Ickes: Blame Penn

[antigop]

http://www.observer.com/2008/ickes-blame-penn

When asked about the assertion by one senior Clinton official the campaign was effectively run by committee, diluting Penn’s authority, Ickes was incredulous.

“I don’t know what campaign you’re talking about,” said Ickes. “I have been at meetings where he introduces himself as the campaign’s chief strategist. I’ve heard him call himself that many times, say, ‘I am the chief strategist.’”

Asked if Penn preferred the title of chief strategist to pollster, Ickes said, “Prefer it? He insists on it!”

When asked if Penn was therefore responsible for the campaign’s strategy, Ickes said, “It’s pretty plain for anyone to see that he has shaped the strategy of the campaign. He has called the shots.”

“Mark Penn,” he said, “has dominated the message in this campaign. Dominated it.”

[eleny]

1. Isn't Penn only responsible for when the campaign works well?

:evilgrin:

[grantcart]

2. ship . . .rats . . .packing bags

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Blame Hillary Clinton.

It's her campaign. She wants to sit at the desk that used to have a sign on it that read "the buck stops here."

[KittyWampus]

11. NOT blaming Hillary Clinton for the failure of her campaign would, in fact, be sexist.

[Stephanie]

15. I was just thinking about that. She seems willing to be "handled."

While Obama seems to be running a top-down campaign. Remember he instructed his communications team that there would be no negative campaigning. He's organized it like the in-the-streets organizer that he is. He's shaped his own message. Meanwhile Clinton's allowed herself to be told by strategists and acting coaches how to act and what to say and when to let the tears show and meanwhile she has no idea where the money's gone or that there's not enough to organize key states. She's not running her campaign, her campaign is running her. Not very presidential. Not a lot of leadership there.

[FrenchieCat]

17. Not any leadership there.......at all.

and that's a problem for all of us.....if Texas and Ohio don't get this right. :(

[MindMatter]

19. It isn't about campaigns. It isn't about messages.

It is about baggage. There are 55% percent us us (all Republicans and about half of the Democrats) who wanted no part of another Clinton era. Many of us held our noses and supported the old man as he was doing his thing. We most certainly don't want any more of that DLC crap.

All this discussion of nuance missing the basic point.

[JimGinPA]

4. Penn Said He Would "Accept His Share Of The Blame"

He sure earned it.

[TexasObserver]

5. It's the Icke and Scratchy Show!!

The Blame Game!

nanna nanna bo banna
banana fanna fo fanna

[Major Hogwash]

14. Too-fucking-shay!

That image is now firmly planted in my head.

LoL

[Me.]

6. Just A Guess

But I'm thinking Ickes isn't long for this campaign.

[BuyingThyme]

7. I just ran around the block with a Hillary supporter who

doesn't equate official statements from Maggie Williams as official statements from the Clinton campaign.

I guess people can see the same things differently.

[workinclasszero]

8. Success has many fathers.

Failure is an orphan. :)

[Skidmore]

9. I repeat...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4764865

[Cha]

10. Here's video from The Young Turks on

two progressives discussion the devastation if mark penn's "strategy" wins and gets to DC.

"R.J. Eskow joins The Young Turks to talk about Hillary's campaign being criticized from within. You may know R.J. from his writings on Crooks and Liars or Huffington Post, among other things." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x98393

[Blackhatjack]

12. IMHO hiring Mark Penn was the single most disasterous decision Clinton made ....

The 'tell-all books' which will undoubtedly surface after this campaign ends will be required reading for Democratic strategists.

[antigop]

13. and, imo, it says a lot about her judgement (or lack thereof) n/t

[femrap]

18. Remind where Penn came from....

it was with some repugnants, right? There are so much evil walking around I can't keep them straight.

I do remember my jaw dropping when I found he was on HRC's staff.

[David Zephyr]

16. And isn't that enough to call into question her leadership choices. Very disturbing.

This really disturbs me about Hillary's choices as it also signals who would be "chief" in her administration.

Mark Penn after Karl Rove.

That is a very alarming thought.