I have yet to see the fundamental splits in the right that exist in the American left.
We do not have elements of our base engaging in what is tantamount to outright political warfare with our elected officials and party leaders. The only two issues that even come close are border security/illegal immigration and Harriet Meirs. The first is a disconnect with nearly every American and every political leader trying, in vain, to not appear racist. Harriet.... Harriet WHO? Yeah, thought you remembered her.
You'd be hard pressed to find a party more at odds with its vehement disillusioned and radical base in historical context than you find Democrats with the liberal blogosphere. A term I loathe as message boards and blogs are two different things and most people writing thoughts on politics on the net are not blogging.
The last time there was such a split with the left and their party was 1968 and that gave us Nixon. When they went even more out on the fringe with McGovern... well, 1972 wasn't pretty.
I don't think this Democratic party can survive their vocal online members. Too many of them are too angry, too fed up and too disgusted with them for not being aggressive enough for someone NOT to take their money and form another "major" third party.
We suffered it when many on the right fell for Perot in 92 and 96. The left is going to see their equivilent in 2008 and 2012.
I think because the far Left is well-funded, they may very well start up a Progressive Party very soon and that will officially split the Democratic Party in two.
Good analysis.
We on FR have a few long-standing opposing views -- evolution vs. creation for example -- and some momentary ones as well -- Terri Schaivo and a recent case of a search warrant (actually the lack of one) in a library come to mind -- where there is heat but not hate.
The left doesn't have many important issues where two completely different views are tolerated within the party -- or even allowed to be posted on their boards. The name-calling begins immediately and does not let up.
I agree with you -- the radical wing of the Democratic Party will either simply destroy the party from within, cleave off and form a new one, or admit what everybody knows and simply swell the ranks of the Socialist Workers' Party or the Communist Party by a few million. I myself see that happening so that they are in place, recognizable as a new group, for the 2016 presidential election.
Well, it is way too early to say that the Dem. Party can't survive their moonbats. I do agree with you that they won't survive as they used to be unless one thing happens... they get a strong and popular leader that drags the party kicking and screaming back to the center.
It COULD happen quite easily. But it will take a guy that is extremely independent and has a popularity well and away FROM the Party regulars itself.
Eisenhower is an example of a guy with enough popularity free of Party label. Colin Powell could be today (not that he is running, just an example).