2001 DU spirit:"So let go of those bi-partisan feelings, people."

[alarimer]

9. Part of the problem is being out of power versus being in power.

As long as Bush was President, it was good to rail and scream and gnash our teeth. It was about all we could do, in fact.

Then, the Democrats take over (well, at least the Presidency) and then we have to fall in line. It's no longer quite so underground as before. Yet, there are deep divisions within the Democratic Party as to how to go about retaking Congress and about who should run for President.

I have become much more radical in the ensuing years, so much so that I am not willing to just settle for whatever centrists candidate they allow to run. It's not good enough anymore just to hold my nose and vote for the lesser of the evils. It's become clear to me that corporations control our politics. It's just a matter of which corporations. It's Apple and Microsoft vs. Koch Industries. And none of them have the people's best interests at heart.

It is also disheartening the way people have become more like cheerleaders for their "team" than critics. It's more about winning. Some folks seem unwilling to hold Democrats' feet to the fire to make them keep their promises.