Hillary expertly puts Barack in a Box.

[calteacherguy]

By Andrew Romano
Wednesday, October 10, 2007

<snip>

Obama, of course, could have defined the new politics however he wanted, from a focus on transformative policy to a willingness to call out the DC establishment. Instead, he let the Clinton camp define his message in a way advantageous to them... It was real incompetence on the part of Obama's handlers."

To date, the Clinton campaign has largely let communications staffers like Howard Wolfson and Phil Singer do the dirty work. "Senator Obama referred to Senator Clinton as Bush-lite," said Wolfson in a typical post-debate volley back in July. "Six months ago, he entered the race promising to elevate our politics... What happened to the politics of hope?" Earlier this week, Singer twisted the knife after Obama criticized Clinton for an Iran vote: "It's unfortunate that Senator Obama is resorting to the same old attack politics as his poll numbers start falling."

But now Clinton herself is getting in on the fun. First, make sure everyone knows that Obama's "new politics" means he won't attack; next, when Obama says anything vaguely critical, characterize him as betraying the promise of that "new politics." And, finally, argue that because Obama can't attack, he's not fit to face a Republican in the general election -- which is exactly what Hillary did yesterday, albeit indirectly, in an interview with the Washington Post's Anne Kornblut and Dan Balz (emphasis added):

"The overall assessment, given all of the mistakes that I made and all of the lessons that I've learned, is that we've got to put an end to (partisanship), but you can't just hope it goes away," she said. "You can't just wake up and say, 'Let's all just hold hands and be together.' You've got to demonstrate that you're not going to be cowed or intimidated or deterred by it, and then you can reach out and bring people who are of good faith together."

Note the use of Obama's favorite word: "hope." In effect, Clinton is calling Obama a wimp -- "cowed," "intimidated" and "deterred" -- for not attacking her. After, of course, making it impossible for him to attack without looking like a hypocrite. How delightfully diabolical. She may be distorting Obama's politics -- he's hardly saying "Let's all hold hands and be together" -- but that's how the game is played.

Will this "I'm tough and he's not" tautology work as well in Iowa as it's working in Washington? Who knows. But one thing's for sure: only Obama can prove Clinton wrong.

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2007/10/10/barack-in-a-box.aspx

Whatever your opinion of Clinton, one thing is for sure: she's a master of the game. Personally, I'd be more comfortable with a master of the game facing the Republicans than a relative neophyte.

We can't make progress unless we win.

[Colobo]

1. That "neophyte" is America's best hope.

Just like that "neophyte" Lincoln was.

[calteacherguy]

10. I understand that point of view.

But in the final analysis, as it stands now, I'm leaning towards the other point of view.

[Colobo]

13. Hopefully you'll be back soon.

[calteacherguy]

19. It might take more than hope. nt

[Colobo]

20. I'm confident you will be back.

[Ethelk2044]

2. Hillary the housewife attempted, but Failed.

[ElizabethDC]

3. When has Hillary ever been a housewife?

Oh wait, never.

[Cameron27]

5. If you think you're helping Obama

with this, think again.

[emilyg]

44. No-no. Not a cookie baker. Good for her.

[AtomicKitten]

4. Being "master of the game" sometimes isn't a good thing.

That kind of expertise often isn't appreciated by the masses and may, in fact, entrench the belief that she is too much part of the system.

[calteacherguy]

7. That's the counter-argument.

I used to believe that, but not after the last couple of elections.

Edit: If Clark was in the race, I admit I'd probably be arguing the opposite point of view. But, as much as I like Obama, he's not Clark.

[Colobo]

9. True- he's not Clark. He's Barack Obama, the man we need.

www.barackobama.com

Feel free to browse.

[calteacherguy]

18. I've been there.

Done that.

[Colobo]

21. You'll be back.

[calteacherguy]

22. Hope springs eternal. nt

[Colobo]

It's more than hope, cal. It's much more than hope.

[Colobo]

23. Dupe

[AtomicKitten]

24. Depends on the mood of voters.

It seems many voters are in the mood for authenticity. Quite frankly, Hillary does not emanate authenticity precisely because she is a polished politician, often speaking in soundbytes. Again, that can be a good thing or a not so good thing, depending on the mood of the voters.

[incapsulated]

31. But it's like everyone saying they "don't like negative ads"

Yet, again and again, they work.

What people say and what they do are two different things.

Politics is a game and it's warfare. It really isn't for decent people, lol. But I want someone who is a master of that game going up against the GOP because they make no apologies for playing it and fighting dirty.

It's not a nice way to run a government but it's the only one we have, at this point.

[AtomicKitten]

37. good point

I suppose it's human nature to espouse more ethereal views and it probably isn't an adequate measure of what actually works as you aptly pointed out.

I can hardly wait to see what the GOP has on deck this go. They are tricky bastards.

[incapsulated]

38. You know....

I supported Clark the last time around, and part of me knew for him to win he would have to turn into something I wouldn't like much. A politician. It's the very reason I admired him but... this is politics, after all.

[hedgehog]

6. Game over

time for some real progress

[maximusveritas]

8. I hate pieces like this

It reminds me of the inside-the-Beltway BS on shows like Hardball. People discussing who's winning the game, rather than who's telling the truth. It's this stuff that turns people away from politics and really exemplifies the kind of thing Obama is fighting against.

[calteacherguy]

16. I understand where you are coming from, but here's the thing...

I think Hillary knows how to play the game, but also knows how to get progressive policies enacted. And so, I'm willing to take a rather Machiavellian point of view, I guess. I used to be more idealistic, really.

And honestly, I don't think she's as bad as a lot of folks make her out to be. She knows that being the first serious woman candidate she has to fight, and fight hard. She wouldn't be running if she didn't care about getting progressive policies enacted. I'm sure she could make a ton more money working for a law firm.

Politics is a game, like it or not. It always has been, and always will. She's playing to win.

[Captain_Nemo]

35. at this point she is our only hope.

[elizm]

48. Hillary is your pick this week? nt

[Cha]

29. Well stated..thank

you, maximusveritas~

[Jim Sagle]

11. Good. Let them knife each other while Edwards lays out his populist message. It's all good.

[Colobo]

12. The one going after Hillary with a knife is not Obama...

[Jim Sagle]

15. I like Obama. I just like him less than I like Edwards..

LOTS less after hearing about his free trade sellout BS.

[calteacherguy]

14. LOL.

Ah, politics. Yes, of course. I'd forgotten the Edwardian point of view.

Perhaps he will prove me wrong in my assesment that he's become irrelevant, who knows?

[Jim Sagle]

17. If you think he's irrelevant, that's because the RNC slopmedia said he was.

And you swallowed.

Must suck to be you.

[DaveJ]

25. Clinton's ramblings are insane

Don't get me wrong, I'd vote for her over any Republican, but does this crap make ANY sense to anyone, really...

"...we've got to put an end to (partisanship), but you can't just hope it goes away," she said. "You can't just wake up and say, 'Let's all just hold hands and be together.' You've got to demonstrate that you're not going to be cowed or intimidated or deterred by it, and then you can reach out and bring people who are of good faith together."

:shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

I hate dong this, because I hate trying to disassemble lunatic thoughts, but she wants to show we aren't deterred by partisanship... then she says she wants to reach out and bring people 'of good faith' together. So which is it, is partisanship good or bad in her mind?

If we aren't deterred by partisanship, it means partisanship is okay. If she wants to bring whoever she considers people of good faith together, that is promoting her style of partisanship.

[Captain_Nemo]

36. She makes sense. Obama's line about a "new kind of politics" is naive. Look at the state

of our country due to partisan politics. And you think its all going to magically go away when we all come together under the same umbrella and sing "We are the world?"
Please. The democratic nominee is going to be the target in a Rovian machine out to destroy the candidate. We need a fighter.
Obama is not that kind of fighter.

[zulchzulu]

41. The Cassette Tape Candidate is divisive, war mongering and grandstanding...

...let alone the absolute first choice for the RNC to want to run against.

We had the 90s. Let's move on. The Clintons had their chance and we got NAFTA and the China MFN...and other great accomplishments of the Republicans.

Stay with Windows 95 if you want. I'm way over that crap.

[Captain_Nemo]

45. Obama can't beat them. She can. Our country can't survive more republicans.

[PurityOfEssence]

39. Redux: "I can whip ya with one face tied behind my back"

Here's the thing: she learned from Junior's butchery of the English language that if you can constantly toss out mutually exclusive pronouncements with clear-eyed certainty, you can drive your opponents into the muttering and incredulous state of being on permanent "tilt".

Works like a charm.

[illinoisprogressive]

26. I just say that I would not get too comfortable if you think Obama is boxed in....

but, I know people want to go with what the beltwayers think, though they are usually off.
But, I will keep that crow in the freezer for people until the first of the year...

[Cha]

30. Yeah right..."Obama

in a box".. :rofl: Nobody can box in Obama much less, hillary dlc clinton.

[zulchzulu]

27. Obama talks about the truth, Clinton talks about the "game"

When I read "Clinton herself is getting in on the fun", it proved to me her candidacy is only about her. And as an added bonus, her cheating husband is a friggin' Baker's goddamn dozen.

It's not about actually wanting to turn the page in American politics...it's about snarky cackles and signing pledges while stabbing those in the back with the pledge she signed. It's about sending troops to an unwanted war and then both wanting more war while saying it must stop. More partisan division! More swerving to the right to grandstand! How can Maggie Thatcher be Maggie Thatcher when Clinton is really Maggie T!

Pull out the 1990's Cassette Tape Windows 95 Candidate. America needs an upgrade.

I will do with all I can to save the Democratic Party from the Clinton Whirlpool of triangulated self-loathing that is trying to suck us all into its vortex. I'm tired of watching dogs run around in circles chasing their tails and we're all supposed to be amused and do "the inevitability" dance.

We can and will do better than have to sit through 90's retreaded snarky division within our own ranks. I'm sure the Clintons have a nice pad in Bangalore to retire to and watch their outsourcing connection money get reeled in. They outsourced their theme song to a Canadian, so we can see a pattern. Let's hope they move in on April 1, 2008.

[Colobo]

28. Exactly!

[Mz Pip]

32. Barack in a Box

Sounds like a song that will end up on YouTube any day now. Complete with a dance routine.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[countmyvote4real]

33. This is political BS. That's why I'm for Edwards.

But I will take Obama over the GOP's Trojan horse: H. Clinton.

[Froward69]

34. for me

Obama then Edwards, Not Hillary at all. Biden of course is my first choice.

[countmyvote4real]

40. Once upon a time Biden made sense to me, but

Like me, he's too much in debt to his credit card holders, for him that's his financial contributers. No matter how much he talks the international talk, he will sell out the US people for a dime. This is not a "feeling." This is his voting record.

[Froward69]

42. I don't agree 100% with all of his votes either

However insofar as who has the best credintials it's Biden. I was neither for nor against Edwards. untill he came here to stump for our Governor. He and his entorage treated us like servants... WE GAVE HIM THE MIKE! he was two people one before and one after the cameras were there. if he cant be the same on and off camera. I cant trust him with our country.

[Samantha]

43. She's simply baiting Barack Obama - probably Bill's idea

It's as simple as that. And Obama knows it.

Sam

[Semper_FiFi]

46. What you said! k&r n/t

[JNelson6563]

47. Machiavelli, Rove

Also masters of the game. Keeping some good company there.

Julie

[Didereaux]

49. Romano makes the cogent point against Obama...

...Namely his inexperience and occasional lapses of political judgement. Last weekends statements about not using the DOJ, and followed the next day by his evangelical-like statement about the possibility of a 'Kingdom' right here aon earth...were major political judgement blunders.

Defenders can argue til the cows come home about what he really meant, or that it was out of context, or or or.... What matters is the soundbite, and the 'bite' took a big chunk out of his tush. He provided the ammo, loaded the gun, and aimed squarley between his eyes...all the opposition, primary or general election, has to do is pull the trigger, over and over and over.

I like Obama alot, and was rooting for him, but he is playing with Tigers now, not alleycats in South Chicago.

[PATRICK]

50. First timer's woes

Trying to float above the fray and act like this is not the first time you ran for POTUS is the least likely workable strategy- if you actually intend on winning the first time and to hell with the Veep spot.

The country could be ready for a go for broke new, different candidate or you could go up in smoke also from being green at the game. The in between stuff will more slowly melt your chances of breaking out of the first timer disadvantages and never truly ignite the bonfire. By now he should have had the black vote sown up, the Clinton support there notwithstanding. He should have knocked out Edwards if his MSM press reviews were well founded. He would not be making the occasional perceived attacks against Hillary or belated attempts to point out her clear weaknesses while he goes too softly on his own strengths.

It is still not too late to go firebrand. The people do not feel lead so much as by the nose. The ever politically cautious Hillary probably would like to see him utterly fade than have to offer him the Veep position were he the "smart" noble loser. I had the sneaking suspicion that so many of the second tier candidates were vetting for the DLC supporting role as the experienced white male who would move past avowedly progressive candidates on the list.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

51. "what happened to the politics of hope?"

is such a lame comeback. It effectively says "Hi I'm Hillary and I sure as hell am not going to offer hope to the American people. And if Barack Obama wants to, I will ridicule him."

Support your "master of the game" if you feel that's the way to go. I'm backing someone attempting to be above the game. And I know Obama will fall short of the mark from time to time, but hell, at least he's trying. At least he's taken a public stance against all the trash that gets spewed from both sides of the aisle.

He's matching Hillary almost dollar for dollar, something most "experts" thought would be impossible a year ago. Maybe, just maybe, some people are sick of the "game".

[rufus dog]

52. agreed

I am not sure how one can read this and make is a a positive
for Hillary.  What in her history has shown her ability to
"bring people ... together?"  And the final line,
diabolical, she may be distorting,.. that is how the game is
played!  

This is one of the main differences between Dems.  Beating the
hated Bushy Repubs is not enough, hence quite a few posts
pissed at Pelosi and Reid.  Playing to win the election is not
enough.  An opportunity exists to change the political
landscape for an entire generation. 


"The overall assessment, given all of the mistakes that I
made and all of the lessons that I've learned, is that we've
got to put an end to (partisanship), but you can't just hope
it goes away," she said. "You can't just wake up and
say, 'Let's all just hold hands and be together.' You've got
to demonstrate that you're not going to be cowed or
intimidated or deterred by it, and then you can reach out and
bring people who are of good faith together."

Note the use of Obama's favorite word: "hope." In
effect, Clinton is calling Obama a wimp -- "cowed,"
"intimidated" and "deterred" -- for not
attacking her. After, of course, making it impossible for him
to attack without looking like a hypocrite. How delightfully
diabolical. She may be distorting Obama's politics -- he's
hardly saying "Let's all hold hands and be together"
-- but that's how the game is played.

[rufus dog]

53. and to reply to my own point

That is thinking outside the box, not continuing to live in the cesspool of a box created over the past 30 years.

[Divine Discontent]

54. This thread changed my life... n/t