Plouffe plays the expectations game


Trying to set expectations before an Election Day that's 26 days away, Obama adviser (and former campaign manager) David Plouffe today said it would be a "colossal failure" for Republicans if they don't win back control of the House and Senate.

Yet citing polls showing a more enthusiastic Democratic base, Plouffe added that Democrats could win many close races -- if they turn out their voters and improve among independents. "I think we can stave off the worst of predictions," he told a gathering of political reporters.

But while Plouffe gladly set expectations for Republican success on Election Night, he refused to do the same for Democrats. "We are just trying to do as well as we can," he said, drawing laughs from the assembled reporters for his very low bar.

Also at the briefing, Plouffe argued that Republicans' inability to produce new ideas or learn from their defeats in 2006 and 2008 would hurt the GOP -- if not in the short term, then in the long run. "I think that is going to cause them big problems."

(He attributed the Democrats' own problems this election season to the economy, that midterms are traditionally tough for the party in power, that Democrats maximized their gains after '06 and '08, and that opposition is often a more powerful force than support.)

Plouffe argued that the Republican Party -- due to the Tea Party's successes in GOP primaries -- will undoubtedly push the party to the right in 2011 and 2012. "You wait until '11 or '12. All the energy will be around Christine O'Donnell- and Rand Paul-type voters." For future GOP candidates, he added, "the gate you have to get through is farther to the right."

And Plouffe railed against the GOP-leaning outside groups -- like the Rove-backed American Crossroads and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce -- calling them "the central financial actors" of 2010 and contending that they are "hijacking" the country's democracy with (in some cases) the unlimited and anonymous donations they can receive. "This is a big, big threat to our democracy."

*** UDPATE *** RNC Communications Director Doug Heye responds to Plouffe's remarks: "There is no better place to get mixed messages than from the Democrats. One the one hand, David Plouffe say our candidates are too extreme to be elected. Seconds later, he says it will be a 'colossal failure' if they do not. At some point, Democrats should pick a message and stick to it."

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How Sweet It Is !!!!! I have looked forward to this day since NoDumbo was elected .

Every time I watched the Congress being mauled by the Democratic Thuggery of Pelosi and Reid, the thousand and one times Obama preened on TV during his staged speeches, the dull sickness is my stomach of concern about America is starting to reside.

Liberalism is a mental illness. Liberals cannot stand a competitive society where the best person succeeds. Liberals want Unions, Entitlements, Pork, Liberals shudder at the thought of fighting for freedom, and Liberals have no common sense.

Liberals, you can take your Communist President and choke on these elections. The Democrats were stupid enough to follow Obama, Reid and Pelosi OVER THE Cliff of Socialism and the fall is a long one.

You complain about Bush, but Bush NEVER had an economy like this. Great Depression my butte. All the guys Obama bailed out , specifically the Wall STreet Banks ,, were making billions in profit within 6 months. The Stimulus was a joke and an embarrassment. The Health Reform Bill is overwhelmingly rejected by the majority of Americans with a brain that realized , unlike most poor Democrats who thought it meant Free Medical Care,, that it would bankrupt small and large businesses and every State in the Union.

I dare any Liberal to tell me how California would pay for the Medicade portion that Obama Care puts on them after 2014--- it is economically impossible ,, and Californians are too stupid to realize it. Barbara Boxer over Carly Fiorina ? OMG . Jerry Brown is the answer ? OMG.. Jerry Brown cut most of the pension deals with the UNIONS that have California hopelessly in debt.

Liberals for some strange reason think they are more intelligent than everyone else and that is laughable. Could Obama have appointed any more Harvard grads who never spent a day in their lives working in private business ? Where did Rohmer return to ? UC Berkley ,, the cradle of Liberalism . Emmanuel, Axelrod, Rohmer, Orsag , VAN JONES, the rats deserting the floundering ship.

The Oceans will fall ,, the mountain wil rise,, I offer Hope and Change,, especially in my Administration and Cabinet... but the Cabinet offers no threat to America,, it is Obama's Communist Czars who are the real threat. Such stalwarts as Andy Stern who is now under investigation for illegal handling of Union Funds.

I am so proud of Indpendents and Conservatives and watching our country awaken and realize Obama is a Communist. His blatant Narcistic arrogance can choke on the Demise of the Democrats on November 2, 2010,,, and for the first time in 2 long years,, America now has a chance to return to common sense and decency and sanity ,, and can avert the total loss of our economy and our freedom from Barrack Hussein Obama,,, Communist.

  • 1 vote
Reply#76 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 1:49 AM EDT

The Ocean will fall....... How true Alan, Oblaba is being flooded out of his illegal occupation of the WH. He never liked it. He considered it to be the Capitalist throne of the world. The ocean will fall for the water will wash out his prescence. He predicted his own downfall.

    #76.1 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 9:50 AM EDT
    Reply

    The Gallup Poll comes out tomorrow with their evaluation of 10.1 % unemployment.

    Great job Obama and Dems,,, defend that - lol.

    I have never seen such an immoral and unethical campaign by any party after watching the pitiful Democrats this fall. They have ZERO solutions , nothing to boast of in all the lousy legislation they rammed down our throats,, so they do the only thing that can do to the opposition,, SMEAR TACTICS full of lies, dishonesty and untruths.. Democrats,, the party of Alan Grayson ,, what a disgrace that clown is.

    Harry Reid is Head of the Senate but booted by his own State.. who knows him best.

    I would do backflips if Rangel, Frank, Boxer Cuomo, and Schumer got whipped.

    Who is the next Democratic nominee in 2012 ? John Edwards ? will he be out of jail by that time ?

    The Tea Party is the best thing to happen to politics in 100 years. Pure citizens who love their country and want to preserve it. No special interests, no obligations other than to elect people that do the right thing,, and they will force the Republicans to get it right,, or get gone.

      Reply#77 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 1:57 AM EDT

      Democrats wouldn't have to Stave off anything if their leadership cared about following the will of the American people. Instead they attempt to line their own pockets with fat cat corporate money to finance their losing agenda. They only care about their miserable job's and getting re-elected at any cost.

        Reply#78 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 2:46 AM EDT

        Corporate America is going to continue holding its breath until we return to George Bush era. I'm waiting for pampered CEOs to start collectively banging their heads against the floor like my 2 year old. I'd post that video on YouTube.

        The sad fact about today's Republican Party is that it really doesn't matter which Bush you specify. The corporate welfare, deficit spending, and unfocused warfare policies are the same. The Republican Party has gone so far right that it, too, has left America.

        Unfortunately, I don't have the eloquence of Ronald Reagan, so I can't come up with an appropriate, clever anaology.

        It's time for America to wake up and see past the corporate and special interest financed, Tea Party propeganda. It was 8 years of George Bush's deficit spending and unfocused warfare that lead us into this financial and, dare I say, military disaster.

        If you put Republicans into office, the leadership will still be loyal Bushies. The Bush family has done everything to make that possible. Only by denying Republicans any power will they learn their lessons about corporate welfare the way most Democrats have learned about gun control from the 1994 Crime Bill debacle.

        I'm not fan of the Democrats, but in our, very limited, two party system, I'm more willing to back them than a guaranteed return to Bush era policies.

        Former Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia once said, "If you're going to get a skunk in there, you might as well get a skunk that's blowing in the opposite direction."

        A vote for Republicans is a vote for the super wealthy and Corporate America. From the decline in my upper middle class paycheck in the last 10 years, I know which side I fall on in this election.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#79 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 3:07 AM EDT

        Tell that to Michelle Obama who charged $5,700 BoChic earrings and a $19,000 Naeem Khan dress to the taxpayers on Jan 22, 2009.

        You guys have had total control since 2007 and now it is our turn. Say goodnight sweetheart because you progressives have awakened the sleeping giant that makes America what it is.

        Obama, Pelosi and Reid were told in no uncertain term not to pass Obama-Care and they arrogantly ignored us. I hope you guys enjoyed ramming that down our throats because we are about to ram a boot straight up your asses!

        • 1 vote
        #79.1 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 5:13 AM EDT
        Reply

         the teaparty must be stopped. Paladino and Mcmahon go back to porn...

          Reply#80 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 4:24 AM EDT

          Afraid of the Tea Party Bennett? They are the moms and dads of America. WE THE PEOPLE. You Dems are afraid of Palin down to Paladino. How come you are not afraid of Oblaba, who wants to pull the plug on America?

            #80.1 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 9:34 AM EDT
            Reply

            Please Madison don't encourage him. Hasn't he caused enough damage to this country?This country can't take more of this administrations indecicivness. Nobody knows what their taxes will be! Everyone thinks the worst of you and your administration so far.

            You and your failed administration have freeked out the etire economy of this nation the TAX PAYERS are being threatend with you numerous taxes. They do not know how many jobs they will be able to afford with you and your maulti headed tax monster. People do not know if they can spend money because they do not know how much money they will have left after this administration robs them.

            These people are the tax revenue of this country and you are crushing them out of contributing their revenues this country cannot survive this administration.

            The people of this country wanted you to FIX HEALTH CARE not install the worlds failure. We like to save lives in this country not snuff them out when you cannot afford all of us. I personlly am insulted by the extremely poor judgement of this administration and feel as if clowns are running no I mean ruining this country the best country in the world and you have to fu*k it up.

            I have to wonder are their any other taxable jobs you want to destroy please let us know in advance so we can prepair for the worst. YOU!

            You cannot collect taxes from the jobs you destroy!

            For the sake of this nation I truely hope those of you who defend this nightmare. If their is a god I pray you are wrong.

              Reply#81 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 6:25 AM EDT

              I personally favor the Democratic party, the Americans are sick and tired of this pathetic ignoramous and weakling called Obama.

                Reply#82 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 7:46 AM EDT

                Black Murders a White bus driver in NYC
                This is part of a silent race war being waged by Blacks on unsuspecting Whites. This crimes are going on day after day in America.
                Blacks want to exterminate the White race and we must be aware of who Blacks are.
                *** Are Blacks human or just posing as Humans?***
                Darwin: "Blacks are not Human but a different Species"

                  Reply#83 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 8:05 AM EDT

                  Well, NObama and his merry band of socialist spin doctors should be accustomed to setting low expectations. They have two years worth of experience - the only question is how are they going to blame Bush for it?

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#84 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 8:18 AM EDT

                  The Rally Cry of the Obama Administration, regardless of the situation: "It could have been worse." What a leader; small "l."

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#85 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 8:59 AM EDT

                  I'll be perfectly happy with just a split Congress & House and putting these (both parties) in limbo for the next two years and stop the rape of the middle class.

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#86 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 9:04 AM EDT

                  By the 2012 election, the GOP must have a large, veto proof majority to enable the country to repeal the Obama Legacy. I am not a fan of the GOP by a long shot, but Obama's goal of an entitlement nation with the government controlling major industries must be snuffed before "free enterprise" is lost to our economy and country. Nancy Pelosi states that, to paraphrase, "the best way to get our country going again economically is to increase the number of people on food stamps and on unemployment insurance. " Jobs, jobs, jobs. Bust the Unions once and for all and get America working again.

                    #86.1 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 9:21 AM EDT
                    Reply

                    Yeah right.....read a Gallup Poll projection for the mid-terms willya! Denial is not a river in Egypt! Get ready to get fired! The American Voter is pissed off and we will see you all at the polls on November 2nd to let you all know in DC just what WE think about the last 20 months!

                      Reply#87 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 9:16 AM EDT

                      Do you think the recovery plan is working? The facts and figures say "Guess again"!

                      For almost a year now, we have been exposed to report after report stating that we have turned the corner and the economy is on the mend . . . that things are not that bad . . . that happy days are here again. There is a problem with these messages. They ring hollow at best!

                      The real unemployment rate (which includes all of the unemployed, not just those still collecting unemployment benefits) is at 21.7 percent. Yes, the government figures state unemployment is at 9.6 percent but that reflects only those individuals still collecting unemployment benefits. The individuals who have already collected the maximum, are self-employed but without work, or have given up looking for work after a year or more are not counted by the government. Remember when we were told unemployment would not exceed 8 percent?

                      A recent AP article titled "Homes lost to foreclosure on track for 1M in 2010" states the number of homes foreclosed on in 2010 will exceed 1 million. In 2009, the number of homes foreclosed on was just more than 900,000. The number of foreclosures prior to 2009 averaged about 100,000 homes. By my calculations, that is a 900% increase in foreclosures since Obama took office.No one who was even remotely honest would try to represent this as being on the right track.

                      41.8 million Americans are currently on food stamps (up almost 23% from just a year ago) and the White House estimates that food stamp usage will increase to 43.3 million Americans during the 2011 fiscal year. Well, that certainly looks like we are headed in the wrong direction to me!

                      RealtyTrac released its Midyear 2010 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows a total of 1,961,894 foreclosure filings — default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions — were reported on 1,654,634 U.S. properties in the first six months of 2010, a 5 percent decrease in total properties from the previous six months but an 8 percent increase in total properties from the first six months of 2009. Does this sound as if we are headed in the right direction?

                      President Obama has stated that "Small Business will lead this recovery" but the National Small Business Association recently issued a report saying that more small businesses are unable to get financing than at any time over the past 17 years. Unless they can get the loans they need "we will continue to see high unemployment," said NSBA President Todd McCracken. So, the banks that have been bailed-out using billions of our tax dollars, refuse to lend money to small business but willingly gave bonuses to the same executives who made the bad investments that brought our economy to this sad point. Right direction? It sure doesn't sound like it to me!

                      The Congress should have been developing and passing legislation that would give companies a reason to create new private sector jobs, give companies a reason to keep jobs held by taxpaying U.S. citizens here in the U.S. and filled by U.S. citizens, and give companies a reason to bring jobs that have been sent off shore, back to be filled by U.S. citizens.

                      Until the government realizes that the average U.S. citizen prefers a leg-up to a handout, the deterioration we are currently experiencing will continue. The bottom-line is this: Rather than taking steps that would create a job rich environment, the current crop of career politicians chose to focus on programs that would push spending (and ultimately taxes) to obscene levels. All effort at fiscal sanity has been jettisoned as programs like TARP, Cap and Trade, Healthcare Reform, Stimulus, Cash for Clunkers, Politically Motivated Wars, Bank Bailouts, and Automotive Company Bailouts have created a fiscal chasm that will likely take generations to bridge. So, the next time you hear "The recovery plan is working" or "We are in a slow recovery", question the intelligence, the veracity, and possibly even the sanity of the speaker. Regardless of which political party holds the particular seat, BS belongs in a pasture . . . not in the Whitehouse or the halls of Congress. Maybe it is time we put most of those politicians warming the seats in Washington, out to pasture so their BS doesn't seem so out-of-place . . . but that is just my opinion!

                        Reply#88 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 9:21 AM EDT

                        Just in: Millions of stimulus dollars went to dead people and those in prison. What a waste. This should have gone to those families with kids and housing problems whose mothers and fathers were laid off thier jobs. How sad.

                          Reply#89 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 9:28 AM EDT

                          Imam Obuma has placed Elena Kagan to cover for him on the Supreme Court
                          she has blocked hundreds of inquiries and lawsuits about Obama ID and Birth Certificate.

                            Reply#90 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 9:32 AM EDT

                             I am getting tired of the fact that if you are a democrat, your best strategy is to say "(although we are circling the drain) ...it would have been worse  if" or "if the repubs dont win nearly every seat then its a dem victory" or (the old standby) "its President Bush's fault".   I think (most) people are smarter than this and I think this fall anyone but a dem will have a  strong advantage. 

                              Reply#91 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 9:33 AM EDT

                              Obama is leaving the country for a twelve day around the world "boondoogle" on Nov 4th, two days after the election....so I guess he won't be available to answer questions on how his Democrat Party was slammed at the polls or how this is the biggest gain by a political party (Republicans) since 1932....

                              Although I must admit that I prefer to see him out of the USA bowing to Muslim leaders...at least he's not in the White House pushing his Communist agenda.

                                Reply#92 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 9:45 AM EDT

                                He won't be back. He will be hiding in Kenya.

                                • 1 vote
                                #92.1 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 10:11 AM EDT
                                Reply

                                He states "I think" well let me tell you what I think, I think you can stick a feather in your butt and fly, hows that for "THINKING"

                                you tell me about 8 years of failure and Ill tell you about a 100 years of success.. that's the difference Dems always talking about failure...Repus always talking about successes..

                                  Reply#93 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 9:50 AM EDT

                                  Seems like the Ocean waters are being drained as Oblaba once said and the

                                  Dems are left sitting high and dry on the rising mountain tops! Is that true

                                  Dems?

                                  • 1 vote
                                  Reply#94 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 9:53 AM EDT

                                  Plouffe would not be able to find his own underware.

                                  • 1 vote
                                  Reply#95 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 10:00 AM EDT

                                  I can see that the wingnuts are out in full force today.... bet you are getting paid to write your BS on here.... give it up! Dems are going to WIN BIG!

                                  Calling all Dems to get out and vote! We can't let these crusty old boys give our country over to big business and wall street

                                    Reply#96 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 10:29 AM EDT

                                    Yes, you're doing a hell of a job Obama and the Dems! Jobs lost - only 95,000. Keep up the good work!

                                    Keep fudging those numbers until 2012! Maybe by then we'll get under 10%? No, you can't. Idiot.

                                    • 1 vote
                                    Reply#97 - Fri Oct 8, 2010 10:50 AM EDT
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