New blood  

Here's a piece on the ambitions of young Democrats and the generational differences that split the party. It talks about issues more than strategy, but I'm guessing a look at strategic thinking would reveal a very similar split, with technology assisted grassroots activism a la the Dean camapign championed by the young (who according to the article count "the flowering of the internet" among their formative politcal experiences). Getting younger activists in place at every level to implement these strategies may be just as important to the party's health as changing the issue base -- certainly it will help avoid this kind of embarassment. Now is just the right moment for political and strategic risk taking, and a new, younger leadership is the place to start. [via Political Wire]