A harsh glimpse of politics today
It was more hyped than a Game 7, no doubt drawing the attention of many ordinary citizens who rarely, if ever, pause in their daily routines to watch the U.S. House of Representatives in action.
But this had shades of Ali-Frazier as the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee welcomed Peter Strzok like wolves looking at a lamb chop, anxious to sink their teeth into this Trump-hating FBI agent who insisted his loathing of the president did not compromise his investigation of Russian meddling in our 2016 presidential election or of Hillary Clinton’s email activity.
It didn’t take long for the genteel hearing room to take on the ambiance of an Ultimate Fighting octagon.
“I’m one of those ‘smelly hillbillies’ you referenced!” Kentucky Republican James Comer seethed.
Texas Republican Louie Gohmert was even more incensed, alluding to Strzok’s office affair with FBI lawyer Lisa Page, wondering, “How many times did you look into your wife’s eyes and lie?”
That made his Democratic colleagues apoplectic, prompting one to holler it was time for Louie to take his medicine.
It was great theater, until you remembered this was your government at work, not a sitcom or a play or a skit on “Saturday Night Live,” it was instead a bird’s-eye look at the men and women we trust to be our legislative leaders and, oh, was it dismaying.
Rude, boorish, self-absorbed clowns could be found on both sides of the aisle.
As for Strzok, who assured his paramour, Page, that “we’ll stop” Trump’s bid for the presidency, quipping he “could smell Trump voters at Walmart,” he’s clearly a jerk. Where humility might have helped, all he offered was hubris; the man wouldn’t shut up, and the more he talked the more smug he appeared, fully satisfied with himself.
And his feigned indignation over criticism of the FBI rang particularly hollow here in Boston, where elements of the bureau have proven to be more crooked than a dog’s hind leg.
Gone are those glorious days when Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill would battle tooth and nail all day, then meet for a convivial drink at sunset.
Before they were Democrats or Republicans, the Gipper and the speaker were Americans, just like the rest of us.
There was something quite comforting about that.
Who is Peter Strzok like? Who were his inquisitors like? Who were his Pavlovian protectors like? Like you? Like me? Heaven forbid.
Otto von Bismarck once famously suggested the two things we should never want to see made are sausage and legislation.
After Thursday’s mud bath, the sausage seemed much more appealing.