A Name in the Race: The more I think about it, the more I think Wes Clark isn't that name. Did you hear his hat-tossing speech? He doesn't exactly light up the hustings, does he? (Remember that Admiral Jim "Why am I here?" Stockdale was a military hero, too, and about as exciting as cold toast.) He seemed at his worst when he's tried to generate enthusiasm, to play to the crowd; he would stumble over a word -- not badly, mind you, but just enough to put him on autopilot for a second -- and it would all suddenly sound very rehearsed. And the "My name is Wes" schtick isn't going to fly. He'll get an Oscar for sure if he can play the just plain folks routine through this campaign; anyone who sees him on CNN knows that he's pedantic, not homey.

No, the Democrats need an established persona, someone larger than life.