I have never asserted that both sides (Democrats and Republicans) are "equally matched as regards dishonesty and corruption"...though they are both past masters at it! ;-) But they're not equally matched. Uh-uh.

The Republicans are usually the worse of the two simply because most of the people who back them have a far less realistic basic social philosophy underpinning their views. They've been sold a bill of goods that sounds like "freedom", but lays the ground for a new form of fascism (one that forms an unholy alliance between corporatism, religious fundamentalism, militarism, and privatization of the public sphere).

The Democrats are usually the better of the two simply because most of the people who back them have a far more realistic basic social philosophy underpinning their views. They've been sold a bill of goods that sounds like "freedom" too, but that lays the ground for a new form of fascism (one that forms an unholy alliance between quasi-liberal political correctness, anti-religious fundamentalism, militarism regardless, and privatization of the public sphere regardless).

You get somewhat different rhetoric from the two...because it has to be tailored to impress a different sector of the public. What you get once they are in office, though, is:

bank bailouts
increased corporate domination
your jobs exported to China
reduction of your civil rights
increased surveillance by shadowy entities like Homeland Security
more illegal wars in foreign countries
more divisive posturing in Congress
more divisive posturing about gays, religion, "socialism", etc.
And so on...

The problem isn't that they are "the same". They're not. The problem is that they serve the same corporate and military interests! And that renders hoo-hah like gay rights and evolution vs creationism as mere irrelevancies to distract you, because the corporations couldn't care less whether or not you believe in God...or are an atheist...or love gays...or hate them. They don't care! But they use those splinter issues to distract and divide you, and they control the parties by financial clout no matter which one wins the election.

If you like the general style of the Democrats better (and I do), then of course you'll prefer them to the Republicans! But don't think that electing them will change basic US policy on fundamental matters like war, law enforcement, trade, and finance. It won't. They'll just bicker over the decorations on the tree, but you'll still get the same old Christmas tree, regardless...underneath those decorations.

If I had to vote for either one of them, it'd be the Democrats. But the Democrats won't save you. (Nor, needless to say, will the Republicans!)

What really worries me is that a new war with Iran may conveniently usher in Obama's 2nd term by depriving the Republicans of their rabid war fever propaganda tactic. I sure as hell hope that doesn't happen. As for the damned Republicans, they (most of them) positively thirst for a war with Iran. Obama could royally screw up their election game by getting into a war with Iran first, but it would be a tragic error of simply gigantic proportions if he did so, in my opinion. It would be like setting the house on fire so your wife won't get the chance to redecorate the rooms in a style and color you don't like!