Hillary proposes “change” by hiring tired old hacks

posted at 1:30 pm on January 8, 2008 by Bryan

There are a couple of ways to look at all the turmoil in the Clinton campaign. One, if she turns it around and actually wins the nomination, she’ll have blunted a truly historic run by Barack Obama and that’ll make her stronger, so enjoy the turmoil now because whether it’s her or Obama, the general election isn’t looking good right now. Two, if she sinks as now seems likely, we could be looking at the end of the Clinton era. Hurrahs will be in order. So either way, this is a time to enjoy ourselves a bit.

It’s probably not going to be enjoyable for long because it’s likely to get ugly soon, if the MSM reports are correct and the Clintons are about to bring their old hand spinmasters back into the fight. They won’t be able to sell Hillary as the candidate of “change” very effectively, but they might find a way to destroy Obama.

Key campaign officials may be replaced. She may start calling herself the underdog. Donors would receive pleas that it is do-or-die time. And her political strategy could begin mirroring that of Rudolph W. Giuliani, a Republican rival, by focusing on populous states like California and New York whose primaries are Feb. 5…

Officials stressed that any signs of upheaval might weaken her further, and that decisions would be made about her staff after the New Hampshire primary. They also noted that her personal loyalties to members of her team leaned against a major shakeup: Ms. Solis Doyle and Ms. Grunwald have been by Mrs. Clinton’s side since her husband’s 1992 campaign, and Mr. Penn for more than a decade. She is also close to Mr. Wolfson, a veteran of her first Senate campaign in 2000.

It is also unclear who could come in this late to right the ship, especially if Mrs. Clinton is 0 for 2 in the first nominating contests. She faces a four-week calendar of primaries through Feb. 5, when she believes the Democratic nomination will be decided. Two former aides to President Clinton, James Carville and John Podesta, have been mentioned by her allies as potential hires, but neither man has been formally asked, said people with knowledge of internal campaign conversations.

Mrs. Clinton is trying to steel herself against pessimism, but both she and Mr. Clinton are feeling disappointment, advisers say.

“We’re all resolved to the probability that’s she’s not going to win New Hampshire, and the mood has turned very despondent — fatalistic, probably,” one of Mrs. Clinton’s leading fund-raisers and supporters said on Monday on condition of anonymity.

A wounded, cornered Clinton is a deadly Clinton. Obambi, keep an eye on the skies.

Update (AP): Good news and bad news for the Glacier. The good: She has something of a walkover in Michigan. The bad: Obama and Silky are conspiring to make it as embarrassing as possible.

This video from Slate is amusing, too. The left cries out for substance and policy and detail! See what happens when they get it. Why, she’s even gone and “played the Al Qaeda card.” How desperate can a candidate be, talking about terrorism during an election? Right, Olby?

(Photoshop by Argument Zombies)

Blowback

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Hey Old Lady

RobCon on January 8, 2008 at 1:32 PM

First to compliment the Photoshop!

RushBaby on January 8, 2008 at 1:32 PM

AWWWW you changed it!

RushBaby on January 8, 2008 at 1:33 PM

btw TPM has spoken to carville who denies he is returning

zane on January 8, 2008 at 1:34 PM

Back when she was First Lady, Hillary’s positive numbers were quite low. Then Monicagate hit and she played the role of the victim to the hilt. Her numbers rose dramatically and she was on her way to Senate stardom.

Yesterday’s sniffles and the possible addition of Carville and Podesta to her staff do not surprise me in the least. History is about to repeat itself.

PamM on January 8, 2008 at 1:34 PM

RushBaby on January 8, 2008 at 1:33 PM

It’ll be back. Later tonight, most likely.

Bryan on January 8, 2008 at 1:34 PM

I think
I’d rather take a strengthened Hillary than an Obama strengthened by winning the nomination. But if Huckabee gets the nomination, we’re gonna lose either way.

MyImamToldMeToDoIt on January 8, 2008 at 1:34 PM

Going on the attack against Obama seems pretty risky. There seems to be a real surge of genuine support and enthusiasm from Democrats for Obama. Getting nasty might backfire.

Slublog on January 8, 2008 at 1:36 PM

It’ll be back. Later tonight, most likely.

Bryan on January 8, 2008 at 1:34 PM

See why you’re saving it (evil grin)

RushBaby on January 8, 2008 at 1:36 PM

It’ll be back. Later tonight, most likely.

Bryan on January 8, 2008 at 1:34 PM

Cool…as the USS Clintanic. Abandon ship!

Brat on January 8, 2008 at 1:37 PM

It’s probably not going to be enjoyable for long because it’s likely to get ugly soon, if the MSM reports are correct and the Clintons are about to bring their old hand spinmasters apparatchiks back into the fight. They won’t be able to sell Hillary as the candidate of “change” very effectively, but they might find a way to destroy Obama.

Remember 1984 – wrong is right, up is down, left is right, old is new, status-quo is change. And anything is possible when you have Hillary Clinton pandering to an illiterate and ignorant electorate.

OhEssYouCowboys on January 8, 2008 at 1:41 PM

I still say Hillary would be easier to beat than Obamassiah.

amerpundit on January 8, 2008 at 1:42 PM

We better hope that Hillary can pull off an upset.

The world will be upside down if Obama wins. And not just on their side. As I’ve said here before, the old Anti- Clinton forces will suddenly find themselves out on the street as well.

Who will arise on our side to beat the Messiah? There will be tremendous dangers and great opportunities for conservative radio talkers, cable yappers, bloggers and pundits. New GOP heroes will emerge.

Should be fun to watch.

faraway on January 8, 2008 at 1:43 PM

I’ll take Obama. Don’t see any Republican running who can beat that tsunami.

Besides, it should spell finis to the Clintons. Oops. Maybe I should knock wood.

Sloan Morganstern on January 8, 2008 at 1:43 PM

First to compliment the Photoshop!

Photoshop?

MBFlyerfan on January 8, 2008 at 1:45 PM

A wounded, cornered Clinton is a deadly Clinton. Obambi, keep an eye on the skies.

So true….

VIDEO: BILL FURY AT OBAMA: ‘THIS WHOLE THING IS THE BIGGEST FAIRY TALE I HAVE EVER SEEN’…

Brat on January 8, 2008 at 1:45 PM

LOL! Great photoshop. Awesome. Begala and Carville scare people…if they have a voice then its over, if they run the attack machine then, maybe.

jawbone on January 8, 2008 at 1:46 PM

As Boehner said:

Regarding last night’s Democrat Primary, he tells me he’s rooting for Hillary to win, because …

“There’s nobody that can unite and galvanize Republican voters like Hillary Clinton.”

He also had this to say about last night’s winner, Barack Obama:

“If you look at Barack Obama, he has drug the Democrat candidates way to the Left. If you think Hillary Clinton’s liberal, you have not seen anything until you begin to look at Obama’s record.”

amerpundit on January 8, 2008 at 1:47 PM

I still say Hillary would be easier to beat than Obamassiah.

Agreed. No one gets out the Republicans like Hillary in an election! The odd thing, though, is that as polarizing as Hillary can be, The Big O is probably more leftist than she is.

mattyj86 on January 8, 2008 at 1:47 PM

Wow! That “uncommitted” coallition in Michigan is fantastic. If HRC loses to “none of the above” she may redefine meltdown.

FOURTH LOOK AT SYMPATHY FOR HILLARY!

12thman on January 8, 2008 at 1:47 PM

Bubba is whining and slobbering while Hillary is crying and pouting, and now they’re gathering the entire slimy gaggle from Bill’s past. Watch your backs people.

rplat on January 8, 2008 at 1:47 PM

Those guys are washed up…That’s the best she could do?

therightwinger on January 8, 2008 at 1:48 PM

WHY ARE YOU USING AN UGLY PICTURE OF FRED THOMPSON ON THIS ARTICLE ABOUT HILLARY?

see-dubya on January 8, 2008 at 1:48 PM

Sadly, as much as I like to see a Clinton crash and burn, having her as the Dem. nominee was our best chance at winning a Rep. presidency. Not that I’m sure I’d even want a Rep. presidency if it meant Huckabee was the one in charge.

Mercutio on January 8, 2008 at 1:49 PM

Cynical Bold Prediction of the Day: Tomorrow, Hills makes “surprise” visit to tornado ravaged northern Illinois.

and… Drudge reports precincts running out of ballots. Can anyone say “disenfranchisement” or “voter suppression.”

Naaaaaaaah!!

cherokeejeff on January 8, 2008 at 1:49 PM

I think she might be easier to beat than Obama (she is so incredibly and unlikeable… even Dems aren’t juiced about her), except that his pastor and church are so virulently anti-white… really racist. So if that gets the press it deserves (any perception of racism from a GOP would mean their career is dead), than people might turn against him. I couldn’t believe how nasty and mean his pastor was until I heard him on Hannity and read the full transcript.

But as it stands now, people WANT to believe that Obama is the fresh faced Dem saviour who will ride to election victory because they want the Presidency back and so his vast array of shortcomings are willfully ignored.

linlithgow on January 8, 2008 at 1:49 PM

Another RINO as president and the end of the Clintons, or the Messiah taking office and the possibility of the resurgence or destruction of conservatism. It will be very exciting to watch.

MyImamToldMeToDoIt on January 8, 2008 at 1:51 PM

I hope Hillary’s attacks wound her prey before she goes down.

Conservative blogs better start revving up the Anti-Obama fever. Shouldn’t be hard to get people excited about a Muslim/Atheist/Black-separatist leftist.

faraway on January 8, 2008 at 1:52 PM

Ya’all do remember that the real, unspoken reason why the primaries were moved up in the first place was the democrat belief in Hillary’s inevitability?

They were thinking the campaign would steamroll all the other candidates, and the nomination would be a fait accompli by mid February.

rockhauler on January 8, 2008 at 1:52 PM

I think Obama is somewhat vulnerable. Read this timeline.
http://www.freedomsenemies.com/_more/obama.htm

ninjapirate on January 8, 2008 at 1:52 PM

Among the Republicans, I think McCain is probably the only one who stands a decent chance of beating Obama. I don’t think even Fred could take him down. Imagine an MLK-esque persona versus Fred’s “I look/act like I only get 3 hours of sleep daily” persona. Then again, I was never really optimistic about this election for the Republicans. I think we all know which way it’s gonna go, on the bright side it will give Republicans 4 years to rebuild the party, weed out people with mentalities like Huck or even Bush, and come back stronger.

mattyj86 on January 8, 2008 at 1:52 PM

Great Carville image! His lines are so tired and worn. And so easy to mimic a la Rush. Regarding Hillary as a cornered lioness, yes, quite true. She’s vicious when she’s in front, doubly so when she’s down and wounded. Best not to turn our backs on her. It might be a painful mistake. Try to make nice with her and it’s “SNARL!, SLASH!” Ouch. Beware that blond tabby!

Roger Brown on January 8, 2008 at 1:53 PM

It could be down to Huck vs. Obama. Christ vs. the Anti-Christ :)

faraway on January 8, 2008 at 1:55 PM

That photoshop kicks ass! Can I save it in my hard drive for those days where I need a good giggle?

Pulchritudinous Patriot on January 8, 2008 at 1:56 PM

Have you been fishing through Mary Matalin’s photo albums? Gollum!

Hendo on January 8, 2008 at 1:57 PM

Wow, I’ll never watch LOTR now without thinking of Carville. Man, he’s a wierd looking dude.

Geronimo on January 8, 2008 at 2:02 PM

Oh my heavens!!! Say it isn’t so. Mandy Grunwald is actually coming back????? I had not thought of this shrill woman since the 1992 Gennifer Flowers incident. Grunwald reminds me of the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz who so frightens Dorothy (“I’ll get you my little pretty”.) Mandy Grunwald was assigned in ’92 to go Nightline and to destroy Gennifer Flowers. With a pitiable Ted Koppel as her foil, she kept repeating the phrases ” trash for cash” and “tabloid trash”. Grunwald manhandled Koppel and the rest of the MSM fell into lockstep with the Clinton story. Years later, when Clinton fessed up that he indeed had a physical relationship with Gennifer Flowers, Mandy Grunwald was nowhere to be found. And Hillary Clinton, who had to know about the liason, never apologized either. Of course, nobody in the MSM will ever ask Hillary or Mandy about how they destroyed Gennifer Flowers.
BTW, when Barry Manilow sang his classic hit “Mandy”, I doubt he had Ms. Grunwald in mind.

Larraby on January 8, 2008 at 2:03 PM

An appropriate photoshop indeed, precious. He really looks like Smeagol’s long lost brother :)

AlexB on January 8, 2008 at 2:03 PM

Going on the attack against Obama seems pretty risky. There seems to be a real surge of genuine support and enthusiasm from Democrats for Obama. Getting nasty might backfire.

Slublog on January 8, 2008 at 1:36 PM

Nasty is one thing, but saving the party and the country from a guy who’s not ready for the job and is trying to ride to the presidency on a can’t-we-all-get-along far left Trojan Horse is something else again.

Unfortunately for Hill, she and the party are also too far to the left of her triangulatin’ husband for her to create much space, and the polls seem right now to go against the electability argument. So, I’m not sure if it’s possible for her to resurrect a will-to-win left-centrism of the sort that Bill ran on when her party seemed to off the cliff of dementia long ago, but, if anyone can do it, the Carvilles and Begalas of the world are cynical enough to try it, and the party heavyweights may – MAY – realize that Democrats haven’t done very well in the past when they’ve smoked what Obama’s currently dealing.

The Rs may also help Hillary if they turn enough of their fire away from each other and onto the Obama threat, exposing him and his record effectively enough to lower his electability numbers. Bringing them down may be the real key to any potential Hillary comeback.

CK MacLeod on January 8, 2008 at 2:10 PM

NICE photoshop. I can appreciate those :P

cry havoc on January 8, 2008 at 2:15 PM

Good grief, that picture is gonna give me nightmares.

jewells45 on January 8, 2008 at 2:19 PM

Dear God! How`d you find that picture of him with his shirt off?

ThePrez on January 8, 2008 at 2:20 PM

Even a legend in his own mind like Carville has to be looking at the shambles the Hillary campaign is in now and getting ready to run like a bat out of hell in the opposite direction if she so much as asks for his help. The guy may be a rabid liberal loon, but he’s not stupid.

pilamaye on January 8, 2008 at 2:20 PM

Ole serpent head never looked better.

labrat on January 8, 2008 at 2:23 PM

ninjapirate-

Interesting site…

Someone yesterday pointed out a thread they had commented at a site -can you believe this? – called Republicans for Obama.

Republicans for Obama?!?!? How can ANYONE who is a Republican support him? He is for more government everything, higher taxes, blame the rich/corporations, has flirted with Marxism… Has someone put something in the water? Is it because he’s got a big smile and isn’t Hillary?!?! I DON’T GET IT.

I’ve read interviews where people say he is hopeful. He is? Seems like he spends an awful lot of time trashing the country as it is, and ‘hope’ will only come if he is elected and turns us around on our ear and into a socialist utopia. That’s not hope, it’s a death sentence for all that is good and great about America.

linlithgow on January 8, 2008 at 2:23 PM

btw TPM has spoken to carville who denies he is returning

zane on January 8, 2008 at 1:34 PM

Rule #1: He’s a Clintonista
Rule #2: Must parse words

Carville could be saying …..

1. I never officially left.
2. He is denying he IS returning, because at that moment in time when he was asked, he wasn’t.
3. He will work from his house, no need to return anywhere.
4. He’s lying.

fogw on January 8, 2008 at 2:25 PM

That photoshop made me throw up a little in my mouth.

Aggie85 on January 8, 2008 at 2:25 PM

I’d rather take a strengthened Hillary than an Obama strengthened by winning the nomination.

MyImamToldMeToDoIt on January 8, 2008 at 1:34 PM

et.al.

I wonder if Osamabama can sustain the attention span of the empty-headed twenty-somethings for eleven months.

davidk on January 8, 2008 at 2:35 PM

This is the man who referred to Paula Jones by saying “This is what happens when you drag a dollar bill through a trailer park.”
It’ll be interesting to watch Hillary resort to even more desperate tactics. Aside from buying her nomination what choices does she have other than fighting dirty? Still, I hope she gets the nomination.

Dork B. on January 8, 2008 at 2:46 PM

To quote the great Indiana Jones:

“Now you’re gettin’ nasty…”

Always Right on January 8, 2008 at 2:52 PM

Perfect tagline for Hill’s new team:

It’s the 1992 election, stupid!

Always Right on January 8, 2008 at 2:54 PM

Looks like I’m not the only one that Gulum reminds of Carville except Gulum doesn’t spit when he speaks, as much.

Speakup on January 8, 2008 at 2:55 PM

Has Carville had some work done? Maybe some Botox and plugs?

jl on January 8, 2008 at 3:33 PM

Once again, Clinton Inc. is building on that momentum from 1996.

regal on January 8, 2008 at 3:35 PM

Hillary’s popularity was highest when she was viewed as the victim of Bill’s cheating. So the solution to her current electoral problem is obvious.

Monica, your country needs you!

jl on January 8, 2008 at 3:38 PM

More and more I’m thinking that a Democratic win is not going to be a completely negative thing, at least not in the long term. While the repercussions are potentially very significant, a Dem. win will mean the Democrats will be forced into a position where they actually have to take responsibility, rather than just complaining and griping about what that evil Bush and Co are doing without ever actually trying to seriously deal with actual issues.

jasnell on January 8, 2008 at 3:55 PM

That’s a great photoshop.

Let’s hope we’re seeing the end of the Clinton dynasty. I’m glad to see it’s the Democrats who seem to be giving her her walking papers because she didn’t expect it from them.

No more hippies for president!

deewhybee on January 8, 2008 at 4:55 PM

I like James Carville. I think he’s cute

Richard Bushnell on January 8, 2008 at 4:56 PM

Ah, perfect. Heckyl and Jekyll are back…

eanax on January 8, 2008 at 6:04 PM

Smeagol, HA! You guys always have the perfect pictures.

Bladerunner1701 on January 8, 2008 at 6:37 PM

if anyone can push clinton into the white house it’s carville

devadevadasa on January 8, 2008 at 6:51 PM

Is that Carville’s baby photo?

He looks so young and innocent

entagor on January 8, 2008 at 7:11 PM

If the face fits, wear it.

Woody

woodcdi on January 8, 2008 at 7:25 PM

Obambi

You’re killing me…I haven’t laughed so hard since the Dean screech.

Big Daddy Cool on January 8, 2008 at 8:10 PM

If I were Obama, I’d stay away from Marcy Park. Far away.

4Bear on January 8, 2008 at 10:33 PM

It is easier to remember the names of her underground staff when you are able to associate their names with their most notable trait.

Therefore, using the following will help us remember their names as we watch their influence shape Clinton’s campaign.

Cue Ball Carvill. Always breaks the rack

Footsy Podesta. Stoops to new lows to sell the message to anyone that will listen

Gerogie Porgy Snuggalaughatus. The boy wonder who wonders what is real and what is fantasy.

Buygolly Bugolla. The only used car salesman that can sell a Pinto to a former Corvair owner.

MSGTAS on January 9, 2008 at 9:14 AM