And he has some excellent advice for Democrats worried about the 2014 elections:

If GOP challengers want to run ads criticizing the recovery act as wasteful, Democratic candidates should lift up the police officers, teachers and construction workers in their state or district, those who are protecting our communities, teaching our children and repairing our roads thanks to the Democrats’ leadership. Highlight the small-business owners who have kept their doors open through projects funded by the act.

The recovery act has been stigmatized. We need to paint the real picture, in human terms, of what it meant in 2010. In future elections, it will be clear to all that instead of another Great Depression, Democrats broke the back of the recession with not a single Republican vote in the House. In the long run, this will haunt Republicans, especially since they made the mess.

[snip]

— No bed-wetting. This will be a tough election for our party and for many Republican incumbents as well. Instead of fearing what may happen, let’s prove that we have more than just the brains to govern — that we have the guts to govern. Let’s fight like hell, not because we want to preserve our status, but because we sincerely believe too many everyday Americans will continue to lose if Republicans and special interests win.

…oh, I’m sorry? Did I say the 2014 elections? Yeah, sorry about that: David Plouffe wrote that in January 2010; and when Democrats followed his advice then it turned out that they chose… unwisely. But Democrats can so totally trust David Plouffe now when it comes to ‘bed-wetting!’ By all means: please do, Democrats.

In fact, I insist.

Moe Lane (crosspost)

PS: I will readily grant that David Plouffe is better at getting Barack Obama elected than I am at keeping Barack Obama from getting elected. He is, in fact, 2 for 2 and I am 0 for 2. Just one, small problem: there’s not going to be a third contest along those lines.