Barack Obama Does Not Got 5 On It – 1115.org (5/16/08):

But back to Obama and the liberal 527s. Occam’s razor time: what’s the simplest reason that Obama would want to see donors shun these groups? Probably the simplest would be that he wants all the money to himself. But even the wealthiest Democrats can only give Obama $2,300 more, and if you’re giving that much, you have more to give. And 527s aren’t limited to any dollar amounts. Past that, there has been a lot of talk about Obama opting out of public financing for the general election, instead accepting only donations far below $2,300 from many more people to prove a point. That leaves even more money on the table that could be put to very good use by bright, experienced people like Brock, Podesta, Soros and others. But not if the Obama campaign gets their way.

So if Obama knows he’s going to have all the money he needs, what is the next simplest explanation for choking off the 527s? Money is power, and Obama wants to consolidate all of it under his own control. Fine! you say? Let’s keep in mind that Obama really just barely beat Hillary Clinton, and had it not been for Republicans and Independents, he wouldn’t have beaten her at all. Clinton’s chief strategist Mark Penn didn’t even know delegates were awarded on a proportional basis! And Obama is now operating as if he should be able to control the Democratic Party? Kind of ironic coming from a man who can’t even bring himself to say the word ‘Democratic,’ no?

Gearing up: David Brock to launch outside group for 2012 – WaPo (11/10/10):

With the White House now signaling it wants outside groups on the left to ramp up for 2012, Media Matters founder David Brock is in discussions to form a new group designed to raise and spend big bucks to counter the right’s powerful new infrastructure, a person who’s spoken directly with Brock about his plans tells me.
[...]
“David is on the road right now talking to donors and strategists who would be interested in this,” the source tells me, adding that Brock intends to create a 527, which has partial donor disclosure rules. “He’s out pitching it right now.”

“There’s a general sense that in 2010 nothing was done and it cost Democrats,” the source continues. “People realize, including in the White House, that something needs to be done in 2012 or progressives will suffer at the ballot box again.”
[...]
During the 2008 campaign, Obama famously directed outside liberal groups to close down and let his enormously successful fundraising operation dominate. But as the magnitude of the right’s 2010 spending in the wake of the Citizens United decision became apparent, White House senior adviser David Axelrod began quietly signaling a new openness to outside spending on the left.

As Brock’s efforts clearly show, the message has been received.

Why exactly did it take the debacle of the 2010 elections to wake these morons up?