Operation Hilarity has drawn quite a bit of fire from certain folks on this site. I believe that the discussion of the pros and cons of the issue is a good thing that only benefits us.
But at the end of a day, politics is a dirty business. You can't be involved and keep your hands clean. And Democrats staying "above the fray" has seemed to benefit the Republicans more than anyone else.
Some anti-Hilarity folks have said that if we end up with a President Santorum, the Democrats who crossed over in Michigan are to blame.
I respond by asking this - if this President can't beat Rick Santorum in a general election, what would that say about his strength as a candidate?
Ultimately, we may not have written the rules of battle, but we have to fight nonetheless. And if we're going to march in a straight line while the rebels shoot from behind trees and bushes, surely we deserve to get shot if we can't adapt to the new, uncivilized form of war.
So today, I tore a page out of the Republican playbook and used it against them. If Santorum wins Michigan, you can say that the Republicans were hoisted on their own petard.
If this fight gets dragged out, it's not only going to help this President. Against the Republican field, Barack Obama is in Edwin Edwards territory - the only way he's going to lose at this point is if they catch him in bed with a dead girl or a live boy.
Where this will help is in downticket races. As Republicans continue the circular firing squad, GOP congressmen and other candidates will have to take sides. A vulnerable Republican congressman or Senator could be hit with "friendly fire" and you may see Democrats, bolstered by a moderate President vs. a radical challenger at the top of the ticket, sweep to a 1998-esque win in downticket races.
So this morning I proudly cast my ballot for Rick Santorum. This primary election has been the gift that keeps on giving - and I want it to give just a slight bit more.