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The Cluelessness Of Democratic Leaders

Amid all the stories of how shocked, surprised, and ?stunned? Democratic leaders were over Evan Bayh?s decision not to seek re-election comes this gem-like reminder from Politico that a large reason why they remain clueless is that they are incapable of reading clues.

While Bayh?s retirement stunned Reid and the rest of the leadership, there were some private signs that he might step down. Following the surprise decision last month by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) to retire, Reid and other top Democrats circled back to members of their caucus up for reelection to get them to firmly commit to run.

Bayh, however, would not make that declaration, although Reid and his top lieutenants remained firmly convinced that he fully intended to run and win.

?Even three weeks ago, [Bayh] would not commit to running again,? said a Senate Democratic insider. ?I don?t think anyone thought he was going to retire, but it now seems clear that he was on the fence. I just don?t think anyone was able to interpret what he was signaling there.?

If Reid was ?stunned? by Bayh?s decision even after his refusal to confirm his intention to run, if Reid and his staff were not ?able to interpret what he was signaling there? even when the signaler was one of their own, their inability to interpret signals from from such strange and alien creatures as voters becomes less surprising.

Full post as published by Discriminations on February 15, 2010 (boomark / email).