One bit of conventional wisdom in this election (which both the Obama and Clinton campaigns have bought into) is that the number of states holding caucuses (a less democratic procedure, for many reasons) have given Obama a real advantage. Today, liberal activist and Obama supporter Glenn Hurowitz and Wharton professor Gregory P. …
The Question of the Century
Obama this morning addressed the Communications Workers of America’s annual conference in Washington. He gave his usual spiel to unions highlighting his opposition to the war in Iraq, his credentials to take on lobbyists and his days as a community organizer in Chicago. The 600,000-member CWA has yet to endorse a candidate and Hillary …
UPDATE: An Ohio Woman’s Aunt Gives Her Version of the Clinton Health Care Tale
Anne Kornblut at the Washington Post has talked to the aunt of the Ohio woman who died after giving birth to a stillborn baby last fall. She says the tale is not quite as Hillary Clinton told it, but does indeed show the problems of the health care system, and the tragic consequences that sometimes occur. It’s still not clear to me, even …
Geoff Garin: The New Guy on Team Clinton
Mark Penn may not be out of the Clinton campaign, but Geoff Garin is definitely in. Here’s a story I did about him for TIME.com.
What Will Happen Tuesday
We already know the political arguments that John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton will be making tomorrow when they all get to ask questions of the commanding general in Iraq, David Petraeus. The question is whether the proceedings will enlighten the candidates or the American people about the best way to move forward.
For …
Mark Penn Is Not Out
Two sources confirm Marc Ambinder’s scoop that Penn was on the campaign’s message-of-the-day call this morning, and was involved in debate preparation this afternoon.
UPDATE: Huffpost listened to audio of Penn’s conference call today with Burson-Marsteller’s managing directors. Key quotes:
“I think you’ve heard that I made the decision
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Today in Iraq
Terrific piece in the Washington Post today about the intra-Shi’ite conflict. It would be nice if each of the Senators questioning Crocker and Petraeus read this.
Best of Rivals
In the current print issue of Time, Massimo Calabresi has a smart piece about the rivarly between the principal foreign policy advisers to both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and how their different styles and world views reflect and shape the policies of each candidate. Check it out here.
Free Barry Bearak and Stephen Bevan
Barry Bearak is a Johannesburg-based journalist for the New York Times and a former colleague of mine at the Los Angeles Times. Barry is also one of the finest in our business, a gifted storyteller who has devoted his career to shining a light on the suffering of the poor and the oppressed in the worst corners of the world. He is the …
The Last Refuge
You know, the more I think about it, the stupider my “patriotism” argument with Pete Wehner et al appears. I responded to his post out of anger–and anger, more than any other passion, gets me into trouble–especially in this medium, which is as close as I come to thinking aloud…too quickly, sometimes, for my own good.
I’m angry at …
Mark Penn is Out; Geoff Garin is In
This statement just in from Hillary Clinton Campaign Manager Maggie Williams:
After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as Chief Strategist of the Clinton Campaign; Mark, and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. will continue to provide polling and advice to the campaign.
Geoff Garin and
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Mark Penn Resigns
A late weekend surprise from the Clinton campaign, an e-mailed statement from Maggie Williams that is sure to dominate tomorrow’s news.
After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as Chief Strategist of the Clinton Campaign; Mark, and Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. will continue to provide
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The Petraeus Testimony
I’ll be spending this week–until my Wednesday deadline–covering the Petraeus testimony for a print edition column. One of the key things to watch is if Petraeus reads Basra the same way as John McCain did today on Fox news:
It was al-Sadr that declared the ceasefire, not Maliki,” said McCain. “With respect, I don’t think Sadr would
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