More often than not, he ridicules the progressives in an effort to bolster his bipartisan credentials.

Frankly, there are a lot of Democrats - myself included - who no longer see ourselves as fitting into this New Democratic Party, and have little interest in cementing it into place, possibly for decades to come.

I mean, what is the Democratic Party these days?  Just an offshoot of Obama for America, focused on pretty talk, demands for money and watering-down of long-standing liberal policies?  Mmmm...no thanks, not interested.

The way things look to me now, the Democratic Party is no longer the vehicle by which liberal policies can or will be advanced; whether it is pie-in-the-sky thinking or not, I believe there is at least a growing discussion of, and interest in, building a viable, liberal/progressive party.  Or at least a visible and loud organization from which to provide some pressure, some movement back to the left of center - especially as Obama goes "agnostic" on not raising taxes on the under-$250K crowd, and makes more noises about cutting entitlement spending, remains way too silent on issues of reproductive choice for someone who says he is in favor of it, embraces with way too much vigor too many of the abhorrent Bush policies, is proving to way too cozy with his savvy businessmen friends...

Unquestioning devotion to Obama is surely not the way. That has always been my beef with the new Obama activist - it has been about Obama, not advancing progressive issues.

However, the Obama WH was not very interested in the OFA after they'd won, fo handing it off the DNC seemed logical and easiest.  

The way the health care...er, make that health insurance...communication to the OFA was handled seemed to indicate a halfhearted interest in continuing to see any political activity by the "movement" members. Donations, yes; political input, no.  The WH was quite well satisfied with what they were doing, thank you all very much. If there wasn't agreement with what the WH wanted, keep your opinions to yourselves.

We really need a third party in America if we can even hope for any real change and help create it.  Someone must start this. (norris morris)

A third party or a movement to influence/shake up the Dem Party? Is it too outrageous to suggest someone like Howard Dean take on a head-hunter role to find not just one but several lively Dems (if not himself as I imagine he would refuse) to launch such a movement as a "kick-ass team" to go around the country speaking up to the points raised by this RS article, putting Team Obama and their pathetic PR strategists (Plouff, Axelrod, Emanuel, Gibbs, and virtual thugs like Blair and Brennan, and Wall Streeters like Geithner, Summers et al, and especially Obama himself) on notice to pay attention to serious progressive policy -- not just crappy lip-service -- while they still have a semblance of majority, and even when they (likely) lose their majority in midterms (in Senate at least) to fight like hell to get progressive legislation through. With the corporate funding of election campaigns given such a big push by Supremes, we have to appeal directly to the people, not just via media who will be even further compromised into conflict of interest (with campaign ad sales) by the corporate/GOP side. The only way for Dems to get in touch with the people and get them back in the Dem corner is to get real, not with "listening tours" but telling tours telling us you see the merits of single payer (for example) after Blue Cross/Anthem raised premium 39% etc. Tell 'em we're going to take a few risks to fight for good economic principles like non-commercial health insurance (for example).

I'm suggesting a stalking horse movement led by a team of Dems like Dean and others who will critique Team Obama and kick them in the ass -- this Dem team will feel like they're Republicans by the feel of the hoof on their ass -- but they will be (relatively) progressive Dems. They should create a "Real Dem Kick-Ass" platform modeled on a "Contract with America" type of layout (just in terms of brief talking points) on policy, saying, "This is what we want Dems in Congress and WH to fight for or get out of town and lose our base of support." Somebody has got to stand up for the left or else the left falls off the cliff.

A third party might split the left but a wake-up, kick-ass movement might unite the left and make it stronger than the sum of its, er, constituents.

The wake-up kick-ass team would make speeches at marches and demonstrations all over the country, appear on talk shows -- be everywhere people can see them -- do it like a campaign but it's not an election campaign -- yet -- it's to scare the hell out of Obama and his sycophantic minions. Tell the public, "We're reminding Pres Obama and Dems in Congress of the principles they came in with, before they began running scared and putting more faith in cash-heavy lobbyists than in their own voters and constituents. We're a wake-up call to telling them to come home to your constituents. We, the constituents, are stronger than the corporate lackeys. There are millions more of us." These points are already being made in major media (like Rolling Stone), so it's no secret. Rethugs (and ObamaGaGa's) will try to make something of our criticizing Obama. So what? Let 'em. Tell `em we're taking care of our own party even if they refuse to take care of theirs. It'll make us look stronger as a party. The points in Rolling Stone and elsewhere in punditocracy need to be made by real Dems, not just pundits and bloggers, bright as many are.