Look, maybe he should just hire some bloggers. I’ll suggest a few, if anyone from the campaign wants to email me and ask. Believe me, the blog brain trust that’s trying to run his campaign for free could not do a worse job that the clowns running it now (I’ll note that there was a Clinton transplant today – about which more later – and as much as I’d like to, I probably can’t blame them for this – yet).<\/p>\n
Let’s go to the papers.<\/p>\n
Here are three examples the campaign should consider when it’s deciding who’s going to eat the jar of jalapenos.
\nFirst, the stutter-step campaign staff replacement (I said I was going to deal with the Clinton transplant). <\/p>\n
September 2, 2004<\/a>:<\/p>\n Kerry has taken the unusual step of dispatching campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill, senior strategist Tad Devine and pollster Mark Mellman to New York to breakfast with political reporters today, just hours before Bush delivers a nationally televised speech accepting his party’s nomination for another four-year term.<\/p>\n The Cahill-led mission is to quell speculation that a major staff shake-up could be in the offing – much like the one that resulted in Cahill taking charge of an under-performing Kerry campaign last fall – and that the Kerry organization is troubled by the Democratic nominee’s slipping poll numbers.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n September 6, 2004<\/a>:<\/p>\n …in a 90-minute telephone conversation from his hospital room, [Clinton] offered John Kerry detailed advice on Saturday night on how to reinvigorate his candidacy, as Mr. Kerry enlisted more Clinton advisers to help shape his strategy and message for the remainder of the campaign.<\/p>\n …<\/p>\n The conversation and the recruitment of old Clinton hands came amid rising concern among Democrats about the state of Mr. Kerry’s campaign and criticism that he had been too slow to respond to attacks on his military record or to engage Mr. Bush on domestic policy. Among the better-known former Clinton aides who are expected to play an increasingly prominent role are James Carville, Paul Begala and Stanley Greenberg, campaign aides said.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n It’s not a shakeup, it’s not, it’s not (continued)…<\/p>\n \tMr. Kerry’s aides emphasized that this was an expansion of the staff for the fall campaign and did not represent another upheaval of the Kerry campaign. Still, several Democrats outside the campaign said the influence of Mr. Clinton and his advisers could be seen over the past few days in Mr. Kerry’s attacks on Mr. Bush’s domestic policies. They said the Clinton team had been pressing Mr. Kerry to turn up the intensity of his attacks on those policies after a month spent largely avoiding engaging the president.<\/p>\n The installation of former Clinton lieutenants is creating two distinct camps at Mr. Kerry’s campaign headquarters on McPherson Square in downtown Washington.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Yeah, those kind of silent transitions make for clear lines of authority in any project team!!<\/p>\n Next, the counterattack. On the www.johnkerry.com<\/a> website (wouldn’t it make sense to make it kerryedwards.com or something similar? And to brand it as Kerry-Edwards, instead of John Kerry for President?) a list of 143 lies told during the GOP convention. There are two problems here. As many have pointed out, it appears that the Kerry campaign has decided that it’s a good idea to include four statements by McCain in that – yes, to call McCain, who is for better or worse, the moral center of the Senate – a liar X 4. Smooooooove! Can I get the name of the staffer who thought that was a good idea?<\/p>\n And the page consists of a list of 143 claims made at the convention with the author of each claim. Example:<\/p>\n Franks Distorted Kerry\u2019s Comments About Fighting War on Terrorism.<\/b><\/p>\n 129. Franks: “Some argue that we should treat this war as a law enforcement issue. Some say we should fight a less aggressive war — that we should retreat into a defensive posture and hope that the terrorists don’t attack us again.” [Remarks at Republican National Convention, 9\/2\/04]<\/p>\n Other Countries Making Substantial Contributions<\/b><\/p>\n 130. Franks: “Some have ridiculed the contributions made by our allies, but I can tell you that every contribution from every nation is important.” [Remarks at Republican National Convention, 9\/2\/04]<\/p>\n Martinez Said Bush\u2019s Policies Helped All Americans.<\/b><\/p>\n 131. Martinez: “Not only does President Bush believe in the American dream, but his policies are helping people across our country to realize their own American Dream.” [Mel Martinez, 9\/2\/04]<\/p>\n Martinez Said Kerry Wanted to Raise Taxes.<\/b><\/p>\n 132. Martinez: “President Bush wants to cut taxes, and John Kerry wants to raise taxes.” [Mel Martinez, 9\/2\/04]<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Holy crap. They don’t even know how to Fisk. <\/p>\n Would it have killed someone to have one of the interns who normally is driving around Washington looking for crack for the senior campaign team – and I can’t think of another explanation of how someone who is supposed to be playing at the top level of the toughest sport in America could do so incredibly badly – to just, say, make an argument, provide a link, suggest some reason why Tommy Franks is lying other than WE SAY SO?? How stupid are these people, and how stupid do they think we are??<\/p>\n I don’t want this campaign to be decided by ineptitude. It’s like watching a motorcycle race that gets decided because one riders mechanic forgot to put oil in the engine.<\/p>\n But the stupidity may not stop at the crack-using staff level, and that’s what worries me.<\/p>\n