i'd like to audition for the role of the democrats' version of karl rove

An interesting discussion last night with yet another Democratic Party Hardcore brought up some interesting ideas. How's about a more conservative New Democratic governor? I've always had misgivings about the New Dems-though closer examination of members is rather varied: everyone from Dianne Feinstein and Debbie Stabenow to Joe Lieberman and Hillary Clinton--probably because it seemed like it was yet another way for the party to look like we can't make up our mind AND their insistence that promoting liberal positions isn't politically viable. They also strongly supported invading Iraq and were pretty instrumental in the downfall of my personal fav from 2004, Mr. Howard Dean. Much like, well, just about everyone else I know who is even remotely politically active (i.e. can say that they at least voted in the last election. Or wanted to) this woman was horrified that I would even remotely consider voting for a Republican. After I stated my case she agreed, but refused to believe that there wasn't another alternative. What we both agreed upon was that it was time for someone intelligent. And that if the Democrats can get their act together they'd be smart to focus on health care and real campaign finance reform. And that what the Democrats really need is their own version of Karl Rove. Satan? Yes. But he wins elections. Politics is a filthy,dirty rotten, no-good very bad game. It's about time we stop whining about losing all the time and start thinking about what we need to do in order to win. John Kerry was a much more qualified, more intelligent, and more articulate candidate. He had the charisma of a sloth, but that we couldn't pull out a win is shameful.

I've had a ridiculously small amount of sleep this week. And the workplace today is slightly bizarre. We're kind of short-staffed and seem to be flying around from one crisis to the next:
1 co-worker whose father is in the hospital and I was the last to hear anything at 3:30am which was basically "we don't know anything."
1 co-worker who is out of town visiting her new grandchild whose neighbor called the library to report that there was alot of smoke pouring out of her garage
And me who is not able to focus on much today due to exhaustion and excitement.

Your tax dollars at work.