I’m not obsessed with Rep. William Jefferson but this story just keeps growing. First, the Democrats and Republicans united to demand that the F.B.I. return the documents seized in the raid on Jefferson’s office. At the same time, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi demanded that Jefferson resign his seat on the Ways and Means Committee–and he refused.

Now, what’s fascinating is the failure by Pelosi to as that Jefferson resign his seat after he voted for CAFTA–you may remember that Pelosi said that the CAFTA 15 would face some sort of punishment…and nothing happened.

But, this is about power and politics, not principle. Because the Democrats do not actually have a vision for the country that amounts to anymore than “we’re not those corrupt guys,” Pelosi and other leading Dems are starting to see their 2006 election strategy look pretty shakey. For many months, I’ve predicted that the Dems will not do as well as they think–or hope–because events will conspire to completely undercut their weak election message. Count on it.