Penn out or just in hiding?

By Libby

When I read the headlines last night, I thought it was a smart move to dump the pompous windbag but once I read the careful parsing of the statement, I had to agree with Josh. It didn't sound like Penn was so much being fired as being locked in closet somewhere and forbidden in appear in public on behalf of the candidate anymore.

This latest post from Marc Ambinder would lend creedence to that theory. Penn's still in on the conference calls and will no doubt remain influential in Hillary (and Bill's) strategizing. This demotion appears to be little more than a public rebuke for PR purposes.

Too bad really. I said at the time that they should have canned him entirely after Super Tuesday when they made Solis the scapegoat for the failure to lock up the nomination. I thought then and I continue to believe that the Clinton's campaign biggest failure has been to allow Penn to do their thinking for them.