in a hypothetical 2004 rematch. At that enormous margin we're talking about winning 40+ states. What are the Democrats hoping for, to nail Bush in 2004 on poor economic results? If that failed miserably in Nov. 2002, what realistic chance will it have two years from now, with the economy now recovering and expanding out of recession?

Given the recent sharp left turn by the Democrats, plus the puzzling decison to have their 2004 convention in an old-style liberal East coast city, in the country's most liberal state, strike me as perhaps throwing in the towel and waiting for a Democratic political rebirth in 2008, lead by whomever wisely remains out of the spotlight in 2004.