Althouse: The reactivation of Plouffe.

January 23, 2010

The reactivation of Plouffe.

Time to get back to what Obama does best: running for President.

AND: Ouch.

49 comments:

Palladian said...: Plouffe! is the sound of the chances for a second term going up in smoke.; 1/23/10, 12:56 PM
Rialby said...: Thank god someone is back to help Barack Obama explain himself to the American people. I mean, that's really what we've been missing is... explanation. 'Cause we dun git it. We'se jus dum 'mericanz.; 1/23/10, 1:02 PM
Andrew said...: "Americans' health and our nation's long-term fiscal health depend on it. I know that the short-term politics are bad. It's a good plan that's become a demonized caricature. But politically speaking, if we do not pass it, the GOP will continue attacking the plan as if we did anyway, and voters will have no ability to measure its upside" - Plouffe

Wow....
Let me get that travel agency going before you completely ruin our health care system buddy.

People like this guy are threats to the well being of America.; 1/23/10, 1:07 PM
Rialby said...: I am becoming more convinced by the day that Obama is a one-term POTUS. I am putting it 55/45 that he does not run again, especially if there's an adequate challenger.

Fortunately, for all of us, putting HRC at Sec. of State has ruined her career. It will do to Clinton what it did, regrettably, to Condi - it will make her an unpalatable choice even to Democrats.

So, who steps in to challenge Obama for the Democrats?; 1/23/10, 1:08 PM
Anonymous said...: "But politically speaking, if we do not pass it, the GOP will continue attacking the plan as if we did anyway, and voters will have no ability to measure its upside."

They can't understand that we value something more than getting more "free government cheese"; we value independence from government control, so this takeover has no upside.; 1/23/10, 1:09 PM
rhhardin said...: It will be nice to have those videos again.

Though it's going to be upstream when he's campaigning against another reality.

It tends to reduce it to nice music, with the video better left off.; 1/23/10, 1:12 PM
victoria said...: What do you mean, who steps in for the Republicans. Scott Brown? Don't think so. Give me one viable candidate. Just 1. No Palin, Gingrich, Huckabee, Romney. No freaks like Beck or Bachmann. These are proven losers and freaks. Losers. Give me a centrist candidate and I will vote for him/her. Not there.; 1/23/10, 1:12 PM
Anonymous said...: Pawlenty
Daniels; 1/23/10, 1:18 PM
YoungHegelian said...: I've been on the e-mail list of Organizing for America since its founding. Not impressive at all, and Plouffe pretty much runs it.

If Obama going to turn this around he has to find his own Dick Morris and move outside of his incestuous Chicago contacts.

I'm doubting he can do it.; 1/23/10, 1:18 PM
rhhardin said...: Another sign of spring.; 1/23/10, 1:22 PM
Rialby said...: Who steps in to challenge him internally for the Dems a la Reagan/Ford?; 1/23/10, 1:42 PM
victoria said...: Hello, i said centrist.Pawlenty is not centrist, he is uber right wing.

Cannot abide super right wing, Focus on the Family, super religious candidates. Being anti choice is not centrist, it is uber right wing. Daniels? whose he?

Vicki from Pasadena; 1/23/10, 1:43 PM
Zach said...: "Americans' health and our nation's long-term fiscal health depend on it. I know that the short-term politics are bad. It's a good plan that's become a demonized caricature. But politically speaking, if we do not pass it, the GOP will continue attacking the plan as if we did anyway, and voters will have no ability to measure its upside"

I hate this kind of campaign logic. It only works if the impact of the bill on the population is less important than the impact of the bill on Democrats.

Obama could be 100% right about the debating tactics of the opposition. But he shouldn't get to nationalize 1/6 of the economy just to prove a point. The bill should pass or fail on its own merits -- and one of the criteria is whether the citizenry wants it or not.; 1/23/10, 1:47 PM
NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: I read Plouffe's piece over at RCP.

There's a real problem that he glances over. The Democrats will do whatever they want, and tack "Oh, it makes jobs, too!" at the end. Note that anything they do, it makes jobs.

The problem is that they aren't focusing on jobs, just using it as a word to justify whatever they are doing anyway.

I do not understand, at all, how this health reform bill creates jobs. Sure, it will make a lot of government jobs. Maybe more jobs in the insurance business. Maybe more medical jobs. However, how many businesses won't hire new workers because of the increased cost? How is this not as important?

I have the same objection to the idea that long-held Democratic beliefs about energy (which means carbon cap and trade) or education are needed for long term economic growth. No, they aren't. They may be harmful. People aren't buying this stuff anymore.

The other problem was that Plouffe wanted Democratic candidates to point out all the public sector jobs saved by the stimulus. Bad idea. Pointing out that the government takes care of overpaid, unionized, public sector workers will not endear them to anyone. People will see that their money is being spent to keep government job first.

Most of the rest I agreed with. Tactically, Democrats are still way ahead in both Houses, and have a large margin for error. There's no reason they have to lose. It's up to them.

But if they listen to Plouffe about making "hard choices," they'll pay.; 1/23/10, 1:57 PM
Joe said...: I think Victoria is one of the "moderates"...by which I mean a Liberal...EVERY GOP candidate will be Uber-Rightwing, in her view....I guess Christine Todd Whitman or Colin Powell would do, for her...sadly they can't get the nomination...Further, even IF the GOP ran either, moderates will then vote for Obama...notice all the GOP moderates who bailed on McCain?

Finally, "Conservative" represents about 40% of the electorate...not "moderate" so mayhap let's runa Centre-Right Candidate and not worry about a so-called "centrist."; 1/23/10, 1:57 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Victoria:

I doubt you have ever voted for a Republican. I doubt you have ever even given a moment of thought to voting for a Republican.; 1/23/10, 1:58 PM
Steve M. Galbraith said...: Plouffe! is the sound of the chances for a second term going up in smoke.

Rimshot.

But sorry, Leno already got the job.

Although don't be surprised if he doesn't use that line next week.; 1/23/10, 2:02 PM
LonewackoDotCom said...: PatCA says, important word bolded: They can't understand that we value something more than getting more "free government cheese"; we value independence from government control, so this takeover has no upside.

Now, what PatCA needs to do is to figure out exactly who "we" is and the shocking fact that "we" isn't everyone. In fact, only a small number of people - when you actually walk them through what would be involved - want smaller gov't. The useful idiots for the teaparty string-pullers want free cheese as much as anyone: they want all the gov't goodies w/o having to pay for them.

Regarding jobs, I have a job for everyone. Find a r/w blogger or other public BHO opponent who's calling out BHO for the fact that even with high unemployment his administration is feverishly working to add 200,000 new workers to the labor market. Is Instapundit calling him out over that? How about HotAir, Townhall, WeeklyStandard, and all the rest? Write them and let them know you know they aren't on the right side.; 1/23/10, 2:07 PM
Paul said...: I hope junior does run for a second term. Just so we can see him defeated and humiliated.

The only thing that could be more delicious is if he was defeated by Sarah Palin.; 1/23/10, 2:10 PM
Titus said...: OMG, Sasha Cohen is returning to skating. She is about to perform. I am so excited. I am afraid she is going to blow it.

Are you excited fellow republicans? I so what her on the podium.

It's getting tense.; 1/23/10, 2:52 PM
William said...: Plouffe in French means the sound of ear escaping from a hot air balloon. In vulgar parlance, it has come to mean the sound of a wet fart....In America, the meaning has been somewhat transposed to mean the sound of a big of pig offal striking the pavement: e.g. The health care bill landed like a plouffe among the American electorate.es; 1/23/10, 2:52 PM
Titus said...: OMG, Sasha I love you. Why do the jumps have to count for so much. Your extension, performance, technique, beauty on the ice should count for more.

SASHA, SASHA.

Please let her go to the Olympics. I am a mess right now.

Scores are about to come up.

DO IT SASHA.; 1/23/10, 2:58 PM
Ned said...: plouffe, axlerod, obama, rahm...I'm just sayin'...; 1/23/10, 3:01 PM
David said...: Plouffe says:

"Americans' health and our nation's long-term fiscal health depend on it. I know that the short-term politics are bad. It's a good plan that's become a demonized caricature. But politically speaking, if we do not pass it, the GOP will continue attacking the plan as if we did anyway, and voters will have no ability to measure its upside"

Does anyone think that David Plouffe has parsed the details of the plans passed by the Senate or House? And when he refers to the "Plan" which of these two quite different approaches does he mean? Does he have any expertise in health delivery, economics or anything other than politics?

The notion that Barack Obama will bring us a different approach is utterly destroyed.

Game Completely Over. What a tragedy. What a fraud!!; 1/23/10, 3:07 PM
Titus said...: Just cried, watched the Sarah Maclachlan, sad dog eyes commercial for the ASPCA. Gets me everytime.

Mean abuse dog owners, they should be shot.; 1/23/10, 3:13 PM
rhhardin said...: The biggest killers of dogs today are the humane societies.

People who are nice to animals are not nice people.; 1/23/10, 3:31 PM
David said...: Titus, don't shoot anyone! Prison life is not fabuloys.; 1/23/10, 3:31 PM
Mark said...: I love the ending of the RCP story: "Since the Massachusetts race, however, no Senate or House Democrat has retired."

Talk about looking hard for a silver lining...

Oh, and apparently I'm not the only one who thinks v. from Pasadena is pulling a Moby.; 1/23/10, 3:32 PM
David said...: rh: you want to take in about a thousand dogs in your house? It's a near intractable problem.

My dog is a pound dog--fabulous doggie that could have been put down. But I can't save them all and neither can anyone else.; 1/23/10, 3:34 PM
David said...: "fabulous"; 1/23/10, 3:36 PM
rhhardin said...: The way you get a dog overpopulation problem is the same way you get a chipmunk overpopulation problem.

You round them all up and put them in once place.

As it happens, the experiment has been done. Dogs left to be strays get a chance to do their stuff and get adopted.

Only round up problem dogs.

This works fine. Dogs are smarter in addition, and better socialized.

It's been done with the same sized towns and cities as we have today.

What's changed? Hysterics, hand-wringers and busybodies in charge.; 1/23/10, 3:40 PM
David said...: There is some truth in that RH. I gather (I have unfortunately not been there) that well socialized "strays" have lived on the streets of Istanbul for hundreds of years. They do well except in times of siege or famine.

Not sure that could happen here, partly for the reasons you cite.; 1/23/10, 3:55 PM
Joseph said...: Yikes thats almost as bad as Reagan's approval rating at this point in his presidency.; 1/23/10, 4:05 PM
NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...: I like the implicit assertion that Reagan was still a good President despite some bad numbers.

When Obama presides over a 49 state landslide following 7% annual GDP growth, I'll make the comparison.; 1/23/10, 4:12 PM
damikesc said...: David, PETA kills 2/3 of the animals they take in.; 1/23/10, 4:12 PM
Titus said...: My husband has already told me to expect to see lots of stray dogs when we go to Bangalore.

I think I like dogs more than people.

Is that bad?

Also, I would never shoot anyone. Well maybe a clay pigeon.; 1/23/10, 4:29 PM
Nichevo said...: " Blogger victoria said...

Hello, i said centrist.Pawlenty is not centrist, he is uber right wing.

Cannot abide super right wing, Focus on the Family, super religious candidates. Being anti choice is not centrist, it is uber right wing. Daniels? whose he?

Vicki from Pasadena
1/23/10 1:43 PM "

Victoria, are you titus?; 1/23/10, 4:31 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: I wish you guys would stop with the "who's the next president" business (and the race stuff):

2012 is a long way off - anything can happen between now and then, and who knows who will pop up?

Scott Brown, while not perfect, showed up at the right time. Others will follow. What's important is the rest of us, now, voicing what we want so whoever that person is will be able to answer the call.

Stay informed, engaged, and energized - this is just the beginning - when the right candidate comes along, we'll know.

To Victoria (Hi, Babe):

You're (probably) going to have your measure to the right a bit. This is (probably) going to call for a scorched earth policy for a while, and that's (probably) going to call for fighter - someone with the stomach for it - which can (probably) only be found in the right-wing "nutjob" school, I.E. Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Pat Buchannan, etc. There's only three things I think, from where I sit today, are important:

1) We find a dog that has teeth.

2) He/She knows they're on our leash.

3) We, as a people and a nation, finally get responsible about what we do with ourselves - and our power.; 1/23/10, 4:49 PM
knox said...: This is the harshest thing I've read about Obama's performance yet. And it's written by one of his supporters, on the Daily Beast.

It's a few days old. If you've already read it, sorry, but it blew my socks off.; 1/23/10, 4:53 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: Plouffe is a pouffe. Besides creating havoc in our government, Obama has created havoc in his own party. He did in one year what it took Bush six to do- alienate his own party.

Now if he can only alienate the far left screechers.; 1/23/10, 5:05 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: Here is someone in touch with his own reality - what he thinks the Democrats need to stay in power:

-- Pass a meaningful health insurance reform package without delay. Apparently because if they don't, the GOP will continue to attack the Dems for it.

-- We need to show that we not just are focused on jobs but also create them. And this apparently means Health Care Reform and flushing further trillions down the drain in the name of such things as "Green Energy". Never mind that that money has to come from somewhere first.

-- Make sure voters understand what the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act did for the economy. I am not sure he really wants to do this, go into depth as to where the money was spent, and where all those "saved" jobs came from (the ones in real Congressional Districts).

-- Don't accept any lectures on spending. Somehow he thinks that the fact that Obama's deficit this year is some 3-4 times that of the last year under Bush (or the worst of Bush's 8 years) is going to ignored because Bush also ran deficits. But he forgets that the Democrats have both elected branches here, and the Republicans don't have any input this year. This guy doesn't seem to understand the Tea Party movement very well.

-- "Change" is not just about policies.

-- Run great campaigns. Yeh, in most years, a great campaign, with a lot of money and bought votes, can overcome good policies. But this year, for many candidates who voted for bad legislation, a good campaign isn't going to save them.

-- No bed-wetting. I think that he is saying that they should all be in this for the long run, no matter how many seats they sacrifice in the next elections for ideological purity.; 1/23/10, 5:41 PM
mariner said...: damikesc:
David, PETA kills 2/3 of the animals they take in.

Several years ago in North Carolina they were caught dumping animals' bodies alongside the roads.

I guess that's "ethical" if you don't get caught.; 1/23/10, 7:31 PM
Kirk Parker said...: Well, this commenter over there says it all:

"For a guy who ran such a carefully messaged campaign he seems to have lost all that skill."

Unintentionally, of course. Hey, everyone who thinks like that: campaigning is different from governing! And one of the biggest differences is that, while governing definitely can involve talk, campaigning is--or can be--absolutely nothing but talk! Just 'cause you can do that, doesn't mean you have the slightest clue how to govern.; 1/23/10, 8:59 PM
BJM said...: The WH and Congress continues to spread the meme that the problem is that voters don't understand the proposed healthcare bills.

They really cannot have it both ways; a single party writing legislation behind closed doors while complaining that taxpayers/voters don't understand the benefits of said legislation.

Oh, we understand alright.; 1/24/10, 12:20 AM
BJM said...: @ Lone - his administration is feverishly working

I call bullshit. Prove it.; 1/24/10, 12:22 AM
Chase said...: `

But I thought all Democrats believed in the intelligence of the American people.

.; 1/24/10, 1:00 AM
AllenS said...: Lone Wacko said...
"his administration is feverishly working"

That's a good point, and I'm glad you brought it up. So far, Obama has saved/created 130,783,547 jobs. And he did it in only one year! Unfortunately, where I live, people are still losing jobs and their houses.; 1/24/10, 5:50 AM
Freeman Hunt said...: Being anti choice is not centrist, it is uber right wing.

"Anti choice?" Please.

WV (no kidding): dying (A whole lot of them by somebody else's "choice."); 1/24/10, 9:50 AM
Jason said...: Victoria,

The GOP nominated their leading moderate voice in 2008. An accomplished legislator with a history of independence, of compromise, of reaching across the aisle. He has significant foreign policy experience and credentials. He had a stellar record of public service, including the admiration of those who served with him in wartime.

Did you vote for him? No?

Then STFU.; 1/24/10, 10:54 AM