How DU is preparing for caucus night.

[Skinner]

Approximately ten minutes ago Elad finally finished our extensive server upgrades, so we have significantly more capacity to deal with high traffic than we did just two weeks ago. Our site is now running on three separate computers. We have no idea how much of a traffic spike to expect tonight, and because of that uncertainty we cannot guarantee that our hardware will hold up. But this was a *serious* upgrade, based on some pretty hard-core traffic estimates, so I am cautiously optimistic that we'll get through tonight without a significant performance loss. :crossesfingers:

We also just turned off new user registration. We have no idea whether to expect an influx of disruptors because of Iowa, but at least they can't register to post. We'll leave registration off as long as we feel we need to -- maybe into tomorrow.

And finally, we expect people to get pretty emotional tonight. I think that the dangerous combination of winners' euphoria and losers' anger could make things pretty ugly. We understand that some level of inappropriate behavior is probably inevitable, and we're going to try to be understanding. However, we still expect everyone to try to act in a relatively civil manner. And I would like to remind tonights' winners that a little bit of empathy could go a long way toward soothing resentment toward your candidate.

In order to hopefully contain some of the inevitable ill-will, we plan to start a few "official" segregated threads for supporters of the various candidates. We are considering posting an "official celebration thread" for supporters of tonight's winner, so they can celebrate without disruption from their political opponents. I have decided that it would be futile to try to keep people from gloating or engaging in other anti-social behavoir, so I figure the next best thing is to keep it all in one thread. The moderators will be instructed to let you celebrate without interruption, and they'll just quietly keep everyone else out.

We'll probably also start threads for the supporters of other candidates, so they can regroup without disruption from jerks who want to gloat.

Threads discussing what happened in the caucus will of course be permitted. But we really hope people who start these threads will make an effort to post their thoughts in a way that is not antagonistic to others.

Remember that people are going to be feeling very extreme emotions tonight, both good and bad. Please try to show a little sympathy. People have a lot of respect for gracious winners.

Thank you for your understanding. And may the best candidate win!

Skinner
DU Admin

[tigereye]

1. good for you guys

What you do is very impressive... wrestling with a very large problem and trying to consider everyone's well-being. Thanks for this website, which I have come to like a lot and good luchk with your efforts.

[Democrats unite]

2. I have my pepsi, microwave popcorn...

And 3 television sets set up in my living room, I'm ready to go!


on edit: sorry I read the title wrong, I thought you were asking how we were getting ready.

[Jerseycoa]

4. I have my DU tee shirt on

Our Clark Sodbusters working so hard for so little return are in my thoughts tonight. :)

[stopthegop]

9. you seriously have 3 tv's setup ? n/t

.

[Kathleen04]

18. LOL

:)

[bearfartinthewoods]

23. i'm sticking with one shot of yukon jack per hour

iowa...cold....yukon jack? get it?

luck to all and remember tonight's winners may be losers next week so let's play nice all around.

oh...i forgot to mention i've told she-bear to take away my
keys(board) if i get too drunk to post responsibly.

[Jerseycoa]

3. We'll be good.

We promise :evilgrin:

[Ivote]

5. THANK YOU!

For all you do to give us a place. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[BootinUp]

11. now now

I thought I saw you cross your fingers behind your back. :)

[returnable]

6. Good luck

I hope DU is still standing tomorrow morning :hi:

[_NorCal_D_]

7. Sounds like a plan!

I, for one, promise to remain civil. :evilgrin:

[Khephra]

8. Great plans!

I hope that the mod crew are mostly in tonight. I'd hate for you too be understaffed too.

[MuseRider]

10. Thanks Skinner.

You guys are the greatest!

[maddezmom]

12. Congrats to DU for getting all the upgrades completed.:)

:thumbsup:

Tonight would be a good night to use the "golden rule" or if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

[waterman]

13. Wow, now that's some serious moderating - great job and best wishes ...

That shows the foresight and fairness that makes this place so cool. Hope it goes well for you. It will be a handful I'm sure.

[question everything]

14. Thank you

Your work here is as valuable as all the caucuses and primaries

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. While I have my favorites in the caucus..at the end of the day NONE of the

candidates are as bad as Bush. I am a Democrat..whoever wins will have my financial support and my elbow grease. Good luck to all candidates and their supporters..I've got popcorn and the dog has treats...we'll be watching.

[IndianaGreen]

16. Thank you, guys!

Good show!

[LWolf]

17. Good plans.

I have to say though, that if my candidate gets 15% in several precincts and picks up any delegates, I'll be partying no matter who got the most. We've got 49 other states ahead of us, and I'll be thrilled with a decent showing tonight, and happy to have a celebratory beer with whoever ends up with some support to take to the convention.

[ClintonTyree]

19. The way I see it..................

there ARE NO winners and losers tonight. We're ALL winners because we've taken the first giant step to get 'Dubyoo The Monkey Boy' out of our White House. My applause to everyone's candidate and supporters. In the end we're here for one common goal, to get the illegal squatter out of Washington. :bounce: :toast: :bounce:

[MidwestMomma]

29. That's how I feel

I'm so excited it's finally started. Bush has no clue what is going to hit him this year.....Go Everyone and big thanks to Skinner, the admins, the mods and the people on the ground supporting our Democracy.

I feel as giddy as a school girl!

[Clark4VotingRights]

20. Great planning and post Skinner and Elad and all mods.

Thanks!

Fasten your seat belts...it's gonna be a bumpy election season.

[Rowdyboy]

21. And so it begins

Thanks guys, for the hard work and anticipating where problems will arise. You do some excellent work...

[Ramsey]

22. Great going!

Just in time! Keeping my fingers crossed for smooth performance!

[youngred]

24. All set and ready to go

may the best candidate win, and failing that one we can all agree on because the real goal is

SENDING BUSH BACK TO F*CKING TEJAS

[TahitiNut]

25. A record turnout (as expected) should be seen as a win for ALL liberals!

Despite bitter cold temperatures and BushBot distractions, a record turnout is expected. If we think back 2 years, this is what 99.44% of us wanted. This is rough-and-tumble democracy ... and no touchscreens, felonious five, flutterby ballots, planeloads of recount-disrupting Busholini brownshirts, or Cruella's in sight!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

26. Excellent move, guys

Things are rancorous enough in GD2004 without the addition of some freepers (although it might create Democratic solidarity :-) to see some of the other side in action).

[TreasonousBastard]

27. Excellent!

You guys are really busting your humps to make this work, in spite of us. :evilgrin:

Servers are up, disruptors are out, keyboards are oiled and ready to go, moderators are appropriately medicated...

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

[sistersofmercy]

28. Skinner, THANK YOU! n/t

[knight_of_the_star]

30. Excellent!

All are locked and loaded, buckled in tight?

Good. We're in for a bumpy ride tonight, so may the best man win!

[Terwilliger]

31. How about creating a sticky thread for official results and discussion?

So many wild threads happening all at once.

OnEdit: spelling

[Skinner]

32. Here you go...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=139580

[Terwilliger]

33. cool

you should probably do one of these for each primary :hi:

[Ilsa]

34. Ya'll do a great job! Thanks, Skinner!

I hope everything goes really smoothly.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

35. How many precincts before you start the official celebration thread?

[Skinner]

36. Not sure.

I think I'll wait until one of the news channels calls it for someone.

[Skinner]

37. Link to the "OFFICIAL" Kerry supporters' celebration thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=140488

[Skinner]

38. Here's the official Dean thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=140754

[Skinner]

39. Here's the official Edwards thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=140723

[Skinner]

40. Here is the official Gephardt Thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=140858

[Skinner]

41. Here is the official Kucinich Thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=140908

[Skinner]

42. Here's the official Clark thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=141024