Management By McCain

Kevin Drum's not the only liberal upset by a political press that can't seem to hold John McCain responsible for John McCain's campaign tactics. But isn't the image painted in today's stories -- of McCain as a kind of passive bystander to decisions being made on his behalf by his staff -- sort of more damning?

The presidency, after all, involves significant managerial challenges. And neither McCain nor Barack Obama has ever been a mayor or a governor or run an executive agency. Neither has ever run a company. McCain was a Navy officer, but he didn't achieve the kind of rank where he had substantial managerial responsibilities -- he flew airplanes, he didn't command ships. For both of them, their presidential campaigns are the largest enterprises they've ever run. That's not good preparation for the White House in either case, but we don't have much else to go on. And if we're supposed to believe that McCain can't seize control of his own campaign strategy, then what does that say about his executive leadership?

Comments

How about you post about Ross and his 'Barack Hitler Obama' post - he's currently in meltdown, and it's hilarious.

Posted by James | July 31, 2008 3:03 PM

Why are you questioning McCain's military service? Why do you hate America?

Posted by MSM | July 31, 2008 3:04 PM

Uh, as the payroll taxes incident shows, McCain and his staff are not always on the same page. McCain also does not seem to have been adequately prepared by his staff to respond to questions on foreign policy, leading to a series of bizarre gaffes.

I wonder if anyone on McCain's staff dares approach him on some issues?
.

Posted by Grand Moff Texan | July 31, 2008 3:05 PM

forgive me, but i'm gonna toot my own whorne here.

Posted by cleek | July 31, 2008 3:07 PM

Great framing:
McCain - incompetent manager or total jerk?

Posted by Tim | July 31, 2008 3:13 PM

The campaign is the first window into the managerial abilities of the candidates. Clinton's was awful, disorganized, and poor on long thinking. McCain's is pretty much the same. Think about it.

What this tells me is that if McCain were to become President, we'd have the same problems. People within the administration would be taking the lead with no overarching guidance. That's almost the way the Bush administration has become, now that Cheney's influence seems to have slipped a bit.

Posted by LFC | July 31, 2008 3:24 PM

Via MSNBC:

McCain was just asked at his town hall here about his controversial TV ad comparing Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

"All I can say is that we are proud of that commercial," he answered. "We think Americans need to know that I believe that we should base this campaign on what we can do for Americans here at home and how we can make America safe and prosperous. And that is the theme of our campaign."

That settles that.

Posted by Darius | July 31, 2008 3:30 PM

Thanks for that, Darius. Yet more evidence that McCain is delirious and confused.

Posted by LFC | July 31, 2008 3:32 PM

Well, John McCain did more than fly planes in the Navy. He also commanded the Navy's largest aviation squadron. That counts as significant managerial responsibilities. Not exactly running a state, but some might consider it a good idea to do two seconds of research before posting.

Posted by Sancho | July 31, 2008 3:32 PM

And if we're supposed to believe that McCain can't seize control of his own campaign strategy, then what does that say about his executive leadership?

That was in many ways, in fact, the GOP argument against John Kerry in 2004, wasn't it? But more in terms of "national security": "if John Kerry can's seize control of his own campaign strategy and attack his domestic and merely political 'enemies', the GOP, head on, what does that say about his ability to deal with our enemies abroad?"

I just lurve when tables turn -- I say we should start to use this against McCain, if only 'cause it was used successfully against Kerry!

Posted by DAS | July 31, 2008 3:34 PM

You young'uns don't remember this, but Reagan made a very successful career out of disassociating himself from his own policies. He was a big picture guy, don'cha know.

It remains to be seen whether McCain is a gifted enough politician to pull this off, but he's had some very compliant media so far.

Posted by politicalfootball | July 31, 2008 3:35 PM

Well, John McCain did more than fly planes in the Navy. He also commanded the Navy's largest aviation squadron. It had over 1,000 personnel and a fleet of 75 jets. Do a second of research before you post next time.

Posted by Sancho | July 31, 2008 3:36 PM

Likewise, Obama ran Developing Communities Project, ran the Harvard Law Review, and directed Illinois Project Vote.

Still, the campaign is going to be the closest thing to a tryout for running the country.

Posted by American Citizen | July 31, 2008 3:42 PM

Sancho is right: McCain was put in charge of a large training squadron after his return from captivity. The thinking, I believe, was to give him the command experience necessary to promote him to admiral.

Unfortunately, McCain did a horrible job as commander. According to accounts, he ran an undisciplined command and routinely engaged behavior such as fraternizing with subbordinates and sending married officers away on long trips so he could shag their wives. Eventually, the Navy got wind of the situation and removed McCain from command, sending him to Washington where he was Congressional liaison, a job that pretty much involved providing booze to Congressmen.

So, yes, McCain has a short executive history. If past is prologue, then if he were elected we'd be getting President Spuds McKenzie.

Posted by jlw | July 31, 2008 3:43 PM

"The campaign is the first window into the managerial abilities of the candidates"

But weren't the Bush campaigns run pretty tightly? We all know how that turned out.

Posted by James | July 31, 2008 4:02 PM

"The campaign is the first window into the managerial abilities of the candidates"

But weren't the Bush campaigns run pretty tightly? We all know how that turned out.

Posted by James | July 31, 2008 4:04 PM

[Photo Of McCain, Above]

This man's head looks exactly like a Potato.

Posted by Jemand von Niemand | July 31, 2008 4:06 PM

But weren't the Bush campaigns run pretty tightly? We all know how that turned out.

And in many ways, the Bush administration has been run tightly too. Can you name any other President who has gotten away with violating the law as often as he has? And for all the lawbreaking, it's taken forever for the truth to come out. They certainly held most of it back until the 2nd election. And think of the level of politicization of the DoJ and their seamless integration with Faux News.

Rove, Cheney, et al ran a very tight organization. They simply chose to use that power for evil rather than good. That's why character (of which Bush has zero) is also incredibly important.

Posted by LFC | July 31, 2008 4:11 PM

Matt, of course it's damning. But that's not the important question. The important question is: will this piece of damning evidence hurt McCain?

I think the answer is no. The MSM shows no signs of shedding its image of McCain as a straight-talker filled with integrity. Therefore, their minds will manage to separate McCain from the management of his own campaign. Look for the narrative of poor honest John, taken advantage of by these Rovian dirty operators he was good enough to trust. The straight-talking McCain, led astray by his crooked-talking campaign managers.

If the campaign goes off the rails, McCain will be able to start fresh (in the eyes of the MSM) by firing all the Bushies, saying, "This isn't my kind of campaign. I'm a straight-talker, and that's how my campaign is going to be run." Then we'll see all the stories about how Mac is Back!

Posted by CN | July 31, 2008 4:19 PM

The MSM shows no signs of shedding its image of McCain as a straight-talker filled with integrity

http://billmon.dailykos.com

[not to spam, i'm just so happy...]

Posted by scythia | July 31, 2008 4:23 PM

If past is prologue, then if he were elected we'd be getting President Spuds [*] McKenzie. - jlw

Ah come-on who would you rather have a beer with [sic]? John "Spuds" McCain or Barak Obama who, no doubt, drinks microbrews that have actual flavor, which is un-American?

* or is that Mr. Potato Head, c.f. Jemand von Niemand's comment, although I'd add that this is one of McCain's better pictures

Posted by DAS | July 31, 2008 4:24 PM

To answer Matt's question, no, it is slightly better for the candidate to be somewhat out of control of the campaign than for the candidate to be in complete control of a crappy campaign. The reason is that in the first case the candidate can then fire some people, hire others, and claim things will be different. But the candidate can't fire himself.

That said, I have lost count at this point what round of firings and hirings McCain is on. And there is often a cumulative sense in these cases of repeated changes of campaign management that maybe the problem is in fact the candidate, a point I suspect the press is currently reaching with McCain.

Posted by DTM | July 31, 2008 4:34 PM

"But isn't the image painted in today's stories -- of McCain as a kind of passive bystander to decisions being made on his behalf by his staff -- sort of more damning?" Well, it worked just fine for Bush.

Generally, in fact, it's been GOP strategy for some time, combining anti-intellectualism and a dislike of government itself. It also is a tribute to GOP abilities to spin anything. If someone gets involved in policy, it's spun as elitism and wonkishness. If someone delivers a stirring speech, it's vagueness. They've done their best to hit Obama with both as the need arises.

Posted by JohnH | July 31, 2008 4:37 PM

Um, he crashed airplanes.

Posted by kamajii | July 31, 2008 4:46 PM

From my blog, this morning:

Poor John McCain - this straight-talking maverick has been kidnapped and brainwashed by a ruthless team of campaign operatives. It's like Patty Hearst all over again. If only someone could rescue him!

How do ya like that bit of framing? :D

Posted by low-tech cyclist | July 31, 2008 5:03 PM

Didn't General Wesley Clark already say this same thing?

Posted by mikelotus | July 31, 2008 5:18 PM

Can you stop posting pictures of McCain, for Christ's sakes?

I'm getting sick of looking at his ancient mug.

Every time you get the urge to headline a post with a picture of McCain, post a picture of Meghan McCain instead. That I can tolerate.

Posted by Richard Steven Hack | July 31, 2008 7:35 PM

McCain was a Navy officer, but he didn't achieve the kind of rank where he had substantial managerial responsibilities -- he flew airplanes, he didn't command ships.

Didn't he command the Navy's largest squadron after the war? Seems like more managerial responsibility than Barack Obama ever had as a community organizer.

Posted by Fred | July 31, 2008 8:31 PM

Or Megan Fox, that'd be fine with me.

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Posted by PiriketSeverler | August 1, 2008 5:28 AM

John McCain is George W. Bush without the winning personality.

Posted by Jeff | August 1, 2008 6:48 AM

Depends on what you mean by "command", Fred. See jiw's "Spuds McCain" post @ 3:43pm above.

With all due respect to jiw, this is perhaps not the most objective possible way to look at McCain's actual record, but we really should be able to do better than "didn't he command a squadron or something?".

Posted by robert powell | August 1, 2008 8:08 AM

For a different perspective, see the July 20, 2008, Federal Time's commentary by Steven Katz.

Posted by Scarlet | August 1, 2008 9:54 AM