But I can't escape the feeling that the silence isn't for lack of talking points (seen all the usual ones right here on DU this weekend from their programmed followers) but instead this is a deliberate strategy.

The pros know they can't fight this one head on because the usual tactics will not work. People are too pissed off and their usual belligerency will backfire. Anything they say will be used against them this time.

So they just back off so they don't create any more debacles. Wait for an appropriate amount of time -- I predict the first moves in the week after Christmas with a full out blitz after the new year. Perhaps an ad campaign about defence against people like this. You can be damned sure that despite the silence those money channels in the back room are still nearly overflowing.

They certainly are not going to say: "You know what, our bad!"