"But neither does voting for a candidate that you know ahead of time won't get more than a small percentage of the vote."

Yes it does! You keep saying that if enough people of a progressive persuasion (whatever persuasion that could be)backed a Democrat then it would fix the problem.

The faults in your scenario are that you are deciding what problem needs to be addressed.    Obama is in favor of strengthing our borders to deal with the immigration issue. Suppose a "progressive" disagrees with that, or the candidates stand on same-sex marriage, or right to life, etc.   You seem to have a definition for "progressive" that fits your own scenario. In reality, the issues are wider.

IF all those progressives voted with their head, and IF all the conservatives voted with their head, perhaps we would have more choice - and THAT can help create a candidate that is responsive to the needs of the population they serve, not a candidate that is resposible to the donors and corporations that got them elected.

No one is suggesting giving up - but your idea is not one that everyone shares, and until DEMOCRATS realize that - the party will continue to be screwed up.

You talk about your ONE voice and what it was able to do.   Don't try to stop others from using their ONE voice and making a concscious decision to vote with their head.

With all due respect Don, you seem to have blinders on concerning this issue. I know I did as well and four years ago I was right with you.   But it is time to think about what is going on, and listen to reason - or at least listen.