Bait And Switch: Why The National Security Focus Could Work For Republicans

While it is easy to believe that Bush/Cheney really wants interrogation/torture methods that have been rejected by the Pentagon AND that they want to have tribunal provisions that they clearly knew would be resisted by congressional Republicans, perhaps this is just a well orchestrated political move.

(NOTE - This is not meant as a suggestion for the Republicans and I hope this is not what is happening. This is just a warning that we need to watch our optimism in the coming elections)

If I were Karl Rove and I wanted to make sure that the legacy of the Bush Administration is Republican domination of all branches of government perhaps I would propose the following:

1. Reposition Congressional Republicans as a check and balance on the Bush Administration to allow them to run against specific policies while still supporting the Iraq war.
2. Set up a clear Republican frontrunner for the 2008 presidential election.

Then I would do the following:

1. Make deal with Congressional Republicans to agree to let them revise legislation that will be proposed. Once proposed legislation is public they should let the Democrats attack it, but point out the specific items that you will let them change.
2. Propose legislation and include a few items that media will quickly attack.
3. Let Congressional Republicans propose alternative, say you are open to discussion.
4. Quietly encourage Republican leadership to bring their compromise and your original proposal for floor votes. Act humble when your bill fails and Republicans use their vote against the administration in campaigns.
5. Have signing ceremony in Rose Garden with Republican Congressional leaders. Continue to act humble - let them do most of the talking on how they improved your proposals.
6. Accept Rumsfeld's resignation when he complains that the Republicans in Congress are tying his hands.
7. Don't forget to include some torture options in your proposed legislation so McCain can get back in the spotlight. Orchestrate some great photo-ops with him first confronting the President and then embracing after the President "reluctantly" accepts his changes.