Here's how I see it: there are a lot of problems in government right now. On that, we all agree.
The Repugs have taken the strategy that instead of fixing things, they'll keep doing everything the same way- the very way that got things so broken- and simply pretend the problems aren't there. It's a comfortable path. Bush looks comfortable. Repugs feel comfortable. They don't see a problem. "The system works." They are convinced. Same kind of thing happens when a mother's son dies in Iraq- how hard is it going to be for her to admit he died for nothing? A cause is more meaningful. Bush looks good.
On the other side, you have many of the Dems, who all see problems. "The system needs to be fixed." They don't want to be perceived as fringe, and they too like the comfort thing, so they rarely actually say "The system doesn't work." And since they benefit from the system, they don't actually want to change it that much. Just enough. Kerry looks good.
The problem I had with Kerry, and I voted for him in spite of my "greener" nature, is that he didn't really offer the right number of solutions. He had a few, but he sure was able to point out a lot of problems. Dems, in my humble opinion, need to start becoming a lot more solution-oriented, or they will lose my support. Anyone can point out problems, but it takes guts and substance, things I want in leaders, to point out a lot of solutions. People could feel that possibility with Dean. I'm not sure Kerry ever crossed that threshold.