If history is a predictor, the DNC will try to draw as many "Republican lite" comparisons as possible, shooting themselves in the other foot.

That said- 

Frist has sooo many openings to shoot at, even Cheney couldn't miss.  Just conjure up the image of a commercial for "Dr. Frist's video diagnosis".....

Allen would show himself to be a gibbering fool as soon as a debate started and he was off a talking point.

Romney would be the challenge- what kind of openings are in his armor?       

Alphonse ( Al ) Kada

Here's what we do:

1.  We need Democratic Governors to speak up as much as Democratic Members of Congress.  The face of the Democratic establishment in Washington is way too similar to the Republican face--old, entrenched and in bed with special interest.  In contrast, we've got a good number of Democratic Governors and gubernatorial candidates who represent the near future of the party.  Speaking from a Mid-Atlantic standpoint, I'd rather have Tim Kaine and Martin O'Malley carrying the water than Steny Hoyer, Jim Moran and Robert Byrd.

Furthermore, Democratic Governors are right now building a track record of fiscal responsibility that contrasts well with the Bush administration.  Why aren't we hammering on this?

2. Gag Howard Dean.  The guy seems to unintentionally offend some demographic (see: "White Christians" or "pickup-truck drivers") or make himself more of an issue than the issue itself every time he opens his mouth.  Dr. Dean, stick to fundraising and leave the messaging to someone with more tact.  Frankly, he'd do well to appoint a "DNC spokesperson" who in effect speaks on his behalf on the Sunday shows, etc.  And please make that person a Midwesterner--not from New England.

3.  The way to get at Mitt Romney is through the Massachusetts legislature.  Put a few controversial bills on his desk and see what he does.  Stem cells, Plan B availability, Canadian drugs (where's he's wishy-washy), etc.  If he accepts those proposals, he's doomed in the primaries.  If he vetoes them or otherwise significantly undermines them, we've got general election fodder.

4.  Do exactly what Tim Russert tried to do to Allen this morning--brand him a "Bush" Republican.  This would be tough to do againse McCain, even with his recent defending of the President, simply because of the previous bad blood between them (not to mention the torture debate).  Allen, frankly, seems the most likely nominee to me as of right now.  Of course, a Republican loss in '06 could swing things toward McCain and the others seen as moderates.

5.  Why is no one talking about Pataki? Here's a guy who has the best of both worlds--He's got some of the 9/11 feel-goods that Giuliani has, but vetoed the morning-after pill and only supports civil unions, not gay marriage.  He pulled 2.7% of the SRLC straw vote without even addressing the group.  It may be time to at least put him on the radar screen.

bluebell

What do you mean he "vetoed the morning after pill"?

"effete elites"?  o c'mon. now you sound like a Kansas republican Fred Phelps with that tack.

Mitt Romney is plenty "virile" -- he has a beautiful and loyal wife and several good lookinig kids.

What he DOESN'T have is any credibility. All we need do is put his gubernatorial campaign promises next to his gubernatorial record in Massachusetts. He's an opportunist of the worst kind. Being Gov. in mass was just "punching his ticket" on his way to the Whitehouse.

He's barely even a Massachutten -- one of his biggest battles here in Blue State of Mass. was to PROVE that he wasn't a Utah-an. He was a resident of Utah for years (especially while over-seeing the SLC Olympics trying to clean up THAT mess of corruption) and he's a  Mormon which I think some people will have trouble with despite our proclaimed tolerance for religious diversity in this country. We have trouble electing Jews and Catholics still, and women -- I reckon a Mormon has got some baggage to tote with that. He WILL play the "family values" card heavily and Democrats need to be more prepared to answer that -- defining in Democratic terms just how we value families -- all of 'em not just the straight, white, Christian ones that have healthcare and corporate jobs.

The way to defeat him is to show him for exactly what he REALLY is -- a fundamentalist religio-fascist, warmongering corporate businessman tax reformer -- exactly like the one CURRENTLY in the Whitehouse. Match Bush to Romney and presto-chango, Bush's low poll numbers tar 'em both.

Perhaps we need to offer a viable candidate ourselves too. Not another rich white Christian boy from the NE? Even Bush was born in New England, went to prep school there and college there.  How about a nice white JEWISH boy from the Midwest like Russ Feingold who has been consistent in his positions and an experienced leader and strong democratic voice in the Senate for years?

Or better still, a nice white Jewish girl from the Left Coast (alright, she's originally from New York, but how can that be bad in a post 9/11 world?) Sen. Barbara Boxer?

Evangelicals support Israel so unequivocally, shouldn't they be supporiting one of God's chosen people for president by now to ensure that the coming rapture comes sooner? <;-}

Feckless Frist aside, Allen and Romney are both reminiscent of  George W. Bush - less interesting and lesser accomplished sons of famous fathers.  Both are Oedipal complexes deluxe. 

Romney's father was born in Chihuahua before the Mexican Revolution, resurrected American Motors, became governor of Michigan, and got himself on the cover of Time Magazine.

By comparison, what has Mitt done?  Not much.  He's an opportunist.  He even did his Mormon missionary work in France (a Third World country only for Republicans).  Whatever he has done, like head of the Salt Lake City Olympics was strickly for self-promotion.  How does he get from Utah to Massachusetts?

Even worse is the stumbling, bumbling, gibbering fool George Allen.  Where is father was innovative, incisive, hard-nosed and original, the soft-palated young George never met a platitude or football metaphor he didn't like.  His dad was a Pro Football Hall of Fame coach whose football philosophy was admired by Nixon because he never had a losing record in 12 NFL seasons.  But he never won the big one.  The son is a political hack; he won't win the big one either.

Purplestate understands. Look at the next massachusets flip-flopper. An effete elite who can't make up his mind. Look at him tack with the wind. Is he a mormon? Is he from Utah? Is he pro choice? Who can say? Are the republicans going to be foolish enough to nominate a massachussets flip-flopper? I think that would be a mistake on their part.

As for George Allen, angry angry angry. And he left Virginia's budget a mess. Another spendthrift republican. I feel so bad for the republicans. They are just leaderless and adrift. 

Not true, Al.  Everyone was approved except one person, Danny something, who was a union leader at one time, and so was defeated.  Everyone else proposed by Kaine (all 112 of them) was approved.

Jan Knaus

CVilleDem-

Wasn't that unprecedented?  Wasn't it also for Secretary of the Commonwealth, something like the top post?  And if Mr. Something was a union leader, so what?  If a spirit of bi-partisanship exists, why defeat the one?  Dem's have given Bush a pass on his "team", and when even R's had misgivings about Bolton, he didn't say, "Oh, well"- he snaked him in on a recess.

So even if the Commonwealth Dogcatcher Appointee would be a problem for R's, so what?.  As Kaine kept indicating in the SOTU response- wouldn't  bi-partisanship dictate that the eyebrow be given his team during the "honeymoon"?

Alphonse ( Al ) Kada

Bush, Allen and Romney - aren't they the spittin' image of the The Three Amigos in Play Group?  They have to repeat their fathers' stories because they have none of their own - at least none that they can authentically call their own. 

What kind of war stories does Mitt Romney recount about his hellish days and those awful people he had to endure as a missionary in France?  Did George Allen think about putting his career as a mediocre quarterback (with no pro prospects) on hold and going to his generation's war in Vietnam like Pat Tillman?    

Because conservative pundits make them into false heroes and paper tigers, they are all legends in their own minds.  By the way, I heard Chris Matthews mumble under his breath during the '04 election season, after the camera had switched to his guest, that, "People would be surprised.  I'm more conservative than they might think."  Not hardly, Chris.

Please not Allen.  I left Virginia because of Allen.  I'd hate to have to leave the US.  Allen and the dufuss that followed him (Gilmore) tried in 8 years to destroy an effective government built for 80 years beginning with the senior member of the Byrd machine, who at least understood that government must perform its functions.

When Allen first entered the Governor's office, he was so uninformed that he did not realize that the budget was his chief policy tool.  He left it to the bureaucrats during the crucial first year of his administration.

In a stupid race, it is a close call between Allen and Bush. 

If its good for me it must be Good 4 A Merica

The missionary thing, including service in France, is a standard practice for young Morman men. At around 21 years of age, they basically put their lives on hold for a year or so, and serve as missionaries, trying to sign up more souls for the faith. Have you ever seen those well scrubbed white boys making the rounds, door to door, in many cities?  Also, did you know that those commercials offering a free bible, have an 800 number that connects with Morman central, and the message you leave becomes a tip for a missionary to contact you by delivering the bible. It is one of the fastest growing religions in the world, and is growing through the use of corporate style marketing tactics.

In other words, he is the prototype GOP candidate, modeled after the current WH occupant.

Sounds like the  GOP has a winner here.

BTW is he by any chance related to the former Michigan Governor Romney?

The most effective way to handle Allen would be to elect Jim Webb to the Senate.

I agree!! 

WEBB for SENATE

Game boy -- you're right!  Sounds more like Dubya, too.

Jan Knaus

Mormonism was a liability for George Romney's bid for the nomination in the 60's as it was for Udall against Carter in the 70's. While the Mormons have cleaned up the the more flagrant racist tenents of their doctrine since then (bastard offspring of some unholy union of Milton's Paradise Lost and 19th c. American culture of slavery: Black skin was the mark of Cain given to fence sitters in the great war in heaven between supporters of Satan and supporters of Jesus; Native Americans receive their skin color from Lamanites who failed to recognize Christ in his visitation on Meso America in the Book of Mormon) it will be Mitt Romney's undoing in 08.  The religion just won't stand up to the scrutiny of the American dinner table: Only Mormons get to go to heaven; couples who get married in the Mormon Temple & lead exemplary lives get sent off in the afterlife to colonize populate and become Gods of their own universes--a kind of Amway of the afterlife--etc. etc.

Ah, once again the Democrats will lose in 2008.  It is absolutely amazing to me that the left simply does not understand how this game works!  Rather than spending time focusing on a viable candidate with an independent, seperate plan of attack, the Dems are once again merely focusing on how to promulgate a smear campaign against whomever their opponent happens to be (which we will not even know for over a year).  Americans do not need to be told, or even reminded, that the management of the war has been poor.  After being embarassed in the 2004 election, one would think that the Dems would learn from their mistakes.  But if this post by Reed is any indicator of the left's plan of attack, you can expect another GOP controlled White House.