I think I figured it out!

[no limit]

When Republicans have the senate, the house, and the white house (as they did 2000-2006) the Democrats must bend to Republican will because they have no power in government, everything Republicans want they pretty much get at this point. Iraq, patriot act, 2 tax cuts for the rich and no child left behind they get because they have small majorities in both chambers of congress and they have the white house. Nothing Democrats can do about that.

When Democrats come in to power with huge wins and gain control of the senate and the house during mid-terms they still must bend to Republican will because they still don't have the white house. After the 2006 elections this included giving Bush every penny he asked for to fund his wars. This included legalizing warrentless wiretapping and giving telecoms retroactive immunity for illegally spying on us. It included failing to prosecute anyone in the Bush administration for breaking the law (which they clearly did over and over again). And it even included funding the surge which democrats swore they were against. In fact I can't think of a single significant thing during this time that decmorats truly wanted and they got. But hey, they didn't have the white house, can't blame them, right? Right.

So when Democrats finally get the white house, get the house, and get a 60 vote filibuster-proof majority in the senate they must again bend to Republican will because a tiny fraction of those 60 senators that caucus with Democrats are kind of conservative. That means a stimulus package with 300 billion in tax breaks for mostly rich people, no public option in their healthcare reform (reform modeled after Romneycare and passed using reconciliation), weak wall street reform, draconian budget cuts that hurt the poorest among us (low income heating assistance for example) and an extension of tax cuts for the richest Americans. Democrats wish it wouldn't have to be this way, but those darn conservative Democrats made them do it this way.

After all that when the republicans gain control of the house because americans think democrats did a shitty job (I wonder why) again the democrats must bend to their will since nothing can get done without Republican support. It's all in the name of compromise.

So when 2012 rolls around and Democrats ask you to vote for them just remember, the Republicans are worse. Nevermind Republicans get everything they want wether they win or they loose, the important thing we all need to worry about is that Republicans are way worse, nothing else in this upcoming elections is in any way important.