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Ezra Klein:

[Jim] Webb represents something of almost transcendent importance to some post-Bush liberals: The opportunity to out-tough the GOP. A candidate who's not only a liberal, but in no way a sissy. He is the daywalker, combining a progressive's positions with a southern militarist's affectations.

But this is not a sustainable approach to politics. Democrats can't out-tough the GOP. It's possible that James Webb can do it. But he's sui generis; a Democrat who can win at politics when played under Republican rules. Democrats love those candidates, because they think of presidential elections as an away game, and they're endlessly hunting for the candidate who plays best under those conditions.

But Democrats can't win at politics when played under Republican rules. Progressivism can't prosper when politics is played under Republican rules. It needs to make its own rules.

Jim Matheson is another Democrat who's figured out how to win by playing the Republicans' game. (Earlier this year he sent out an e-mail promising his constituents "tax relief." Way to reinforce that conservative frame, Congressman.) Or a Democrat can be like Peter Corroon and champion government's ability to make people's lives better. Let's make Republicans fight on our turf for a change.