Bill Clinton could soon be an unusually important (private) Adviser [View All]

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

I have always felt that Bill Clinton is a freakishly good political fighter. (How else does such a flawed person win all those elections?)

Clinton could never be a transformative figure because his skills lie in reaction. He's a politician, not a movement leader.

Obama acts in a remarkably clear, organized, smart way but doesn't react very quickly or surely.

Clinton seems to create crisis and confusion because in that environment he is sure his skills are better. (Like the stock movie blind person turning out the lights to gain the advantage over an intruder.)

Whether pugs take nominal control of either house of congress or not it is sure that they will effectively control the agenda. They will be the ones acting.

Bill Clinton's finest hour was gaining the upper hand in public opinion in the early show-downs with Newt Gingrich. It was also when he was engaged in shenanigans in the oval office with Ms. Lewinsky. Not a disciplined man... but obviously brilliant at reacting to adversity.

Obama is going to have to demonize and humiliate the Republicans at every turn. Any opening... even if it's petty or unfair or poisons the well for all that bipartisanship of the future.

He is going to have to be willing that people think poorly of him as long as they think even more poorly of the other side. (If Obama has a tragic flaw it is vanity.)

Can we regain the initiative form the pugs?

Perhaps.

How?

Nobody knows yet. We cannot draw up a diagram. We will be reacting to what they do.

And however it turns out it will not be pretty along the way.