Billification and Other Bad Ideas

On Saturday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Bill Clinton has taken a larger role in his wife's campaign, and is now serving as a de facto chief strategist. For Hillary and much of the media, such a move makes quite a bit of sense. For more than a decade, the press has taken to describing Bill as the greatest political strategist in the party. Through much of 2007, the Clinton campaign was constantly lauded, not just for its commanding style, but for having Bill on the team, the kind of asset that would make Hillary an unstoppable juggernaut.

But Bill Clinton is not now, nor has he ever been, a particularly impressive political strategist. Few would dispute the depth of his skills as a politician; but the chasm between politician and political strategist is wide, and one he has consistently failed to bridge. Isiah Thomas was an extraordinarily gifted basketball player, and has gone on to be one of the worst basketball coaches the NBA has ever seen. Bill Clinton is to politics what Isiah Thomas is to basketball. He can hit the political jumper, but he cannot call the plays.

Still, the Clinton campaign has allowed Bill to make decision after decision and long ago lost the ability to prevent him from straying off message. So much of what has plagued the Clinton campaign has been the direct result of Bill's actions. In the run-up to the South Carolina primary, Bill injected race into the campaign, trying to marginalize Obama by making an unprompted comparison to Jesse Jackson's presidential runs. That decision solidified the black vote behind Obama, who usually enjoys as much of 90% of their support. Even more damaging, a new Newsweek poll has Hillary winning a mere 59% of the black vote against John McCain, a number that would make Hillary's ascension to the presidency impossible.

While in South Carolina, Bill also introduced the notion that he could not be controlled, that Hillary was either willing to have him campaign as an equal, or powerless to stop him. Bill Clinton as senior counselor was one thing; Bill Clinton as co-president was quite another.

He has also demonstrated, on more than one occasion, that the brand of politics he mastered is far different than the technologically driven political landscape that now exists. He has repeatedly contradicted himself on the campaign trail, seemingly unaware of the impact of YouTube. Just last week, he was recorded saying that Obama had played the race card against him, only to deny having said it the following day.

The Wall Street Journal also reports that it is Bill that is and has been pushing Hillary to step up her attacks against Obama, attacks that have done little to derail the Obama campaign; they have instead driven Hillary's negatives up and her trustworthiness down. And as Bill continues to be Hillary's most aggressive attack dog, he has shed the statesman persona that he worked so hard to cultivate in the years of his post-presidency, permanently scarring his legacy.

Perhaps worst of all, it was Bill Clinton who suggested Mark Penn, one of his closest advisors, to head up his wife's campaign. That Bill viewed the 2008 contest as a microtrend race, and that he suspected an unsavory pollster with no experience running a presidential campaign should be in charge, is evidence enough that Bill's grasp on political strategy is tentative at best.

At this point, the Clinton campaign is long over, existing now only on fumes and denial. To that end, whether Bill takes a more central role in the campaign or not will have little impact on the outcome of the race. It is, however, yet another example of poor decision-making by a woman who is vying to be the chief decision maker.

Bill Clinton does not deserve a promotion. He deserves to be fired.

Comments

[mesuki]

I hate those damn Clintons!....trying to appear as though they really care about the poor. The Clintons care about themselves, but they've managed to fool people that are too blind to see them for what they are.

[Janelynne]

So much for honest dialogue.

[rdkrauss]

There is one other obvious point of comparison between Bill Clinton and Isiah Thomas....

They both like to touch women that they're not supposed to touch. Both have found themselves in some trouble for such behavior.

[wrabbitt]

Just for the record Monday is Do not drive day in support of the trucking industry! Everything comes by truck, we need to show our support, its only 24 hours, otherwise don't complain and shut up!

[katefranklin]

To bolster the Isiah Thomas analogy, let's talk Phil Jackson. He was a below average to mediocre player, but is regarded by many as the *best* NBA coach. Ever. David Axelrod is Phil Jackson to Bill Clinton's Isiah.

[Janelynne]

The only people left reading, is the choir you have been directing. The anti-Clinton vitriole is an exercise in creative writing. Bill Clinton is not running for President. If you don't think Hillary has the chops to be the next President of the United States, then maybe you should enumerate the reasons why. Apparently this is very difficult for you, so that you have resorted to the type of yellow journalism that creates false premises then shoots them down.

I am struck your style that that mimics perfectly the GOP machine. They can't compete with ideas either, and can only find comfort in false dialogue and side shows. You may say you are progressive, but you don't think or comport yourselves as Democrats.

[michiganfan]

"If you don't think Hillary has the chops to be the next President of the United States, then maybe you should enumerate the reasons why."

Maybe he doesn't because the reasons why she doesn't have it are too numerous, and too obvious to anyone who has been paying attention, to waste his time stating them again.

[Amberlass]

She has what it takes to be president - the polls are in her favor. What's your problem?

[standforpeace]

Another great post. Watching Bill's interactions with the press, I have often wondered whether he was subconsciously trying to sink Hillary. Then I just thought about how much ego anyone must have to run for president (which requires believing that you are uniquely qualified to lead a nation of over 300 million). I don't think that the ego that drove Bill to run all those years ago is allowing him to sit back and play second fiddle to his wife now. Whenever, it looks like she is on top of things, he seems to be compelled to step into the limelight by making an ass of himself. If his actions weren't so destructive of the Democratic party's chances in November, they would merely be sad.

[AJH]

I think you fail to comprehend the beauty of what bill has done for his wife in this race. By south carolina it was apparent who the votes hillary and obama were going to fight over. White blue collar males.

The question then became how to win the blue collar whites. Heading into south carolina a race his wife was guaranteed to lose, Bill got to raise the race card. This mattered in terms of marginalizing the perception of her defeat, as well as allowed the campaign to enter the race card into the picture. Once entered into the picture it then became fair game conversation for pundits. But how to do that without looking like it was the Clinton Campaign and minimizing damage. You use the "First Black President" and you dissasscoiate him from the campaign so it looks like it isn't the campaigns position. You've swallowed that last part hook line and sinker. Now women offended by hillary's victimization in monicagate again feel Bill is victimizing her strenthening their support.

The campaign has now strengthened it's support with women, Set bill up to be a rogue attack dog, and marginalized perception of Obama's wins. Fast forward a bit and they succeed in casting him as both an ivory tower elitist and a black vote candidiate two things white males might not like.

Now, Hillary is no longer the establishment elite candidate. Sure they offended the college educated whites and blacks but they had already written that vote off.

[KaraMiaa]

I have a question, because I really don't know so much politics as all of you do on this blog. Can Hillary pick Bill as her VP?

[Dylan Loewe - Huffpost Blogger]

Constitutional scholars generally believe the answer to be no, but it's up for some interpretation.

The 25th amendment governs the line of succession, and it's allowable to have someone in the line of succession who is not eligible for the presidency. (i.e. Henry Kissinger, Madeline Albright).

However, the Vice Presidency is also governed by Article II of the Constitution, which requires that the Vice President have the capacity to take over the presidency in the event of the president's death.

So short answer.... probably, No. And in reality, she would never do that.

[KaraMiaa]

thankyou for explaining it.

[MaureenSharkey]

The Clintons know how to win.

I still don't see anything negative about either of the Clintons.

If Dean doesn't screw up this election prosses further, I will thoroughly enjoy the Clintons in the White House, once again.

They are good people, and for you.

Try to see that. And enjoy them.

Look, Hillary on one hand---Val­edictorian­, PHd type, with 8 years experience as Vice Pres, also in Gov's Mansion for years, also two time Senator---­-aginst---­on the other hand----Obama---a Freshman.

Come on! These are serious, complicated times! We can't have a freshman in there now!

[Pigliacci]

As much as she'd like it otherwise the First Lady is not VP. (Al Gore had that job.) What is a PhD type? She's not a PhD. She was also First Lady of Arkansas. So in reality her experience advantage comes down to having a few more years in the U.S. Senate. And Obama at least held elective state office for years before his Senate run.

Either of these people would do a better job than McBush. But the race is over. Obama won.

[Amberlass]

You better take another look at the polls. She is favored over McCain to win - McCain is favored over Obama to win.

We have serious problems in the United States with our economy and Bill Clinton had a proven track record. He ran on the campaign slogan "its the economy stupid" and when he got in office he fixed the economy.

[JohnDewey]

You're not my mother, my pastor, my doctor or my psychiatrist, so you have no right or basis on which to tell me what's good for me.

You may be a psychic or a fortune teller but you haven't proved it, so you have no way of knowing who will or will not make a good President, apart from the same subjective criteria that I'm quite capable of judging for myself.

In short, I have no need to, "try to see," your biased opinion as though it were fact.

P.S. We're always in, "serious, complicated times." I don't think the Revolutionary War, institutionalized slavery, the Civil War, the First, Second or Cold Wars or Vietnam, etcetera were an uncomplicated cakewalk.

[indieminded]

Maureen, I admire your passion and commitment to your candidate. None of the current presidential hopefuls are perfect. That said, how can you possibly see nothing at all negative about either of the Clintons? It makes me suspect you haven't taken a very close look .....

[KnoxBlues1]

Wasn't Lincoln a "freshman" one-term Congressman when he became President? Pretty "complicated times" back then, too.

[S1m0n]

Hillary's campaign has only two planks: Bill's record and her gender. Of course he's going to insist on being up front in it.

[OtayPanky]

If we can't have Mark "Mr. Microtrends" Penn steering the good ship Hillary, then who better than Bill "I don't have to put up with this shit" Clinton.

[Camel54]

Besides, if anyone thinks the Republicans will hesitate to bring up Bill's sex life where the Obama campaign and surrogates have resisted, they are crazy. Obama is being attacked for being the member of a church where the pastor said some unsavory things. Do you think Hillary won't be asked why she didn't get up and leave a man who not only humiliated and betrayed her but but also the Oval Office and the presidency. Do you think she agreed any more with what Bill did than Obama agreed with his pastor? Bill hasn't even begun to be an issue in this race if Hillary is given the nomination. What about possible relationships Bill has had since the White House? Doesn't matter if they're real or not. Keep in mind, he's been proven guilty once so all it takes is the accusation. Then comes the questions, did Hillary know? How long has she known? Why did she stay with him? Was it for her own personal gain in running for the White House? These things only scratch the surface and they will do far worse than what could be done to Obama. Are you kidding, this is like the entire right being given a second chance to really do the Clintons in. All the things they've thought in the years since, "Oh, you know what we should have done..." They'll all be there.

[EngineerBill]

I have never understood why Bill Clinton Is considered such a great politician. Consider...
1. If it wasn't for Ross Perot entering and re-entering the race, He would have lost to a guy who had the economy severely tank on his watch.
2. People make so much of "Bittergate" we forget about Geniffer Flowers and the "I didn't inhale" comment.
3. He entered the presidency with his office and both houses of congress controlled by the democratic party, he left office with the Repups controlling it all
If that is the record of a brilliant politician what would a failure look like?

[bluff]

The Clintons are indeed a pair. Bill puts an abysmally uninformed, unqualified Hillary in charge of health-care, who recently said of that 'event' that she is still scarred by it. She's scarred by it? How about the other 300 million of us, Hillary.

Now Hillary puts Bill in charge of her campaign. She'll lose. Bill will have managed to scar Obama to the point where McCain will walk away with the election. And the other 300 million of us after 8 more years of Republican rape and pillage? Probably in the third world, but hey, Hillary and Bill will be up and running in 2016. Mission accomplished.