I mostly agree with this.  I think pushing the Plame issue is important because it exposes something about the Bush administration which is irrefutable - that they use bullying and smear tactics to gain legislative leverage.  This goes back to why Jeffords left the Republican Party.  And why Gephardt was fool enough to negotiate that Iraq deal with Bush when others were still fighting over it.  And why the Democrats have trouble winning elections even when their positions are popular.

But it has to be caged with a larger, clear articulate message and I haven't seen that come out of Democrats for some time.  The DLC approach to me is to say nothing controversial in order to gain power.  But power is useless without a will to use it.