Well, it isn't really a new plan, just a fresh spin on an old failing strategy. The Democrats still believe, even after Kerry's defeat, that the only way to beat the neocons is to outflank them to the right. Take on their "values" and surpass their fanaticism.

The saga began to unfold following Democratic Senate minority leader Tom Daschle's horrific defeat to Republican John Thune in the South Dakotan Senate race on November 2. After Daschle's loss Democratic insiders were on the phone rallying support behind an unknown Senator -- Nevada's own -- Harry Reid.

Reid, an admitted friend of George W. Bush, was being tapped for the position well before Daschle's defeat, and quickly gained enough support to assure his appointment and upcoming confirmation. A conservative Mormon, Reid, who was born and raised in Nevada, could just as well have ran as a Republican when he chose to do so in 1982.

His positions on trade, abortion, war, civil liberties, and health-care mirror the Republicans.

In fact, his adversaries adore him for his conservative propensities. Fellow Senator Orrin Hatch, a high-ranking Republican from Utah, says, "We all respect Senator Reid. He is one of the moderate voices around here who tries to get things to work."

Reid's politics, like that of George W. Bush, are greatly influenced by his religious philosophy. His opposition to gay-marriage and abortion are certainly prejudiced by his rigid religious principles.

NARAL, a pro-choice advocacy group has awarded Reid a 29% report card, rather he has voted anti-choice 71% of the time. Reid also has few qualms with expanding and implementing the racist death penalty. He voted in favor of rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals, and voted "yes" on limiting the number of appeals allowed for federal death-row inmates. And the list goes on.

So why do the Democrats think Reid is the best man for the job?

"When you look a presidential election where we lost in every age group except one, I think it time to do some reassessment -- and that's one reason why I'm glad Harry is there," Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein of California told the New York Times on November 14. "I believe very strongly that the voice of the moderates of our caucus ought to have some sway. I have noticed in the past that all the gravitas has slid to the left. All one has to do is look at the map to know that you can't win a presidential election that way."

So the Democrats believe the new face of their leadership in the Senate should be that of an anti-choice, anti-gay zealot. Support for Reid to take over the helm as minority leader is a clear illustration of the Democrats' inability to offer alternatives. They simply believe that they can only win elections by taking on the Republican "values."

It is difficult to gauge where Reid will even wage battle with the Republican majority. Certainly we can assume that the 45 Democrats in the new Senate, with Reid as their leader, will not stand in the way of their Republican opposition. But let's hope we are wrong.

Joshua Frank is the author of the upcoming book, Left Out! How Liberals Helped Reelect George W. Bush, to be published by Common Courage Press.

###