This Benghazi! climax may not be shaping up the way Trey Gowdy planned it. He got what he wanted, Hillary Clinton under oath, on live TV.
So why is he the one who is sweating?
First of course is the knowledge on everyone's part that this hearing is a cheap political ploy. It was barely a secret before, but now everyone in the country knows. Ms. Clinton can mention that inconvenient fact in her testimony.
I'm more of a Bernie Sanders fan than a Hillary fan, but she could spot Trey Gowdy 60 IQ points and the first three moves, and still beat him at tic-tac-toe. Whatever failings Hillary may have, dumbness, especially Gowdy level dumbness, it not one of them. Hillary is smart, way smart.
And prepared.
Hillary has known for a long time this is coming. She no doubt studied and has at hand the transcripts of every previous Benghazi! hearing, so she can answer many of the questions by referring to those already asked and answered, which will further expose the shallowness of the "investigation." Did I mention that she is really smart?
I think she now sees this hearing, not as a political attack, but as a free televised opportunity for her to look and sound presidential, and as a side effect, make the GOP look silly. I would bet she looks forward to it, and I'll bet her numbers go up on Friday.
I suggest she deliver an opening statement to the effect that unlike Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney at the 9/11 hearings, she is happy to testify under oath.
Be careful what you wish for, Mr. Gowdy. Sometimes you get it.