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This thread is a pretty good microcosm of why the Democrats have such a problem; there is no real unity.
For better or worse (and even as a Republican, I will say it is too often for the worse) the Republicans as a party are far more united then the Democrats.
Once you get past certain issues, mostly having to do with opposing the Republicans, the Democratic Party splits into smaller, almost sub-parties, with their own agendas within the larger one. It can be racial (blacks, latinos, etc.), or over national issues (abortion, environment, war), but those smaller groups bring about a lot of in-fighting.
There is a little bit of that within the Republican Party, mostly along religious lines, but not as much, and that unity allows them to stick together.
Just the fact that only "two-thirds" of congressional Democrats voted party-line on the two issues being discussed, which were the two general reasons for the Democrats winning their majorities anyway, should be enough proof of that.
That is where the problem lies. It is both the advantage and the curse of the party, because it allows for dissent and change within the party, but also doesn't allow a small majority to mean as much.
(And no, that isn't why I'm a Republican.)
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"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun
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