then someone needs to explain to me how 'sniping from the sidelines' as Helen put it, helps anything.

In the words of FDR:

Leadership Quotes

I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

If you view politicians as trapped within a political power structures, the only way to get change is to apply enough pressure - or sniping - so that the cost of doing wrong, and the benefit of doing right increases.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!