It's almost six months since Democrats took Congress, and it's time to ask: are progressives getting anything from the Democrats?

It's pretty clear what we progressives want: an end to the Iraq war, a boost in the minimum wage, clean government, freedom to organize unions, and a living planet. To be sure, Democrats, especially in the House, have made some moves to deliver those items. They've passed some bills and resolutions - but here's the thing: almost none of them have become law. Of course, that's hardly entirely the Democrats' fault. Republicans have vetoed, filibustered, threatened filibusters, and generally obstructed the progressive agenda. With Senate rules being what they are, and with President Bush reaching new heights of orneriness, they've got some power to do that even in the best of circumstances. Fine - that's politics. But while Republicans are holding up everything Democrats ran on, does it really make sense for Democrats to start giving President Bush and the Republicans victories on THEIR priorities?

First came the secret trade deal. Democrats could have said, "Pass the minimum wage, clean government reform, and make at least some concession on Iraq - then we can talk about trade." But instead, they said, "Hey - you're blocking our entire agenda? No problem. Let's put that aside and cut a deal on your top priority and give President Bush and big corporations a deal on trade." That would have been bad enough if the trade deal was what the Democrats said it was: a marginal improvement on past trade deals because it includes labor and environmental standards in the core agreement. But now it seems like those improvements aren't actually going to materialize -they'll be shunted off into unenforceable side agreements that make them no different from NAFTA, CAFTA, or the WTO. Democrats got suckered not just on the politics, but on the policy, too.

Now comes a "grand bargain" on immigration. Even if this deal represented a marginal improvement, is it really a good idea for Democrats to move this to the top of the agenda while Republicans are holding up an end to the war, clean energy investments, and the minimum wage - the things they ran on? But when you factor in that this deal will make it harder to form unions, increase employer abuse of workers (it's a lot easier politically to expose a "guest worker" to pesticides and other hazards with impunity than citizens), and scar our democracy by creating an immigrant underclass, it ceases to make any sense at all.

I've got to ask: do the Democrats actually think this is going to help them politically? I mean, during the 2006 campaign, I didn't see many free trading corporate executives manning the phones at campaign headquarters or even giving big donations to the Democrats (especially in comparison to what they were funneling to the Republicans). I didn't see many rabid anti-immigration extremists demanding that the United States build a 370 mile long wall between us and Mexico that will do nothing to stop illegal immigration but will condemn much of the wildlife of the Southwest to extinction. I did see lots of progressives tiring themselves out and emptying their wallets to end the war, save the planet, and improve health care. If Democrats keep ramming these Republican priorities down progressive throats, some Democrats may start asking that old Naderite saw "Is there really any difference between Republicans and Democrats?"

Mind you - I personally think there is a huge difference, even when Democrats are acting as cravenly as they have been these last few weeks. There's just no comparison between the parties. However mildly, Democrats are now actually pushing, albeit wimpily, for positive change. They're forcing Republicans to take tough votes and they're keeping an eye on the Bush administration. Imagine the alternative: another two years of corrupt Republicans plundering the treasury, subjecting the rest of us to their gross incompetence, and rewriting laws to favor polluters and other corporate outlaws.

But just because I think that, it doesn't mean everyone will. At the very least, progressives (like I'm doing right now) are going to be directing their money and their time at trying to make the Democrats better rather than convincing the broader public how bad the Republicans are. And we can't afford that distraction - we need unity and we need excitement if we're going to keep Congress and take back the White House. So, Democratic leaders, please: before you bring the next Republican priority to the top of the agenda, stand tall till Republicans agree to give us progressives something - anything - to get excited about. In exchange, we promise to make you happy.