The Democrat party is just as dead as the Republican Party was dead in 2008. In 2008 the American people were tired of George W. Bush. Lengthy wars without end, unprecedented deficit spending, an economic meltdown in September 2008, and relentless unanswered attacks by the opposition made the US voter ready to try out the party offering change.
The Republicans have ditched Bush just as the Democrats ditched Carter after 1980. If the Republicans take power in 2012 and fail to improve the economy, the Democrats will have a major resurgence in 2014 under a new standard bearer.
Unfortunately, the two major parties have successfully constructed a duopoly which prevents new parties from arising and presenting real alternatives to the electorate. As the financing system is constructed today, reform must occur from inside the existing institutions instead of coming from external competition.
My only point was that the Democrats cannot just force Obama out as their standard bearer in 2012 - the blacks will stay home and they need that consticuency across the board or they will be obliterated in races up and down the ticket. My claim of death for the Democrat Party relates only to the 2012 elections, though it could hurt them far beyond that election if blacks are inclined to start looking around for ways to get off the Rat plantation.