The GOP has been able to maintain ideologial purity, in large part, by chosing leaders from safe districts in the heart of their "base". Lott, Frist, and DeLay have never had to compromise the party's message or tactics for the sake of personal electoral gain. They could wake up with the proverbial live boy or dead girl and still get reelected the following cycle. Even Hastert, from blue state Illinois, hails from a solid GOP district.
The Dems, on the other hand, are handicapped by having Daschle and Reid in command. Both senators are perpetually vulnerable, requiring them to subjugate the Democratic Party agenda in favor of their own parochial interests. I have always been a fan of Daschle and admire the guy. But, he can't focus on running the party's Senate operation. He needs to look out for himself first. And, hailing from a red state, his interests will often conflict with the party's wider message.
So, we get a Democrat blasting the Mass SJC's gay marriage decision, supporting Trent Lott, and supporting the budget-busting and special interest giveaway energy bill.
You can bet DeLay and Frist never have to sweat this things. You can bet they will never have to compromise their party's agenda for their own personal gain.
So Daschle has to go. But not until after the 2004 cycle. We need him to win reelection, and a palace coup beforehand would weaken his hand.
But come 2005, it's time to clean house. We need a leader from a solid blue state. Someone who has been a clear advocate of the Democratic Party message and a strong fighter. Someone like NY's Schumer or IL's Durbin. Perhaps even MD's Mikulski, current conference chair. Or, dare I say it, Hillary?
Will the GOP try to smear a more "liberal" Dem leader? Sure, but they haven't been able to make such criticisms stick against that "San Francisco liberal" Pelosi. And if we're going to live in fear of what the Republicans might say about us, then we might as well pack it in.
We are a big tent, and we won't have every Democrat on every issue. We should be willing to accept that as a cost of being a diverse party. But our leadership shouldn't have to fear being Democratic, afraid of what their Bush-voting constituents back home might think.
Again, patience is a virtue. And right now, we have bigger fish to fry with the 2004 presidential election. But once we have the White House, all bets are off. It'll be time for new Senate leadership.