We've always had 'operatives' on here (heck, Tony Snow used to interact here, but he was also upfront with who he was), and the pattern always ramps up in a presidential election year.
One thing that IS different is the nature and in the way some of handles post. Not going to help them by talking about it on the thread, but its sort of "you know them when you see them" sort of thing.
they seemed to wake up when Jim was out sick ...