Resolved: Democrats need to learn to hate Republicans.

[bryant69]

Poll question: Resolved: Democrats need to learn to hate Republicans.

Democrats need to learn to hate Republicans in the same way that they clearly hate us if we want to be successful.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[acmavm]

1. Already do. They have no excuse (now or ever) for what they've

let these criminal bastards do to this country.

[Avalux]

2. I disagree - hatred gets us nowhere.

That's what those in power want - for this country to be divided and the people to fight amongst ourselves; that way we can't fight against them.

[queenbdem87]

5. Wrong

They expect us to sit back and do nothing...the expect us to not voice how angry they have made us and to be complacent. And what is with ppl that don't see that a vast majority of Americans are disgusted right now?

[Avalux]

9. Anger over policy is fine and can be a great motivator -

but that's completely different than hatred for a political party. Yes, get angry, speak out about what the government is doing to our country and the people in it (ALL of us). Hating people because they're Republicans is counterproductive. We are best served to have messages that make them question their beliefs.

[Richard Steele]

29. Exactly. ANGER is a fine motivation, but HATRED is counterproductive...

...inefficient, distracting and generally self-defeating.

The two are NOT the same thing.

[Norquist Nemesis]

12. Yes. Which is precisely where we are. n/t

[queenbdem87]

3. I feel like

hatred is healthy when you're facing these fascist fundamentalist extremists, but hate what they do...not the people.

[bullimiami]

4. hate them for what they do. not their label.

the republicans as a whole have quite happily supported bush in his murderous thievery.

[datadiva]

6. I think more Republicans are coming around

to our way of thinking. If we hate them and blame them forever for what they've done, we will never be a country united again. I have way too many bad feelings for them now as it is. Forever is a long time. Hate is not something I want to stand for. I also do not want to be like them and that is what I would be if I did.

[rucky]

7. Well, I don't want to put them all in camps...

I don't want the terrorists to bomb Texas.
I think they should all have rights to free speech.
I don't want a 100% liberal media - just one that tells 100% truth.
I want a government that represents ALL Americans.
I actually follow the teachings of Christ.

Sorry, they'll get no hate out of me. Anger? hell yes! Anger changes things, but hatred just brings more destruction.

[RaleighNCDUer]

19. Well, I don't want to put them all in camps...

but I wouldn't mind seeing them all in therapy.

[bowens43]

8. Disagree.

It doesn't have to be learned , for me it's genetic.

[eallen]

10. Be wary of false symmetries. We are not them. We don't want to be them.

[bryant69]

14. What do you mean? We don't want to be victorious?

We don't want to get those dangerous lunatics out of power and put in good people?

[eallen]

20. Of course we want to be victorious. But not by becoming like them....

Else, what point victory? I don't oppose the Republicans because their name starts with "R" instead of "D."

[bryant69]

25. Obviously we would continue to have different programs

We would be supporting the people and opposing facism. Our hatred is more about style and passion, than about changing our programs.

[Ron Mexico]

11. Way ahead of you, buddy.

Despite being very pro-gun, I really hate most Republicans - and I have no problem with it, either.

[Warpy]

13. RESOLVED: Democrats need to learn to stop BEING Repuglicans

Offer this country an opposition party, they'll drop the GOP like a hot rock.

[bigscott]

15. i hate them with every fiber of my being

and i am not ashamed of that. I try not to associate them at all - everyone I meet just reinforces WHY i despise them all

[mitchtv]

16. time for this flash flick

I hate republicans
http://www.ericblumrich.com/ihr.html

[mandyky]

17. Somewhat disagree

I do not like the word hate. My parents were Republicans, but not wingers.

What we do need to do is show the GOP for what it is. They lie. They demonize. The do not have integrity just because they claim to be anti-abortion and anti-gay rights. They will say and do anything to work the Fundies in this country into a frenzy, many times it is UNconstitutional and UNamerican.

[stevietheman]

18. Disagreed. Democrats need to learn to *fight* Republicans. n/t

n/t

[TallahasseeGrannie]

21. Disagree

hate is an emotion that harms the hater more than the hated. It is, therefore, counterproductive and indulgent. It is not in the least productive.

[Yollam]

22. I disagree with the premise.

First of all, republicans in power do not hate democrats, for the most part. They are dispassionate in their quest for power and money and do what it takes to destroy democrat opponents whatever it takes. It is NOT about "hate" for them. They are adept at harnessing the hatred of their dimwitted lemming fundie/racist/"wealth-creation-seminar-attendee-would-be-rich-guy" voters, but they are NOT consumed with hate. They are methodical in pursuit of power, and we should be too.

Not to say that they are not dangerous, but that they are not so dumb as to be guided by blind hatred.

[madinmaryland]

23. If we learn to hate like the pubs do, then we will have become them.

I disagree with their policies and beleive they are morally wrong and reprehensible, but don't want to become a hater.

[etherealtruth]

31. I'm with you ...

Hating those that are different or disagree with me (us)... isn't that what motivates them?

[Shine]

24. I totally disagree.

We will not build any bridges of understanding the more we focus on our separation from those whom we disagree with.

Our task is to pay attention to what our common ground is and work together to create positive change.

Hating solves NOTHING and only creates more problems.

The extreme polarization of this country threatens its very foundation, imo.

[bryant69]

26. How we can build bridges with people who's only goal is our elimination?

How can we compromise with such people?

Bryant

[Shine]

33. That's exactly where we get to be Creative, rather than Destructive.

Can we learn to live another way and see the world more wholistically? :shrug:

I don't know for sure, but I'm willing to stand in the Possibility of that happening.

To me, it's about a shift in perspective.

[bryant69]

35. It would be nice

But It doesn't seem likely to me. For one thing, your views are in the clear minority here at DU - that means most people aern't looking for your wholistical method of dealing with Republican Assholes. They are looking for a fight.

If the conflict is coming, isn't it better th plan to win rather than to stakes ones hopes on avoiding it?

[mwooldri]

36. We got to talk. It's the _only_ way.

See Northern Ireland. It's had relative peace, and that's because people are talking. Israel/Palestine is relatively peaceful (not entirely because there is strife there) compared to what it had been because there _are_ channels of communication open.

When there's no talking, that's when wars happen. They can be virtual, or they can be real.

I do admit there are times when war is unavoidable, and certainly the timeframe in the 1930's in Europe and Pacific Asia show just that.

Now, although we think he is wrong, GWB is a better politician than we often give him credit for. He said once, "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." We can take a leaf from this playbook, and we've just got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in - that GWB is misguided. However unlike pure propaganda, our repetition can be backed up with pure facts. We know that GWB is a liar, and it's documented. We just got to repeat, repeat, repeat - just as he says. Bush lied, people died.

Mark.

[PBass]

27. Totally disagree. It's the wrong-headed policies I am against.

Also, don't confuse the right wing extremists in power for being traditional Republicans. Their party has been hijacked. The only party in worse shape than the Democratic party right now, is the Republican party.

To paraphrase David Brooks, who said **I sometimes wonder if George W Bush is some type of Manchurian Candidate, who is out to destroy everything I believe in as a conservative**

Hate the wrong-headed policies, hate the lying, hate the incompetence, hate the cronyism, hate the corruption... don't hate your fellow citizens.

[bryant69]

28. They put bush in power.

Those fellow citizens you are talking about? They put Bush in power. They opened the door to Abu Ghraib. They opened the door to dropping white phosphorous on citizens. The opened the door to the bombing and murder going on today.

We should just forget about that?

[dogday]

30. Was looking to see if anyone would answer this way

Exactly, how can we ever overcome our situation if half the country is on one side and half on the other? We don't win, the administration wins.. It gets to do whatever it wants because we are all too busy fighting each other and not looking where we should be ....

[marions ghost]

32. It's more about drawing a line in the sand...

and not putting up with being abused. Repugs have taken every advantage of the Liberal tendency to forgive and compromise. We must not let them do that anymore. We must play hardball, and that may require being cold and calculating and very TOUGH at times. It is the ONLY thing they will ever understand. But not to actually become like them, we do have to stop short of ruthlessness. Tricky. Some people have to say they "hate" in order to acquire the necessary toughness. Others can do it without making it so personal.

Whatever way you want to frame it, we must be tough enough to weather the coming storm. I think that's what's meant by this post. We need to be ready to kick R ass and clean up the mess they've made. And move beyond their limited thinking.

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[bunkerbuster1]

34. Fight dirty? Yes. Get Angry? You bet. Hate 'em?

hell no. What's the point? I might as well be a Rethug.