Know what motivates Darryl Issa.
Rep. Darryl Issa is losing his mind over Joe Sestak. He thinks something sinister has happened. Does he actually believe that people that have ever worked in the public sector - or even show interest in working in the public sector - shouldn't ever be offered a job? Or is there another motivating factor, something deep inside that is driving him crazy.
Let's dig a bit deeper.
As you may know, in California the thing that Rep. Darryl Issa is best known for (besides being a true right wing douche from a deep red district full of tea baggers) was that he was the driving force behind the recall of CA Gov. Gray Davis (D), one year after Gov. Davis' re-election.
But not only that... He financed the recall effort himself (Issa had made millions selling car alarms, despite having legal problems about himself being a car thief) and positioning himself to be the front-runner in the special election... which he was... until Schwarzenegger jumped in to the race.
When Schwarzenegger jumped in to the race, Issa's chances were killed. He stepped out of the way in the face of the media frenzy. Schwarzenegger had been on Leno. Issa was never going to compete. This was the race in which Arianna Huffington ran for Governor. This was the race in which actor Gary Coleman (RIP) actually came in 8th place.
But, back to the recall...
Issa had led and bankrolled the recall and felt that he was owed the Governorship by the Republican Party. He felt betrayed by Schwarzenegger and cried -- I mean, he blubbered -- in his speech when he withdrew. I'm hoping to find a copy of that speech. I don't think I've ever seen a politician cry so much. He was bitter, he was choking down the tears. You could see it in his eyes -- he felt backstabbed, he felt like he was owed.
Too bad he didn't hold out for a deal. Go out fighting. The Republican machine was in full swing, full power. They could have given him anything. But they didn't because he rolled over and played nice and the Republican machine passed him by the the sucker he was.
The fact a deal wasn't offered to him may likely explain why the Sestak thing is now such a thing for him. Not the moving of US Attorneys across the political chessboard during the BushCo years and the dangerous criminalization of our political system that it brought. Nary a peep from Issa, still playing nice.
But this Sestak thing. Oh, you can see it. It touches a raw nerve. It brings back the old emotions.
Issa feels that he coulda been a contender. He coulda been the Governor of Calleefornya. That was his shot. He takes down a Gov, takes his place, and, hell, two terms later everyone is talking about him -- Issa! -- for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination. In his mind he is the front runner. But, you know what, they're not talking about him. Because he stepped aside. He played ball, but the Republican Party left the field.
So he has to make some noise. Maybe they will come back on the field.
He's still a lowly Congressman. He's playing what he thinks is the only card to come to him in a long, long time.
But in the end, Issa is still bitter. Still owed.