A mild proposal to General Discussion

[Paragon]

Judging by the deluge in The Lounge, DUers are being driven out of General Discussion in droves - as the rhetoric towards, well...pretty much anyone...is getting out of hand.

Yes, this is the Anger Election and all that, and believe me, I sympathize. I feel perfectly comfortable using the word "hate" to describe Bush & Co. -- however, I'm also able to use it without sounding like an asshat. Really, you don't want to type the post that a withdrawal-cranky Rush Limbaugh reads over the air.

We also need accept two realities: that the Democratic contender you tear down today might be the nominee you have to support tomorrow, and that Ralph Nader, while pesky, is not the REAL enemy. This is the kind of infighting that makes Karl Rove do fat, bald, awkward cartwheels.

I'm constantly reminded of The Big Dog quoting Harry Truman at this year's Harkin Steak Fry -- "I don't give 'em hell. I just tell the truth on 'em, and they think it's hell." The plain and simple truth, spread far and wide, is a lot harder to write off than a foaming-at-the-mouth bleeding-heart commie pinko liberal. ;-) And to paraphrase Donald Sutherland in JFK, "the truth is on our side, bubba."

Bottom line, we don't have to act like Republicans to beat them. Listening to right-wing hate radio in the cowardly comfort of their cars or unloading their racist, sexist, classist ids on Freak Republic doesn't work half as well as meeting people face-to-face, pressing the flesh, and canvassing the nation registering new voters.

So try and conduct yourselves as if you were talking to someone else on DU in person - with respect for them, their views, and our common goals. To do anything else lowers yourself to the level of those Lying Liars. So like Dean or Kucinich at a rally, I'll say it over and over again:

The truth is on our side.
The truth is on our side.
The truth is on our side.

Use it. And behave yourselves. Thank you.

[neuvocat]

1. kick

[Jerseycoa]

2. Thanks for trying (eom)

[Paragon]

3. LOL

Thanks. I feel like a Pygmy shooting darts at an elephant. :silly:

[JNelson6563]

4. Hear! Hear!!

A call to civility? I'm in.

:toast:

Julie

[FarLeftRage]

5. Great Idea

But people are people and they're going to do what they want regardless...

[tom_paine]

6. kick

well said, Paragon.

[mdmc]

7. I just changed my little image by my name

and now I post as a kinder gentler internet presence. :~)

[quaker bill]

8. I agree