History SHOULD show that this is one of the most important elections in recent political history --for both parties. Had W lost, there would have been a firestorm in R party that would have torn it in half. But, neo-conservatives were validated, and Rove's culural war was a devastating success.
The Ds now have their firestorm to deal with. Shrum is an idiot. How may times will he be proven so before Ds figure it out? McCaullife is a disaster: blowing THREE consecutive elections that should have been won.
08 presents an interesting dilemma for the GOP. But I suspect it will solve itself when Cheney steps down in 07 and W handpicks a replacement VP, who will become the nominee in 08 (Jeb, Frist, or Rudy).
I like Edwards, but he is dead meat - the most insignificant national figure in recent memory. The Clinton machine will begin to eat him alive today and not stop until he is dead. Its Hillary in 08 if she wants it. If not her then who? Believe it or not, I think Kerry is the obvious choice. I respect him, and believe he would be a FANTASTIC president.
Let's face reality: Rs have taken over. It started when Goldwater lost. The R-establishment started afresh. They created think tanks and got to work. Gingrich, in 1994, was the start of the new R-strategy to devide the country on cultural (i.e., religious/moral) grounds. Bush, who had a miserable record in 3 1/2 years was pratically unbeatable b/c, despite how bad his record was, he was still the better alternative to any gay-loving, gun-hating, god-hater the Dems could throw out: even a war hero (at least that's the caricature perpetrated on the American voter). You see, its quite simple, it doesn't matter what Bush does or says, as long as he is on God's side, and spews the approproiate rhetoric: God, guns, lawyers-suck, gay people should have NO rights (unless they are related to you), etc.
We need a new strategy, and the answer is NOT Howard Dean (not as if there's anything wrong with idolizing him). Let's work together, not against. Let's mobilize, organize, and, develop winning startegies. If our extremes define us, or allow our opponnents to do so, we will lose again. Are they anymore creative than us? I say no.
Let's get to work.