In a New York Times editorial columnist Paul Krugman notes that the increased corporate giving to the Democratic party is a mixed blessing.

Indeed, one wonders why Democrats seem so hesitant to reduce war funding, end illegal surveilance, and stop porkbarrel spending. Perhaps it's because they have found new sponsors?

It all comes down to whether you believe politicians are in office to do something or in office to be something. Remember that the GOP abandoned it's most cherished conservative principles (fiscal conservatism, individual liberty and freedom from government oversight, avoiding nation building, keeping government small). That's right, everything they professed to stand for got thrown overboard because they believed they had a chance to capture a permanent Republican majority. If not for George Bush, they might have succeeded.

The question now is, will Democrats walk down that same path?

Your thoughts?

OK, I am officially pissed off, sick and tired of a Democratic party that professes protect the rule of law, progressive values, and checks and balances in government but then wimps out at every opportunity.

The Senate could filibuster and the Speaker could prevent any legislation from coming to the floor. But they won't. So, after a brief rant I will propose a new response based on withholding political donations that I think could actually force Democrats to act like Democrats.

The latest...after promising to fix the FISA legislation that was so incredibly stupid and passed in a blind rush to get out of town and not interrupt vacations, both the House and the Senate are again preparing to cave. They will give Bush the right to spy on Americans without credibly judicial oversight and they will give a free pass to telecom companies for laws they have already broken! The telecoms already have protection against actions they took that are in "good faith" but apparently it's hard to justify warrantless spying on millions of Americans as good faith, so they need more.

My proposal is this. Let's begin a campaign to cut off all funding to Democratic candidates until they start acting like our representatives. The only thing that worries them, apparently, is getting kicked out of office. They're confident that we won't vote for the GOP, so we're taken for granted. So, let's hit them in the pocketbook until they, reasonably, begin to act like our representatives.

Kos could lead on this one. Let the FISA revision die a natural death and revert back to the 1978 law. Second, only pass supplemental funding needed to keep half the troops in Iraq. Same next year. Force a 50% annual reduction. Don't take this too far--calls for impeachment or passing universal health care. Make it reasonable and continued financial support only starts up again when Democrats act like Democrats. I think it would work.