Very interesting, Fantasma. Yeah, the Democrats are basically just "Republican-light". In most other western democracies they would be seen as pretty right wing.

Kucinich was the guy they moved right quick to shut out of the debate process this time around, because he wasn't parroting the desired party line. They also tried to get him to lose his candidacy for Congress...but did not succeed in that effort so far. A lot of insider money was spent for media time to try and knock Kucinich off in Cleveland.