Shake Up at Hillary, Inc.
February 10th, 2008 at 05:16pm Mark Noonan
The political blood begins to flow:
WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton has replaced campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle, naming longtime aide Maggie Williams to the top job.
Solis Doyle announced the shift in an e-mail to the staff on Sunday.
“I have been proud to manage this campaign and prouder still to call Hillary my friend for more than 16 years,” Solis Doyle wrote. “Maggie is a remarkable person and I am confident that she will do a fabulous job.”
The move comes a day after rival Barack Obama swept contests in Washington state, Nebraska, Louisiana.
Solis Doyle said she will serve as a senior adviser to Clinton and the campaign, and travel with Clinton from time to time.
Hillary is trying to spin this as a natural progression - that Solis Doyle got her this far, and now its just time for someone else to lead the fight to the finish…Hillary is attempting this spin because the Clintons’ lie all the time, never get punished for it, and assume that any lie they say will be believed at least amongst their core supporters. Solis Doyle is being fired because of the failures in the Clinton campaign…they might be Solis Doyle’s failures, they might not…but in such things, its always the campaign manager who gets the blame. So, out she goes…and if Hillary had just said that, I’d start to have some respect for her.
At any rate, Hillary is in trouble, knows it, and is searching for the talisman which will stop Obama…we’ll see if she can find it.
UPDATE: Byron York over at NRO’s The Corner ain’t buying - he’s figuring its all part of a Clintonite ploy to make it look like things are bad for her. This theory cannot be dismissed, given the rank dishonesty of all things Clinton.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats
41 Comments
1. Retired Spook | February 10th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Maggie Williams is a great choice. She’s certainly helped Hillary out of a jam in the past.
2. phnx | February 10th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
By bringing in the old Whitehouse staff they’re circling the wagons.
3. Michael | February 10th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Add this to her recent financial difficulties, staffs working without pay, and major Democrats endorsing Obama and I think Ms. Clinton is in a panic. She hears footsteps and they are real. Obama has the momemtum and the shrill Clinton does not provide a welcome contrast to Obama’s eloquence and oratory.
4. eric | February 10th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
phnx,
Sure looks that way. I wonder how soon before the wheels start falling off those wagons.
5. Mark Noonan | February 10th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Spook,
I had forgotten about that…geesh, its one big, slimey circle with the Clintons, isn’t it?
6. Mark Noonan | February 10th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Michael,
If I were a Democrat, there’s be no question about it - Obama is the man; even if he were to lose, he’d be bringing in a lot of fresh blood and new enthusiasm (though, truth be told, that might be just what the old guard doesn’t want…kids can be controlled, to a point…these youngsters coming after Obama might, who knows?, force Democrats off their corruption as well as their ultra-liberal positions…younger people tending to be more libertarian than either liberal or conservative).
7. neocon | February 10th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Time to cry again
8. Casper | February 10th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Senator Clinton is on shaky ground. If she gets too nasty, regardless of who gets the nomination, and the Democrats lose the election, she and Bill get the blame. If she doesn’t get things turned around in her own campaign, Obama surges to the nomination.
9. eric | February 10th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Neo,
I was going to say the same thing, but it was just too easy.
10. eric | February 10th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
BTW, Senator Obama and Senator Clinton will be on 60 minutes tonight (different segments).
11. Casper | February 10th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
“he’s figuring its all part of a Clintonite ploy to make it look like things are bad for her.”
I’m not sure how having things look bad can be a plus for her campaign.
12. Casper | February 10th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Looks like Obama is going to win in Maine today. That’s what? Five wins this weekend. No wonder Senator Clinton is getting desperate.
13. eric | February 10th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Casper,
It fits into her role as the victim and it could lull Obama’s camp into a false sense of security. Be wary, those Clintons are crafty.
14. Casper | February 10th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I have a hard time believing that the Obama camp will feel secure until they have the nomination.
15. eric | February 10th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I agree, but with his current momentum, you never know. And one does not typically get to his position without a HUGE ego (plus, all of the sycophants constantly telling him how great he is).
16. Joe | February 10th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Geesh…
“shrill”, “slimy”, “crafty, someone to be “wary” of and my favorite… “the rank dishonesty of all things Clinton.”
How about just… she’s losing to Obama because he is inspiring people?
You people say how much Dems hate Bush, but it is just his policies that are hated, not the man.
Clinton on the other hand… you people have some irrational disgust of everything Clinton.
Did you guys say how the “blood was beginning to flow” when Romney was starting to lose races?
17. StopJohnLiberalMcCain | February 10th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Deleted - off topic
18. Ricorun | February 10th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Maybe it’s time for Hillary to consider a new theme song. Bill had Fleetwood Mac. What could be more appropriate for Hill some than Mad Dogs (and a few Englishmen)?
19. eric | February 10th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Joe,
Crafty is not an insult. In fact, if someone called me crafty, I would take it as a compliment. I cannot speak for anyone else here, but I don’t hate anybody. Hate is a waste of emotion. I do not particularly like the Clintons or their politics (I’m not a huge fan of socialism and I prefer to keep the money that I earn for myself. I grew up poor. It sucked and no one gave me a handout). Based on their track record, I would not trust the Clintons as far as I could collectively throw them.
20. neocon | February 10th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
>>You people say how much Dems hate Bush, but it is just his policies that are hated, not the man. - Joe<<
Joe, you say some of the dumbest I have ever read. Here’s a little snippet from the classy left:
Bill Maher on Tuesday night issued a litany of denigrating insults at the intelligence of President George W. Bush, as if his decisions are not in accord with many experienced experts. Maher pointed out how MSNBC’s “Joe Scarborough did a whole week of panel discussions on whether he was an idiot.” Maher elaborated: “The people who were defending him were saying, ‘well, he’s just inarticulate.’ But inarticulate doesn’t explain foreign policy. I mean, it’s not that complicated. The man is a rube. He is a dolt. He is a yokel on the world stage. He is a Gilligan who cannot find his ass with two hands. He is a vain half-wit who interrupts one incoherent sentence with another incoherent sentence.”
21. Ricorun | February 10th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Dammit, I blew the punch line AGAIN! “some” and “than” should be transposed.
22. eric | February 10th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Rico,
How about Roy Orbison’s “Crying”?
I know, too easy.
23. Retired Spook | February 10th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
you people have some irrational disgust of everything Clinton.
Joe, it’s just that they’ve done so many “disgusting” things.
24. Ricorun | February 10th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
eric, I’m kinda partial to the mad dogs connection. Lol!
BTW, I just turned on CNN. Apparently Clinton is going down in flames in Maine. Wasn’t it an explosion on the Maine that started the Spanish-American war? Maybe there’s a spurious connection there, too. Lol!
25. Mark Noonan | February 10th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Joe,
That is “political blood”, not just “blood” as you mendaciously state.
At any rate, I do have a disgust of all things Clinton - and if you can’t see why, then the problem lies with you. They are liars, through and through. They are corrupt, all the time and in all things. They are cruel. They are petty. They are greedy. They are egotistical. They are spiteful. They are the nastiest people to ever appear on the American political scene. They’ve done no one any good other than themselves - heck, they came close to destroyng the national Democratic party in the 1990’s, and Hillary is still on track to win the nomination in 2008! What is it with the Clintons’ which fails to make you vomit - that is the real question.
26. Mark Noonan | February 10th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Ricroun,
Indeed - official word is that Hillary has a firewall in the upcoming primaries, but I’m starting to not be so sure…
27. phnx | February 10th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
The mainstream media is still carrying Hillary’s water. Despite 20% vote margins racked up by Obama in the last five races, the Phili Inquirer plays down the rout with a headline that reads:
“Voters give Obama a Boost”
Talk about understatement. Obama is looking strong, but don’t count Hillary out. She has the lead with the Super Delgates, who are mostly party elites and insiders. Anyone remember those 900 FBI files? YOu didn’t think they were all Republicans did you?
28. plainjane | February 10th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
The mainstream media is still carrying Hillary’s water.phnx | February 10th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Yeah, that is why they just accused her of pimping her daughter. You have to love that corporate media.
29. phnx | February 10th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Plainjane, in case you didn’t notice, that guy was suspended even though he offered a retraction and aplology. So yes, they are carrying her water, and punishing anyone who is not towing the party line.
30. Mark Noonan | February 10th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
phnx,
Facts are not important in the left…
Anyways, Rush had a half-serious contention early on, before any voters were cast, that the MSM might try to build up one of her Democratic opponents in order to make it look like she a dogged fighter able to take high pressure…such could be the case (especially given the MSM’s need for a long horse race in order to boost ratings), but it might have backfired…a lot of people on the left got a good, long look at Obama and loved what they saw…a cliche’d, empty-suit mouthing mindless leftwing rhetoric…on the left, that counts as major intellectual heft.
31. Casper | February 10th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Mark,
I’ve read at least 8 pieces in the NYTs, the LATs, and the WaPo that were anti Clinton in the last couple of weeks. If the media is giving her a pass, they have a odd way of doing it.
32. Casper | February 10th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
I would say that both McCain and Obama are getting much better press at this time.
33. Ricorun | February 10th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Mark: At any rate, I do have a disgust of all things Clinton.
AHA!! Methinks you have just admitted to CDS (Clinton Derangement Syndrome)!
Yeah yeah, I know… they deserve it in your view. Then again, in the minds of those suffering from BDS the rationale is exactly the same. Maybe some of it makes sense, maybe not. But for goodness sake the White House has been inhabited by either a Clinton or a Bush for the last 20 years. Isn’t it time to move on?
34. Casper | February 10th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
“But for goodness sake the White House has been inhabited by either a Clinton or a Bush for the last 20 years. Isn’t it time to move on?”
But Rico, There are still a couple of Bush Brothers, and don’t forget Chelsea and the twins. Surely you don’t want them to miss their turns.
35. Ricorun | February 10th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Casper: Surely you don’t want them to miss their turns.
Ummm… yes I do. Lol!
I know you’re being snarky. But the truth is, although we like to think of America as one of the purest meritocracies on earth (and relatively speaking, it is), the fact remains that it’s not that pure. And it is my studied opinion that the more impediments we put in place to prevent it from becoming an aristocracy the better off we’ll be. IMO, what you know should always be valued above who you know. That may be easier to say than do, but to the extent that we manage that as a nation, our nation will never die. Likewise, to the extent that we don’t manage the same, the worse off we’ll become. And frankly, I don’t think either party has a very good handle on that concept. Not at present.
36. Mark Noonan | February 11th, 2008 at 12:12 am
Ricorun,
Ah, but my disgust at the Clintons is based on their long, long sting of disgusting actions…BDS is based upon a series of really absurd lies about President Bush.
37. phnx | February 11th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Mark,
Complicity of the MSM in Hillary’s election plan would not surprise me.
38. Tractatus | February 11th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I’ve read at least 8 pieces in the NYTs, the LATs, and the WaPo that were anti Clinton in the last couple of weeks. If the media is giving her a pass, they have a odd way of doing it.
Yes, but Mark has come up with a new conspiracy theory–this one about the media trying to make Hillary look like a terrific fighter by building up her opposition so she can knock ‘em down. In a paranoid, deluded world, it probably makes sense. Out here in the real world, we wonder if Noonan’s stash has been laced.
Ah, but my disgust at the Clintons is based on their long, long sting [sic] of disgusting actions
As is my disgust with Bush. But it’s far easier for you to stay in the Bush Cult if you pretend that your hatred is rational whereas any criticism of you beloved Bush must be, by definition, irrational. Plus, you’re a coward like that.
39. Joe | February 11th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Mark:
Facts are not important in the left
Meanwhile….
Phnx:
Anyone remember those 900 FBI files? YOu didn’t think they were all Republicans did you?
Exactly what “facts” are being presented by phnx? Nothing there but lobbing out a lie in hoping it sticks. Kind of how FoxNews does leading into a commercial.
40. FmrMarine | February 11th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
lets see
carVILE
halfbright
maggie w
sid vicious blumenthol
sandy burglar
she is about “CHANGE” ? change what slicks sheets and the housemaids dress?
Sounds like the same ole CRIMINAL enterprise to me.
41. tom | February 11th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
I hope Hillary loses flat out. I do not want a president in the Whitehouse who thinks it is thier turn to be there.
What has Hillary really truelly accomplished since she has been in the senate? Every vote she cast was weighed on presidential aspirations.