[Miss Marple]

Bingo. It is a term coined specifically to arouse the paranoia on both the far left and the far right (as we have seen in innumerable postings here). It was done deliberately and I thin Crusty is the culprit.

[Golan Trevize]

...and I thin Crusty is the culprit.

Is this an option to the Deep Dish Pan Crusty? ;-)

I don't know who first coined the term "shadow government" for this particular operation, but it sure is curious how it's become the term du jour for every news orifice in the country.

Do you suppose if the administration had decided to call this "Operation: Best Government Idea Ever" that term would have been used as prolifically?

Doubt it.