If the DNC/DLC (is there a difference anymore?) succeeds in villifying Governor Dean, who, as a fiscal conservative/social liberal SHOULD be their wet dream (but he didn't ask to run), then I will no longer support the Democratic Party. Shout "sour grapes" all you want, but I can assure you that I am not the only one.
I struggled with my conscience in 2000, but came down on the side of Al Gore. But these days, even Al Gore is persona non-grata in the Clinton/Corporate/Can't Let go Democratic Party. If FDR could emerge from his grave, he would bitch-slap our Party's leadership - and it's rank and file. After all, it's primarily the rank and file's fault for putting up with this bullshit, really.
The Democratic Party is now a soulless wasteland. They stand for nothing, except the very next election. Nothing has changed since 2000 (close) or 2002 (still close, but slipping).
What HAS changed since the advent of the DLC in 1985? Then, Democrats controlled the House, the Senate, the majority of State Houses and Governorships. None of those things is true today.
I for one will no longer vote the lesser of two evils. Either the Democratic Party gives me candidates I can vote for, or my vote goes elsewhere.
The Democrats haven't failed just our country, they have failed the entire world with their consistent refusal to stand up to the Bush administration. Their duty isn't just to win elections. It's to be the OPPOSITION when they lose elections.
Blindly vote for anyting with a "D" next to it? No more. The "lesser of two evils" leaves evil unchallenged. For any office, I'd sooner vote for Olympia Snowe than John Breaux. Better yet, give me a candidate with a respect for the Constitution and social justice, and I'm there.
Dean or Green.