House Democrats began an ad campaign in December assailing Republicans for opposing legislation restructuring federal financial rules and recalling the final days of the Bush presidency, when the economy tanked

With the congressional GOP poised for a comeback in the 2010 midterm elections, Democrats are dusting off an old playbook, using George W. Bush as their boogeyman and castigating Republicans as cozy with Wall Street.

But that was three years ago. Democrats have been in control since, and Bush is long gone. This is President Obama's country now. Democrats tried to use Bush against Republican Chris Christie in the New Jersey governor's race in November -- and Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine still lost.