A pure and unadulterated form one thing and one thing only is in no sense a "mix" of that thing and another. The most generous way to read S&Ps statement is that they think Republicans insane and Democrats incompetent; there's plenty of evidence for both, so that's probably also the most generous way to read Washingtons reality (and I use the term very loosely).

I have no idea who Martin is, but I'd say that's a fair assessment. The reason I and a lot of other people chose Obama over Hillary during the primaries is that he presented himself as an intelligent, charismatic and convincing old school liberal. That was a welcome and long overdue alternative to the Republican Lite, Third Way triangulation focus group BS the Clintons brought to Washington and claimed Bills two terms vindicated as the great white hope of Democrats who'd been getting killed in Presidential politics (never mind that Clinton had Perot polling 19% of the 1992 vote and 10% of the 1996 vote, mostly from conservatives and libertarians who wouldn't touch Clinton with a ten foot pole). Unfortunately, it was also a load of crap; after explicitly stating he wasn't on board with the Clintons Democratic Leadership Council during the primaries, he rapidly embraced it once elected. Basically, he pulled a McCain: Suck up to the base to get nominated, then swing to the center. The difference is Obama waited until the INAUGURATION to swing to the center, which means he campaigned on leftism he's never even tried to deliver. Like I say, cowardice is the GENEROUS explanation for that; the rank cynicism and corruption of two decades of Democratic leadership is the far more likely cause.

It's kind of a good news, bad news deal for folks like you: Whoever the two party system elects your craving for what Bush 41 rightly called "voodoo economics" will continue to be satisfied. You can either cheer for the Republicans responsible or boo the Democrats responsible, but your policy goals will be achieved. The bad news is that it will keep degrading Americas strategic, diplomatic and economic position in the world and turn us into a second class world power full of unemployed, starving, ignorant and sickly citizens while China takes our place as the leading producer of both guns AND butter. At least you can continue taking cold comfort in your indefatigable ability to blame that on the policies present in Democratic RHETORIC, but nowhere in the policies of either party. Personally, I think an American public that realizes the problem, wants something better and can't find anything about Democrats OR Republicans in the Constitution will go a different way. I just hope it's a peaceful political way.