The WaPo has a very information article today on how and why the Democrats lost so big yesterday, Battle for the Senate: How the GOP Did It.
Great article, but the title is exactly wrong. It should have been: How Obama Lost It.
The tension represented something more fundamental than money — it was indicative of a wider resentment among Democrats in the Capitol of how the president was approaching the election and how, they felt, he was dragging them down. All year on the trail, Democratic incumbents would be pounded for administration blunders beyond their control — the disastrous rollout of the health-care law, problems at the Department of Veterans Affairs, undocumented children flooding across the border, Islamic State terrorism and fears about Ebola.
- snip -
From the outset of the campaign, Republicans had a simple plan: Don’t make mistakes, and make it all about Obama, Obama, Obama. Every new White House crisis would bring a new Republican ad. And every Democratic incumbent would be attacked relentlessly for voting with the president 97 or 98 or 99 percent of the time.
- snip -
“No member of the Democratic caucus screwed up the rollout of that health-care Web site,” [Harry Reid’s chief of staff, David] Krone added, “yet they paid the price — every one of them.”
Exacerbating matters was Obama’s Oct. 2 speech in Chicago, in which he handed every Republican admaker fresh material that fit perfectly with their message: “I am not on the ballot this fall. . . . But make no mistake — these policies are on the ballot, every single one of them.”
“It took about 12 seconds for every reporter, every race, half of the Obama world to say that was probably not the right thing to say,” said a senior Democratic official.
It was so problematic that many Democrats wondered whether Obama meant to say it. He did. “It is amazing that it was in the speech,” the official said. “It wasn’t ad-libbed.”
No, it wasn't ad-libbed.
Democrats must be wondering now whether Obama will refrain from saying more stuff like this for the next two years.
14 comments:
What the Dems have been singing for the last 6 years:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJb7cBfrxbo
I dedicate this one to Obama and the Democrats:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAtYCDKWrvA
Atta Boy James!! I just got some no slip shoes yesterday.. on sale! gwb
I am rather fond of the above car picture.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-11-06/and-worlds-most-powerful-person-second-year-row
TSB: Combined with the above I nominate
John McCain (new head of Armed Services) for most dangerous man of 2015. gwb
TSB: The French farmers are giving Parisians free apples, pears and potatoes cause they can't sell em.. also hay and cow manure! Reminds me of the 30's. gwb (Obama pretty popular compared to this.)
http://rt.com/news/202783-france-farmer-protest-manure/
TSB: When you look at the damage US sanctions have done to the Russkies it is pretty extensive and personal. But when you look at what they are prepared to do to us it looks like a really bad idea. gwb
http://abcnews.go.com/US/trojan-horse-bug-lurking-vital-us-computers-2011/story?id=26737476
GWB: Free apples and pears sound good; manure, not so much. What's their offer - a bag of fruit for every bucket of manure you carry away?
TSB: I was impressed by the pictures. It seems they have been protected from outside competition forever and now that's broken down and even a 'socialist' can't save them. Looks like the wreck of the EU is getting close.
gwb
Raphel was instrumental in orchestrating the State Department's opening of diplomatic relations with the Taliban shortly after its takeover of Kabul.[12]:300 A senior Unocal executive went so far as to comment that the pipeline project would be far easier to implement with the Taliban in control (snip)wikipedia.gwb
TSB: That is a really interesting story. Notice that back in the 90's 'Afpak' policy was all about helping the oil companies and Saudi Arabia get pipelines.
GWB: You might be interested in this first-person account of the early U.S. overtures to the Taliban after they took power in Kabul.
http://adst.org/2014/08/a-recipe-for-endless-war-the-rise-of-the-taliban/
Thanks TSB! That was interesting. gwb
TSB: Speaking of someone getting the boot: Yemen's President Hadi forced from leadership of party. (reuters)
All those endorsements from foreign leaders don't seem to be helping. gwb
Secret Service canine handler was on a personal phone call.. TSB: Probably his wife reminding him to get more dog food! gwb
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