Reply #77: I don't think their audience is the American people primarily, but the [View All]

[Garbo 2004]

media. The media will cover it, pushing those other investigations with unpleasant headlines and criticisms aside as they turn to chew on the latest story. And the noise machine goes on.

Note that the American public, according to contemporary polls, wasn't wildly in favor of invading Iraq. In fact, IIRC, it was predominantly against starting a war. The American public's views didn't matter.

I think in part Frist/Hastert's move is an attempt to control the story the media is focused on. And also again a surrogate Administration attack on the CIA elements and others in the intel community that do not fall in line behind the Administration. Darth gave Roberts marching orders before we know to stifle investigations. Wonder if he's also behind this Republican sudden interest in defending classified info and investigating leaks? It's a twofer for the administration. But inevitably it also places more focus on the existence of US gulags and the subject of torture. Which maybe still keeps a story they don't want front and center.

Hopefully this is another Administration miscalculation.