Anyone here who has followed your threads or heard you speak couldn't assume you are anywhere close to ignorant. I have a nagging doubt about the Hillary scenario though - is it possible she would make a last minute run not necessarily to win but to 1) Save the Rats from a filibuster-proof Senate, (e.g., with lower expectations), which would also 2) mark her as the party leader and assure her succession in 2008, 3) help her build a national infra-structure for '08, or 4) who knows what'll happen throughout a campaign - stochastic shocks in a volatile world?
If Hillary! were the sort of dedicated Democrat who would ever sacrifice for her party, your point might have some validity. If Dean is running, say, 13% behind Bush, but Hillary! could run just 5% behind Bush, you are correct that that could save a few critical Democrat seats in the Senate -- and preserve the "filibuster" margin, which is all the Democrats have left in Washington.
But, that assumes that Hillary! would ever consider sacrificing herself in an election she couldn't win, for the benefit of the Democratic Party. That woman would NEVER sacrifice herself for anyone else, any time, for any reason, in this universe. That's why I didn't even discuss the Hillary! runs expecting-to-do-good-but-not-win scenario.
John / Billybob