The Democrat theory of acquiring and staying in power is totally opposite of the Republican. The Rats will defend any elected Rat to their dying breath. The Republicans will throw people overboard at the first sign of trouble, hoping to keep the brand name from being smeared. Whether it's correct or not, the strategy is very consistent.
But now we have the Tea Party Patriots on the march. They are becoming what parliamentarian governments call the coalition makers. To hold to their charter to remain non-partisan, they can control the two parties and I think they are beginning to understand the power they have at hand to be the Game Changer for our Republic.