If you really believe that's not a common sentiment on the left wing of the Democratic party, you are not being honest with yourself.

There is a huge amount of overlap among the "groups" you named to the point that, with the exception of the religious right, you're just talking about the same people and calling them different things. To the extent that there is a war in the Republican party, it's the result of a leadership vaccum and the fact that conservatives are fed up with the GOP establishment who have been no more fiscally responsible than Democrats. The first problem should be solved once nominate a presidential candidate (if he's not an unelectable sack), and the second will be solved once the Karl Roves of the world realize they're not in the driver's seat anymore and can't win shit without those groups.

Really, the Democratic party is at least as fraught with internal contradictions as the Republican party. Probably much moreso.

Part of the Dem's problem over the past 30 years is that they've NEVER formed a solid line of attack that appeased their different groups (largely because some of their ideas would ensure an election loss in their district), whereas the Republicans have been better at toeing the company line.

It was no surprise to see Dems jump ship on the healthcare bill, especially in its preliminary incarnations. The public support wasn't there and pushing it through would have ensured a GOP landslide in 2010.

Personally, I appreciate a group of free-thinking individuals like the various Democrat groups, even if I don't agree with a lot of their policy.

Part of the Dem's problem over the past 30 years is that they've NEVER formed a solid line of attack that appeased their different groups (largely because some of their ideas would ensure an election loss in their district), whereas the Republicans have been better at toeing the company line.

It was no surprise to see Dems jump ship on the healthcare bill, especially in its preliminary incarnations. The public support wasn't there and pushing it through would have ensured a GOP landslide in 2010.

Personally, I appreciate a group of free-thinking individuals like the various Democrat groups, even if I don't agree with a lot of their policy.

So the only division in the Democratic party is the Blue Dogs, and it's generally agreed among Dems that if they'd just purge them, they'll be one happy, unified bloc? That's pretty funny considering the Dems pride themselves on having "the big tent". It's also pretty funny because after NY-23, Frank Rich and his revoltingly stupid ilk were screaming their heads off about a Stalinist purge in the Republican party. Which was pretty curious because, if it's such a bad thing for Republicans, why would Frank Rich of all people have such angst over it?

I think an ideal candidate would be someone like Paul Ryan or Chris Christie. They're able and willing to be specific when almost nobody else is. They have a lot of the same qualities that helped Obama to get elected in terms of their charisma and stage presence - something no Republican nominee since Reagan has had - but without the arrogance and unbecoming thin-skinnedness he tends to display. And both are conservative in the ways that I care about without having all the baggage and weird hang-ups the preponderance of social conservatives have.

Finally, I don't know what the fuck you're talking about with this "says the side" business. For one thing, I'm not a "side". For another, I don't think I've ever complained that liberals vote along party lines. I do complain that their ideas are stupid and destructive. But everyone knows (or should know) that people tend to vote with their party 90% of the time, which is why all this business about HURRRRRR CHRISTINE ODONALD IS A FUCKIN RETARD WHORE is beyond me. The average Congressperson or Senator doesn't set out to write the most poignant, transformative piece of legislation in a generation; they're little more than a rubber stamp for their party.

I just disagree.

I wish I had more information with which to argue, but I barely follow politics anymore. It's just a headache. All I know is that Tea Party and GOP used ot be synonymous. Palin was looking like the candidate for next election. Tea party seemed like the new evolution of the republican party. A party by the people for the people. Now the people are gaining power and the GOP is trying to oust them. On top of that, the religious right is growing in power and trying to  claim a piece of the pie. 

That's just how it looks to me.

There were always different groups within the democrats, but the fundamentals were always the same. Social programs, regulation, equality, etc etc.

To me it just seems like the right is breaking apart.

The one thing that always surprises me about most Republicans and Tea-Partiers in special is this strange mix of ideas of wanting less government in fiscal issues (which is good, I'm a liberal in the European meaning of the word - comes from being liberated from government) but at the same time want tons of government in your livingroom - no gay marriage, no abortion etc.

I saw an interview with Charlie Christ and he is how I would want to see a politician. He says he wants to limit government in ALL aspects of one's life. Now that's consistent.

Sarah Palin- "I can see Japan from my home in Alaska and if you look closer i can also see North Korea."

I guess you really don't follow politics, because the Tea Party was definitely less synonymous with the GOP at its outset than it is now that almost all of the major "Tea Party backed" candidates are running on the Republican ticket.

I also don't see why you think the religious right is gaining in power. To me, they seem less relevant than at any point in my lifetime. The culture war stuff is almost nonexistent in this election, at least on the right, and "fiscal conservatism" is the watchword of the day, and what the fuck is up with this dude telling me how to find the Charisma bobblehead in Fallout 3 over and over again? God, I hate this autoplay shit.

If this is true, then I'm even more confused as to what is going on over at fox news.