You and I rarely agree, but on this one we're on the same page regarding your (1) and (2).
I don't know anything about the general.
You should hear Mark daily expose Schmucky Schumer.
The only note I made concerning what he said was to remind another Freeper in a different thread that he did so with the permission of the Commander in Chief, and that it was of a piece with what Justice Thomas found necessary to do with the Senate (when the Democrats ran the place).
I suppose it's a workable technique ~ but it worked much better against the Democrats than the Republicans.