Trying to collect my thoughts after the recent big tent discussion, particularly the latest scolding from Ed Kilgore, I ended up here:

The way I see this playing out:

1) Senator Clinton wins the Democratic nomination

2) Senator Clinton wins the Presidential election by a very tight margin. She gets the votes, but not the enthusiasm or support, of the liberal base of the Democratic Party

3) President-elect Clinton purges Howard Dean and Democratic National Committee, installing a chairman and staff controlled by Rahm Emmanuel

4) President Clinton appoints Joe Lieberman to a Cabinet post, possibly Homeland Security. Her Administration in general is heavily staffed with conservative DLC/Third Way-ers

5) When the Radical Right begins their long-planned counterassault in mid-2009 (primarily over Iraq but also health care, Social Security, and Supreme Court nominations) President Clinton gets no support whatsoever from the netroots or liberal base and has no way to counter the traditional media's Republican perspective

6) President Clinton is utterly astonished by this outcome

7) White horse Republican takes the White House in 2012

sPh