A DEAN-KERRY Peace Thread

[liberalpragmatist]

I'm so tired of seeing all these Dean-Kerry bashing threads. Both are great candidates and I wish people would refrain from attacking the other unfairly. That doesn't mean not discussing substantive policy differences. It means being plain mean and abusive to supporters of the other candidate.

I recognize that these two candidates can't be totally friendly-friendly, given that they're opponents trying to win the same things: the nomination and the presidency.

That said, I'm getting really sick of this Dean-Kerry intrafighting on DU. I honestly find the two extremely close on the issues. So many of their positions are indistinguishable. Plus, there's a very strong chance that one or the other will be the Democratic nominee.

I'm a Kerry supporter. But I see a lot of positive things in Dean and I would love to have Dean in the WH too. If he's the nominee, I will support him enthusiastically and vote for him in a heartbeat.

I know there have to be more people out there like me -- both Kerry supporters and Dean supporters. Please, NO FLAMES

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Don't worry about it.

What is said about the candidates on this board has virtually no effect in the real world. Most of the back-and-forth is in the spirit of friendly competition. Some isn't, most is. This board would die in a heartbeat if every thread was "I love my candidate."

Roll with it. It's all in good fun.

[alexwcovington]

2. You're right

We're only giving the freepers ammo for the real deal...

I'm a Dean supporter, but I see enough good in Kerry that I'll support him if he wins in the end...

[gully]

3. I love Dean and I like Kerry, both are just fine by me!

:toast:

[deutsey]

4. I just posted on another thread that we're all in this together

I understand the rough and tumble of campaign competition, and that ever since there's been an American Republic there's been this kind of nastiness between factions.

But I also understand that our Republic is truly in danger of being totally dismantled by the likes of BushCo.

I am more than prepared to get behind Kerry if he gets the nomination. I have lots of complaints about him and I've aired those here on DU, but I refuse to smear him or to try to detract from him in any way. He'll be a fine candidate if he gets the nomination, IMO.

I'm working for Dean and I hope he'll get the nomination, however. I believe he's the best candidate to rally a wide-ranging coalition to bring down Bush. That's why I support him. Kerry doesn't seem to be reaching the diverse range of voters necessary to defeat Bush's rightwing coalition.

That's a large part of why I support Dean. That doesn't mean I'll go around trying my damndest to drag Kerry down, though. The stakes are just too damn high to do that to Kerry or Dean or Clark (the only three candidates I see as realistically getting the nomination...although I'm open to any of them getting it, frankly).

I sincerely believe that this election will determine whether our Republic survives or not. It comes down to that simple question for me. Perhaps I'm overstating it, but I haven't seen anything from the Bush crowd to tell me otherwise. They're playing for keeps, folks. Let's stop shooting holes in our own candidates because those bastards are going to do plenty of that when the time comes.

Let's debate and make our cases for whichever candidate we support. But in the end remember: We're all going to be called on to rally for one of these candidates, and it may very well be that it's not the candidate of your choice. Don't lay so many landmines now against the candidate you dislike that it will prevent you from walking over and joining that campaign should it it prevail.

Yeah, I know....and monkeys will fly out of my butt, as Wayne says. Well, at least I said it and it got it out in the open.

[KC21304]

6. I like your comment about laying landmines.

That description is very apt here.

[deutsey]

7. I "borrowed" it from a Sting song...

Fortress Around Your Heart.

Giving credit where credit is due (in case Sting tries to sue me or something). :evilgrin:

:hi:

[KC21304]

5. I've said from day one I will work vigorously for the nominee,

whoever it may be.

[dsc]

8. We all decry this crap

but then the posts that have the crap in them have dozens of replies while posts about important issues have next to none. I posted on Ivins' newest book and got five responses (in gd not here). Important thread after important thread disappears beneath the muck of these flame wars. It is sad, silly, and dangerous.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. Look at your TV. And then look at the threads here.

It's all about ratings, baby. If it bleeds, it leads.


Human nature.

[kwolf68]

11. You have a part to play

Police your own. Instead of jumping on the mountain of shit when one Dean fan is bashing Kerry...maybe YOU can reign him in?

That isn't the case now is it. A thread is started (hell, it could even be one that says NOTHING bad about Dean...like the Kerry rising poll numbers thread) that is just a little bit positive about Kerry and some Dean moron comes in and starts laying jabs...

From there, a Kerry fan will defend the original post even though the Dean fan has made NOT A SINGLE credible argument, instead choosing ad hoc attacks based in assumption and vitriol.

After that, instead of it being a short burst, another 4 or 5 Dean freaks come in and continue to rain piss down on the thread...

After that the war is on. And in almost every thread, somehow the Kerry people get blame for it. The level of delusion and hypocrisy from the Dean folks makes Limbaugh look sane.

[dsc]

12. before you lecture me on this you may want to bother reading my posts

I have continually done exactly that. I defended Kerry on the get over it comments. I defended Kerry on the Skull and Bones crap. I defended Kerry on the divorce nonsense. In short, next time you decide to claim I don't do something get up of your lazy butt and be sure I don't. Honest Kerry supports will admit I have taken on Dean supporters on all three of these issues. Do your homework next time.

[blm]

14. True...but, it sure seems

like there needs to be a few more like you to keep it more fair, because it does seem to pile up.

If people would just stick to arguing the actual policy and records of the candidates in the political arena, then it would lower the temperature in here quite a bit, and there would be fewer burns. The personal attacks aren't especially enlightening.

[deutsey]

15. It piles up on all sides

just like gasoline sodden rags waiting for that one spark to set them off.

Supporters from one side post a bunch of things sniping at a candidate. The other candidate's supporters respond in kind, inciting more of the same from the other side, and so on, until the boards erupt in flames.

[kwolf68]

9. AMEN

Though I swore off Dean when the Kerry v. Dean bashing was going on in here, I have decided that if Dean is our nominee I will work deligently for his election and will not NOT vote for him.

When I don't have to deal with the Dean fan club and just get a chance to hear Dean one on one, I like what I see.

What is most important to note is despite some of my issues with Dean (all legit issues) one thing that he has going for him is he is the Anti-Bush, which in my opinion is akin to removing the Nazis from power in 1931 instead of 1945.

To that I say...GodSpeed to Governor Dean. I'm not with you now...but if you get the nomination...I'll show up and party with you.

I also dig the dude playing the ax...Bluesman Dean?

[DrFunkenstein]

13. For Total Agreement, Got To The Blogs

For debate, stick around here. That said, it's been getting a little silly around here - and I'm just as guilty. I haven't been posting much lately, and I don't intend to. I'm sure I'll drop in now and then, but I've got other priorities for the time being.

I hope that both Dean and Kerry people do fully realize that this is all in the spirit of getting the best candidate to take on Bush. And I hope everyone is prepared to support the second best should it happen. ABB trumps purity.

[w4rma]

16. Yay! I fully agree, DrFunkenstein! (n/t)

[Loyal]

17. I'll support either

in the general election, if one of them gets the nomination.