The divisions between Pelosi and Hoyer -- and the factions that follow each -- are both personal and substantive. They cannot find any reasonable agreement on the central issues of our time -- the war on terror (including their views of civil liberties for terrorists) and the Iraq War. They cannot agree on tax policy, border policy or the issues that Democrats might call identity politics and social justice. They differ fundamentally on their view of whether business and the free market are good or bad for America. Rather than attempt to resolve their differences in preparation for governance, they have -- if anything -- been widening their breach over the last year.

Meanwhile, publicly visible fighting has broken out between DCCC Chairman Rahm Emanuel and DNC Chair Howard Dean over both issues and the political organization of their party. There are accounts of them actually screaming at each other in more or less public.

These failures stand in vivid contrast not only with the Gingrich-led Republicans' preparation for majority, but also with the Tony Blair-led British Labour Party's preparation after Margaret Thatcher drove them into the wilderness for a long decade. Blair emerged from the ranks and forced his disgruntled, resentful and antiquated Labour Party to face the challenges of the future. Whether one agrees with all his policies or not, such preparation permitted his party to satisfy the public expectations to the extent that they have won three consecutive elections.

Similarly, Newt Gingrich's Republicans (of which I was a proud lieutenant) went to the public in 1994 with a unified leadership, a deeply substantive agenda -- including not just slogans but 10 major pieces of legislation fully drafted so the public could judge where the Republicans were planning to lead. As a result, the Republicans of 1994 eventually passed, inter alia, major reforms of welfare, agricultural subsidies and telecommunications, as well as gained a balanced budget even in the face of an opposition president.

By contrast, I would point out that, according to the Washington Post, the Democrats have gone through seven different slogans so far this year in their attempt just to find a campaign theme. This abysmal failure of the congressional Democrats to even partially prepare themselves for responsible government should be a warning to American voters -- both conservatives and moderates, both Republicans and Independents -- that as the Democrats have not yet even healed themselves, they are surely not yet prepared to help heal the country.

In future columns I plan to follow Sherlock Holmes' advice and separate other vital from incidental facts regarding the upcoming election.