Both parties have swung to the extremes. IMO they do that, to polarize the masses, and they have succeeded.
Fanatics that are all wound up on party rhetoric, rarely step back, take a breath, and really use any Critical Thinking Skills.
That is just what the politicians want.
We have been officially 'divided and conquered'
The Congress and the Senate rarely if ever, work a five day work week.
http://majorityleader.house.gov/docUploads/2008-CALENDAR.pdf
Even on the days they allegedly work they do things such as:
Commend the Louisiana State U Tigers for winning the 2007 bowl championship game.
Or: Designating a post office in Virginia, as the Judge Richard Allsbrook post office. And all that would be considered a days work! I picked those two examples at random, it's really much worse.
You would think or hope they are doing their jobs and voting with the tax payer in mind. They are just barely doing anything; just working on 'feel good' legislation to give the impression of 'fighting' for this, or the 'war' on that. (It's both parties)