Clinton has had two days to think over Tuesday's election and he still does not get it. He is still trying to convince himself that the vote was a vindication of his program in some manner despite every fact about the election.
He continues to imply that he is "the middle" of politics despite the clear election results of the loss of so many of his compatriots in the his idea of the middle. From the most senior down to the most junior, they were kicked out. Everyone but a couple who was identified as clearly defending the president or being a key part of passing his agenda is gone.
The only notable exception at this point is Ted Kennedy and the other might become Diane Feinstein but even should the latter manage re-election it is still so close it requires the absentee ballots be counted. That Clinton can possibly think that the people who were his most vocal supporters are gone. How can he possibly take that as support for what he clearly considers his middle?
If he truly believes that then he is delusional. If he is still trying to spin doctor the results he needs to try a different approach. This is making him look like a fool.
And there is little help coming from his supporters. The trick of spin doctoring is to find a plausible alternate explanation. Some liberal should have been able to find a spin by now but if so none has come up with it.
It looks like they are all simply in shock; that they could not prepare themselves for the actually occurance of what they and everyone knew would happen. Even the magnitude of it was easily predictable. Either side could hope it might or might not happen but certainly there was enough warning to work out some sort of face saving spin in advance.
As they have no spin prepared how can they possibly hold there is any support for Clinton style economic policies? Without a spin how can they make a claim there is support for health care reform? Without a basis to work from how can they make a case for any part of the Clinton agenda?
Passage of the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs is part of the both the Clinton and the Republican agenda. As with most things Clinton wanted it was not really part of the Democrat agenda. But when it passes there is no way Clinton can take the credit away from the Republicans.
As Clinton failed to plan for defeat he is now totally defeated. He has at most whatever fraction of his 43% constituency that it left. That is the best he can ask to call their Congressmen as Reagan did so effectively.
For example he is now saying he is in favor of some of the points of the Republican Contract with America. Had he only supported those points before the election his claim to support some points now would not ring so hollow. And were he able to do so he might be able to regain some of the credibility he started losing immediately after his election in 1992.
But now he has nothing to build upon and he does not appear to realize it as yet. He appears to be attempting to find something to say rather simply keeping his mouth shut. He does not realize he has lost the initiative in any legislative action.
It is about time Clinton found a dutch uncle rather than a sensitivity counselor to talk with him.