I am one of those people in the dkos community that always feels like a duck out of water - a Republican who has refused to leave the party but acted to support progressive candidates of both parties (yes, there are progressive Republicans out there - especially at the state level). I have always argued that Democrats have had a disadvantage in the past because they thought that politics was about concepts, not power.
Well, that has changed. The reality is that the diaries in this site (especially today's "I'm voting for McCain because your candidate has boogers" variety) have proven that Democrats do understand power.
More below:
From the outside, it has become obvious that the 200 and 2004 elections were seen by many Democrats at the national level as "We don't have a prayer but let's give it our best shot" races. Why - because they didn't go for this level of acrimony. I read the posts in the summer and it was hope - not expectation.
All of a sudden the stakes have been raised. And the alluring whiff of power - real power that can be wielded by the President - has brought out the jackals.
I would say that it is interesting to see that Democrats aren't all that different from neo-cons when there is power to be grabbed.
But it is disappointing. I hoped for governance from changes - not more power lust.