"Now, Now... "

Logging onto nytimes.com and reading this headline, I am reminded of Tarantino's crisp prose, channeled through Harvey Keitel in his "Pulp Fiction" screenplay.

Keitel (The Wolf) retorts to his co-horts Vincent Vega (Travolta) and Jules (Jackson) "Now, now... let's not start sucking each other's... " ah, you know the rest.

Hopefully, I made my point without offending anyone. The fact of the matter is, when the honeymoon wears off, the American public is going to want to see some results. The Baker commission will not provide a miracle drug, a silver bullet. More likely it will supply a shot of adrenaline, at best.

The Democrats shouldn't use this opportunity to grind the war to a halt. Rather, if they defy their critics' expectations (by acting less like doves, restraining spending, holding taxes down) then they will silence their critics.

The best defense is a good offense. Take the Republicans on their own turf. Take initiative. Have a plan for Iraq, and clearly articulate that plan for the American people. If the Democrats can do that, the electorate will reward them in 2008.

If not... if they continue to do what they've always done, instead of seeing the light and changing their ways... then they will wind up like Vince Vega; riddled with bullets, lying dead in a bathtub... instead of like Jules, who changed course and walked away on his own terms.