From my perspective, it's time for MoveOn to move on.

Having learned nothing from 2004's losses, the liberal organization is doing what Democrats do best: shooting their own best chance in the foot.

There's a damn good reason Nevada Republicans are frantically trying to move up their own caucus and why the White House supports such a move. The early Democratic caucus in Nevada, even if doesn't establish the Hispanic vote here or hue squarely to Western issues, will certainly refocus this state as purple, if not leaning blue.

But in the rush to take a principled stand against the right wing, MoveOn has fired a huge shot into the hull of the Nevada Democratic Party for making a deal with Fox News to host an upcoming candidate forum.

Yes, Fox News is part of the conservative machine, with better access to Bush administration officials and some on-air blowhards. When Vice President Dick Cheney campaigned here in 2004, he mentioned Fox News in at least three of his visits.

The Republican National Committee urges loyalists to get involved by calling talk radio. And after Rush, the second number on the list is to Fox host Sean Hannity's radio show.

Democrats may not watch Fox. Liberals may hate it. But it's on in most doctor's office waiting rooms I've visited. And it's the most-watched network with 85 million viewers.

If Democrats want to win, they've got to show America why any of the eight announced candidates has better credentials and ideas to lead this country forward than both the eventual GOP nominee and the man occupying the White House and bolstering the failed occupation of Iraq. And if you don't have access to a certain demographic, an assist from a powerful national media outlet can certainly help.

Of course Fox has viewers who will laugh harder at the debate than they do at the new "1/2 Hour Comedy Hour." But there are plenty of independents and Republicans who don't like any of the candidates on the Republican side of the aisle. I hear it repeatedly: John McCain's so old he can't seem to remember whether he likes Rumsfeld or hates him. Rudy Giuliani was great on 9/11, but he's too liberal. Mitt Romney's either too Mormon, too liberal or too wishy-washy.

Maybe voters are looking for a way to end the mess in Iraq. I heard eight variations on that theme from Democratic candidates during the forum last week in Carson City.

What have we heard from Republicans? Support for the surge, or nothing at all.

MoveOn drew its biggest support from the anti-war crowd three years ago. So why doesn't it take its message to the perceived hawks? Has MoveOn forgotten its darling Howard Dean now that he's busy with his 50-states project for the Democratic National Committee?

Dean, the DNC chairman, believes it is critical for Democrats to have staff in every state to push back if not fully promote an alternative view or candidate.

MoveOn seems to take the position that it's wiser to keep hugging the coasts. If you think that's been working, I've got some stock in Air America to sell you.

A MoveOn petition drive is afoot to convince the Democrats to drop Fox -- it is front and center on its Web site and has 160,000 signatures. But the petition isn't really the way to take on Fox.

The greatest good that could come from such a petition is further harm to Harry Reid and the Democratic Party. Let's say 250,000 people click on the petition and Fox execs decide to take their network to deep red South Carolina for a GOP debate. What will Democrats have gained beyond a day or two of posts in the blogosphere?

Three of Nevada's labor leaders have issued statements critical of MoveOn's tactics in a way to show support for both Nevada's caucus and the Democratic Party here. Culinary Union boss D. Taylor said it best: "When we limit ourselves to only those that we agree with, everybody loses."

The fight over Fox is about as fruitful as the squabbling over whether State Party Chairman Tom Collins, who is stepping down, disenfranchised certain club leaders or rural representatives. Under his watch, Democrats picked up four constitutional offices and a Clark County Commission seat and narrowly lost two congressional races. The party had money and a spokesman who didn't look out of place in boots in Ely.

But with voices given instant credence in the blogosphere, Collins has been diminished by some as an out-of-control cowboy, just as quickly as the nation's most watched news network is shunned as irrelevant.

If you want to see real irrelevancy, peruse the comments on lasvegasgleaner.com about the Fox spat. At one point Wednesday there were 38 posts to blogger Hugh Jackson's Feb. 27 comments about what he calls the "unholy alliance" with Fox. Fifteen were from one writer and 12 from another.

Most voters I know don't have that much time on their hands. It'll be good for them to see Democrats unfiltered on Fox News.

Erin Neff's column runs Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. She can be reached at 387-2906, or by e-mail at eneff@reviewjournal.com.