WASHINGTON -- The dust has settled from the midterm elections. President George W. Bush, enjoying his newfound political power, is orchestrating pressure on Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The Senate is making more short-term history with its two independent senators, with no party in the majority and an artificial air of comity. The House is up and ready -- both sides reorganized and ready to begin their battles anew.

The political gossip has swung quickly from Congress to the future of the Democratic Party and the presidential race: Specifically, who will be the Democratic nominee for president? It did not take long for people to notice that the Democrats lacked a cohesive message during the recent election campaign and that they really have not defended well against the Bush presidential initiatives since the war on terrorism began last year. Congressional leaders decided not to fight and not to switch, and the voters decided not to support them. The search for a messiah has started, but no one is in sight.

While the 2004 presidential campaign has effectively begun, the Republican race is already over. Bush announced last week that he is happy and content with his vice president and wants Dick Cheney to be his running mate again next year. That was the only mystery in the GOP race. That does not mean that there will be no nominating campaign, primary elections or convention. On the contrary, the Bush-Cheney ticket is gearing up to spend a record-breaking $200 million in preconvention campaigning -- again declining federal matching funds -- to position their candidacy for the general election against whoever weaves their way through the Democratic nominating process.