Macchiavelli would be proud.

So here's my take on this whole deal about the House spiking the adoption of the 9/11 Commission-recommended reforms.

The Republican Party owns everything. If there's something they want to do, they do it. Likewise, if the President (or, more properly, the administration) wants something done, it should be no difficult matter making it happen. Why, then, Bush's public handwringing over this issue. "But I wanted it! It was a good idea! Waaah!"

Quite simple.

He doesn't want it. Never did, never has, never will.

But this way, he can make it look to the public as if he was a good guy, because the public generally wants the reforms. And he can kill it.

Now that everyone reads from the same script, such things are easy. They can manufacture struggles, controversies, etc., to manipulate public opinion. It all goes back to 1984 ... not to mention Brazil.

What's the alternative? That the administration has no influence with the legislators from its own party? This is almost worse. It turns the stomach.