Compare '03 with '11...

[Drunken Irishman]

The Republicans (some, anyway) will meet for their first debate tonight, May 5th.

Currently, only a handful have even declared, with many of the potential frontrunners still undecided (Huckabee, Trump and Palin).

Now compare that to 2003, where Democrats had already started gearing up to run against Pres. Bush.

The leading Democratic candidates gathered essentially four years ago today (it was on May 4th) for their http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/04/us/democrats-first-presidential-debate-shows-party-fissures.html">first presidential debate.

All the major candidates were there. John Kerry, Dick Gephardt, Howard Dean, John Edwards and Joe Lieberman.

Today's Republican debate, however, lacks any contending candidate.

That's telling. It's telling because the Republicans aren't ready yet. This time four years ago, Democrats were ready to pounce on Pres. Bush - not so this go around. Republicans are cautious and even some haven't decided whether they'll even mount a challenge.

It's just interesting to compare how ready the Democrats were then and how Republicans currently are still stuck in the wading pool.

[Dawson Leery]

1. The GOP has also lost their lead in the generic congressional ballot.

[NYC Liberal]

2. Getting Osama was a horrible blow to the GOP's chances.

I think any rational person can see that. I think the Republicans know it too.

[Historic NY]

3. +1 & if oil keeps dropping the GOP field of jump ins will narrow

[Yavin4]

4. 30 Years of Pandering to Bigots, Homophobes, Christian Fundies, etc.

Has robbed the Republican party of any truly attractive candidates. It has also dumbed down their party to the point where fringe people like Bachman and Palin have legitimate chances.

Sure, in off year elections where turn out is low and the economy is bad, they can rustle up some gains, but it's in presidential years, when the entire nation is paying attention, is when the parties are judged.