Chet Edwards, the only Texas Democrat to survive Tom DeLay's concerted attack via re-redistricting, has a lot to say about his party in this issue of CQ Weekly. Bob Benenson writes this about George W. Bush's Congressman (Edwards represents Crawford, among other areas):

But the principal prescriptions Edwards offers from his own story of political survival are more tactical than ideological. He argues that Democrats should put more effort into convincing voters that many Republican candidates are too conservative — even in areas where Bush has remained popular. Democrats must show a friendly face, he says, but must strike first against their opponents and strike back when attacked. And Democrats need to enhance their reputation as strong on national security.

Too many Americans, he says, perceive Democrats as naive on such matters — as thinking that all will be right in the world “if everyone just joins hands and sings ‘Kumbaya’ with the bad guys.”

“We have to be willing to show Americans that when push comes to shove and national interests are at stake, that we can be as tough as anyone,” says Edwards, the top Democrat on the Military Construction Appropriations Committee for the past two years. He previously spent eight years as a chief deputy whip, acting as a liaison between the liberal-leaning House Democratic leadership and the caucus’ often disgruntled conservatives.

Moderation, moderation, moderation. I wholeheartedly agree. As Edwards says, it's incumbent upon the Democratic Party to convince conservatives that there is nothing conservative about this administration. George W. Bush is a radical who is wholly out of touch with the American people, and the sooner Democrats can convince their fellow citizens of this, the sooner they will return from the political wilderness.