In his clarksphere jeremiad SN buried a hint of good things to come that most here seem to have overlooked:
Dick Sklar and Wesley Clark became friends in Bosnia. Clinton appointed him to run the civilian side of the Bosnian reconstruction, and by any measure, he exceeded all expectations. With long experience in construction, he is known as "a detail guy" with a tremendous grasp of facts and schedules and the ability to deliver. However, he was also the energy Czar in California during the power crisis - where he failed to realize what the underlying problem was, and, in some measure, contributed to the spiraling out of control of the political situation there. With a long and distinguished career in public service - capped by being a special Ambassador to the UN - he is the perfect man for Clark to appoint as his man to "get a handle on things" and get things structured. He's been mentioned in that role by two people who have been following the campaign - though, of course, that is speculation.
And then when Stirling really got going:
There is one thing that can be done, and must be done: the big man needs to get to the microphone, say that "This has never been done in the history of America, a draft movement not run by insiders. Washington had Alexander Hamilton, Eisenhower had Senator Henry Cabot Lodge - there was the first time a draft wasn't a campaign looking for a candidate. We need to get a handle on this, it is unfortunate that tensions have reached this point, I'm sorry that Donnie is angry about the differences inside the campaign, I've appointed [ ] to deal with getting things in hand and making sure we retain the right people." The man I would nominate is Dick Sklar. Then he has to do it.
Let's give Stirling both a break and a hand: this is fan fiction. However, the man does his homework and draws between the dots.
This evening, Inside Politics reported Dick Sklar would assume the role of chief operating officer, although I prefer chief of staff. They still need captains and majors on the ground. Stay tuned.
According to Stirling Newberry of theclarksphere.com, Donnie Fowler's departure from WKC's campaign team and its attendant re-organization may challenge the general's leadership cred far more seriously than his Democratic rivals or jealous army colleagues have been able to thus far. For the mainstream media take on the shake-up see the AP story.
Newberry provides the first in-depth profile of the current Clark team, which he criticizes for taking the draft movement for granted. The next cycle of Clark meet-ups (there are four next Monday in New York City alone) looks to be held under the auspices of draft leaders either uncertain or unhappy about their role in the coming weeks. And both Newberry and Fowler are already being accused by Clark Right or Wrongers of airing dirty laundry and personal grievances.
As Newberry has it, the main players here are:
Mark Fabiani - who brought his people, including Kim Spell, and his friend's wife - on board to manage communication. He is a respected man inside the beltway because he runs a great set piece. The Democratic National Convention of 2000 is his work at its best - a tightly scripted informercial which delivers the good in sound bite form. . . However, Fabiani is also the person who allowed Albert Gore to be well, Gored. . . Fabiani does not deal well with life, unscripted.
Clearly, Newberry's sympathies are with Fowler:
Donnie Fowler, got his inside track from being the son of legendary Don Fowler - one of the men who, bluntly, brought the Democratic Party into the television age. However, Donnie Fowler is well liked in his own right, and was described, often, as "one of the young, rising, stars of the Democratic party". . . It was Fowler who "got" the new politics - and he, personally, put his neck out for Wesley Clark. His departure in anger - and clearly being given the boot by the campaign with their platitudinous "don't let the door hit your ass on the way out" smiles about what a great job he has done - is not a good sign, and is not being taken as one by objective Democratic observers.
Eli Segal was the Chief Executive for Clinton's 1996 campaign, and chief of staff in 1992. He is respected in environmentalist circles, and is considered a strong manager. . . He is in Little Rock and wants to organize the campaign along different lines, though he is not unware of the importance of activism - he is old media politics. . . .
Dick Sklar and Wesley Clark became friends in Bosnia. Clinton appointed him to run the civilian side of the Bosnian reconstruction, and by any measure, he exceeded all expectations. With long experience in construction, he is known as "a detail guy" with a tremendous grasp of facts and schedules and the ability to deliver. However, he was also the energy Czar in California during the power crisis - where he failed to realize what the underlying problem was, and, in some measure, contributed to the spiraling out of control of the political situation there. With a long and distinguished career in public service - capped by being a special Ambassador to the UN - he is the perfect man for Clark to appoint as his man to "get a handle on things" and get things structured. . . .
Mickey Kantor - former trade representative for Clinton - has been a policy advisor to Wesley Clark for some time according to sources - he has been influential in linking foreign relations to trade in the Clark program, and the policy work that is being done bears marks of his design.
Ron Klain is the man who Fabiani nominated for chief of staff, and it is he who worked out the economic plan which was released earlier. It is typical Klain work - he was Chief of Staff for Gore - solid, plays well inside the beltway and in publications such as Business Week - without promising either too much or too little. Klain has been pushing, according to two inside sources, to move the campaign from Little Rock to Washington DC. . . .
John Hlinko, founder of DraftWesleyClark.com, was just appointed internet strategy. He was retained by Donnie Fowler, and his team kept on board directly by Fowler. If they leave it will be the sign of a sweep of the inside by old politics, and will be taken as such. Voluble and tireless - Hlinko was the man who drove traffic into the Draft, and found, created or devised, a stream of stories to keep the Draft movement covered. . . .
Mark Nichols - long time Clark stalwart, who worked for Wesley Kanne Clark and Associates, and acted as the chinese wall between the Draft Clark movement and Clark the unCandidate. A difficult job at best, he is a trusted advisor, and it soon got out that he was the man that people who wanted specific roles in the campaign needed to talk to. Willing to listen - but often gruff from being short on time - Mark Nichols was one of the men who acted as a buffer between Clark and the turmoil outside. It was, and is, one of the most thankless tasks in politics, but also a vital one that he performed with distinction. . . .
So what is the upshot of all of this? Can Clark just ride the wave of good appearances? Not if he is being hounded by an FEC investigation, questions about who was in and who was out, stories of brutal infighting and leaving behind a cloud of flackery which will convince reporters they aren't getting the full story. The man who raised a large chunk of the gaudy 3rd quarter total was hired by Fowler, the individual who was rumored to be in line to go to New Hampshire to take things in hand there was picked by Donnie Fowler. It was Fowler who spoke directly to Draft field coordinators, assuaged their fears, and got them to stay on board the difficult process of integration. Now, all of these people are up in the air - will they be kept? Or will they, like Fowler, be told to accept ignominious demotion or leave?
Fowler didn't just resign - he quit in disgust. This is a sign that, once again, the message people have not been doing their work. There are right ways and wrong ways to do things, and this, again, was the wrong way. For a candidate who is running on having allies, an awful lot of Clark allies seem to leave in disgust, or decide they don't even want to be considered for the campaign. . . .
Now a respected insider is out because of these problems. They have had a consequence.
. . . If this were the Bush campaign, then Clark could plead being out of touch: but Clark is famous as a micro manager, a man who takes every detail in hand. It becomes impossible to believe that he did not make the decisions that lead to this. Hence, he must be seen as taking responsibility, taking ownership, and taking leadership. It is what Clark has always done - particularly in the three worst moments of Kosovo - the Chinese Embassy bombing, the bombing of trucks with civilians, and the Pristina airfield. Each time, he kept things moving.
There is one thing that can be done, and must be done: the big man needs to get to the microphone, say that "This has never been done in the history of America, a draft movement not run by insiders. Washington had Alexander Hamilton, Eisenhower had Senator Henry Cabot Lodge - there was the first time a draft wasn't a campaign looking for a candidate. We need to get a handle on this, it is unfortunate that tensions have reached this point, I'm sorry that Donnie is angry about the differences inside the campaign, I've appointed [ ] to deal with getting things in hand and making sure we retain the right people." The man I would nominate is Dick Sklar. Then he has to do it.
He also needs to bring on board - or bring to higher profile - several very pro-Clark individuals associated with the previous Democratic campaigns - dating back to JFK in one instance. There are three in particular whose being brought to the front now would go a very long way to dispel the impression that this is "a Gore operation with some Clintonistas thrown in".
Otherwise, the truth will be that this is a cozy little inside operation, and that Wes Clark's success is success for a small group of people who ran Gore's campaign into the ground. And if you want to watch the energy level drop, that will do it.
This is a defining moment for Clark and his campaign. It can be proof, to the press and the world, that Clark makes problems go away. Or it can be proof to the press, and the world, that Clark is drunk on high poll numbers and big donations - and doesn't give a damn about the little people that are getting crushed under.
Which story the journalists write, is up to one man at this point, the man we've placed our faith in: Wesley Kanne Clark.