It took me a while to find something that I have in common with the campaign staff of Phil Angelides.  But, as luck may have it, the last couple of days have helped me to figure that one out:  We have no clue about Phil’s campaign strategy!

I figured that my confusion stemed not from the lack of a strategy, but rather from a lack of any external discernible sign of one.  But now I understand that I am, in fact, on the same page as everyone in their office – there IS NO strategy.

Three times this week we’ve seen confusion from his senior staffers to support my conclusion:

INCONSISTENCY #1 – Taxes on Tractors
Confused Senior Staffers: Brian Brokaw, Spokesperson and Steve Maviglio, Other Spokesperson (loaner)
Brian Brokaw said Angelides wants to increase taxes on California farmers because he sees the small bit of tax relief they receive on equipment such as tractors as a "corporate tax loophole. And Spokesman #2 Steve Maviglio followed it up with the exact opposite – that Angelides would not increase the tractor tax.
(I know Angelides wants to raise taxes on every vehicle – even farm vehicles – so it seems silly to have two spokesmen battle it out like this.  I think maybe Brokaw saw it like it is.)

INCONSISTENCY #2 – Angelides ‘Path to Victory’
Confused Senior Staffers: Bob Mulholland, Senior Advisor, Media Consultant Bill Carrick
Angelides senior staffers tried to explain their "Path to Victory" to reporters, but couldn’t even get their own story straight, according to quotes in The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Mulhulland: “Only a completely blind Republican would deny there’s a potential tsunami against the Republicans this fall.”

Carrick was also quoted: “I don’t have as much faith in that tsunami as Bob does.”

It makes you wonder if Carrick also doesn’t have as much faith in Angelides as Bob does.

INTO THE CONFUSION RIDES REINFORCEMENTS??
Confused Senior Staffer:  Amanda Crumley, new Communications Director.

While most of the staff is clearly not the same page, Angelides’ latest hire, Communications Director Amanda Crumley, will undoubtedly pair well with Bob Mulholland, as both are from the ‘dirty tricks’ side of political operations.

Crumley worked the failed Presidential campaign of John Kerry – a sterling credential.  Well, before that, back in 2001, while working on the campaign of Virginia Governor Mark Warner, she was forced to apologize for pretending to be someone else on a radio talk show.  Imitating someone on a talk show is amateurish at best, but doing it while you are communications director for a gubernatorial campaign?  Dumb.  That would be like a campaign manager going out and pulling down the signs for their boss’ political opponents.

The Angelides campaign appears to be one big happy, dysfunctional family.  Amanda, welcome aboard!  While you embrace Bob’s tactics, hopefully you are a few notches up in the personal hygeine department.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 3rd, 2006 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.