Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

Things have been far too well co-ordinated for mere coincidence of late.  I wish I could do more than speculate, but I can't.  But the Democratic response--overwhelmingly accurate and quick, far moreso than anything they've done in YEARS--leads me to think that someone had contingency plans in place for just such a moment as we have now.  Or, even more interestingly, perhaps some high placed Democratic source was able to get information on what Pat Fitzgerald was up to and/or who Bush was planning to nominate.

Let's follow the chain, shall we?

October 28, 2005:  Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald indicts I. Lewis Libby, top aide to Dick Cheney for obstruction of justice and perjury in the Valerie Plame outing investigation.  The Bush Administration, already suffering from its lowest numbers since September 10, 2001, is sent further reeling.

October 29, 2005:  Former President Bill Clinton makes a dramatic speech calling upon Democrats to "stop being such fucking pussies, grow a goddamn spine and FIGHT BACK.  People won't respect you unless you do."

Okay, he didn't really say that exactly.  But it was the subtext of speech.  Hell, it was right on the surface, but said in that oh-so-smooth and intelligent Bill Clinton kind of way.  The speech gains widespread notice and much approval from the Democratic rank and file.  It also marks an interesting and unexpected departure for the Great Triangulator and King of Moderation.

October 31, 2005:  George Bush nominates Samuel "Scalito" Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.  The choice is the most controversial nomination since Clarence Thomas, if not Robert Bork.  The pick clearly shows that Bush, under the weight of scandal surrounding his administration and pressure from the ChristoFascistNeoConZombieBrigade, believes he has found the perfect man to placate his base while changing the subject.  After all, picking such a man with views so far outside the mainstream of most of the American public (fanatically anti-choice and in favor of strip searches for pre-pubescent girls) can do nothing if not spark a heated debate, hopefully taking the public's eye on the ongoing work of Fitzgerald.

November 1, 2005:  In a breathtaking move of political jiu-jitsu Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid forces the Senate into closed session to address matters relating to the utter failure of intelligence during the runup to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.  In the press conferance that follows, Reid utterly destroys all right-wing talking points on the matter and flips the old political status quo on its head.  The unexpected move accomplishes all that could be expected or hoped for.  It brings the failure of the Iraq intelligence back to the forefront, it brings the Plame lead investigation back to the limelight and it incidentally shoves the controversy of Alito's nomination to page A-22 where news of Iraq had previously been.

Thus, with one move Reid completely hamstrung all Republican efforts to regain the initiative and still managed to fire a warning shot across the Republican bow with regard to the Democratic Party's backbone when it comes to Supreme Court nominations.  If Reid and the Dems can do this, they can also stand against any "nuclear" threat.  


PLUS...he managed to get an investigation finally launched into the Iraq war lies.  Damn. That's a pretty fucking good maneuver.

BUT WAIT!  We're not done yet...just hours after Reid blew Frist and Company off the map, Nancy Pelosi marshalled the troops and went on the attack in the House with like results.

Folks...given the general pathetic ineptitude of Congressional Democrats the past several years, this cannot have been concidence.  This is the bunch that has elevated fucking up to an art form.

No, my friends, this was planned well in advance.  Everything about it--from Clinton suddenly becoming an Attack Dog the day after Libby was indicted to Reid and Pelosi's brutal Congressional one-two punch--bespeaks of a Master Plan conceived by someone(s).  Whether it was done at the DNC or in the offices of Congress, I know not but fervently wish I did.  I, for one, am in awe at the sudden turnaround and reversal of fortune.  I was using the Sun Tzu quotes above mostly for over-the-top comic effect, particularly the second one.  Obviously, the Democratic disorder has hardly been feigned.  (Though if it has been, I'll be really fucking pissed.  But there's about as much chance of that as there is Libby ever breathing free air again.  BURN!)  

Finally...for God's sake AT LONG LAST...the Democratic Party leadership showed foresight, backbone and an uncanny sense of timing.  It has been a long time coming, but now that it's here...it feels good.  

Even if this doesn't mark the titanic, permanent shift that some are predicting and all of us are hoping for...it marks a turning point in one sense.  We've witnessed the day when the Democrats in Congress stood up as one and said, "Enough!  We are the opposition and we're going to behave like one.  We're going to represent our constituents.  We have a voice in this government and you thugs and bullies have shut us out for long enough.  Choose your weapon and throw down."

UPDATE: You know, if you really want to get downright tinfoily, this whole thing may have gone back to Reid maneuvering Harriet Miers right out of the Supreme Court and onto the dustbin of history. I think it's safe to say his endorsement helped destroy her value as a nominee and potential Supreme Court justice in many wingnut eyes. (Tip of the hat to sdf at Political Cortex for planting that seed in my head.)