For about the zillionth time,

what Digby says.

The grassroots of the Democratic Party see something that all the establishment politicians have not yet realized: bipartisanship is dead for the moment and there is no margin in making deals. The rules have changed. When you capitulate to the Republicans for promises of something down the road you are being a fool. When you make a deal with them for personal reasons, you are selling out your party. When you use Republican talking points to make your argument you are helping the other side. When you kiss the president on the lips at the state of the union you are telling the Democratic base that we are of no interest or concern to you. This hyper-partisanship is ugly and it's brutal, but it is the way it is.

I can't imagine anyone saying it any better. I would only quibble with his use of the word "all" - I believe there are a few leaders who Get It. I think Kerry does, and Kennedy and Boxer, and maybe Feingold, though I'm not certain. Durbin would have been on the list up until his recent and inexplicable capitulation on the Patriot Act.