In Attack of the Clones, we never really find out the motive behind the assassination plot that serves as the major plot motivator. It’s implied that Count Dooku arranged for Senator Amidala to be killed to convince the Viceroy of the Trade Federation to join his Separatists, which would certainly be beneficial for the Sith… but there’s someone else who would really benefit from having Amidala out of the way. With the Senator gone, either dead or under protection, her responsibilities fall to the junior Senator from Naboo, Jar Jar Binks. In fact, since Amidala was opposed to the creation of a Republic military, the Sith’s plans could never have happened without Jar Jar heading the Naboo delegation.
But here’s where it gets interesting for me. Late in the film, right after Anakin leaves to attempt to rescue Obi-Wan on Geonosis, we get a scene in Palpatine’s office, where a few members of the Senate are debating using the clone army Obi-Wan had discovered earlier. Bail Organa says that the Senate will never approve of using the army… and as he finishes speaking, we get a close-up shot of Jar Jar, who shifts his eyes to the next speaker before he begins talking- the next speaker being Palpatine’s large blue alien friend, the one to first suggest giving the Chancellor emergency powers. Pretty suspicious.
The icing on the cake is later on, when Jar Jar submits his proposal to the Senate (a speech punctuated by a lot of potentially mind trick-aiding hand gestures). As he finishes his speech and bows, many of the other Senators start to boo… until he looks up, and gives them all a smile as he shifts his eyes around the room, whereupon the cheers in agreement start to drown them out. Palpatine then stands up, and says how reluctant he is to allow the calling for this proposal. “I love democracy,” he says. Then, just before his voice strengthens and he calls for the creation of a “Grand Army of the Republic” (the Gungans, by the way, already using the term “Grand Army” for their own military), we get a shot of, that’s right, JAR JAR BINKS, who gives Palpatine a small nod of reassurance.
I’ve got to admit, watching the prequels with this theory in mind, I’m starting to get pretty convinced!!!