This editorial (gift link) from Josh Marshall at TPM gets at the heart of the Congressional leadership fight. The problem is much less the leaders than the filibuster. Nothing is going to happen in Congress as long as the filibuster remains intact, and a do-nothing Congress feeds the President's power. If Chuck Schumer is a problem, it's mostly because he's unwilling to ditch the filibuster, not because he's otherwise incapable of leading the Senate.
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@VATVSLPR To a certain extent this is correct, and Van Hollen has vowed to try to ditch the filibuster on day one. But, while the filibuster is crucial, it is also emblematic of two radically different futures. Schumer will advance only a weak agenda that largely protects the status quo. He will be an obstructionist at war with progressive members. Van Hollen will take bold swings and force the "moderates" to join or endure the wrath of their constituents.