This is my goal at DU.

[justice1]

I am trying to reach out to conservatives, especially to people in places like Nebraska.

As you may or may not realize, other political websites link to our topics. Hopefully in reading they see something they can relate to. They won't however stick around if there are constant generalizations about them being made.

I would compare it to blanket statements about blacks, and jews. Even if there are valid points on the thread, you've lost the reader.

[Mythsaje]

1. One of the reasons I prefer to post positive stuff...n/t

[AtomicKitten]

19. and precisely why I abhor over-the-top Dem bashing.

[Vincardog]

2. This site is for Progressives. Try to read the rules.

I personally do not want to pander to Conservatives. The NeoConvicts can die in a vile pool of their own excrements.

[Catchawave]

15. Pandering?

AS 98% of American citizens don't read DU or watch Fox News, I choose to take my chances :hi: But I feel your frustration. I live in a nest of conservatives!

[Vincardog]

16. I am talking about the OP. They start by saying can't we play nice?

Why do you all paint every conservative with the same broad brush?
Then they end up saying that we have to be nice to them to capture the mythical "wavering middle of the roader".

I just have to call Bull $hit from the get go.

We have been playing the part of the battered spouse here on the left for too damn long. There is no way the radical right wing nutz in control of our country are going to treat us with any kind of respect unless and until we have a BIG STICK to beat them with.

[Catchawave]

34. I live with conservatives, that's why.

I listen to them, I read them, I sometimes even vote for them on the local level. I know DU arguments don't work with them too. In fact, some of these conservatives are nicer to me than some DUers, how's that?

Seriously, listen to the centrist/moderates from both parties, and I think you'll (generic) find the clue to winning, not only in '06, but '08 also.

Think Santos :grouphug:

[Vincardog]

35. listen to the centrist/moderates doesn't work when the right keeps moving

their side of the line further right. We will have balance in our political discourse when there are loud proud liberals standing up for our positions.
The only thing in the middle of the road are paint stripes and dead armadillos.

[radio4progressives]

28. this site actually isn't for progressives, though i wish it were..

there is so much right wing bullshit posted here that it seems at times to be a freeper site... but there are still a few bonafide conscience, thinking members who post important, intellectually honest, and very informative pieces here.... were it not for those, i would swear this is something other than a forum for dems... which begs the question as to the real value of the so-called "big tent" canard..

[leanin_green]

30. Not to mention how a truly liberal idea can get savaged.

Or if you dare to say anything for the purpose of discussion that is against the traditional knee-jerk party position. The level of political discourse oftentimes devolves into party policy cheerleading. But then, it is Democratic Underground, a site for Democrats. I'm just dismayed at times as to how "this Democrat" and others of my ilk are made to feel less than welcome under the tent.

[lwcon]

37. I have found that to be true at times, but..

...it's still the best open-access forum I know of.

___

Hey, the liberal light is always on at the Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy. Please stop by and say "hi!"

[Che_Nuevara]

3. You pop out of the womb black.

You don't come outta mommy votin' for Bush.

[amitten]

5. True. People are born into race/religion. But idiots chose Bush.

There's no cure for stupid.

[uppityperson]

4. Good luck to you.

DU is a big tent. People who want to find reasons to slam any viewpoint will find them. Good luck.

[Sinti]

6. Good luck with that, you might want to try posting a bit to their sites

Not flame-baiting, just a little nice, rational discourse, while being respectful of their personal predilection for nonsense. ;)

[Donkeykick]

7. I also would like to wish you luck!

Every political forum that I participate at has conservatives that will not return your favor!:shrug:

[xchrom]

8. i have family in iowa -- they ''love'' god, ''love'' guns

and ''hate'' gays.

and they wouldn't vote for dems 'cause them liberals are foul, satan sent vermin -- just like clinton.

[omega minimo]

9. No it isn't

:yoiks:

[pacalo]

10. We're all grown-ups, including the conservatives.

After the election & during the run-up to the Iraq war, I posted regularly at another site which consisted of both Bush supporters & anti-Bush people. Because the owner of the site was anti-Bush, he created a political forum. The political forum turned out to be an oasis for those who made the effort to read independent news on the internet. Needless to say, the pro-Bush people visited often to see what was posted, & they began to complain to the webmaster. Eventually, the political forum was shut down because the webmaster pandered to the pro-Bush people.

I've found an oasis here at DU. Sorry, but we should feel at home here to express how we feel. When they step into our home, they should step in with an adult mind & accept our rage. After all, we've kept up with this administration from Day 1; those who voted for Bush obviously didn't.

I welcome those conservatives who want to catch up; if they're open-minded & are sincerely wanting to learn the no-spin information about this administration, they'll start feeling like we do: hostages in the Twilight Zone.

That is why they're linking to DU, isn't it? To learn?

[Aaaargh]

11. Why does anyone take a DU post like this seriously?

"Constant generalizations"? Like what? "Reaching out to conservatives"? To achieve what?

If Bernie Goldberg himself posted to DU, repeated all the BS found in the books he's published in recent years -- i.e., attacked every Democrat figure he mentioned and defended every Republican, but still insisted periodically, as he does in his books and in interviews, that he himself "IS" a Democrat -- contributors here who questioned whether Bernie was really a Dem would see their posts deleted, and perhaps their ability to post revoked, while Bernie's BS would remain and continue.

This is the main factor that's undermined this forum, and made it into a farce and a burden to the Democratic Party. 'Nuff said.

[Vektor]

17. Amen!

If Bernie Goldberg himself posted to DU, repeated all the BS found in the books he's published in recent years -- i.e., attacked every Democrat figure he mentioned and defended every Republican, but still insisted periodically, as he does in his books and in interviews, that he himself "IS" a Democrat -- contributors here who questioned whether Bernie was really a Dem would see their posts deleted, and perhaps their ability to post revoked, while Bernie's BS would remain and continue.

Truer words were never spoken, and that indeed IS the downfall of this forum. You hit the nail right on the head, and this is the constant bane of the existence of REAL Democrats at DU.

It has to stop.

[blondeatlast]

12. Golly gee, perhaps I should pay a visit to Free Republic and post the same

I'm usually a pretty nice person, but GIVE ME A BREAK.

This site was created in part to vent the hideous frustration Democrats felt after the 2000 Selection.

It's not a recruitment site by any means.

My nation was stolen from me in November 2000 and damn well believe it, I WON'T play nice about it.

I remain, as ever, "ignore" list-free, but damn...

[pacalo]

24. Well said!

:yourock:

[Catchawave]

13. Good Plan.....

As my conservative husband and majority of friends, sigh, hate negative Bush/War/Ignorance blanket attacks, I too am working on turning my message into a "feel the love" campaign. But I'm a hopeless bleeding heart liberal, I just want everybody to get along :loveya:

[lwcon]

14. Have you found a conservative discussion site with any sense of fair play?

... where the arguments are typically cogent, like most in DU are?

And to take it a step further, have you found any "neutral" discussion site where the conservatives don't consistently display ignorance, illogic, xenophobia, thinly veiled racism, hatred of the poor, an inability to spell, and a sense of etiquette that begins and ends with the kick in the groin? Where they're proud of anything American besides Budweiser and war? Where their idea of freedom isn't that "liberals should shut the fuck up"? Where their idea of debating is more than "your a Communist" or "Hilary has a fatasss"?

Please tell me, because I haven't found such a place. And in such a world, it's refreshing to be able to have intelligent conversations and vent here.

I have yet to see an online discussion with conservatives that didn't make me think of the principal's quote from Billy Madison:

What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

This is not to say that there aren't smart conservatives, but they must be so busy with world domination that it's up to Larry the Cable Guy to represent them online.

___

Hey, the liberal light is always on at the Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy. Please stop by and say "hi!"

[NoPasaran]

18. Reaching out to conservatives?

Fuck 'em and feed 'em fishheads!

[incapsulated]

20. If you want to "reach conservatives"

Go and talk to them yourself, what the fuck does DU have to do with it? If you think winning over conservatives means sending them to a purely democratic internet forum, called the "Democratic Underground" for chrissakes, you are either dense or disingenuous.

[Arugula Latte]

21. Poor conservatives.

They just don't get an outlet to get their viewpoint heard. Well, except for all three branches of government, the majority of governorships, the mass media including CNN, MSNBC, and Fox, the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, several bestsellers, church pulpits, dozens of web sites, and 98 percent talk radio. :cry: I weep for them. Other than the outlets I've mentioned, they're just bombarded with liberal dogma and just can't relate to it.

[cboy4]

22. Who cares about reaching out to people in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Utah,

Wyoming, Alabama, blah blah blah?

They will never in a billion years change.

They're like effing robots.

[leanin_green]

31. Because I'm in Utah and I'd like to be included in the debate.

And here in the southern part of the state there is a huge influx of people from all over the country. We are booming and instead of the standard conservative flavor to the local politics, we are experiencing a rise in liberal viewpoints in the region. People have migrated here for the scenic beauty and bring their politics with them. We do have a Democrat representing us in the House from this region. So pay more attention and you might learn something from us robots here in Utah.

[cboy4]

32. I wasn't talking about Democrats in Utah

I was saying who cares about reaching out to conservatives in Utah and other red states as the OP thinks I and other DU'ers should do.

Your state may be beautiful, but it needs a lot of work (and I mean a lot).

The Salt Lake mayor is awesome, but it's still a very, very red state and overwhelmingly supported Bush in the last two elections.

My state on the other hand, while also beautiful, does not need work.

California is solidly blue and the only state that could completely wreck the election of a democratic presidential candidate with its massive prize of electoral votes.


edit: grammar

[Skittles]

23. f*** conservatives

if they are still supporting bush after all he has done they are a lost cause

[Totally Committed]

36. Thank you...

I couldn't agree more.

TC

[Robbie Michaels]

25. I Hate To Put It This Way, But...

Some of these people will listen to you if they are approachable. I'm certain there are some out there who feel betrayed by what this administration has done. Not all of them are narrow-minded.

As for the others whom you can't reach, they're like drug addicts: you can't help them until they've hit rock bottom and then ask you for help.

[BeFree]

26. You lost this reader

DU is not the place to 'reach out to conservatives.'

Reaching out is good, but on DU? You are new here, eh? Welcome.

Having a goal of reaching out to conservatives on DU, is like climbing a mountain to catch sea bass.

[marions ghost]

27. Conservatives who come here

might get a reality check. Tough luv & all that. If they can't take it and run away all wounded, too bad. As somebody said here, you don't pander to abusers. The blind and arrogant think that is our role, to suck up to them. The door is always open if they want to come to us. But we should never water down our tone in a misguided attempt to appeal to them.

If we lose these readers, we haven't lost much.

[blondeatlast]

29. OP, OOOOOOP, Aunt Bee's got fried chicken 'n biscuits and Helen Crump

is coming over.

Where are you?

[snowbear]

33. MMmmm, Aunt Bee´s country cookin´

Good thing too because Miss Crump didn´t know how to cook!

Hey.. why did the original poster zap out one post, then flee like a bat outta hell anyway..

O´well.. me and Blondeatlast are going to sit back and have some of Aunt Bee´s chicken and bisquits while the OP figures out what the hell they were talking about..