So apparently the big noise in Democratic circles is this guy Pete Buttigieg, the openly gay mayor of South Bend, Indiana, wherein lies a nice little Catholic university that did not upset the Number One team in the nation Tuesday night. (Sorry for the diversion, but I take my wins where I can find them these days.) He has emerged as what used to be called "the Compromise Italian" during papal conclaves in the days before the Holy Spirit went crazy and started picking Poles, Germans, and Argentines. He's the consensus middle choice between Keith Ellison and Tom Perez. Frankly, I can live with any of these guys, although my preference is for Ellison, not least because he's willing to give up a safe congressional seat to do this thankless job.

However, it is also my considered opinion that the Democratic Party should get its shit together in one quick hurry. Waiting until March, and dragging out a pointless internal slanging match for three months, is such typically Democratic bungling that it's almost classic. Get a chairman because, cats and kittens, they're coming already for what's left of you.

Let us take, for a moment, Senator Professor Warren. She's undoubtedly Target A in 2018, if only to derail any possibility that she'll run for president. She would be a big prize in any case. They're already running attack ads against her on the radio up here and, on Tuesday, WBUR, one of the local public radio stations in Boston, came out with a poll that was remarkably gloomy on her prospects for re-election.

Melina Mara

There are other factors in play as well. First of all, there is no shortage of ambitious Republican tech millionnaires up here who can self finance a serious challenge. (Keep an eye on this guy Rick Green, an auto parts magnate who's close to Republican Governor Charlie Baker. Also keep an eye on Curt Schilling, if only for laughs.) Second, you can count on local press to stumble all over itself being fair to whoever the Republican candidate is. (More than a few people are nettled that Warren has failed to kiss up the way the the local press thinks it deserves.) Third, believe it or not, and sometimes even I don't, there are purity trolls on the left who have not forgiven her for endorsing Hillary Clinton last June, and for not jumping aboard the Bernie bandwagon prior to the Massachusetts primary.

She's not a lock, basically, is what I'm saying. And the one thing she doesn't need is a lengthy squabble over who's running the party, especially one that leaves delicate fee-fees wounded for months.

(And all of that was the case before SPW announced that she would be voting for a completely unqualified space alien, Ben Carson, to run the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is going to require some 'splainin' back home.)

There are 23 Democratic seats up in 2018. Angus King and Bernie, the two independents, also will be running for re-election. There is no such thing as a mortal lock. And, by the way, if you think I'm a special pleader in this case, then look around the country. They're coming for Tammy Baldwin in Wisconsin, too.

Update (2:16 PM): Yeah, they're coming for her. Watch nervous Democrats run.

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Charles P. Pierce Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976.

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