Reply #86: I suggest you review the video of Barbara Boxer [View All]

and her gavel explaining to a Republican that she was now the chair of the committee and in control of the agenda, when that Republican was trying to tell Al Gore what he had to do in his testimony.

For Democrats to win over independents and "disaffected GOP'ers" requires them to take principled standards and argue for them. That is what rallies voters. You may want to check issues-based opinion polls. What you will find is that the majority of voters in this country agree with the Democratic positions on many issues, if not most of them. The Republicans currently in power understand only power. They will be amazingly willing to "compromise" and "reach across the aisle" when they realize that they no longer control the White House and either house of Congress. Until then, they will simply roll over anyone they perceive as weak. That's what they have done for the past 8 years.