Agree with the everybody. In the end Iran-Contra came down to policy and execution differences both between tihe Adminstration and Congress; and even within Congress (there with Democrats who agreed with the polcy if not the execution, and even some who where in the know.)
It wasn't about anyone's personnal gain, or corrupting elections, that's what made it different from the Nixon stuff.
The only way it truely blows up in main street American, is as stated in the thread, finger-pointing, or some money is being diverted to the someone's pocket, or political campaign, or a ture coverup, maybe Poindexter convinces President Reagan to ingore AG Meese's recommendations, go public, admit it, and request an IC, but I just don't see President Reagan doing that.
Or.. Maybe if Congress had held off on hearings (I was involved in Democrat campaigns, state level back then the hearings totally turned it into "dispute over policy" even with hardcore Dems), and someone other than Judge Wash as IC (he had an ax to grind, especially against VP Bush), who actually investigates the legal issues raised, you get a little more reaction, but not much.