Everyone seems so foamed up about Libby. And although Fitzgerald's work is important, these charges are the tip of an iceberg we may not need to see, in part or in full. Everything that is objectionable, demoralizing, criminal or ineffectual about this administration is already known. From the Florida vote to 9/11 to Iraq to Social Security to Katrina to Harriet Miers to Valerie Plame. It's all out there. It's all known.
The most important task for opponents of this administration is to focus on the Senate and House races in '06. Win the Senate in '06 and in that same year, whittle away at the House for the '08 contest. One thing Bush has proven, again, is that the modern White House can be effectively controlled by an independent Congress, or one that is merely frustrated with White House policy. The Miers nomination proves that. Bush, the wartime darling of his party, has been sent to the doghouse and told not to come back until he has a "real" Supreme Court nominee. (Fill in your idea of real here.)
Two things to work toward: Helping Chuck Schumer and the DSCC raise the needed funds to boot out extremists like Rick Santorum (go to the DSCC website to view a guide for the coming races). Also, draft a blueprint and begin scripting the dialogue that will invite moderate Republicans away from the fundamentalist loony bin that is the Cheney Junta/Republican Party. Democrats will have to be united and clearheaded in ways they have never been before. If the White House is for the taking in '08, fine. If not, I'd rather have the Congress any day.
The war, not scandals involving hacks like Rove and Robert Novak, may be the answer. Remember, Cheney, Rumsfeld, these people were built for war. They are haters. They are destroyers. They are the spiritual leaders of a cause that took the White House in 2000 with but one credential. War. They don't know shitake from shinola about education, infrastructure, health care, the environment, energy policy, transportation, housing, Social Security. You name it. They have no skills whatsoever at any of it, except utilizing defense policy to manipulate the Dow. And look what has happened. The crew that dared to pose in Vanity Fair as the can-do warrior chiefs who were gonna bring in Bin Laden, dead or alive, now seem more Robert McNamara than Douglas MacArthur.
The Senate in '06. The House in '08. To finally flush out an insufferable fool like Hastert, who has stood by as this administration's lapdog while the whole country has suffered, that is the goal. How do we get there? By remembering to separate rank-and-file Republicans from their leadership. Always refer to the thieves and liars that got us into this mess as "the Republican leadership." Tell the real Republicans, the ones who aren't sniffing with contempt at Bush's critics then heading out for 18 holes, the ones who can smell another Vietnam as well as anyone, the ones who recall wistfully Clinton's sound fiscal policy and budget balancing, that we are proud of our troops but sickened by the fight. Even the most Goldwater conservative has got to admit, this war is over.
So, will Bush just stall and leave it to a Democrat to bring them home?