Bobert, I agree with your assessment completely. The coalition, to be viable, must occur within the party structure. If I thought that a third party would do the trick, I would support a third party. Much of what GUEST says is true, and mirrors my opinion. But the attitude of tearing it down and starting over, just doesn't hold water. It is an interesting theory. But like so many theorists, they ignore the casualties, blithely dismissing them because they don't see the faces. They only see their theories. History is rife with victims of this kind of zealotry.

The only problem I have with your post is that it implies that the party need only approach Ralph and he would come back in. I don't think that is the case. I believe he is so convinced that his current road is the correct one, that he can't see its consequences. But I believe there are many on the progressive left that would do the job. I work with many of them on a regular basis and they are driven by excellent ideals.

Unlike our GUEST, who seems to delight in being abusive and offering no solutions.

Mick