In case anyone was wondering where The Field went, it is here:
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/a-chief-staff-unchosen-vpAl has an insightful post on what the Doyle hire means:
The Internets are abuzz with one of the new staff hires announced by the Obama campaign today: Patti Solis Doyle, the former Clinton campaign manager forced out and scapegoated for the failings of Mark Penn, Howard Wolfson, Mandy Grunwald, Terry McAuliffe & company is now with the title of "Chief of Staff to the Vice Presidential Nominee."
...
Frankly - and it may surprise some to hear me say this - I think Solis Doyle is one of the few former top staffers for Senator Clinton that I would hire. She was put in an impossible position by that campaign, given the title of "campaign manager" yet none of the authority that comes with it. She (and Harold Ickes) begged Senator Clinton to fire top strategist Mark Penn, to no avail.
But more interesting is that the Obama camp has appointed a chief of staff for a VP nominee that hasn't been chosen. It sends a message to all the aspiring vice presidents out there that, to get the nod, he or she has to check all hubris at the door: the top cat will pick your staff, too.
There is some consensus that this seems to rule out Hillary as VP. Apparently, Doyle and Clinton have not been on speaking terms lately. However, Al shows the only way Clinton would be on the ticket:
Not that Senator Clinton couldn't make up with her staffer-done-wrong, but to do so she'd have to dump Penn and company and keep them far from the organization. I like the way this is going.
This has been the best explanation I have seen yet. And, I think Mark Penn should never work for a Democratic president, senator or candidate again. We now have some insurance against that, at least at the presidential level.