Political Jujitsu: Clinton and Obama Duke it Out.

Political jujitsu at its best.

You take the opponent's best issue and flip it. . When you see the force coming at you, you redirect your opponent's momentum. His best issues are heartbreakingly turned against him. It takes the wind out of a campaign.

Obama's ambivalence about playing the political game has given the Clinton's the chance to successfully upend his message.

They have used the strength of his persona and his core themes --- that he is above politics; that he is educated, articulate, thoughtful; that he is a transformational figure --- against him.

When Obama says "I don't play those games"...

When Obama talks about being above politics...

The Clintonistas hiss: he thinks he is above you, he thinks he is better than you.

The Clinton image mongers are trying to paint Obama as an unelectable Adlai Stevenson or George McGovern.

Clearly the Clinton campaign has been patiently waiting for such a character revealing gaffe from a starry-eyed political novice...... but this shrewd manuevering may have come too late to do her much good. In the next few days, the polls will surely show a big uptick for the comeback kid.

But she needs something more..

In 2004 The Republicans crippled John Kerry by discrediting his strengths ---his patriotism, Catholicism, character and well-documented war hero record --- with innuendos and falsehoods --- a classic Rovian Republican tactic.

If Hillary doesn't get him first, McCain may finish the job.

Write: [e-mail]

Follow Blake Fleetwood on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Blakefleet

Comments

[Gibbons]

When I first heard "the little black man with the funny name" at the 2004 democratic convention I called my sister, another political junkie and told her if he can get some experience behind him we have another two term president coming in about twelve years. He still needs that experience he understands Illinois politics and he understands people in his wage bracket but his attempt to explain the remarks about the working class white people demonstrated he knows absolutely nothing about a large segment of the United States of America. Some of his surrogates seem to think he can turn the red states blue it won't happen he needs two of the three swing states Ohio, Florida or Pennsylvania he might get Ohio but that is doubtful He has alienated Florida by not wanting their votes counted and we all know that if the results had been in his favor his and Clinton's take on that would be reversed.

[jbd]

The Clintons lie and think nothing of it. We've had a lier in the White House now for 15 years and 4 months. Obama would be a nice change. Hillary tried to destroy women who were harassed by her pantload husband. Why are women voting for her?

[whillice]

For Political Junkies, it doesn't get any better than this?

Actually, this reminds me of the 2002 Baseball All Star Game. It went on FOREVER and ended with a tie. It was NOT a good baseball game, it was tedious and the outcome was frustrating to fans everywhere. This is much the same.

A long, drawn out process does not for interesting political fodder make. In depth policy discussions? The pros and cons of different issue positions? Competing visions for the future of the country? Campaigns hitting each other HARD on the issues that matter to voters? That's good politics. This is either a tragedy.....or a farce.

[grendl]

Your point, is well taken, if not unoriginal.

Fights for the presidency are our national bloodsport, our Roman Coliseum, and for Barack Obama to say he's above facing the lions, or hellcat that Hillary Clinton is starts to smack of cowardice.

He's great when he's had time to do his homework, preparing meticulously his speeches but in a debate he's been like a deer caught in the headlights of the Hillary Express. We want to see our commander in chief able to debate, and come up with great comebacks and quips.

There's a cautiousness about Mr. Obama that is at time frustrating, as he pulls his punches when attacked, so as to seem thoughtful. The GOP isn't going to allow such time for contemplation. And the real problem is, whenever Barack says he'd rather talk about the issues, he hasn't said all that much about them. We know, he'll get us out of Iraq, but how?

Right now it's like a choice between the Cowardly Lion, and the Wicker Witch of the West Wing. It would be nice to see Barack stand up and show some courage for once, but he seems to be buckling under the weight of too much expectation.

[Gibbons]

Is this really you grendl or is someone impersonating you?

[LeeinJax]

When you say "it doesn't get any better than this" for political junkies, you presume political junkies have no conscience or interest in the outcomes involved.

Our political process has become as relevant to selecting the most qualified leader of our country as any one of the ubiquitious mating-as-gameshow-contest television programs is to building an enduring relationship.

I believe the lust for the competition, the show, the gossip, the soap opera, and the razzle dazzle has usurped our greater interest in competent, talented, much-needed leadership.

[fairwitness]

We all knew it would come to this--this is American media culture in 2008, after all. Anything goes, the dogs are loose, the lowest common denominator rules. George Bush found himself the President, for Christ's sake!

It is a miracle that anyone remotely like Obama made it to this point, and it will be a further stupendous miracle if he manages to be heard through the cacophany of crap by the small minds in this country enough to actually become the nominee, and the hope that someone like him might make it to the top and really begin to raise this country up is, really, so unlikely as to be lottery-level delusion.

But sometimes in history quantum leaps are actually made by cultures and no one can explain them--maybe this is one of those times. It would be rather timely, I'd say.