I don't have a terrible lot to say about the Mark Penn affair. Obviously, his departure is a terrible loss for the campaign. I wouldn't call this "the worst possible moment"--but heading into a make-or-break primary is certainly one of the last times you want to see this kind of change. They, and all of their supporters, have to be wishing that they had gotten farther out in front of the news cycle on this one, doing their best to head it off before it turned into a major political setback.
But whatever mistakes the campaign made, I hardly see this as a fatal blow. They surely could have handled it better, but its not clear to me that Obama really could have stopped Mark Penn from leaving, and thereby creating a vacuum into which someone competent might step. This probably increases the probability that Hillary will win somewhat--but a 30% increase in a 1% chance isn't really enough to get excited about.
All I have to say about it is that for all the mistakes he made, it's really sad that the apparent straw that broke the camel's back is that he was apparently willing to lobby for the free trade agreement with Columbia.
"creating a vacuum into which someone competent might step"
No chance of that, Hillbilly's mind is closed to someone competent.
That vacuum is as hard as deep space.
Um, Mark Penn was a Clinton staffer.
That whoosing sound you hear is the point flying over iskndarbey's head.
Over mine as well, apparently, because I don't see the point either. How in the world does Obama come into this story? And how is he supposed to have any possible input into the Mark Penn situation or over any Clinton campaign staffing decisions?
This is all about certifiable putz Mark Penn finally getting caught doing something so reprehensible even his long-time employer had to let him go. Couldn't have happened to a more deserving fellow. I think it's too little too late, though. The damage is done. It's too bad; I think Hillary would be a terrific President.
The idea, the mild humorous idea anyway, is that Obama had a vested interest in keeping Penn on Clinon's staff.
It's another one of Megan's jokes that no one gets.
So much for Megan's shot at opening for the "Stand-up Economist."
http://www.standupeconomist.com/
Megan, any thoughts on how Clinton and Obama are tying themselves ever-more-tightly to protectionist, anti-trade positions that alienate US allies? How are they going to be able to credibly back away from these positions come the general election? Or, if they (read: Obama) can't, will they actually try to implement these policies?
Not all is lost; Obama may retain his secret weapon yet. HRC may have been indulging in news management rather than making any real change in her campaign: see Penn: Never Out, Still In.
Shelby: on the first question, many, but I'm too much of a lady to write those words down in print where children might read them. On the latter, your guess is as good as mine.
Megan,
Why not just suggest whacking Obama with a 2x4 (or willow switch, since apparently 2x4's are too large for your conscience these days) until he stops being protectionist?
liberalrob,
In the spirit of bipartisanship, I'll say that you were very cute struggling with that joke.
Onwards and upwards,
conservativetom