It was not some grand plan, it was a massive failure.

[Sympthsical]

136. It was neither planned nor a failure

The cat herding skills on display in the last 24 hours is just . . . is this my Democratic Party? We're usually so all over the place, but the past day was so streamlined, organized, and efficient, German automakers somewhere are studying it.

I hate the penchant people have to see "plans" in various things. If things work out, "There was a secret plan! Look at all these chess moves!"

I think it undersells what people with skills and talent can accomplish when the unexpected or unwanted occur. When circumstances change or chaos threatens to break out, watching someone adjust on their feet with agility, flexibility, and snap-judgement skills can be a beautiful thing to behold.

The situation was a mess, and leadership (and many others, no doubt) just pulled the loveliest rabbit out of a hat.

That was an insanely hard job, one that they so far seem to have pulled off. They deserve a lot of credit, because being willing to understand adjustments need to be made, courses changed, and conditions finessed takes a lot of skill. It's difficult to see how this wasn't a success. And hopefully we can put that judgement concretely to bed in November.