Thought experiment for Kossacks:
Suppose the USA had more than two parties? Many democracies do. For example:
Canadian House of Commons contains 4 parties plus some independents.
UK House of Commons contains 10 parties plus an independent.
Japanese House of Representatives contains 7 parties plus independents.
What might the US break down look like? Follow me below the fold for answers.
As a source for breaking members of Congress down, I rely upon Progressive Punch and their analysis of Congress by how often they vote "progressive". Some other definition of "progressive" might yield different results; I assert that this one is a good as any other as a metric.
To avoid giving offense where none is meant, no new "party" gets to be called "Democrats". Instead, I'm going to reuse names from a bit of whimsy I wrote which was (probably justly) ignored by the Daily Kos community, and divide The People of the Donkey into "Paladins of Purity" and "Knights of Pragmatism".
The Republicans I divide into Nearly Sane Republicans and Goposaurs.
Anyway, the arbitrary dividing line I choose is 85%. Those who vote "progressive" 85% or more are Paladins; those in the 50-85 range are Knights; those in the 15-50 range are NSR; and those less than 15% are Goposaurs. I'm using the lifetime voting numbers; this makes Arlen Specter read as NSR rather than Knight.
Using this standard, the Senate contains 29 Paladins; 28 Knights; 5 NSR (including: Nelson, Snowe, Collins, Brown, Specter), and 38 Goposaurs.
The House contains 79 Paladins, 146 Knights, 33 NSR (only 5 of whom are current members of the GOP), and 173 Goposaurs. Four seats are empty.
The numbers shift depending on the issue; for example, Bart Stupak is essentially a Goposaur on abortion but comes in solidly in the middle of the Knight range overall.
Now, as a thought experiment: imagine that the US Congress were divided among four parties as outlined above. Which party would you join?
Second thought experiment: Suppose a new Congress were being seated, and you were a member. If you want the advantages of the majority coalition, you need to find at least one other party to help you out - no one party can do it alone. Who do you consider to be your most likely allies? What compromises will you reach with them?
Third thought experiment: Which party do you think President Obama would be a member of?
Fourth thought experiment: Note the very high loyalty and cohesion among the House Republicans - 97% Goposaurs. Do you think any good will come to the Paladins, the Knights, or the NSR if the Goposaurs attain a single-party majority?
Fifth thought experiment: Would it be better to NOT join any coalitions, and instead work toward the day when your party formed a single-party majority, eschewing all compromise until then?
Having worked through those thought experiments: Do you have more, or less, sympathy for Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, and President Obama as they attempt to get legislation enacted?