Bambi decides now is the time to get tough:
President Barack Obama plans a combative response if, as White House aides fear, Democrats lose Tuesday’s special Senate election in Massachusetts, close advisers say.
“This is not a moment that causes the president or anybody who works for him to express any doubt,” a senior administration official said. “It more reinforces the conviction to fight hard.”
Reinforces the conviction to fight hard? You mean there's been conviction in the past? Really? When?
“The response will not be to do incremental things and try to salvage a few seats in the fall,” a presidential adviser said. “The best political route also happens to be the boldest rhetorical route, which is to go out and fight and let the chips fall where they may. We can say, ‘At least we fought for these things, and the Republicans said no.’”
OK. Be sure to give us a heads up when the whole "fight hard" thingy develops, because I, for one, will not be holding my breath on this promise. When I hear White House stooges talking about bold rhetorical routes, I can't help but note that Bambi hasn't stopped talking since he arrived in Washington...
A reluctance to run his mouth is not at the top of Bambi's list of failures.
Amazingly, the White House's response gets even more clueless:
But the president’s advisers plan to spin it [the Massachusettes fiasco] as a validation of the underdog arguments that fueled Obama’s insurgent candidacy.
“The painstaking campaign for change over two years in 2007 and 2008 has become a painstaking effort in the White House, too,” the official said. “The old habits of Washington aren’t going away easy.”
The White House rallying cry, according to one Obama confidant, will be, “Buckle up — let’s get some stuff done.”
You've got to be joking me. The President of the United States, which majorities in the Senate and the House of Representatives playing underdog? To whom?
Well, how about Wall Street:
Reflecting his new tone, Obama last week announced a new fee on big banks by vowing, “We want our money back, and we’re going to get it.”. At a House Democratic retreat a few hours later, he said leaders need to be “fighting for the American people with the same sense of urgency that they feel in their own lives.”
In his weekly address on Saturday, he declared: “We’re not going to let Wall Street take the money and run.” Saluting Martin Luther King Jr. in remarks to a Baptist congregation the next day, Obama railed against “an era of greed and irresponsibility that sowed the seeds of its own demise.”
At the rally for Coakley, he added: “Bankers don’t need another vote in the United States Senate. They’ve got plenty.”
Gee, Bambi ragging on the bankers. There's something new. And different. Sure as shit haven't heard that before, have we?
I remain unsold...
But wait!
Still not convinced?
If you place your order for your Fightin' Barack Obama in the next 15 minutes, you'll get the hard fighting, the bold rhetorical route, the underdog thingy, the new tone as well as the new and improved ragging on bankers ploy... Plus, as our gift to you:
White House senior adviser David Axelrod told reporters that Democrats will not allow the midterm elections to become “a referendum on this administration” but, instead, will force Republicans to defend the role they have played in the economic crisis.
That's right, you'll get the Obama full-fledged, never-ending "It's all Bush's fault" whine at no extra charge!
Just pay shipping and handling.
Republicans everywhere: Be afraid. Be very afraid.
If this year keeps on playing out this way, I'm pretty sure I'll be in constant ecstasy for the months of November and December, watching Dems runnily shit themselves.
On the other hand, I doubt the GOP will have much in the way of new ideas. So that tempers my glee. Still...
Posted by: David | January 18, 2010 at 10:22 PM
p.s. Dennis, can we make this the official DtP Brown-Coakley predictions thread? I say that enough Massholes stay on the plantation to give the bitch a narrow victory. I hope I'm wrong.
What say you?
Posted by: David | January 18, 2010 at 10:27 PM
Given the brain trust that is the Republican Party these days, a lack of ideas might be a blessing in disguise. Do you really want to come face to face with a "good idea" from the likes of Mitch McConnell?
Posted by: Dennis The Peasant | January 18, 2010 at 10:27 PM
If I were a Republican, I would be trembling in my boots. No, really.
Posted by: Randy Rager | January 18, 2010 at 11:09 PM
Hedging on your prediction?
Posted by: David | January 18, 2010 at 11:14 PM
The one thing polls cannot predict is turnout, so any guess about the results are just that, a guess. I suspect Brown will win, largely because his legions are appear motivated and Coakley's do not. Obama's visit doesn't seem to have done much to stem the tide, that's for sure.
My guess is Brown by 6.
In any event, if Coakley doesn't win by at least 10, and there seems no way she can win by that margin, this race sends a message Democrats ignore at their peril.
Posted by: Dennis The Peasant | January 18, 2010 at 11:36 PM
1. Playing underdog to the white middle class majority.
V/R JWest
Posted by: J West | January 19, 2010 at 07:39 AM
Ah, now there's a winning strategy.
Posted by: Dennis The Peasant | January 19, 2010 at 08:56 AM
Well, it won him the presidential election. Why not try it again? That majority thing doesn't seem to be working out so well.
Posted by: Eric Blair | January 19, 2010 at 10:19 AM
Does Combative Bambie come with the Authentic Kung Fu Action Grip? Because if he's going to try jerking the whole country around single-handedly for the next three years he's gonna need a firm hand...
Posted by: richard mcenroe | January 19, 2010 at 11:03 AM
A whip hand?
Posted by: DocSavage | January 19, 2010 at 12:34 PM
I say turnout will be fine - at least for truck driving Massholes who will have no problem with the snow.
Posted by: Tim | January 19, 2010 at 01:06 PM
Are we still trembling?
Posted by: richard mcenroe | January 19, 2010 at 11:53 PM