The -real- problem is that we're offered a false choice (hawkish neoliberal economics or hawkish neoliberal economics), and once we make our false choice our representatives' actions don't map to public opinion, in the short or long term.

Consider, for example, the Democrats' mandate to get us the f- out of Iraq... they've tried to -remission- a bit, but haven't even attempted to force an immediate withdrawal. Democratic leadership are uninterested in impeaching the Nixonian-approval-level manimals running the gov'mnt, and the one victory of this congressional session is Dodd (D-CT) opposing Reid (D-NE).