I consider myself conservative.

No shock there.

But this week, in the interest of fairness, tolerance and unity, I am offering free political advice to Democrats.

First, let me pose a simple question to the Democratic leadership.

Are you nuts?

A couple developments make me ask that question.

First, the whole Joe Lieberman thing. The Democrats abandon the long-serving and well-respected Senator from Connecticut because he isn't anti-war enough for them.

They rush to support the ardently anti-war Ned Lamont, who winds up beating Lieberman in last week's Democratic primary election.

I understand that being against the war in Iraq is a pretty infectious political sentiment around the U.S. these days. But I am fairly certain throwing the reins of your political party to the far-left, anti-war crowd is not the way to go.

It's not like Lieberman is some hawkish conservative or anything. His liberal/conservative vote ratio runs in the 90s of percents.

And it's not like his Iraq war position is all that rabid anyway.

All Lieberman said was that we probably shouldn't announce a date when we will withdraw all the U.S. troops from Iraq. That, he said, would allow the terrorists to sit back and wait and then start back up in earnest once we left.

Anti-war or not, I think most Americans in the center of the political spectrum probably agree with that position.

Also, I think most people in the center of the political spectrum probably perceive a quick exit from Iraq as a sort of defeat.

And Americans hate to lose.

So dumping Lieberman tends to alienate people in the center of the political spectrum - the very voters the Democrats must have on their side to win.

What happens?

Lieberman, running as an Independent, has a double digit lead over Lamont going into the general election where everybody votes.

The center of the political spectrum has spoken.

One would think this would throw up a red flag to the Demos. One would think party leaders would be pulling on their chins and saying, "Hmmm, maybe we ought to rethink this whole anti-war thing."

But no. They push harder in what I think is the wrong direction.

Former Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards - remember Kerry/Edwards? - was on the stump for Lamont Thursday.

He said his vote in favor of the Iraq war resolution was a mistake. He all but apologized for it.

And according to an article in "The Hill" under the headline "Democratic Angst Escalates" we find that Demos are ready to strip Lieberman of his seniority with the Democrat caucus.

Note to Demos: Embrace Lieberman, don't alienate him. He's winning.

And now, for another, even more shockingly inept Democrat political strategy, we turn to this gem from the nytimes.com

DES MOINES, Aug. 16 - Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, a likely Democratic presidential candidate in 2008, delivered a 15-minute, blistering attack to warm applause from Democrats and union organizers here on Wednesday. But Mr. Biden's main target was not Republicans in Washington, or even his prospective presidential rivals.

It was Wal-Mart, the nation's largest private employer.

Yes, that's right. You heard right. The Democrats have decided they can make political hay and gain voters by attacking Wal-Mart.

The article continues:

Among Democrats, Mr. Biden is not alone. Across Iowa this week and across much of the country this month, Democratic leaders have found a new rallying cry that many of them say could prove powerful in the midterm elections and into 2008: denouncing Wal-Mart for what they say are substandard wages and health care benefits.

Six Democratic presidential contenders have appeared at rallies like the one Mr. Biden headlined, along with some Democratic candidates for Congress in some of the toughest-fought races in the country.

Our own Sen. Evan Bayh said "... Democrats across the country are rallying around this issue."

Don't get me wrong.

It's not that I disagree with the Democrats on this issue. I think Wal-Mart could do a little better for its employees.

But as a political strategy, it's sheer lunacy.

People - voters - love Wal-Mart. All across middle America, in the heartland, in the place where Democrats desperately need vote, people love Wal-Mart.

People - voters - stretched to the limit by escalating gas prices, save money by shopping at Wal-Mart. The last thing they want is the government to enact policies that will force Wal-Mart to raise prices.

And Wal-Mart knows this.

More from the nytimes.com article:

Wal-Mart has begun a counterattack. In interviews on Wednesday, company executives warned that they would alert their 1.3 million American employees to the anti-Wal-Mart campaign. They also pointed to a poll the company financed that reported that Americans were generally supportive of the company.

"There is far more evidence to show that this short-sighted political strategy will backfire than that it will actually work," said Mona Williams, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart Stores. "We believe our associates vote, and it is our responsibility to let them know when a politician speaks out for or against our company."

In a letter to its workers in Iowa, Wal-Mart warned of the political events, including appearances by Mr. Bayh, Mr. Biden and Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico.

Wal-Mart "would never suggest to you how to vote," the letter said, "but we have an obligation to tell you when politicians are saying something about your company that isn't true. After all, you are Wal-Mart."

No matter.

Democrats will remain undeterred in their mindless attempt to appease the moveon.org crowd - the fringy liberal bloggers and left-wingers who were so proud of their work in defeating Lieberman. (That's the same Lieberman, by the way, who is now winning as an Independent.)

Problem is, the moveon.org folks won't win elections for you. Wal-Mart employees and shoppers will. [[In-content Ad]]