After decades of low level animosity the two wings of the democratic party.. classic liberals, liberals and leftists on one side and centrist, economically conservative, and 'bluedog' democrats on the other side are beginning to show signs of open war for the heart of the party.
Over the last quarter century only its fragile grip on the reins of power has kept the Democratic party intact. During the Reagan era democrats were terrified to openly do battle with each other for fear of the extreme right wing shift taking place. Under Bush the Democrats believed they had a chance at taking power back, and to some extent did and this in the end kept the left quiet even as the party began to move right under Clinton. Finally with the theft of the 2000 election the battle was staved off a few more years as Democrats rallied together in desperation. But whoever wins the next election it is quite likely there will be open warfare in the democratic party.
Should Dean be selected candidate, even if he picks a darling of the DLC like Clark as vp, and lose.. the loss will be attributed to the left. Despite Deans obvious centrist policies the media has branded him 'left' and should we lose in 2004, the cries of 'i told you so' from DLC supporters can be expected to be loud. Should, on the other hand, Dean win you can expect the left of the party to demand the DLC'ers and even "conservative democrats" be purged from positions of power.
At this point it appears that Dean will be the clear nominee, though his VP is still up in the air. And the fact that an unknown democrat slandered daily by the press ties or defeats Bush in most many of the more reputable polls even before most of the electorate has been introduced to him bodes well for the election.
But once the election is over. What will happen to the Democratic party? Twenty more years of moving right and abandoning our principles except a handfull of extreme positions? Or moving back to the partys' ideological base? Or will it, in the end , be the end of the Democratic party and the rise of something new. An actual opposition party.