I am considering joining in the 'candidate wars'

[Stinky The Clown]

The hard part for me is not the fighting. I can do that with the best of 'em .... and I enjoy it. No, it isn't the fighting. It is the simple fact that I don't have a candidate.

But the vitriol is incredible. I've posted a candidate-specific piece or three in the last few weeks. None of them were intended as slams. In fact, they were intended to support or defend this one or that one. But each time, I was slammed - personally in some cases - for writing hit pieces. Or I was called out for being a blind partisan.

This is BULLSHIT.

We're all supposed to be Democrats.

Making your case here by slamming the other guy is a losing proposition, people. You change no minds and make your candidate look small.

I know this post will change nothing. But man oh man, it is sure as hell funny how the partisanship causing what I assume to be rational grownups to degenerate in schoolyard gangs.

Funny.

And sad.

And pointless.

[babylonsister]

1. I'm still candidateless myself, and am glad. I'm not interested in fighting

with anyone.

[Longhorn]

6. Same here!

I'm going to support the Democratic candidate in the end and I don't want to have a hard time supporting him or her because I started off hating him or her! I'd like to learn about the candidates and their strengths and weaknesses but I think it's possible to do that without putting down the others.

[ProSense]

2. Oh,

the audacity of engaging in the "smallness of our politics."

It's Clinton and Obama's show. It's gonna get ugly.

[blm]

11. My simple plan - support anti-corruption, open government Dems and expose

those Dems who protect the Bushes and their secrecy and privilege.

[LittleClarkie]

3. I don't have a candidate either

but I posted a little encounter I had with someone who's brother knows Edwards. Even though this person doesn't like lawyers much, he liked Edwards alot.

I was personally attacked and accused of posting slander and vicious hearsay.

One of the Clarkies reckoned it must be my nickname that set this person off. They assumed that if I was a Clarkie, I must be slamming Edwards. It was bizarre.

I'm actually glad that I don't have a candidate yet. Let's me observe what this place is like, keeps me objective since I don't have a dog in the hunt yet.

You're right, the vitrol is something to see.

[Dinger]

4. K & R H2S

I've noticed that kind of behavior as well. It's just tiring, period, and yes, it's BULLSHIT too.
:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[Bobbieo]

7. It is this kind if behavior that will make the Demos lose in '08

so please knock it off!

[Crunchy Frog]

5. I'm LOVING not having a candidate this time around.

The 2004 season was absolute hell.

I really don't think people with a strong preference can help getting into fights. I know I couldn't help it last time, despite my best intentions.

[mopinko]

8. i want someone to fight for also.

just my nature, sorry.


i have a candidate, he just hasn't declared yet. but if things keep going like they are, i know his sense of duty will pull him into the race. you are the only one, al. our choice is clear.

[demommom]

9. "Candidate Wars"

I am curious. How do most of you choose a candidate?
Do you read up on them(all of them) and use that information to decide on one or do you get all of your information from Tv and blogs and concentrate on the One you hear and see the most? :think:

[Buck Rabbit]

13. Hi, there and welcome Demommom.

I'll give you my path for what it is worth.

There are some websites that you take blind issue tests. You answer where you stand on a number of issues and they give scores as to how well the different candidates match up to you. This is a nice starting point. I did this in 2003 or 2004 and was shocked that I matched up closer to Dennis Kucinich then anyone else by a long shot. I had never even heard of him. I voted for him in our meaningless Oregon primary in 2004 as a stand for progressive principles against the Kerry/Edwards "we are real national defense tough guys" campaign.

Now issue wise I am still closer to Kucinich than anyone else but I am of the camp of Kucinich admirers who believe he is unelectable. So when I started looking for a candidate this time I went to the websites and read the boards. Late last year I leaned towards Edwards whose team has adopted a comprehensive list of progressive platforms. I thought wow this guy has really changed from being a New Democrat (DLC) War Hawk prick of a Senator into a reasoned progressive who most closely matches my views of the top 3 declared candidates. He then gave a speech at the Herzliya conference on Iran that blew my mind. All the AIPAC PNAC shit that made him one of leading supporters of the IRAQ blunder came pouring out of him again. He had learned nothing. Then 3 days later after that blew up on him he appears on an American interview show on Iran and gives sane diplomatic answers and I was like WTF? This made me research him and he went from my early favorite to the absolute bottom of the nine candidates. I love his platform but simply don't trust his sincerity to it at all.

At this point I prefer Obama of the top 3 but think all three have serious electability issues. I absolutely believe Al Gore is far and away the most electable candidate the democrats could throw out there. He is not a perfect ideological match for me but is pretty damn good and I would enthusiastically give him money and time as the best hope we have to end the eight year GOP reign of terror.

So I don't have a candidate that is running voluntarily at this time. I do support the Draft though (Draft Al). If Al doesn't step in to the race I am hoping for a dead-locked convention (it could happen this time) where the convention drafts him. If he does choose to run, even late, my bet is the nomination is his in a cakewalk.

(My biggest disappointment was that Feingold decided not to run. I thought he was a Kucinich with a chance to win. When I become King of America he and Dennis are who I will appoint as President and Vice President.)

[welshTerrier2]

14. issues before candidates; policy before politics

here's a link to the process I use ...

[welshTerrier2]

10. "I don't have a candidate."

me neither ...

fwiw, i've taken the approach of focusing on the issues I care about and challenging the candidate supporters to address those issues. they NEVER do ...

if you really want to join in the fun, why not give each candidate one day a week and on that day, write totally slanted threads supporting that candidate and bashing all the others ... maybe that would work ... you'd be sort of an equal opportunity supporter and basher ...

when candidate threads flood the forum, DU is not worth reading ... if this continues, and it will, something really needs to be addressed ...

[tammywammy]

12. Eventhough I have my favorite

I don't feel the need to bash the others out there. And it tires me to read it on here too. Hey I get it you like Gore/Hillary/Edwards/Obama, but it's still okay if I don't particularly like your candidate. :shrug:

Isn't that the whole point of democracy, expressing viewpoints and coming together. And really you do win over more people with honey than vinegar. If you're uplifting for your candidate, it's more likely going to get me to read what you say.

[avrdream]

16. You beat me to this response.

I want to hear about the issues since the final candidate may not be the one I want and I'd like to feel like I'm still voting for someone decent.

I'm starting to check out who is doing the most posting in a thread before I take my valuable time to read the whole thing.

[flaminbats]

15. neocons don't like intelligent people voting in their primaries!

I think personal attacks and insults can get a little rough sometimes. I usually vote in my state Democratic primary, but I may also vote in the Republican Presidential primary for the one I think would do the least amount of harm.

I haven't decided who to support in the Presidential primaries, yet I have always supported the Democratic nominee in November. But one thing I have learned the hard way, if you wish to represent your district at the national convention next summer..vote in the Democratic primary!