Not so irrational an assumption, though perhaps not correct. Nader and the Greens have been instrumental in spreading the false meme that the two parties are equivalent. Look at the average positions on choice or the environment and you see a HUGE difference. I also would state pretty much unequivocally that had Al Gore taken office, we would not be in Iraq right now and wouldn't be threatening Iran.

It is fair to ask whether there is ENOUGH of a difference and if we can do better. I think no one around here will argue that we can do better...and we fight constantly for better. If you are a regular reader you will know I do criticize the Democrats, though you'd see more of that at Daily Gotham. And I have never been against third parties per se if they are smart and strategic. I have voted Green, WFP and others in the past. But I can say, it has been a lot harder since 2000 when the Nader generated equivalency of the major parties myth first was pushed so hard.

I can understand frustration with the two party system. But it's the bulk of what we have right now, short of someone like Jesse Ventura or Bernie Sanders. Keep in mind most progressives around here eagerly backed Sanders for Senate. To me the strategic way to approach the political system is through groups like Blue Tiger Democrats, Progressive Majority and Democracy for America that empower local people to take control of the political system...within the 2 party system. The people backed by those two groups are fantastic people and are already having an effect on some local and state level parties. I see no viable third party except in certain exceptional cases (e.g. one of my favorite City Councilmembers in NYC is Tish James, Working Families Party). So rather than bang my head on that consistently failing strategy, particularly since 2000, I focus on those people and organizations that are successfully pushing progressivism within the Democratic Party. I also focus a little more on primaries than I used to because I have found that people who complain about the lack of progressivism in the Dem party too often sit out primaries, thus preventing grassroots progressives from winning. A self-fulfilling prophecy which hurts progressives. Right now I can particularly call your attention to Diane Benson in Alaska (amazing woman!), Steve Dahroug and Steve Harrison in New York, and Ed Fallon in Iowa. I think Kucinich is now considered safe, but I donated to help him hold his seat in the House as well.