Use it or lose it. I generally have a hopeful view that Congress will eventually turn things around, and unlike solarbird I think the Democrats are spineless rather than wholly complicit in what's happening. But the problem with not using your power is that when you finally do get around to trying to use it, you might find that you don't have it anymore. Congress absolutely needs to start acting like the co-equal branch it is. In my judgment, they're more likely to do that if the next election repudiates the Republican Party. After the Democrats have control of the first two branches of government, the goal becomes supporting better Democrats (and a rare good Republican if I can find one), and holding them accountable. I hope to see most pro-FISA immunity Democrats challenged during the 2010 primary.

But if we target both parties now, voting for a third party or not at all, we not only won't get better Democrats, but we'll be saddled with the authoritarian Republicans that dominate our system now.