Meg Greenfield, in her posthumous book Washington, used an extended high school metaphor to describe what goes on in Washington politics. It was depressing as hell. (I loathed high school and was glad to be out of that toxic swamp as quickly as I could.) I thought she was reaching a bit -- perhaps there is yet a small quiver of optimism in my soul -- but maybe not. A commenter at The Left Coaster named felix19 summed up what is going on with the Kool Kids and Dean with a pithy metaphor about schoolyards and bullies. It rings true to me, goddess help us all.

It hurts to say so, but we sometimes need to look at these things in terms of the schoolyard. A bully and his toadies have seized control of the whole school and they are running wild, trashing, burning and looting, beating up weaker kids, taunting everyone. They've terrified all the teachers and the administration, and somehow managed to charm the schoolboard. Everyone is either cowering in fear or expressing their (coerced) approval of the Bully. One of the vice principals has decided enough is enough and is standing up to the Bully. Throwing his shit right back in his face. Practically all the other administrators are trying to shush him or are criticizing his delivery or are really really hoping this guy doesn't succeed and upset everything, because they know that if he wins, things won't be the same any more, and bad as things may be, they are familiar. And familiar is good. But the kids and the teachers and parents who have been subject to the Bully's abuse are cheering the Vice Principal on, giving him advice and support, and doing whatever they can to ensure the reign of terror ends. They have hope.