What the Hell is going on here?

[SingSong]

I know it's been said before by others more eloquent, but DAMN! I can't believe what I'm seeing here this morning. Take a look at these thread headers:

Dean inlists Republicans, Bush operatives, to help run his campaign...

WTF, Clark Was Planning on Running as a Republican ?!!

Dean's attack on Clark a huge mistake

Clark should have been upfront himself...about his Republican past.

Hillary better not ****ing run...

Clark is an unproven Democrat

Dean should be ashamed of himself- Face the Nation Appearance


I know I haven't posted here all that much, and some may consider that as reason to tell me I should have no opinion about this, but I don't agree. I see our candidates getting ripped new ones all over this board, and it bothers me tremendously. It seems every thought is first ruled by an emotion that gets translated into a thread.

This is not meant as a condemnation of the posters listed, only an attempt to have us step back and take a look at what we're doing.

What the hell do we need Republicans for? We can implode without assistance.

Thanks for giving this some thought.

[kstewart33]

1. Boy are you telling the truth!

Your post should be required reading by all DUers. I am so tired of the trashing of Dean and Clark, and even Hillary. Let's stop trashing candidates and Dem non-candidates. How about a pact everyone?

[diplomats]

2. Yes, excellent post

I just posted in one of those threads and I could feel my blood pressure rising. Then I saw that post about Arnold opening up a big lead in Calif. and that was a stark reminder of what's really at stake.

[JitterbugPerfume]

3. one of the reasons

I do not visit DU as often as I once did

shame

I love DU but this is to depressing

[rjx]

5. IMO

Dean has my vote, Hillary I would like to see, and Clark I think is a joke for the Democratic party.

kstewart33
So what you are saying is that we should not trash the candidates because we are Democrats? Thats like Bush talking bad about Americans that doesn't support what he and the administration does.

[boxster]

18. That was helpful.

Thanks for proving the original poster's point.

[LanternWaste]

10. I don't think that will happen...

I don't think a truce will happen until the Democratic Primaries are over and done with and there's only one candidate left for the '04 WH run. Until then, I would bet money that the internecine bickering amongst Democrats will increase in both tone and tempo.

Ugh! The primaries bring out both the best and the worst in supporters. Heck, I got flamed a few days ago simply because I've decided that I'm still undecided about which candidate gets my vote.

But, on the up side, it does allow one to seperate the chaff from the wheat (so to speak) among the posters. Valid criticism results in valid debate, but as the season goes on, I'm seeing less and less of that and reading more and more threads which appear appropriate to the Freepers.

Anyway, I'm saving all my criticisms for the current administration.

[MIMStigator]

4. For the record, Dean attacked Clark first

it looked like they would both try to avoid attacking each other but Dean lost control today and did it anyway

[liberalmuse]

6. Thank you!

I'm avoiding the campaign threads like the plague these days. These people are only hurting their own candidates, because like it or not, people are going to link the character of the candidate with that of his/her supporters. I'm considering going back to the candidate I originally supported, because I cannot support the kind of ugliness I see coming from many of my current candidates supporters. I'm re-evaluating why I've been supporting such and such. I truly like him and his ideas, but I'm wondering if my support has been mostly for shallow reasons, because I'm convinced he is going to beat Bush? Perhaps I've been wrong and should go back to supporting the man who is after my own heart.

Anyway, people were trying to be civil a couple days ago. I don't know what happened.

[Bunny]

12. The Sunday morning talking head TV shows

always seem to get folks riled up. This crap has become Sunday SOP in GD. Unfortunately...

[Cappurr]

7. A lot of posters have tried to tone down the rhetoric

Some threads have been locked.

I, for one, am disgusted and although I was undecided a week ago, the Deanies attacks on Clark (which are actually just copies of things the RNC is putting out) has made my decision for me. Clark is my candidate. If the Bushies are that afraid of him, he must be good for this country.

[Q]

8. I constantly slam the Democratic party for their inaction...

...against the Bush* junta...but I think ALL the candidates should have an equal opportunity to get their message out before the nomination. They shouldn't be subjected to these constant smears...it's 'undemocratic'.

[MoonRiver]

9. I'm starting to think the only posts I should respond to are like yours.

We have to speak out against this madness. IMO, DU has been infiltrated by freepers and/or the activists have all gone over the deep end of extremism. Either way, if we let this go on we're in big trouble.

[qanda]

11. Standing ovation from me!

Maybe we need someone new to point out how silly all of this is. I have kept my avatar as ABB because my goal is to get rid of the current administration. I don't think any person running for President is perfect, but every person running for President is better than what we currently have. I've said this before and I will repeat myself, please stick to building up your candidate-- the honey is a whole lot more attractive than the vinegar!

BTW, welcome to DU!

[DODI]

14. ABB

I agree. I think we have a pretty strong field this time around. I like what each candidate brings to the table. I hope we don't end up in a circular firing squad situation again.

[Nikia]

13. I agree

That is why I haven't posted to any of the candidate threads lately. It is mostly a bunch of trashing that continues every day. I hope things will get better before the nominee is chosen and not worse with the primary elections, but I fear it will.

[LittleApple81]

15. If you look at the GD forum today, there are several threads just like

yours. I agree that we are not doing a good job. We should have some way of having all the attacks/counter-attacks summarized somewhere (a mega-permanently running-thread????) and all the fighters should participate in it. Having a thousand threads repeating the same attacks that have been discussed/debunked/confirmed somewhere else clutters the board and overwhelms discussion of vital issues such as the BBV and other vital issues.

[DemCam]

16. Maybe we'll get it all out

of our systems quickly. At least that's what I'm hoping.

If this bashing stays on the boards for months, I'll begin to think I'm back on the old Free Dem boards duking it out with freepers. It's not the disagreeing that gets me; it's the "tone". I actually love all the different opinions.

I'm glad you spoke up...I haven't posted that much either...but I've read and read for a long time now. Keep it up.

[w4rma]

17. I was just about to start this same thread, but I found you already did.

:toast:

GD has gone nuts and there are a bunch of folks who, IMHO, need to calm down.

[boxster]

19. If we based our opinions of the candidates solely on DU postings,

we wouldn't vote for any of them. Every candidate is apparently "unelectable" or a fraud or a Republican in Dem clothing. A fire-and-brimstone thesis is written about why 4 words that a candidate said 2 or 5 or 10 or 20 years ago makes them utterly worthless today. Then, it's re-posted 20 times a day.

What a joke. Maybe we could actually discuss some issues, please?

[jimshoes]

20. Maybe a separate forum is needed

for candidate pro/con discussion. I have yet to read a single "my candidate is better than yours" thread bash and I don't feel that I have missed a thing. I am much more interested in the latest breaking news threads and/or threads concerned with the failings and crimes and lies that are daily perpetrated on us by the *cabal. So many issues like BBV, energy papers, White House leaks committing treason, illegal Iraq invasion and many others wind up cycling off the board due to relative newcomers posting drivel. DU is one of my primary news souces and I'd be hard pressed to find another one with such informed content. I have a low post count yet I have been here over 2 years almost daily and it has made a great deal of difference in the way I see our system of government. I applaud the admins and mods for all their hard work and hope DU remains the best discussion forum going.
on edit:
BTW Welcome to DU Sing Song, and thaks for a very timely and well thought out post.

[LittleApple81]

23. They will lock your thread if you suggest that.

Suggestions like this are supposed to be posted to "Ask the Administrators"
I know because I already did it. I don't think they want to open another forum. And I don't blame them. Taking care of another forum is all they need when they have over 30000 users and, lately, it seems a lot of Rovenians.

[DemExpat]

21. SingSong...it's bad now, that's for sure....

We'll just have to ignore GD campaign threads here on DU until something is decided.....
:hi:

:kick:

DemEx

[imhotep]

22. I love it

the lines have been drawn:
Clark represents power and greed,
Dean represents the working class and the constitution.

Today is a great day.

[andym]

24. Where's the beef?

As Fritz Mondale once said:
"Where's the beef?"

The amount of content and ideas on DU are dissapointingly small.

I joined this forum to discuss liberal ideas and workable political strategies, not to hear partisan ad hominum attacks.

And having read some of the ad hominum attacks, I can only say that
not only are 99% of what is being written baseless, but it counterproductive to the extreme.

Let me make two points to help everyone out:
Clark is not a Republican, but a progressive Democrat.
Dean is electable.

Too bad so many people here are so partisan and are using
classic smear tactics, mostly involving selective use of facts or statements.


If someone who has more posts here would be willing to repost this as
a main thread, I would be grateful.

Andy

[onecitizen]

25. It is the Primary season and...........

politics is NEVER the most pleasant of things. While I understand that you want us to all get along, it is the primary season when the roughest politics get played. After a candidate is chosen, then we SHOULD unite. But until then, hold onto your horses cause it's probably gonna get worse. It's up to you to read or not read, accept or reject notions brought forth on the board. I read almost all posts. But I do avoid ones that are a trigger for me. It's my choice. No one makes me read them or not read them. I learn from each and everyone who offers an opinion here. I may not agree or accept their opinion but,thank goodness you all are out there.