/confu...

Hillary blamed Obama.

[Barack_America]

21. Also that the Pledged Delegates don't have to honor the vote...

Which seriously questions how concerned she really is about people's "voices".

The short answer, of course, is: not at all.

[madfloridian]

22. Making up new arguments as they go.

And asserting that the rules do not apply to their campaign. I have never seen anything like it.

[L0oniX]

29. And now it's the "electoral college votes".

Clinton Backer Points to Electoral College Votes as New Measure

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/us/politics/24campaig...

[madfloridian]

23. Kick.

Because Hillary and her lies about Obama and FL revotes are hurting our party.

[Shae]

24. This certainly sheds light on Hillary's recent behavior.

But politicians are aware of this phenomenon and should take measures to counter it.

[madfloridian]

25. You are right.

[liberal_rxstudent]

26. Wow!

What a beautiful and honestly written article...(gasp!) even written before the Iraq war was underway. It truly is amazing that people even to this day are still touting that they didn't know they were voting to authorize a war, when using a little logic and critical thinking would have probably been enough to question/prevent the disaster that was about to happen. I added that article to my favorites list- I had not seen this article before, but I am so thankful that you provided it. I will surely think of it and urge others to read it. I thank you for your diligence and insight. You are one of the posters that really drew me to DU. I appreciate your posts-

[madfloridian]

27. I have kept that Bookman article handy always.

We all talked about it and other writers here in 2002. We knew, how could they not know.

[juno jones]

30. Too late to rec

But I can kick!

[undeterred]

31. I know of some candidates (non-presidential) who have nothing to gain

by staying in the race till their primary, which is months away. They are so far behind in support that they cannot possibly catch up, and the gap only widens as time goes on. But they unrealistically expect the other party to drop out. Anyone who suggests otherwise is met with anger.