Masters of disaster?

Remember Bill Clinton's "war room" in 1992? George Stephanopoulos and James Carville attempted to shoot down negative publicity about their candidate as soon as possible.

Generally, they were quite successful.

In 1993, documentarians D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus made a very good film about the political war room.

Now, in an odd twist, film maker Michael Moore has created his own war room to address negative publicity associated with his movie "Fahrenheit 9/11" -- and hired political consultants Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane to serve as his generals.

"We will allow no attack on this film to go without an immediate response," Moore said. "And we will go without mercy for anyone who slanders me or my work."

George Herbert Walker Bush recently called Moore a "slimeball," so the attacks are bound to receive a great deal of attention.

Some Bush supporters have petitioned the FEC to stop Moore from advertising his film -- on the grounds that it violates federal election law!

Readers may remember that I mentioned Fabiani and Lehane just a few days ago, since their work is highlighted in an Atlantic article on campaign opposition research.

The consultants think of themselves as "masters of disaster."

The best defense is a good offense? The National Security Strategy of the United States (September 2002) says so:

...we recognize that our best defense is a good offense...

I guess Moore has learned something by studying the Bushies.


Update: Dan Drezner has more.