My guess is that at some point, the "powers that be" in the DNC will realize that they need a nominee that really is strong on defense and they will go with someone like Zell Miller, Lieberman, Gephart or Bayh. I don't agree with Gephart's or Lieberman's domestic policies, but the possibility of having them as Commander in Chief would not have terrified me the way Kerry did. In short, the 'Rats will pick a candidate that most Republicans "could live with."
Could be. I still expect the dem mentality to be that they havent been liberal enough, though. Wait and see, and keep the faith!
If they go moderate the choice will be Evan Bayh. Joe Lieberman would infuriate the Democrat base too much. Think of the anger that Pennsylvania Republicans have towards Santorum, who has been a rock-solid conservative. Now imagine the anger the crazies in the demonrat party have for a man who defended Bush's foreign policy. Gephardt and Lieberman also stink of loser. And Zell Miller is simply a Republican; the difference between him and fellow Georgian Newt Gingrich, to Democrats, is that Newt at least had the honor to switch parties.
... but frankly I'm betting on someone who is reliably liberal socially, but Southern, so he will claim to be conservative. Someone like Mark Warner (Gov.-VA), Phil Bredesen (Gov.-TN), Mike Easley (Gov.-NC), Bill Richardson (Gov.-NM), or Bill James (Gov.-OK).