Senate Democrats, for instance, elected a new minority leader, Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, who's anti-abortion but who also vows to be as persistently tough in opposing Republican bills as his predecessor, Tom Daschle, who lost his seat in November. And last week, 12 Senate Democrats voted against the appointment of Condoleezza Rice as secretary of State following the party's decision to stage a two-day floor debate over her role in the Iraq war. Not since 1825 have so many senators voted against a president's nominee for that position.

Both moves reflect a worrisome belief among Democrats that attacking the Republicans is the best way to victory. Some senators who are up for election in 2006 ask, however, if blatant obstructionism rather than bipartisanship and creating new policy stances might hurt their own reelection chances.

Dean's election as DNC chief will probably mean the party would stay to the left and in attack mode, while seeking smarter campaign tactics in the next election. Unless centrist Clinton Democrats rise up soon, the party could be making a big mistake.