It's official, Democrats can look forward to four more years of being POWs — "prisoners of Dubya." After losing every national election since 1994 — with the exception of President Bill Clinton's reelection in 1996 — the Democrats are looking about as effective as the Atkins Diet for the Rev. Jerry Falwell.

Additionally, new leadership is needed. On Nov. 2, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle was voted out. Goodbye. Daschle's "strategy" has been to let the Republicans make him look like a fool in the media. If the Democrats ever want to regain the Senate, they need a media-savvy leader who can stand up to the Republicans.

Also, Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe plans to step down in early 2005. This man has presided over the evisceration of the party. According to a Feb. 27 article in USA Today entitled "Democratic chair plans to step down next year," some of McAuliffe's major accomplishments as chairman have been to organize mailing lists and modernize computers. Basically, he made a trip to Office Max. The DNC needs a chairman with a clear vision.

Finally, I've said it before and I'll say it again: Democrats need to campaign more negatively. The Republicans trotted out lying Swift Boat captains this time, for God's sake. Republicans don't hesitate to cheat. Politics is a dirty game and winning is all that matters. Democrats need to frame the debate in ways that are advantageous for themselves — by any means necessary.

Basically, these suggestions come down to one concept: Democrats need to toughen up. No one likes the bully, but no one likes the wimps who don't stand up to him, either. A lot of people in this country — over 55 million at last count — want to see the bullies get theirs. But will the Democrats be tough enough?

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