from the New Republic: http://www.thenewrepublic.com/doc.mhtml?i=20020304&s=crowley03040 2
"When the house finally passed, like a kidney stone, a campaign finance reform bill last week, Democratic leaders were radiant. Tom Daschle and Dick Gephardt wore huge grins at a celebratory press conference the next day, basking in the national media's adoring glow. But, behind the scenes, Democrats aren't grinning at all. "It's going to be ugly for us. It's pretty devastating," says an experienced party operative. "It's very possible we've consigned ourselves to minority status," says a senior campaign strategist. "At some point you're going to have real shock," adds a party lawyer."
and
"This is not to say that Democrats should have opposed campaign finance reform. After all, precisely because Democrats are seen as the party of reform, sinking campaign finance reform would have deeply embittered their base and, perhaps, even sent some liberals over to the Green Party. So, by their actions last week, Democrats have at least retained the moral high ground. They had better hope their donors are willing to compensate them for it--in cash."
The legacy of Nader and all those deluded college kids? So the American left isn't powerless after all? (You have to thank Clinton's last minute pardons and Kenny Boy Lay, too)