Axelrod Q&A

Notice: no knee-jerk bashing of the opponent. This is what class looks like.

We’ve seen the exposure, acutally over exposure McCain’s team. What is Axelrod’s temperment? Is he a type A, low key. He sounded as if he doesn’t too high or too low?

There’s not a lot of hyperbole with him, is there?

I like David. He should go rogue like Sarah Palin and Joe the Plummer.

Interesting, but why did you suggest that they were “laying it on pretty thick”? I didn’t understand that one.

This just another example of why Obama is a superior candidate and will be a superior president. He has the ability to surround himself with exceptionally competent indiviiduals who play well with eachother and no matter what the circumstances never take their eye off the ball. Not evern for you Jay

Dennis I think JNS was referring to the 30 minute infomercial last night.

This is one more example of why Obama is a superior candidate and will be a superior president. He h@s the ability to surround himself with an exceptionally competent staff who never take their eyes off the ball.

Dee raises a good point. How many defections from the Obama camp? How many negative leaks?

@gysgt – How about denoting them like party affiliation, too – Sarah Palin (Rogue – AK), Joe The Plumber (Rogue – Real America)?

@JNS

My only question. Did you add the explanation for the Bradley effect or was it an editor? Do we think that your readers would be unaware of the reference at this late stage of the game?

It’s interesting that the self-promoters in the McCain and the old Hillary camp air the dirty laundry in the media so that they protect their careers. Funny if I was looking to hire a political consultant what are the odds that I would hire one of the big mouths over Axelrod?

BTW did you notice that we haven’t heard a word from any of the former Hillary players that are now working for Obama — now that’s leadership.

It’s hard to change the system when you are standing at a distance. Vote!
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Obama’s campaign staff is like the NE Patriots. Nobody strays off the reservation. No one gets too up or too down. Businesslike, workmanlike, almost boring.

Dee, if you judge the campaigns’ effectiveness, both McCain and Hillary would have been poor choices to lead the nation.

@andy – Great. Thanks for that.

PNNTO – perhaps, but then that makes no sense either. A candidate taking 30 minutes out to explain himself instead of relying on 30 second snippets is laying it on thick? All I can think it means is why are you still campaigning so hard? which strikes me as kinda strange, but perhaps it was kind of a joke, or something…

@andy – I mean great:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=271229019

I don’t understand how Obama running a better campaign than Mccain makes him more qualified to be President. First of all, to what extent is Obama actually ‘running’ it. Read this Economist article:
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11965249
This is the same guy who ran Deval Patrick (a black candidate, with little previous name recognition, in a state with a history of racial tension and only 6% African American) campaign so well when he ran for Massachusetts governor. If you read the article, you’ll see that the Obama campaign is using many of the same strategies that the Patrick campaign is using: Even the ‘Yes we can’ catchphrase, which was used by Patrick in his campaign. Clearly, David Axelrod is the reason this campaign has been as brilliant as it has been.

Secondly, didn’t George W. Bush run two very disciplined, organized campaigns in 2000 and 2004? Wasn’t the Bush/Cheney 04 campaign much
much better run than the Kerry/Edwards campaign? Does anyone here think that Bush turned out to be a good President?

Geez, forget it. N.E. lost! Careful with the analogies!

Andy — exactly. For all of the talk about Obama not having executive experience, from what I can see is he was the only candidate that has executive ability.

coffee: I’m not referring to last year. As a team and as an organization, they are extremely well run. Team member are professionals. There is no finger pointing and no divas on this team.

As far as last year goes, Giants outplayed and out coached them. John McCain’s team is not the NY Giants.

Let me ask you this if I told you that Tom Brady would be out for the season, would you expect to see their record to 5-2 be after 8 weeks?

Obama = Bill Belichick
McCain= Marty Schottenheimer

dennis, JNS can be a good writer. Her stuff on the tax plans of the respective candidates for example.
But when she tries to get cute, like her weird suggestions about Clinton last night or with the “laying it on thick”, she shames herself.

@andy – I agree on principle; I’m talking superstition here! I’m wearing wolfbane to work, and throwing salt over my shoulder at Arby’s right now.

“throwing salt over my shoulder at Arby’s right now.”

Throw the “horseysauce” -Do they still have that stuff?

Dee, I thought JK’s interview and how Obama comported himself with Petraeas were both very revealing from a leadership perspective. Exceptional leaders don’t have to do it all themselves. His teachable moment comments to JK, indicated that people can learn from one another, and then can be more effective.

A hat tip also to Howard Dean and the 50 state strategy. This made a big difference in this campaign. McCain having to make robo calls in AZ is priceless.

Absolutely Andy. Olberman just reported that Obama is considering putting up some ads and s topping in AZ on his way back from the west. That is extremely priceless.

Great interview. I really hope we know the outcome Tuesday night. I’m so ready for this to be over. Love the M*A*S*H reference. It’s my favorite show.

BTW, just watched some O’Reilly for the first time in a while. He’s always said he’s independent, but he sure is hammering Obama’s ideas!It was really obvious.

PNNTO – I think JNS in search of a “style” and a “voice.” There aren’t a lot of real pros out there today that one can emulate. It’s not like there are Cronkite’s or Murrow’s out there she can use as role model. She has been professional when it comes to feedback too.
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AMC gets lots of air time but she isn’t Sigma Delta Chi material. What woman journalist is really talented and respected, KT for instance?

The polls are tightening. If Obama doesn’t win, I really don’t know what the public wants in a leader.

I just took an informal poll of my teenage boys, and it’s 100% agreement that being bused to a McCain rally is the lamest field trip ever.

“A hat tip also to Howard Dean and the 50 state strategy.”
A -farking-men.
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And as a corollary one to Senator Clinton. Pushing BHO as hard as she did made him a better candidate. Pushing as long as she did allowed him to have a campaign infrastructure in place in all the states, including Arizona.

Here’s an idea of a story after the election. Take a look at the books of CEO’s like Jack Welch and Donald Trump etc. and compare what they pointed to as qualities of a good leader and then compare those traits with Obama and McCain. Then you could also follow up with interviews with said CEO’s and ask them why they chose to support McCain over Obama considering McCain doesn’t measure up to their idea of a good leader.

Paul, you’re right about Senator Clinton. Her campaign threw everything and the kitchen sink at BHO. It totally prepared him.

She was the McCain scout team.

Dee, I like the premise but disagree with your CEO choices. I think Trump and Welch are two iconoclastic and are divas. I would choose leaders like Ray Kroc of McDonald’s (not the brightest but surrounded himself with great people or Andy Grove from Intel. Warren Buffett also comes to mind.

Not on topic but this may be the straw that breaks Coleman’s back in Minnesota.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/30/court-docs-gop-donor-secr_n_139366.html

“The CEO of a major marine technology company is alleging that he was pressured by a friend and associate of Norm Coleman to secretly funnel tens of thousands of dollars to the Senator’s family.”

Senator Steven’s territory.

Dee, I like the premise but disagree with your CEO choices. I

Andy — I agree with the divas conclusion but I picked them because they support McCain and compared to what they say in their books McCain’s leadership qualities seem nonexistent. However, I think you’re on to something in terms of includng a variety of CEO’s so that we can compare their sucess, what they purport to be leadership qualities and how it manifests itself in their presidential choices.

2 thoughts. One, the campaign finance discourse has not accounted for the free fascist internet activity that McCain benefits from.

Second, we are about to divest ourselves of the inept, hateful, right wing in the White House that has caused so much division and damage to our country and the world. Obama, please don’t blow this chance for recovery.

awaiting moderation. screw moderation.

2 thoughts. One, the campaign finance discourse has not accounted for the free fascist internet activity that McCain benefits from.

Second, we are about to divest ourselves of the inept, hateful, right wing in the White House that has caused so much division and damage to our country and the world. Obama, please don’t blow this chance for recovery.

question…how do you know when a post has passed moderation?

nevermind, good-bye.

Please read my blog
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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/30/202441/44/472/647367

I will try my best to not be censored by the moderator here. The Swamp blog used to be a great place to exchange ideas uncesored and with little or no moderation. It was free open expression of opinions and ideas. This is not that.

Please, please, please return the original Swamp forum.

SG I just sent emails out as you requested. This is very noble of you.

James, you are probably using word like @ssign or d!ck or p@ss any other segment of what would be considered cuss words. I had to shorten M@ssachusetts to MA because the bot sent me to moderation.
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Please look at your posts and see if you can change the spelling. I know it’s frustrating but now that we all understand the challenges, we are starting to overcome them.

Please look at your posts and see if you can change the spelling.

Oh frick that!

Andy, MA, I have used no bad words, and my censored posts were fairly innocuous. This place is over the top on censorship.

It is hit or miss if a post goes through. That is bllsht.

James it is BS…just trying to help.

PNNTO – Anytime I can HELP YOU OUT just let me know .

This is an interesting poll result on Caribou Barbie:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/31/us/politics/31poll.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Palin isn’t a drag. Scar told me so!
More seriously that McCain just can’t, even in his best polls, get over the low 40s is really telling.
Rather than tightening people are going to break away from a perceived loser. They always do.

Andy MA, that was an interesting article. Most interesting to me was the Bush/Truman comparison in low opinion ratings. While Truman’s star has risen considerably since that time, I seriously doubt that Bush will ever recover from his current state as Worst President in History. Unless, of course, the neo-con hope for democracy and freedom throughout the world is realised. Don’t hold your breath.

Moderator, please, if you will, allow my humble thoughts to be posted, and the very best to you and yours.

I am amazed at how each day McCain has a different message. What people want is a stable hand on the tiller. Oy I can’t wait til Tuesday.
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Is Franken still in play? Or has he peaked?

Whoopie, went through.

I should have added…democracy and freedom as the Bush neo-cons intrepret it, which isn’t real democracy and freedom in the the context of our Constitution at all.

I may be pressing my luck with Herr Moderator here))).

James I agree. Truman wasn’t popular because of Korea and firing McArthur. But the totality of his presidency, taking over for Roosevelt, make a decision to use nuclear weapons, the Marshall plan, desgregating the armed forces, his miraculous comeback in 1948, etc.

Bush has no such legacy. A friend once said to me when you are a leader, you should always leave things better off than when you found them. Bush fuched that one up big time.

Andy, I have nothing to add to your astute summation.

Andy,
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Thanks a lot. I caught a lot of hell on kos because people over there seem to think the race is voer and all thats left is the acceptance speech. I swear I hate that site sometimes.

Is Franken still in play? Or has he peaked?
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Andy see the link at 8:46 comment #31

As for the bush/Truman stuff I will repeat what I have posted before.
That stuff makes HST spin in his grave. As a man Truman would have no use for a privileged nothing like bush.
And as far as politics Truman was asked, in 1960 I think, to name the top 10 presidents in history. He hated republicans so much Lincoln didn’t make the list.
Comparing the bush to Truman is disgusting.

PNNTO, your comment at 8:46 is in moderation because it only shows up as #31 on your list. It is invisible to the rest of us. Another frustrating thing about the moderabot. By the time you read this it may be liberated, but…

No drama Obama. Nice work, JN-S.

They’ll be writing about this campaign in 50 years’ time. Absolute message discipline. No leaks. H&FJ Gotham. Run out of Chicago, not DC.

3:34 in the morning, why am I blogging? Why am I up? Gettin’ old, had to…..
Anyway saw on The Huffington Post that Lawrence Eagleberger put the final nail in the McCain Palin coffin, stating of Palin, “Of course she’s not ready.” And went on to make a number of negative comments about her potential as President. It will be interesting to see how much the national news sources focus on his comments right before the election.

By the time (if at all) this is posted, perhaps the election will be over. 5:14pm Friday in Japan. Will be delighted to awake tomorrow morning and see most of Friday gone in the western hemisphere. As it stands, four more full days of campaigning. Four more days in the pit, pulling for hope vs. despair.

Are we there yet!? as I used to whine over the back of my dad’s big bench seat in our Chevy.

Like most, I’ll be looking for a long detox starting next Wednesday. OK, off to Bladerunnery Osaka.

You guys do know that George W. Bush was famous for running a tight ship as well, right?

Thanks ivb I hadn’t noticed my “inflammatory” comment linking to a story showing Senator Coleman new problems had been embargoed.
This place isn’t exactly working.

PNNTO:

You wrote last night that Hillary staying in the race made Obama have to have infrastructure in place for the general. At the time, I was just angry with her for not conceding, but you’re right. It made him a stronger candidate and prepared him for the next few months. Never before have I seen a candidate run such a smooth campaign and not look at all ragged at this stage in the game.

Someone needs a primer on Red Zone offense.

BHO is in Indiana tonight. His 48th visit.
This is election sure has been different.

Coffee: I’m reminded of Buccaneers coach McKay in the 70s. After losing big he was asked,”How do you feel about your offense’s execution?”

He replied, “I’m in favor of it!”

PNNTO = Can you “extinguish the flames” and tell us about Coleman?

Andy he has a “benefactor” who pressured a 3rd party to funnel Seventy-five thousand dollars to his wife.
I would link to it but maybe that is what got me comment blocked.
It is at the Startribune website as well as Arianna’s.

Ha! Best laugh in a while: click here for a really funny essay from a conservative teeing off on Chris Buckley. It looks like the guy is a major douchenozzle most of the time, but this is funny.

For those of who may be glad that Ohio would be a good pickup, but not critical, the NY Times has this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/31/us/politics/31ohio.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

For those of us who may be glad that Ohio would be a good pickup, but not critical, the NY Times has this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/31/us/politics/31ohio.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Coffee, this was great satire.

Andy, plus it is conservative cannibalism. Win-win!