It’s all about misdirection and an attempt to re-trigger BDS.
You ask “to what gain?”, and I say, there really doesn’t need to be gain, only retriggering of Bush hatred. That well isn’t used up yet, it may not be until 2012.
Whether the effigy was created by a Dem idiot or a Rep idiot, there’s no contest in terms of the MSM being able, with zero evidence and zero accountability, to paint it as the move of one or more racist, right-wing extremists. They will trot out Olberman, Maddow, Garofolo and Ed Schultz, maybe even Tom Friedman, Larry King will have some ex-Klansmen on, and it will be a complete circle jerk of the most puerile and baseless insinuation imaginable. Imaginable by them, not by anyone wishing to remain objective.
There will be a new DOJ investigation begun into newly burgeoning hate groups, perhaps even a newly designated permanent group. Barbara Boxer will renew her call for enhanced hate-crime legislation and proudly cite this as just the latest example of decades and decades of horrible crimes committed against those less fortunate, you know, the same ones who cannot afford their health care. And they will continue this media circle jerk until Axelrod believes that the Xmas bomber thing has been bumped off the front page. This is a false flag operation, clearly. There will be a whole new raft of questions on handout sheets distributed to reporters to slavishly ask/bemoan, at 0bama’s next few pressers, “what can we do about this incessant, horrible racism in this country?” And then the Maxine Waters and Jesse Jacksons and Sharptons of the world will pile on. And the Xmas terror thing will just be systematically shoved off the front page. They may even arrest some piece(s) of trailer trash and parade him/them around on TV.
You’ll forgive me for being cynical, but to me, this couldn’t be more blatant. The good thing for them is how clumsy they can be and still get away with it, because no way no how can they ever be questioned about it.
Sadly enough, I can see everything playing out as you describe...you have studied the left’s media routine very well.
The only thing I’m wondering...Olbermann, Maddow, Waters, King, Sharpton...could we have finally reached the point where the independents (not the moonbats) -— with everything going on from unemployment to terrorist attacks to health care -— finally stop listening to people like them and their same old song?
Could the race card now elicit a collective groan?