EDITOR'S NOTES

By Tim Redmond

› tredmond@sfbg.com

It's hard to imagine how things could be much worse for the Republicans — Iraq is slipping toward civil war, globalization (in this case, of port management) has GOP congressional leaders very publicly fighting with the White House, and the vice president just shot a guy.

And yet Sunday's New York Times refers once again to the Democrats' "uphill struggle" to regain control of Congress.

There are a couple of key reasons for this, and the one most pundits like to talk about is mutual congressional gerrymandering and the lack of competitive races. And yeah, both sides of the aisle like safe seats, and there are deals cut every 10 years to keep too many of those seats from changing hands. But there's also the reality that a lot of the United States isn't competitive right now: There are blue urban areas and red rural and suburban areas, and the ones that fall in between are pretty limited.

You can talk about cultural divides forever, but when you really analyze the kinds of trends that would be needed to break up that logjam and put the House and Senate in play, you simply have to acknowledge the depressing but real fact that the Democrats have no inspiring leadership. Harry Reid? Please. Nancy Pelosi? Ick. Hillary Clinton? I don't see it. Mark Warner? I hope not.

I think the noncompetitive seats and the general lameness of the Democratic Party are related, and I'd like to suggest a radical solution. As soon as this year's midterm elections are over, perhaps the big national liberal groups like MoveOn.org ought to put together a comprehensive plan to run primary challengers in at least 100 safe Democratic seats.

I know, I know: This takes resources away from fighting the Republicans, it causes party disunity, we're taking on the wrong enemy — I've heard all the lines. But the truth is, challenging incumbents like, say, Pelosi or Tom Lantos won't give the Republicans much help: Even a brutal, bitter primary means nothing in the end. The GOP will never have the slightest chance of winning those seats.

But some real primary challenges to a few old-guard Democrats might help save the party (and maybe even the country). It would force new issues onto the agenda, generate life and energy among progressives — and might give us some new, exciting leadership for the future.

If Pelosi and Reid can't make the case for throwing the Republicans out this November, it's time for the people who are sick of this weak and tired nonsense to help find some national leaders who can.

A final note: I'm very, very sorry to report that Jay Thornton, a wonderful man who lived a full life as a social worker, union organizer, construction contractor and university professor — with a few stints in jail for political action along the way — died of cancer Feb. 17 in Ferndale. He was 65. Jay was married to Kat Thornton, who has worked with us at the Guardian for many years. We'll all miss him. *