Thomas Young of Lead or Get Out of the Way asks:

What is the point of feigning that you object to a single party government when all you do is help an Executive who thinks he is King.

What is the point of taking the flak that comes from the right wing when you refuse to cave, the threats that Democrats are making us less safe every day they delay — when you have no intention of keeping up the fight?

What is the point of that when you just give in?

Do they think Republicans won’t attack them for stalling?  Now that they’ve caved entirely, they’re admitting that Bush was right and that they were putting America at risk by not letting George W. 19% illegally spy on citizens.

Republicans WILL attack them.  That’s what Republicans do.  They consolidate power and use it for the purpose of the party’s ideology and to continue it’s health.

If Democrats merely help Republicans do what Republicans want to do, then what is the point of the Democrats?

Democrats don’t enforce their oversight powers. Even when the opposition has admitted to committing crimes.
Democrats instead grant even more power to the lawbreaking Executive. Indeed, doing the very opposite of oversight, they grant retroactive immunity to the criminals for the crimes they committed.

And at the end of the day the Democrats will be attacked for not having completely caved fast enough.

What is the point of the Democratic Party?

I don’t have a ready answer. Normally I’d say that the Democratic Party is the best means for achieving progressive governance in America. But that presumes that when elected, Democrats actually stand up for progressive principles.  With a few exceptions, these Democrats are not doing that.