Hey, Mary Anne, sounds like you've been reading some of the same books I've read lately. We may look back on losing in 2004 as the best thing that ever happened to the Democratic Party. I think a critical mass of the right leaders (below the top level) got the message in spades and they're on the right track in their current musings about how to get better.

The Republicans won the last several elections by cynically editing their message for maximum appeal, and obscuring the parts of their agenda that they knew would be unpalatable to the majority. The Democrats have been reminded that their strength all along has been to tell their story as clearly and as truthfully as possible. They made a huge mistake indeed letting Republicans control the message.

But Tom, hey, you and the Right go right on slumbering, snug in your cocoon of self-congratulatory rhetoric. No threat to conservative hegemony gaining on you, no sirree, nothing to worry about, just relax and go on sneering and snoring.

We'll wake you in 2006...