ABC's the Note on the Kerry campaign...

[helleborient]

Taking campaign advice from political columnists? Now we know Joe Klein's attack on Howard Dean in Time is certainly not that of a neutral observer.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/TheNote/TheNote.html


"All in one day, Kerry trashed the three departed aides as, basically disloyal and useless; an anonymous Kerry adviser said that Jordan's sacking was in fact in the works weeks ago, at the very time The Candidate was denying it; Kerry made a heart-felt phone call to the three former aides to apologize; and the Wall Street Journal capped it off this morning with this incredible Washington Wire item:

"The camp of ousted Kerry manager Jim Jordan fingers Time columnist Joe Klein as advising the beleaguered candidate to dump him. Klein says he holds Jordan in 'minimum high regard,' but 'when I have arguments with candidates, they're about issues.'"

(Bad precedents to set, Joe: now all political journalists are going to be expected to (a) tell other journalists on the record which political operatives we hold in "minimum high regard"; and (b) have arguments with the candidates we cover.)

With a focus on KerryWorld, Ron Fournier observes that 2004 has marked an increase in attention paid to the political consultants behind the candidates. LINK

One close observer with direct knowledge of the Kerry campaign surveyed the carnage and told The Note this:

"Kerry's comments yesterday were a disaster — like pouring gasoline on a slow-burning fire. Add to that the 'anonymous' quotes from a 'senior adviser' hitting Jordan and the staff is in an uproar again. This thing is like Yugoslavia after the Cold War. The one force that held it all together is gone. Now months of tension, bruised ego and hurt feelings are coming out and it's ugly."

[CMT]

1. interesting

I have found Klein's writings on Dean very hostile and now I see why he should just be taken with a grain of salt.

Isn't Klein the guy who published the fictionalized account on Clinton under the name anonaymous? and for the longest time denied it?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

17. "Primary Colors."

The answer is yes.

[eileen_d]

2. "Like Yugoslavia after the Cold War?"

Some of these "close observers" need to get some perspective on reality. It's office politics, not geopolitical strife.

[LuminousX]

3. But without the hyperbolization

people might not feel that this is a story worth covering... oh, wait a minute, it really isn't. Campaign shakeups happen. The 'he said, she said' analysis isn't worth covering as it has little to do with policy and debate.

[eileen_d]

4. Yeah

I'm surprised someone hasn't suggested deploying troops to Kerry's campaign at this point. :eyes:

[helleborient]

7. What is important, in my estimation...

John Kerry has allowed this to turn into an ugly 5-day press field day.

Other candidates changed managers without letting this happen.

Also, Kerry let slip the comments about his campaign being "better off" without 3 staffers, then backtracked and apologized.

It seems like, at best, a lack of skill in operating his own campaign.

All with the backdrop of Kerry being sold by his supporters as impeccable leader who thinks hard before speaking and then speaks with elevated language and nuance.

[eileen_d]

10. You're blaming Kerry for the negative press coverage?

Then you would have to blame Dean for all of the negative Confederate flag press coverage... that goes along with the "he asked for it" theory.

Campaigning is not governing. Some of the same skills are involved, but it's apples and oranges.

[Padraig18]

12. There's the point!

There shouldn't have been a 'flap' about either occurence; I'm not rejoicing in JK's beating at the hands of the press over this, but next time you get ready to jump on Dean, Clark, Kucinich, et al for a remark they make in all innocence, remember how quickly it can turn ugly.

'nuff said.

[mattgabe]

15. So, you're saying...

that Kerry firing his campaign manager and 2 patently disloyal aides is the same as (admittedly naively) appealing to latent racism and stereotyping an entire section of the country? Huh.

[Padraig18]

16. I don't accept your characterization of Dean's remark.

And that misses the point I was making, in any event.

[helleborient]

13. So you're arguing that the "Confederate flag" comment...

Would have nothing to do with how Howard Dean would govern?

Thank you.

[eileen_d]

23. Yes, I am, and you're welcome - but -

I still believe Dean was pretty airheaded for making the remark in the first place. I didn't hear the Confederate flag remark and think "Oh, Dean's a racist and would be a bad candidate/president because of that remark" - I thought "Geez, what a can of worms that's going to open up. Too bad he set himself up, and if he doesn't see that he did, he's a few bricks short of a load."

Also, I don't necessarily see Kerry's campaign shakeup as negative; it's basically office politics, and the change could turn out to be for the better. I find it harder to see anything positive about Dean's flag remark, and I think the negative response to it from the press and the other candidates was pretty predictable.

In case you think I'm a garden variety Dean basher, I did order the book about him this evening (I've got a book each from Kerry and Clark as well). I don't think the flag remark is going to ruin his chances, as other people at DU seem to. But it's still primary season, and I'm supporting my ideal candidate (Kerry) - Dean has a way to go before he can match up to that.

[virtualobserver]

25. have you ever seen a campaign with multiple shakeups come back. to win

Running for President is always a learning on-the-fly, but replacing the person at the top is not merely an adjustment on-the-fly. Kerry will truly be the comeback kid if he pulls that off.

[eileen_d]

26. Honestly, I haven't paid any attention

to "campaign shakeups" - and I hope Kerry is the comeback kid, because I think he'd make the best president.

Do you or anyone else have some "campaign shakeups" statistic?

[virtualobserver]

27. I don't have any stats, I'm just saying that it is hard enough to win...

but when the news stories start describing a campaign as "embattled" or "struggling" it is hard to overcome with brilliant moves....and Kerry has made some dumb ones.

[eileen_d]

28. Well, of course it's not going to be easy for Kerry

But name a frontrunning Dem candidate who *hasn't* made dumb moves that showed up in the press.

Dean? BZZT!
Clark? BZZT!
Lieberman? (awkward silence because I couldn't care less)

Media buzz isn't going to decide it for me.

[virtualobserver]

31. I wouldn't expect that to change your opinion.....

I am just amazed at how many strategic errors Kerry has made. Dean certainly makes mistakes, but his strategic brilliance has overshadowed any mistakes.

I never expected anything from Edwards,Gephardt, or Lieberman but I thought that Kerry would be a very strong candidate.

[Pez]

5. kerry's vision, experience and history standing up to special interests...

...is more interesting and relevant than a bunch of competing journalists' gossip~mongering. some people go out of their way to find something, ANYTHING to trash kerry on. meanwhile, he has an impressive past fighting for issues we supposedly stand for-- civil rights, women's issues, education, the environment, veterans, the arts, fighting special interests...

i now await the nay-sayers' onslaught. :-D

[Padraig18]

6. You guys have my sympathy.

We Dean supporters know all too well what it's like to be trashed by Klein; hang in there, folks--- this, too, shall pass. :hi:

[blm]

8. One close observer is probably a Dean operative.

Amazing how so many bad stories on Kerry get attention. Just like those Bradley camp workers who exaggerated stories about Gore and spread the meme that Gore is a liar to the press.. Oh yeah...many from that Bradley camp went to work for Dean.

[Pez]

9. no matter what bradley tried, gore had the silver bullet:

"racial profiling was practically invented in your state."

ooooh; disssssss...

[polpilot]

11. Vent..vent..vent... This should be a time for all democrats to celebrate

The New Democratic Leader of The NEW Democratic Party!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dean '04...

[dsc]

14. and of course

no proof at all is offered, will be offered, and if it is asked for you will be called names.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

18. I have the "operative's" name.......*drumroll*.......his name is.....

John Kerry.

For no one has done more to advance the campaign of Howard Dean than John Kerry.

[DrFunkenstein]

19. The Note Has Always Been Anti-Kerry

Daily Kos is another one. They both consistently play up (and spin) anti-Kerry news and play down pro-Kerry news. Not sure why, but they do.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

20. The readership of Time magazine dwarfs that of the Note and DK.

You should feel fortunate.

[DrFunkenstein]

21. Point Taken

<>

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

22. And...

[DrFunkenstein]

24. Howard Dean Is Gay?

<>

;-)

PS - The wink isn't like a gay wink or anything...

[dsc]

29. That isn't funny

and somehow I doubt you would dare post crap like that in regards to a candidate who was particularly identified with a racial minority or with women.

[AP]

30. What editor is going to tell Joe Klein that his piece is too nice to Kerry

and not nice enough to Dean?

The guy's established (and rich).