The Bitch Slap Theory

Josh Marshall has a good post about the recent Cheney-Pelosi dust-up. Cheney alleged that Pelosi was validating Al-Qaeda's strategy in Iraq; Pelosi whined that this was "beneath the dignity of the debate we're engaged in." I'll let Josh explain:

The point of the whole exercise is not the underlying issue of Pelosi but what the exchange is supposed to demonstrate about both players -- that Cheney is strong (he hits) and Pelosi is weak (she complains when attacked.)

Josh would probably endorse Obama's attitude to Cheney when he ridiculed him yesterday for his statements regarding the British troop withdrawal from the Iraqi south. Said Obama: "When Dick Cheney says it's a good thing, you know that you've probably got some big problems."

But this also reminds me of something David Mamet once said: the problem with the Democrats is that they never raise the bet. Why not say that Dick Cheney is a loose cannon, and that a strong executive would rein him in? Say he's the administration's crazy uncle. Dare President Bush to either endorse or reject Cheney's statements. They're playing a losing hand -- 2006 told us that. The only reason Cheney is allowed to say things like that is because only their base pays attention to him.

When you've got a winning hand raise the bet.