Lauren, I agree with your points. Almost. Your perception of the difference between progressives and conservatives within the party, and its negative consequences, is correct. I'd give almost anything to flip the power structure within the party.

Anything EXCEPT destroy any chance of making it better in the future. I am not a "lesser-of-two-evils" guy - I didn't vote for Clinton's second term or Gore. I don't look on Obama's terms with the same level of reverence as most Democrats. But this one time is different - we have never ever been on the precipice of total fascism as we are today. This has all the feel of a last shot for democracy.

The reality is, we have lost this battle. Biden is the choice of the party we still most identify with. I am not planning to devote time or resources for Biden (there's your lack of enthusiasm), and I won't criticize anyone who can't vote for Biden. But I think we should take a 6-week break from focusing on the differences in our public discourse, and get ready to hold his feet to the fire after he is elected.

I am usually not on this side of this argument, but this time feels like two sides fighting for survival, facing an evil enemy who has a blowtorch pointed at them, turning their guns on each other. Can we call a truce for a few weeks?