GOP shill Mark Penn's Politico op-ed pushing the President not to run unless he becomes a Republican

[ProSense]

The big disconnect: D.C. elites think Obama will be reelected, but the public doubts it

By MARK PENN

The midterms not only dealt a big shock to Democrats but also sent a message to President Barack Obama. According to the new POLITICO Power and the People poll, only 26 percent of the public believes he will be reelected as president in 2012.

This difference in expectations could mislead the president if he is listening to the Beltway chatter — right here in D.C., he may just find a lot of comfort in this assessment by insiders, and that may lead to actions that don’t fully adjust for the sea change that has occurred among the general public. (See also Poll: D.C. Sees Midterms Differently)

This big difference can partially be explained by the different ways that the two groups see the economy and the world today. Seventy percent of D.C. elites admit that they have been affected less than the average citizen when it comes to the economic downturn. The elites see the tea party as purely a fad (70 percent). In contrast, those who say that the president will not be reelected see the country as headed in the wrong direction by 82 percent, see the economy as headed in the wrong direction by 81 percent and overwhelmingly want repeal of the health care law at the top of the agenda. The quarter of the public who consider Obama's reelection probable see the economy turning around by nearly 3-to-1. They are the outliers of the electorate, suggesting that the president has a lot more work to do to get back on track for a second term.

<...>

In 1994, President Bill Clinton heard the message loud and clear — he was facing both houses in the hands of the Republican Party, so he moved aggressively to the center and remade his White House and his policies. But not every president is willing to take that kind of aggressive action to change course.

The discontent of the electorate has been pretty clear since Scott Brown of Massachusetts filled the late Sen. Ted Kennedy’s seat with an upset Republican victory. The administration depicted that as an isolated event based on a supposedly weak Democratic campaign and candidate. And so all the way up to the midterms, the president made few policy or personnel changes.

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[MBS]

1. God how I detest Mark Penn

He's the lowest of the low. And also WRONG!

(And he's also wrong, in particular, about Scott Brown election as a bellweather. Brown won in MA because Coakley, in choosing not to campaign (don't get me started. .insert rant here. .), basically gave the election away. A travesty on many levels, with horrible consequences, but, in itself, it's far from a Sign )

[WI_DEM]

2. That is the problem with the Dems--every time they lose an election it's because they are too libera

and need to move to the right. Clinton did it. I argue that what Obama needs to do is stick up for true Democratic party principals and challenge the GOP. Penn, I'm sure, is a closet republican--just like Clinton's other advisor who told him to move right-Dick Morris--was.

[ProSense]

3. Mark Penn is not a Democrat

Labeling him a Republican is being too kind.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

22. Yeah

and every time the Republicans win OR lose an election, the Republicans ALWAYS move (further) to the right. Nobody, however, ever talks about them needing to "move to the center" or *gasp* to the left. :eyes:

[earthside]

4. I, too, dislike Mark Penn.

I think he very poorly served Hillary Clinton two years ago.

However ... since it appears more and more as if Pres. Obama already is what used to be categorized as a 'moderate' Repuglican, his point in this essay may already be moot.

After reading Matt Taibi's last few articles, and realizing that we are not going to see prosecutions of the bankster mortgage fraud from the Obama Justice Department and that Obama looks to "compromise" and give the multimillionaires their tax break extension, well ... if Obama does run again, who can I vote for?

[ProSense]

6. Thanks for adding humor

"However ... since it appears more and more as if Pres. Obama already is what used to be categorized as a 'moderate' Repuglican, his point in this essay may already be moot."

"...if Obama does run again, who can I vote for?"

As the cliche goes, would you consider a real Republican?

[AtomicKitten]

5. MPenn: Vulgar pigboy.

in action ---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtQxyaweiYQ

[MBS]

8. HORRIBLE.

This brings it all back. . :puke: Hideous. I feel like I need to take a shower. :puke:

[AtomicKitten]

12. And he got paid $4.3 million for it. Ugh.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/06/mark-penns-firm-paid-43-m_n_85192.html

[OHdem10]

7. This the beginning of establishing the nexr narrative.

The Elites and Wall Street want a Democratic President
and a Repulican Legislature. This is the way to get
the laws which benefit the elite passed. They think
the people are stupid enough to accept the laws if
a Democratic President puts the seal of approval of
Democratic Party. The people may feel helpless to
do anything about it but they are not stupid. Just
more and more drop out of partcipating. The elites
are going to get what they want. It has been reported
on Business channels through the years that Wall St
likes a Democratic President and Republican Congress.
I wonder why.

[DCKit]

21. Rewriting history on the fly:

Black is White
Up is Down
The World is Flat
This Election was a Mandate

It's a good thing most Teabaggers are illiterate, or this kind of drivel might actually become an issue.

[CreekDog]

9. I hope Hillary didn't pay him

and that he has bedbugs.

[Dinger]

10. Prosense, Why Do You Even Bother With that Rag?

(politico)?

[ProSense]

11. Why bother with the WSJ or WaPo?

Same RW trash.

[Dinger]

13. I Asked You First :)

[ProSense]

14. True, but

it isn't clear why you asked. "Bother(ing)" with Politico has little to do with pointing out Mark Penn's activities.

[Dinger]

17. Maybe It's Just Me, But politico sucks Ass

Why give them the free publicity?

[ProSense]

18. "Why give them the free publicity? "

For the same reason everyone else gives WaPo and the WSJ free publicity.

It's possible to take Politico's reports with a grain of salt without ignoring them. People don't ignore what goes on Fox.

In this case, this is a piece in Mark Penn's own words. The OP is not about Politico, it's about Mark Penn.

In fact, WaPo published Penn's partner Doug Schoen's moronic drivel.

[Dinger]

19. Isn't There A DEMOCRATIC-Leaning Source With The Same Info?

You seem to be a very good researcher, so I'm curious if there's a better source out there with the same information.

[ProSense]

20. I'm not sure what you're asking:

"I'm curious if there's a better source out there with the same information."

Isn't Mark Penn's op-ed in Politico? You think there is a source other than Politico for a Politico op-ed?

[bigdarryl]

15. Just think if Hillary had won this guy would have been her Chief Of Staff

so all those who wish Hillary was President like CENK this is what we would have gotten he's a DLC'er just like Hillary

[Mass]

16. Question: is it time to retire DC elite Mark Penn?

12 % of people think deficit is the most important issues, Obama comes ahead of each head to head poll, but the first issue to deal with is the deficit, and half of the population thinks Obama will not be reelected (which in passing means that half thinks he may be).

Now, my guess is that the internals were so incoherent that Penn could only think about the disconnect between some people in DC and in the country.

[gkhouston]

23. If he ran as a Republican, could he then be "bipartisan" with *us*?

:shrug: