November 3, 2009 at 10:26 am (barack obama, obama, politics)
Tags: david plouffe, democratic party, DNC
That is a bitter headline folks.
While all the pundits are jawing about the divisions on the Republican side, I will jaw about the failure of the party I have voted for forever to capitalize on the Obama victory, on his popularity and on the political opportunities that have been given to us over the last months.
Yes I say opportunities because I have learned to immunize myself to the Chris Matthews virus, the Ed Schults bluster and Kieth and Rachel’s intermittent immaturity and sounded a single theme, in the face of lack of interest and an occasional suggestion that I protest too much.
My point is that this is the time when the Democratic Party could and should have been taking up the cudgels and pushing the Obama agenda, not letting the dumb media write the script. There is only one person that I believe had the moxie to pull this off and he was off writing a book about the campaign. They say that David Plouffe is as powerful as ever. I do not believe it.
The unwritten text of the last months is that Obama was given a golden opportunity to take over and mould the party — essentially transferring the Obama in America brand direct to the DNC. This has NOT happened despite the protests of those who have worked day and night to make it happen. The narrative has been successfully distorted and the reality has begun to reflect it.
Tomorrow I see no consolation emerging. I do not see a Deeds upset. Even if Corzine ekes out a win I do not count that a triumph. And if Hoffman validates the polling I find that NY 23 result a travesty for the Democrats. I see this as a kick in the knee to our party. And I can hear the cartilage tearing. Slush!
Obama is a centrist whose heart is progressive and whose brain is pragmatic. David Plouffe is an instinctive winning political operative who has the best grasp of how to frame things since the Kennedy’s appeared to be more intelligent than they actually were in practice.
I do not know if there is still time to clean up the mess that we are in.
But I do know what would make it happen. I have said it since before Obama’s smashing and long predicted victory. I was shocked at the decisions made then. Disappointed in the way the transition failed to see the need and address it. And now I am writing the report card.
No Obama bigwigs frequent this blog. If they did I would likely know it. Sometimes a peripheral person will say right on and confess that they too have no access.
Harold Bloom is the public intellectual who serves as the linchpin for this post. He has militantly insisted that individuals make history.
I share that insistence. The only remedy I see is for the party to do now what it should have done more than a year ago.
11 Comments
August 6, 2009 at 8:11 pm (politics)
Tags: david plouffe, DNC, health care, obama, OFA, tea parties, town halls
I said it after the election. David Plouffe should run the DNC and use the model of the Obama campaign to win the agenda battles.
No dice. The DNC has been lackluster and I am being charitable.
I reiterated the need for David Plouffe to take the command of Organizing for America.
No dice. I cannot believe that David Plouffe would not do anything the President wanted him to do. So please do not say there were reasons.
Now I ask for a third time, when errors are creeping into Democratic strategy, will the President have David Plouffe become the field commander of the healthcare struggle.
Here’s what needs solving.
1. The current message sucks. I am using Plouffe language. The health care issue is complex and we still do not have the message we need to speak to the people we need to win.
2. Leadership is diffuse when it needs to be clear and obvious. No one is running this. That is terrible.
3. We are talking out of both sides of our mouths. We are cozying with the pharmas and saying we will not dock you more than the 80 billion you have offered. And we are casting this as an insurance battle. It is, but the contradiction needs explaining.
4. David Plouffe was as important to the success of this movement as the President was. They are the two sides we need to be whole in the struggle.
This can be solved with a phone call. I would put David in charge of the DNC and turn the DNC into OFA and let everyone yell and scream because they know this is a willing strategy. Failing that I would make him the leader of the August Health Care push.
7 Comments
May 22, 2009 at 4:17 pm (politics)
Tags: david plouffe, health reform, obama, president
It’s great to see David Plouffe becoming more and more active. His record in the campaign qualifies him to be the organizer and architect of the Obama administration’s incredibly ambitious program to really change the way America does business and changes for the better.
Stephen –
Remember this date: Saturday, June 6th, 2009. We will look back on that day as the moment when the fight for real health care reform began in your neighborhood — perhaps even in your own living room.
On June 6th, in thousands of homes across the country, we’ll gather to launch our grassroots campaign for health care. We’ll watch a special message from the President. We’ll build the teams and draw up the plans for winning health care reform the same way we won the election: Building support one block, one neighbor, one conversation at a time. And we’ll put those plans into action.
These kickoffs are so crucial that President Obama will join confirmed hosts and attendees on a live conference call.
Sign up today to host or attend a Health Care Organizing Kickoff.
1 Comment
May 16, 2009 at 2:34 pm (politics)
Tags: command performance, david plouffe, grass roots. obama, health care
Good to have this from David Plouffe. Before President Obama won in November, we knew that this moment would come. We are up to it and this time we will not let the forces of privilege and greed prevail. This is a must do.
Stephen –
We knew healthcare reform would face fierce opposition — and it’s begun. As we speak, the same people behind the notorious “swiftboat” ads of 2004 are already pumping millions of dollars into deceptive television ads. Their plan is simple: torpedo healthcare reform before it sees the light of day by scaring the public and distorting the President’s approach.
We need the resources to take them head on with an urgent, grassroots campaign to pass real healthcare reform in 2009.
When the swiftboaters flood the airwaves with distortions, we’ll flood the streets with volunteers armed with facts. When they send lobbyists to tell Congress to back down, we’ll send millions of calls, letters, and stories from real Americans asking them to stand up.
Can you donate $25 or more by midnight Sunday to fight back against these phony attacks and take our message of reform to the American people?
The swiftboaters are once again trying to sell the American people short. As during the election, we deserve a serious conversation — not fear-mongering and deceit. You and I see the importance of healthcare reform every day. We can’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to face one of America’s greatest challenges head on.
Passing real healthcare reform will be the toughest, most important challenge we’ve faced together since electing Barack Obama President.
But it’s also a big reason we fought so hard to get here. I know that by working together, and speaking with one, determined voice, we can prevail over the cynics and defenders of the status quo. America’s families are counting on us to do just that.
Please donate $25 or more to defend healthcare reform today:
Thank you,
David Plouffe
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April 13, 2009 at 1:11 pm (politics)
Tags: david plouffe, democratic party, DNC, OFA, organizing for america
Here is a HuffPo screed on the lackluster posture of Democrats even as the President seems to soar.
READ IT ALL
I really want to say what I think about this, so I will.
Most Democrats who served during the Clinton years and earlier are damaged goods. These Democrats were on the dole, morally culpable and inured to safe and self-serving politics. You can know these Democrats by the exceptions to the rule. Yes maybe one in ten or one in eight was worth his or her salt. but in general these Democrats are little better than their Republican cohorts.
When Barack Obama was running against Washington, these Democrats were Washington.
And today I believe Barack Obama is in danger of letting a party he barely tolerated go down the tubes. The only thing worth preserving of the shards of the Democrats are the Obama people. The few who were with him from the start and the movement that developed at the grass roots.
We are talking about maybe ten million potential supporters and contributors.
Recently the Organizing for America movement sent out an email happy that over 10,000 had contributed $25 or more to the current legislative effort. They should be happy and it is a start.
But we need more. We need David Plouffe with a big broom and a DNC that is as Plouffed as it was once Deaned.
We need a sleeves rolled up single master operation.
We need to say we are the party of universal health care, fiscal responsibility, green economy and a better break for all. The middle class mantra is not a keeper. Until the Obama administration acknowledges that our biggest domestic problems are those of a growing underclass, it will not be worthy of long term support. This is not a progressive talking. Try realist.
Put the Democratic house in order, Mr. President. Inattentiveness will not do.
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