Where we are now, I think there are several options for the future and they all come back to the same starting point. I believe there are many Ind voters like me who are willing to support the Dem party as an effort to better the country but we aren't dedicated to the party. I support policy over party name and I lost my idealism a long time ago.

  I was really pissed about the Alito fillibuster-bust and the recent reform talk is great but I realized something today. As much as I'd like a housecleaning, I saw some very experienced Democrats pushing the intel chiefs for answers at a hearing on C-Span today. A third party rookie just doesn't have that experience/skill right from the start. It could be a fantastic candidate elected with much potential but the storied history would be lacking. We need to get through to the good, veteran legislators and bring some new blood in where we can't get reform.

  The best way to do this and meet the needs of the voters is to get organized drives, starting in the net communities, of all of the small disenfranchised groups/interests and third party fragments. Building a coalition of needs and resources will provide a larger, more effective presence. It can be broken down with leaders of blog communities as spokespeople and delegate the recruiting as needed...by interests. This would be a dynamic process and open to new ideas, programs, drives, projects and above all, discussion on a regular basis.

  This would give the party power to the committee of representatives from the blogs and groups first and then to the leaders. Another organized program would focus on media message with massive individual input combined with top level message delivery so that it's impossible to ignore. Even if we get 'allright, allright,...enough already, we'll make the correction'.

  One thing is certain, there are too many crucial voices and ideas going unheard. They will gather their forces one way or another. Building coalitions would allow for more power by the people and whatever shape it takes in the future will be genuine. Along the way, it would provide necessary cooperation and focus for the Dem party and the interest groups.