Leaders of the Mob

John at Power Line expresses puzzlement at Democratic strategy:

The Democrats appear to be putting all their eggs in the pre-war intelligence basket, but why? Certainly not because they actually believe it's a legitimate issue.
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The point seems to be to drive down President Bush's approval ratings.
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But how does this strategy, even if it works, make sense? Bush doesn't have to run again. The Dems should be focused on next year's Senate and House elections. But it's hard to believe the "pre-war intelligence" theme will be effective next November.
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I think perhaps the Democrats in the Senate are trying to distract their activist base from the reality of their own impotence.

Dafydd at Big Lizards has a different take -- the Democrats have no plan. They are simply deranged and living in a fantasy world.

While I think that there is some truth to both explanations, I want to offer a third. Unfortunately, I can't recall the author or the context, but somewhere in the dank recesses of my mind I remember a story about a Frenchman eating at a sidewalk table at a Paris cafe. In the distance, an angry mob rushes down the street in the midst of protesting something. The Frenchman jumps up and explains to his companions that he must leave. "There goes the mob. I am their leader. I must join them."

I think the Democrats in D.C. are demonstrating all the leadership qualities of that Frenchman. The left-wing mob is rushing off in full protest mode and they are desperately trying to keep in step in order to maintain the pretense of leadership. They aren't trying to distract the liberal faithful from recognizing their impotence in affecting policy so much as they are desperately trying to fool themselves into thinking that they still have a leadership role with liberal voters.