Daily Democrat: a positive discussion about Al Sharpton

[Skinner]

In an effort to provide for some enlightening discussion, rather than partisan flaming, the administrators have decided to post regular threads about the candidates for the Democratic nomination which are reserved for positive discussion only. These threads will be called the "Daily Democrat".

Currently, we intend to post two Daily Democrat discussion threads per day. If a particular thread becomes too long, then the moderators will open additional threads as necessary. These discussion threads will be allowed to stay open until the next two Daily Democrat threads are opened at some point the following day.

THE RULES

The rules for these Daily Democrat candidate threads are as follows. (For the purposes of these rules, the candidate who is the subject of the thread is referred to as the "Daily Democrat".)

1. You are welcome to post anything positive about the Daily Democrat. You can explain why you support that person. You can dispel myths about that candidate. You can discuss that person's positions on various issues. Whatever.

2. You are allowed to favorably compare the Daily Democrat to other candidates, provided that you are not unnecessarily inflammatory or antagonistic to the other candidates.

3. You may not post attacks of any kind against the Daily Democrat. Furthermore, you cannot post criticism and try to pass it off as a compliment ("I enthusiastically support candidate X because he ruined his state's economy!")

4. You may not discuss the supporters of any candidate (that goes for the the Daily Democrat, or any other candidate).

5. Undecided voters are encouraged to ask questions about the Daily Democrat in order to better inform their choice. Note that criticism disguised as a question will not be allowed.

6. You may not start another discussion thread for the purposes of responding to comments made in the "Daily Democrat" thread. Sorry -- you just have to suck it up and let the positive discussion continue uninterrupted.

7. I will not babysit the Daily Democrat thread, because I believe it will not be necessary. It is the responsibility of every member to know and follow the rules. Deliberate disruption of the Daily Democrat thread, or efforts by opponents to influence the Daily Democrat thread, will result in the banning of the individual(s) responsible.

8. I reserve the right to change the rules as necessary to make this work.

TIMING

We will discuss two Daily Democrats per day, and cycle through the list of presidential candidates in modified alphabetical order.

12/04 - Wesley Clark ...... and ... Dennis Kucinich
12/05 - Howard Dean ....... and ... Joe Lieberman
12/06 - John Edwards ...... and ... Carol Moseley Braun
12/07 - Dick Gephardt ..... and ... Al Sharpton
12/08 - John Kerry ........ and ... Wesley Clark
12/09 - Dennis Kucinich ... and ... Howard Dean
12/10 - Joe Lieberman ..... and ... John Edwards
12/11 - Carol Moseley Braun and ... Dick Gephardt
12/12 - Al Sharpton ....... and ... John Kerry
12/13 - Wesley Clark ...... and ... Dennis Kucinich
12/14 - Etc...

LET'S GET STARTED

Here's your chance for some positive discussion of Al Sharpton! Who wants to start it off?

[Dems Will Win]

1. Who Knew? Al Sharpton is a great dancer and singer!

Did you seem doing his James Brown imitation on SNL last night? He was fantastic!! Still working for Dean however...

[candy331]

11. Sharpton

has the ability to get many blacks to register and get them to the polls to vote. He speaks much truth and speaks it loudly and that is something we need more of in this party.

[Cheswick2.0]

2. Al Sharpton tells some truth no one else will touch

He is fearless and outspoken. He calls a bush a bush and I appreciate what he does and what he says. He is just plain correct on many issues.
Sad to say there is an undercurrent of racism still affecting this country and people sadly think they can dismiss him with Tawanna Brawley N/T here on DU. What they don't want to face is that their image of him is largely based on the right wing media spin. I will not say he has never made a mistake, but Sharpton is held to a different set of standards than some of the other candidates. What good he has done never gets mentioned or worse yet held up as self promotion. People need to examine that fact.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Skinner]

23. FYI

The person who posted this deleted message has been banned.

[Cheswick2.0]

33. wow, I wish I had seen it before it was deleted

must have been a doozey.

[Terwilliger]

44. So long, and thanks for all the fish!

:hi:

[La_Serpiente]

3. At least

Sharpton has some great lines. He has vision and ideals, and I thank him for that.

[Cheswick2.0]

4. kick

!

[cally]

5. Sharpton is the best debater

among the candidates. He always has the best one liners. My favorite line of all the debates was when someone asked what he would do his first day on the job as President. He said something like make sure Bush was really out of the WH and change the locks.

Sharpton continues to be a courageous and outspoken voice for civil rights.

[amazona]

21. a great public speaker and witty too

He can really think up some zingers on the fly, and he has an extremely progressive platform.

[Iverson]

6. Sharpton has a biting wit.

He uses it very effectively in making concise political points in favor of a progressive agenda.

[Patriot_Spear]

7. We could all take a lesson from Sharpton...

He keeps faith with the founding fathers everytime he talks- when he speaks I'm reminded of the quote 'we should all hang together, for if we don't we will surely hang separately'.

Al Sharpton has a great message of Unity.

[curse10]

8. My boyfriend is voting for Al in the primaries

We are huge Sharpton fans in this house! He brings issues to the table that other dems are afraid to. He's funny and a great debater.

[FrenchieCat]

9. Al Sharpton.....

has slapped the donkey to the left. I will see him on Thursday at our church. He comes there quite often, twice thus far in the last couple of months.

[LWolf]

10. He is a talented communicator.

A great debater.
He doesn't back down, and he doesn't back away from sharp issues.
He has a great sense of humor, too.
He is a strong progressive.

I would love...absolutely love...to see him debate GWB.

[Iverson]

12. a great point

"I would love...absolutely love...to see him debate GWB."

That would be nonstop fun-filled entertainment.

[kimchi]

13. Agreed.

It might just expose Bush for the smirking monkey he is. (Sorry to Jane Goodall et al, and their friends.)

[Name removed]

14. I deleted this post by mistake

It was my own post and there were no rules violations here.

[BootinUp]

15. Sharpy is the master

of the biting one liners... I have never thought he could win the nomination but watching him in the debates I did gain a new respect for his abilities and I think he speaks for many Americans who need to be heard.

[Logansquare]

16. He's the official Motivator in Chief

He's a great communicator, and he makes us feel passion and experience laughter when he speaks.

[leftist_rebel1569]

17. I think he'd make a freakin' awesome president

It's a serious shame he's not gonna win the primaries. He makes the debates worth watching :)

[VolcanoJen]

20. Sharpton ensures the debates remain "Must-See TV!"

My wish is that the Reverend stays in until the bitter end... he brings humor, and reality, to the debates.

[ulysses]

22. kick

:kick:

[KittyWampus]

24. Sharpton Has Focused His Talent On Promoting The Common Good

He has a unique ability to communicate and entertain and educate.

He can really motivate people and inspire them.

Perhaps earlier in his Life he went a bit astray but he is on the Path now!

Thank You, Reverend Al!

[spooky3]

25. well put!

[dsc]

26. Sharpton has displayed a far better understanding of the issue

than I would have ever thought possible. Given the fact he hasn't been in any elected or appointed office at all he really has been a quick study. That has been very impressive.

[TahitiNut]

27. I think Al makes Bill Bennet look like the hypocrite he is.

Al Sharpton's "moral outrage" has the ring of integrity to me. While some may view a few of the 'causes' he's taken up with a jaundiced eye, I personally have very little doubt that Al Sharpton operates out of a sense of justice and ethical righteousness. I think he has more integrity in his little finger than Chimpy has in his entire carcass.

[Iverson]

28. sorry to see so few responses

I would have thought that more unity-minded Dems would have embraced this idea of positive threads about the candidates.

[Cheswick2.0]

29. kick for the evening crowd

I know there are some Sharpton fans who have not weighed in. I hope they see this and make a comment.

[Darranar]

30. Al Sharpton...

says what needs to be said when it needs to be said.

He is an essential part of the Democratic team, and one of my top choices of the nominees.

[KoKo]

31. Oh Wow! A better Articulator for Dem Talking points couldn't be found!

Tells it "like it is" about the problems Democratic Party is having going foward...and relates it to where the Pary has been in the past...FOR THE PEOPLE.....and while he's not electable.....he's been a "welcome" (for me at least) addition to the Dem Debates.

He can bring a "big complicated issue" out into the light and make it seem managable! He's a treasure for all his HUGE flaws! (and they ARE HUGE!) but I gotta love the guy for "speaking straight!"

His perspective as a MEDIA WISE African-American, brings much to the table of discussion. Because the MEDIA is contolling us....and his experience with Tawana and James Brown....is very much in play here, much as we would want to disown it......

His perspective is a "chunk of American Experience." Just as Moseley-Braun's is.......and she does all with a "velvet touch" whereas he is down into the gut, and belly of the beast with his vocalizing about our Party in 2003!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

32. He's easily the most entertaining of the candidates

and he doesn't take anything from anyone.

He's also dedicated to registering new voters for the Democrats.

[Arwennick]

34. Al makes the Big Tent Arguement

a true statement.He gives those of us with little or no hope of prosperity a voice.Al once said on TV,"to be forgiven of past wrongs one must recognize they have to forgive others of the same".Hard Truth is something that is never lacking when Al Sharpton speaks.Southern white males such as myself respect a man who doesn't beat around the Bush.Al doesn't waste his chances to remind us of America's faults.

Truth Hurts.
I wish some other of the candidates could render some pain instead of the feel good crap they float.

[RichV]

35. The Rev. Al

made the fiasco that was the first Fox News debate fun to watch despite the Larouche crap. His off-the-cuff remarks really saved the moment a few times there.

[Wonk]

36. He was pretty funny on SNL last night, and it took guts to do that.

Quicktimes and mp3s here for those who missed it.

[spooky3]

39. Thanks, Wonk!

[KG]

37. fearless and outspoken.

with real street cred.

[sweetheart]

38. Mr Sharpton

Dear Mr. Sharpton,

Where have you been these so many years standing up for ALL americans undermined and exploited by an unfair and unjust government.

I respect your candidacy, and wish you the best fortune. Whomever wins the nomination, i am honoured that you endorse this democracy with your company.

To your health and long life... and many long lives.

best regards,

-sweetheart

[Cleita]

40. I didn't know he was such a good singer and entertainer

until he did that opening bit on SNL last night. If he doesn't get the presidential nomination, I wish he'd come to California and run against Arnold for Governor.

[lostnfound]

41. He's 1000% smarter than the guy in the white house right now.

(In addition to the many other positive things that others here have said.)

[Ellen Forradalom]

42. Sharpton doesn't do things halfway.

He really throws himself into whatever he's doing. When you agree with him, it's a joy, and when you don't, you just want to leap into your TV and tell him off! Either way he gets you to pay attention!

[drfemoe]

43. I believe

Sharpton commands respect from every other candidate, with good reason.
He is fearless and takes notice of things that might otherwise be missed.

His razor sharp sense of humor is a delight.

[Myra]

45. Rev Sharpton has some fantastic qualities: brains, humor, perspective...

He really has a way of cutting thru all the BS in a debate,
and saying what the others often seem afraid to say.
In addition, he says it with such wit and eloquence.
I swear, there aren't many people who can tell the truth
nowdays, and make us laugh.
Molly Ivins is one.

To compare anyone favorably with Molly is the ultimate compliment.

And his remark at the end of SNL was just great.
One for the ages.
It's in my sig line!

[Walt Starr]

46. Al Sharpton is one hell of a good singer!

Al also says all of the things I wish the other candidates would say.

[JNelson6563]

47. Sharpton for Press Secretary!!

Can you imagine how the media whores would react? hahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!

:toast:

Julie