BAD IDEAS, BY JOE WILSON

Friday's indictment of Lewis "Scooter" Libby has made many Democrats giddy and thirsty for sweet, sweet revenge.

We've heard a few Dems discuss whether former ambassador Joe Wilson and his wife, outed CIA agent Valerie Plame, should civilly sue President Bush and other White House officials. Paul Begala, former Clintonista and current CNN talking head, says Dems could cite the U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the Paula Jones harassment lawsuit to proceed against Bill Clinton (you'll remember the Supremes voted 9-0 that a sitting president is not immune from a civil suit).

So why not sue Bush? Some activists on Democratic Underground are trying to make that case. We won't be surprised when Wilson and Plame file suit.

Speaking of Wilson, he's the Sunday night interview on "60 Minutes."

Seeing the Wilson promo on "Face The Nation" made us cringe, because the last thing Wilson ought to be doing is opening his mouth. He's a big target and has been since May or June 2003. Anything he has to say now is just piling on. Democrats don't need to do that right now.

"By any means necessary" sounded good coming from Malcolm X, but it casts the Dems as vindictive. Hey: fine to be vindictive. Just don't let it show in public.

Democrats should let Patrick Fitzgerald do his work and stay above the dirt, while offering substantive ideas (and legislation) to lead the country. When 45 percent of the country "strongly disapproves" of the job Bush is doing as president -- and only 39 percent gives thumbs-up -- no further pushing is necessary. Bush is a lame duck. A Plame duck, if you prefer puns.

Democrats have a great story to tell right now; they should tell it. They should grab control of the debate on policy and convince voters that it's time to vote Democratic, for a change.

That's what they should do. What they will do is likely to be the precise opposite, and helps explain why Republicans rule Missouri and the country.