Todd Gitlin wonders if there's a rationale for the behavior in the Republican party right now, and (correctly, I think) surmises that stalling any kind of effective government or economic progress until the next election provides them with the best possible opportunity to increase their numbers in Congress. But it's more than that.

It's important to bear in mind that for the Lucrascenti (my name for the moneyed interests who really run the country,) chaos is not at all a bad outcome--and in fact offers its own opportunities for agenda advancement. For one thing, it's easier to steal money when you're not responsible for accounting for it.

Freed from the need to make sense, the establishment strategists can facilitate chaos and embrace every opportunity to point out that it's happening on Obama's watch. Obama ran on the idea that he would create positive change and clean up the mess left by the Republicans. As long as the Republican loyal following can't tell whether Obama is succeeding or failing, the establishment can count on a return to power once Obama's had his "turn."

Considered from this point of view, Republican shenanigans do more to discredit Obama than they do to discredit the Republicans, BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS AREN'T IN POWER.

Joe Wilson disses the Prez? Prez can't control his congress. Economy still in trouble? What a failure Obama is. Afghanistan faltering? Soft on defense. Dissent in the Democratic ranks about how to do healthcare? Prez can't control his own guys. Golly, don't look at to us Republicans, we're having problems of our own right now.

It's all a sham, brought to you by the people who realized that stopping the production of oil in Iraq was even better for business than having it continue.

And in a couple of years it'll be time to shake off the cobwebs and advance the "mandate" again.

The crucial thing to remember is that this particular establishment strategy (I don't like to call it a Republican strategy because I think the establishment happens to use the Republican party as a convenience.) Anyway, to start that sentence again, the crucial thing to remember is that this establishment strategy isn't just aimed at discrediting Democrats, it's aimed at discrediting the idea that good/effective government, economic stability for ordinary people, fair taxation, etc. are possible at all.

Think in terms of lowering the price of the average person's vote by lowering the average person's expectations.