I should state something to clarify a position...
I do not post vitriol about Democrats because I hate them. Okay, yes I do but more specifically I hate their strategy and... have lost faith in it.
I am fully aware of how without Democrats in office there is just about no chance for even minimal Civil Rights, Women's Rights, Environmental regulation, or economic regulation. The problem though is those things will just be eroded slower with Democrats in office. They played politics so terribly recently not because they were trying to be slick... it's because they were trying to find a middle - ground between positive public opinion... and campaign funding.
The fact is: THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND.
When there is an election in a battle ground state money will win out in most cases. Congress had such a terrible approval rating and 96% (?) Of them got re-elected. I don't think they were all incumbents. Money got them elected. There is no middle-ground.
When you try to get money for campaign funding... YOU BECOME THE FINANCIER'S BITCH.
You have some leeway but overall you are beholden. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have spoken of great economic policies, they still had to go through AIPAC.
When money is in the equation it will just about always win. Money is not usually put into a race where there is an assumed winner.
After Citizens United and McCutcheon we are looking at a much steeper slope towards the right-wing. Democrats or not. Money will always win.
As such I don't hate the Democrats. Okay, yes I do, but I understand the strategic reasons to have them there. Unfortunately, the time for new strategies has come. The Democrats stalled on KXL, stalled on the environment in general, didn't take any firm stances, barely spoke out for Obamacare, didn't go against NSA surveillance, and fyi even Obama played politics with his support on Kathleen Sebellius' stance on women's access to birth control.
They're all puppets, the Republicans just have more integrity because they are at least honest. The Republicans don't need to lie or "play the game" in order to get campaign funding.
I think there needs to be a new party formed. People need to put stock in parties other than the two "useful" ones. They need to organize to get money out of politics locally. They need to organize progressive ballot referendums.
Congress and the government are LOST. Money has won. If we can salvage what we all idealize as the United States we have to do it ourselves and we can't rely on government.