Politicians get a lot of crap...some definitely deserved. But I know quite a few politicans personally. Some are extremely cool. Even some I don't always agree with are really good people. I think this gets forgotten in our cynicism.

I also see an extremely negative offshoot of the kind of cynicism some have towards politicians: who are the politicians who need our help the most? THe ones who are actually the good, caring individuals who don't want to sell out. Who doesn't care about grassroots? The ones who get the big money support.

Too often the kind of cynicism directed at politicians from the left limits the commitment leftists give to politicians. In those circumstances the good guys usually lose and the big money interests win.

I have meet dozens of excellent people in politics...almost all (one exception) were Democrats. Many lost because the grassroots activists didn't care enough to actually find the good folks (who don't have the money to advertise much) and bust their butts for them.