TESTIMONY DIATRIBES ARE EFFECTIVE ONLY IF YOU'RE BACKED BY THE RIGHT

One of these names is not like the others:

* Ollie North

* Clarence Thomas

* Brett Kavanaugh

* Peter Strzok

Anyone remember this from a few months ago?



That was an angry, fiery, self-righteous monologue in a high-profile congressional hearing. But unlike Ollie North's Iran-contra testimony, Clarence Thomas's "high-tech lynching" monologue, and Brett Kavanaugh's enraged weepfest on Thursday, Strzok's testimony wasn't a game-changer -- he lost his FBI job and the president is still gunning for the Mueller investigation.

When I watched Strzok in the summer, I assumed he was consciously echoing the strategy of North. But this works only if what you're saying jibes with the political interests of the GOP, the party of male rage. If you are, you can pound your chest in a congressional hearing and be acclaimed a hero based on content and style. But if you're challenging the GOP, forget it -- righteous anger won't help you.