Newt-o-meter: democrats used to want a new JFK. Now, they're hunting for the next Newt Gingrich--the politician with a roadmap back to power.

                 Upside                  Downside              Rating

Harry     Enough back-room smarts   Not enough fron-room       **1/2
Reid      to hold together the      charisma to hold the
          Democratic Caucus.        attention of a
                                    gardent gnome.

Howard    Already familiar to       Yeah, that's because       **
Dean      most Americans            of ... well, you know.

Nancy     Pioneered the creation    It was a mess of           *
Pelosi    of the Democrats' own     policy-wonk speak and
          Contract with America.    shout-outs to interest
                                    groups that was rightly
                                    ignored.

Barack    Those eyes, that smile,   Freshmen senators are      ***
Obama     that voice. Tell us       supposed to be seen
          again about One           and not heard.
          America, Barack

Dick      The Senate's smartest     Already known as           ****
Durbin    Democrat, with a tongue   Illinois' other senator.
          half acid, half honey.

Rahm      Blisteringly smart,       A little too               *****
Emanuel   ambitious,                unconcerned if people
          unconconcerned if         think he's a jerk.
          people think he's a
          jerk.

Henry     His must-read reports     He's the congressman       **1/2
Waxman    on GOP abuses have        from Beverly Hills.
          taken the sheen off
          the Republican Party's
          reputation.