Progressives remain on the defensive. No one would deny that defense is important. But even as every effort must be made to hold the line, how, specifically, might it be possible to regain the political initiative?

The fight we are in for isn't the head-stomping, name-calling one. Let them have their sandbox. The next democratic battleground will be over our institutions of governing.

2010 does not have to be an electoral disaster for Democrats. Much depends on how candidates frame their efforts -- and how Progressives in general frame the political debate over the next three months.

There have been very few midterms in modern history where the party that holds the White House has not lost seats in the first midterm after its President first took office. But the Democrats can still prevent this.