I see sites like these: Media Whores Online, or (on a smaller scale) leftyblog; which seem to think of themselves as the left side of the political spectrum, but what they really stand for is the Democratic party. By the standards of any real politics, the Democrats are a centrist party. In most western countries, many of their positions are center-right:

• lack of support for universal healthcare
• support of the death penalty
• feeble support of gay rights and reproductive rights
• problematic on church/state separation
• supportive of massive military spending

These people think the Green Party and Ralph Nader are the enemy as much as the GOP. After what I've seen in the last couple of years, I'm not sure I can vote for the Democratic politicians that "represent" me. In the last presidential election, I got to watch Joseph Lieberman state, "the Constitution promises freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. We are after all not just another nation, but 'one nation under God.' " He also said that morality was impossible without religion. These are not the statements of a "liberal" political party -- they are those of a religious party.

I see Richard Gephardt saying that, with the new threat of global terrorism, the United States must be "ready to strike, not just deter."

I see the USA Patriot Act pass 356-66 in the House, and 98-1 in the Senate.

I see the Senate unanimously approve a resolution sponsored by its Democratic and Republican leaders that expressed support for the reference to God in the Pledge of Allegiance. The statement by the DNC chairman says: "Today's decision by the Federal Appeals Court is unfortunate. The pledge of allegiance is a reflection of the values of America and have been an important, patriotic tradition for more than a century. I trust that the judicial process will ultimately overturn this wrong-headed decision."

I see the Democratic party support the failure that is the War on Drugs.

I see the Democratic party support abortion, but not public funding. They believe the "right to choose" is for those who can afford such a right. They don't seem to have a problem with my tax dollars going for plenty of things I don't approve of.

As a gay man, I find it laughable that anyone could vote for the Republican party, but "they're not as bad as the GOP" is not a good enough reason for me to vote for the Democrats. They must earn my vote -- they do not have a "right" to it. Given the ways the party has acquiesced as the Bush administration has shredded the Bill of Rights since 9/11, I will not vote for a Democratic candidate again unless I see a fundamental change in their behavior.