Democrats score one:

We were surprised to read the following post by Harley over at the conservative blog t a c i t u s:

Okay. I'm trying to kick the habit, and it's taking up way too much of everybody's time, but sometimes the political and the theatrical come together in a way that's hella fun for everybody.

Max Cleland and Jim Rassman are goin' on a road trip!

I have to admit, again, as theater, I love this. I also think it's whip smart. I also know, quite possibly, that it will lead the news, if only because it offers up a fairly astounding picture. The Viet Nam war vets, one in a wheelchair, arriving at the President's phoney ranch to give him a very real smackdown.

Couple questions. I'm assuming you can't just walk up and ring the doorbell, tho' I love that idea. Do Secret Service agents stop them at the front gate? Will Laura appear to tell them that George is napping, but she'll deliver the letter for them? Does Mother Bush emerge from whatever brush her son hasn't photo-op'd into oblivian and give Max's wheelchair and good kick in the spokes?

The letter they are hand-delivering -- take that, US Postal Service! -- is signed by at least seven Dem senators, demands that Shrub publicly condemn the Swifties using more than the words 'that ad.'

For some reason, I keep seeing Chevy Chase as the Land Shark on SNL, looming outside some innocent's door, he knocks, they wonder who's there, and we hear his muffled reply: "Candygram."

First time this mess has made me smile in weeks.

And these comments for that post: (remember, anybody can comment, so this is not a reflection of t a c i t u s' position)

My GOD, what a screebling pathetic git of a man. Sends troopers in flak jackets to bar a triple-amputee from his door?! Bush the First would've let Cleland in. Reagan would've let him in, and invited the press to watch him charm the fellow. Hell, even NIXON would've at least taken the frickin letter. Any of 'em would've shown some class, and maybe even turned the encounter to their advantage. It's just a letter fer chrissake. Signed by Senators and delivered by a decorated vet. And Bush hides out like he's gonna catch cooties or something.

Boy that Max Cleland tactic is brilliant. GWB should have tried that. He could have sent his Mom over to Michalel Moore's house(million dollar apt) and asked him to stop picking on her son. Ahh, leave it to the Dems to be creative.

Ginsberg resignation, Swifties credibilty shot, the lame attempt to deflect attention from the first two simply won't wash. But boy I bet Rove was workin' overtime the last 24 hours. I wonder how many careers he threated to destroy?

... the Texas Standoff. This is great theater. Following a resignation -- which always has more impact than it should, but that's the way to goes. We've got Bush campaign officials heading for the exits, and two vets, one in a wheelchair, delivering a letter from seven senators asking Shrub to stop the smear that...wait for it....led to the resignation in the first place. So. We highlight that if you wanna find the President, you're gonna find him at home, not at the WH where he belongs. We put Shrub on the spot, and he really really hates that. And we pick up the third or fourth news cycle in a row.

Bush is in a no-win situation. If he does not allow them in, the media will be showing Senator Cleland in his wheelchair, an obvious security threat to the President, outside the gates in the sweltering heat. If he allows them in, you get the visual of Bush receiving the letter and him being forced to directly respond. Either way, sheer brilliance and part of the counter-attack we spoke about a few days ago and as promised by Oliphant.

posted by Quiddity at 8/26/2004 12:35:00 AM