"But what always surprises me is that with almost 10 times the number of jews, why the nonreligious are so politically weak"

That suprises me too. But folks who go to church get together at least once a week in large and small groups that have similar beliefs. When do athiests get together? They don't - at least that I'm aware of. It sounds like the key is to get organized. How is that going to happen? It's like the old Will Rogers joke - "I'm not a member of an organized political party.... I'm a Democrat."