Lack of positive traction

Michael Crowley of Talking Points Memo (Josh is out this week) has some thoughts on the Democratic Party and its uphill climb towards the White House:

...[L]ately solidarity has again given way to a familiar brand of infighting. Two big articles today in the Times and the Post chronicle surging tensions between the party's liberal base and its Washington establishment -- over Iraq on the one hand and the Roberts nomination on the other. Call for withdrawal from Iraq, or support the war while criticizing Bush? Go nuclear on John Roberts, or skip an uphill fight and focus on other issues? The debate rages -- and the wheels spin.

Consider the following: the party's liberal base (i.e. Cindy Sheehan-types) is disconnected from reality and the Washington establishment isn't. Okay?