Does it make sense to gather, stand and wave in a wintry public place for a cause that offers no positive, uplifting message – only dissatisfaction with new government leadership? Is the prompt reality of “promises made, promises kept” a sudden surprise to those protestors whose nationwide party appeal declined dramatically? Waving signs of negativity, disparagement and discontent without a countervailing agenda of inspiration is a losing proposition. Does a simple desire for like-minded support override serious consideration of contradictory viewpoints and clear majority sentiment? Can the public be expected to vote for would-be party leaders who appear to be against everything offered by the other side and have done their best to undermine it? Is that the new American way? It’s sad to see a formerly influential political party in leaderless disarray of its own making. Uninspiring candidates forced to rely on a formerly respected label rather than an appealing policy platform cannot be expected to prevail with a public clearly desirous of change from passive caretaking to genuine socio-economic progressivism. Phil Osifer