She stands up easily, and gets in his face. "And in case you're wondering, I will definitely hit a cripple." And playing it exactly wrong, exactly the way he wanted, better than he could have hoped, she addresses the whole room: "Or anyone else." He's overjoyed to see her going, and drops one more bomb, just to chase off the last of the stragglers and play to the cheap seats: "So I guess a pity frak's out of the question, then?" The kind of people he wants will laugh; the kind of people he doesn't will leave. And they do, and they do, and when it's done he's formed an army. "Somebody close that hatch. Let's talk."

Then comes the best Zarek scene ever, because he's so good at what he does, and because this is one time where he's just right. About all of it. There's one admirably creepy Frank Luntz semiotics deal where he keeps repeating the phrase "Roslin/Adama Administration" the way Republicans do, to accumulate vague and various connotations of fucked-upness, but I can respect that. Especially since it does about sixty things at once, including bringing in the historical Adama Privilege and reminding everyone that he is the hostile shadow cabinet version of a Vice President: It's not Roslin/Adama, it's Roslin/Zarek, so it sounds wrong to your ear, so they focus on why, and the why is the crux of the point, which is that Roslin and Adama -- any old Adama -- will always usurp and consolidate power. Why, look, they've even done it to the Quorum Chairman, he's saying. I'm on your side, he's saying, without ever saying it. Brilliant. So here's his speech, under the guise of a motion, and no matter how many sad little pouty faces Lee makes, every word is true.

"In prison, you start to confuse your hopes and dreams with reality. You start to believe that because you want something to happen -- parole, a pardon, appeal, a writ -- you start to believe that it will happen. You live on wishes. The way things should be, instead of the way they are. And all because you can't face reality. The leaders of this Fleet are succumbing to wishful thinking because they can't face reality. And the reality is that the Roslin/Adama administration... Has led us nowhere. Earth was a mirage, a fantasy they dangled in front of us for four long years in order to maintain power. A fantasy they dreamed up as a way to hold on and control the government over the democratic wishes of the population. So now what is our feckless and dispirited leadership doing to solidify their position, after failing us so miserably? Turning to the Cylons -- the Cylons -- for help. Aren't the Cylons the reason we're out here in the first place? Aren't they the enemy? Or are they suddenly our friends, if that helps keep Roslin/Adama in power?"