Barack Obama

I agree/disagree with that statement. My post is definitely antithetical to the OP, as I reject the OP's assumption that party infighting is a bad thing. I think, if not quite a strength in electoral terms, is a sign of the strength of our positions, because they are arrived at by vigorous debate, rather than by a bunch of yes men saying "yes".

This brings me to where I disagree with you. My post is not at all antithetical to it being about Republicans and Democrats. It has been, and should be, a matter of pride that our party's policies are built from the ground up, out of the plurality of opinions of its members. On the other hand, the Republican policy comes from the top down, and their ability (somewhat undermined by the Tea Party) to enforce party unity is the envy of some (in my opinion, shortsighted) Democrats. I submit to you the Iowa Caucuses: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_caucuses

Look at the difference between how Republicans and Democrats select a winner. Our processes is built around debate, because through vigorous and open debate(and a few hurt feelings), we will arrive at policies that are more correct than we would arrive at through groupthink. If given equal footing, correct ideas will defeat incorrect ideas in time, but incorrect ideas, if sheltered from debate, can stand in perpetuity.

My point is that though our voters may not "fall in line" for the general election, because our party is made up of a plurality of deeply held ideals, which, in the big picture is a strength. If we want to improve our standing, we need to teach our base that it is their duty to view in every election, and to view the entire length of the ballot. Do that, and we will win, and we will win without taking the democracy (messy, as democracy always is) out of the Democratic Party.