The problem with this is that, first, we have to live in the country that is a result of this, thus, status quo is probably at least 1% better than going backwards (to tide us over until 2012). More importantly however, we have troops being shot at right now, and, while we may want a Patton or Westmoreland to lead them, right now we just need to ensure they don't get someone that will stab them in the back. Remember, the #1 job of the President is Commander in Chief of the US Armed Forces.
Yes, we will have to live with the result, as we had to in the past. What’s worse, living 4-8 years under a president from a left-of-center party, or a country that has two left-of-center parties, and no center-to-right-of-center party? We had to have 4 years of Carter to get Reagan. (Instead of 4-8 years of Gerlad Ford and who-knows-what after that.)
Yes, it’s important to defend the country, but what happenes when the country becomes what you were defending against?