Team Clinton: Down, and Out of Touch

Washington Post ^ | February 26, 2008 | Dana Milbank

[kingattax]

They are in the last throes, if you will.

As Vice President Cheney knows, such predictions can be perilous. Still, there was no mistaking a certain flailing, a lashing-out, as two Clinton advisers sat down for a bacon-and-eggs session yesterday at the St. Regis Hotel.

The Christian Science Monitor had assembled the ¿minences grises of the Washington press corps -- among them David Broder of The Post, Maureen Dowd of the New York Times and columnist Mark Shields -- for what turned out to be a fascinating tour of an alternate universe.

First came Harold Ickes, who gave a presentation about Hillary Rodham Clinton's prospects that severed all ties with reality. "We're on the way to locking this nomination down," he said of a candidate who appears, if anything, headed in the other direction.

But before the breakfast crowd had a chance to digest that, they were served another, stranger course by Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer. Asked about an accusation on the Drudge Report that Clinton staffers had circulated a photo of Barack Obama wearing Somali tribal dress, Singer let 'er rip.

"I find it interesting that in a room of such esteemed journalists that Mr. Drudge has become your respected assignment editor," he lectured. "I find it to be a reflection of one of the problems that's gone on with the overall coverage of this campaign." He went on to chide the journalists for their "woefully inadequate" coverage of Obama, "a point that has been certainly backed up by the 'Saturday Night Live' skit that opened the show this past Saturday evening, which I would refer you all to."

[spokeshave]

There is a theorem in cybernetics that states that there is a finite amount of Shardenfreude in the universe.

It appears that this has almost been used up.

[LibFreeOrDie]

It’s supposed to be “éminence grise”, but the accent got messed up in HTML. French for experienced power players/advisors. Grise = gray.

[what's up]

"a point that has been certainly backed up by the 'Saturday Night Live' skit that opened the show this past Saturday evening, which I would refer you all to."

How juvenile can they get?

[nukecheese]

Hillary’s “Outraged” Tour 2008 continues into the week before Texas and Ohio show her the door once more. As Novak says who has the courage to “bell the cat?” The crowds are sparse for Hill and Bill to rant their message. but the news media don’t want this to end quite yet. Jerry Ferraro needs to gain the courage of the New York delegation and tell Hill to shut up. Her adoring crowds, all fifteen of them cheer madly, take their state provided medications and go back to sleep

[Judith Anne]

Gee, all that money for consultants, donuts, and deli sandwiches, and this is what she has to show for it?

Oh well, it's not like the bills are actually paid yet. And no tips--remember that--they probably saved a bundle right there.

[beaversmom]

I didn’t get that reference either.

[DoughtyOne]

Ears are too small, but other than that it’s priceless. ;-)

[DoughtyOne]

Well, you two are not alone. That was bazaar.

[beaversmom]

...it will read something like “The Bunker”

That's exactly what I was thinking. Good analogy.

[EEDUDE]

“What the F-— does “¿minences grises” mean?”

Oh my, was you education ever lacking! Where did you go to school son?

Actually I think it means their spell checker had a stroke.

[upchuck]

Thank you for linking to the print friendly version.

[DoughtyOne]

[MindBender26]

>>>> How juvenile can they get?

They hitched their wagon to a “star” and the star turned out to be a combination of a Red Giant, a White Dwarf and a Black Hole... while the wagon revealed itself to be a farmers’ manure spreader dumping cow plop all over them.

[PhilDragoo]

[Polybius]

What the F--- does "¿minences grises" mean?

That should read

éminence grises

meaning "gray eminence".

It is a French expression meaning a behind the scenes power that wields its power without an official position. For example, the MSM has de facto control over the minds of the American Sheeple although nobody has officially given them that power.

So, ummm, what exactly is a F--- ? ;-)

[holden]

"If we lose in Texas and Ohio, Mrs. Clinton will have to make her decisions as to whether she goes forward or not"

...with the Fort Marcy Park plan.

HF

[TheMole]

If that is a straight question, éminence grise is French for gray eminence, which means respected wise elder, and is typically applied to veteran advisors of a politician (or other executive). Now these Dem hacks are indeed veterans, although they don't seem to be very wise. As for gray, I think Grecian 2000 is the average Dem's answer to that. My own take on this situation is similar to Judith Anne's: guys like Ickes are making huge money on the Hillary campaign and they want to stretch the payday as much as they can. Saayyy ... do you think any insiders on the chaotic Hillary bus just might be stealing as much money as they can, just as fast as they can?

[DogandPonyShow]

I’m waiting for the inevitable ‘insider’ book detailing the last days of the Clinton campaign.......

---

He, he, he...I didn’t think of that. Oh man, I usually love those kind of reads. I will be drooling for that one!

[Neanderthal]

Where is the Obama in African dress picture? can’t find it on Drudge.

[DoughtyOne]

Very good.

Ann Lewis
Wanted to say Livingston, but doesn’t sound right
Ickes
Carvile
Begala

Who is the second guy? I’ve forgotton

Ann Lewis is Barfney Frank’s sister.