to self destruct to do something ?

but the new Progressive party has coalesced around only one or two issues. The Republicans were all about ending slavery. A new progressive party might be about reining in corporations or getting national health insurance. Or it could be some pressing issue we haven't thought of yet.

Once those issues are resolved, the party becomes apathetic and is then ripe for takeover by the big money boys.

Perhaps if the Progressive caucus took a clue from the tea party caucus they could wield some influence over the Democratic Party.

The tea party seems to have no problem moving things to the right, the Progressives should do the same to move things to the left. Reid or President Obama could say "I would like to give you a little on this bill, but those damn progressives are forcing me to the left." Seems to work for Boehner and moving things to the right.

screaming about doing the right thing is useless at best. I also wish they'd get a clue from the tea party and start nagging blue dog democrats to start acting like real democrats.

The congress critters would just have to get used to the idea of coalitions.

Only change I would like to see is direct election of the president through a runoff system.

I would love to see three parties at the very minimum. A left wing, centrist and very small right wing fringe.

regardless of what talkers like Melissa Harris-Perry think. People that still call themselves Democrats share a core set of values. But enormous strains exists among members of the party on how to apply those values or which should be held more important. With no threat from a grossly backward republican party, the Democratic party can split into Left-Center and Center-Right halves, with both haves sharing core values that will cause them to discuss and make meaningful compromises on policy, bypassing strident actions and language that know cripples the republican party. You get your fantasy of a Left leaning, powerful party, but progressive centrists like me get to choose between which side best represent my centered view on fiscal policy while meeting my progressive views on social and economic justice.

Good comments from mostly all, but I do think perhaps the GOP is on its deathbed as a party of any significance. Comments from Democrats about how important it is to have the GOP maintain their stature and importance as a party irk the heck outa me. Why? The GOP is totally out of touch with the American populace, and I think they'll disappear as a force in American politics. We need to anticipate that, and be ready for the future. What will fill the vacuum? I'm thinking it'll be two branches of the Democratic party...and we'll have our own internal "civil war".