http://tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020610;s=kauffmann061002 Decent review of Attack of the Clones. (Actually, more a review of the Star Wars universe.)
Two other analyses of Star Wars politics: from Salon (in 1999), “Star Wars” despots vs. “Star Trek” populists (about every third paragraph is readable) and from The Weekly Standard, The Case for the Empire: Everything you know about Star Wars is Wrong. (The premise of the second is rather similar to that of this Usenet post from 2000: “star wars trilogy is vicious rebel propaganda.”)
I quite liked Attack of the Clones. I liked the plot. I have described it as “complicated,” but I've discovered people don't agree with me about this. I think what I really mean is “nuanced.” Sure, the plot can be stated in a couple of sentences, but to stir up universe-spanning conflict (including two entire armies!) to make your request for additional powers more reasonable—now that is fascinating. It's completely unprecendented in human history! Imagine if Napoleon, say, pulled some stunt like that? How intriguing would that process be? 13:16