Anology- I own and run a Giants football fan site

[NJmaverick]

there is tons of discussion and debate. For the most part it's civil (between us) but it is often heated and sometimes fights have to be broken up (in the board before mine there were many nasty fights and people being banned). We question the team, the coaches, the general manager, players and ownership. However there is one thing that always unites us. WE ARE ALL GIANTS FANS. We may get angry or disgusted at the team, but we don't quit being fans and we certainly don't become fans of rival teams. So when a member comes to my website they know they are coming to discuss Giants football (and football and other topics) with fellow fans. People know they are not going to have to put up with fans of rival teams coming to the board and talking trash about the Giants.

That is how I feel about the Democratic Underground. It is suppose to be a board of Democrats. We may not always be happy with our party or what they do. We may even get angry. However at the end of the day they are still our party and we still support them. We don't rip into our own party like we are republicans or some other party. That is where the problem seems to lie. There is a sizable minority of non-Democrats at DU that love to bash and rip into the Democrats (especially our President). They team up with those that hate part of our party (the DLC) which results in a toxic atmosphere against President Obama and the Democratic party. Just as my board members come to talk football with fellow Giants fans, I think most of us come to the DEMOCRATIC Underground to talk politics with fellow Democrats.

[Texasgal]

1. Well... I think I have just figured out

what your problem is.....

































Your a GIANTS FAN!!!! :P

:hide:

[azmouse]

2. I get really tired of hearing how I'm like a Republican because I support the President.

Oy vey! Of all the stupid things to say!


God help me I'm a Diamondbacks fan and I post to a board that discusses the team. Yep, we may not all agree on the moves the team management makes but we all love the team... even when it really stinks like it did this last season. We support each other when the times get tough and we celebrate the good together when the team does well.

I wish it could be like that here on DU. In fact it's what I would expect from this website but not what I see.

[rebel with a cause]

3. A football fan?

Well, no one is perfect. ;)

As to the rest of your post, I agree we should be at least trying to get along. We fought for the chance to have a Democratic president and congress and now that we have one it looks like some are set on destroying it. I am really getting tired of all the BS that is being spewed by the naysayers. "I think most of us come to the DEMOCRATIC Underground to talk politics with fellow Democrats." Yeah, that was the idea that bought me here.

[SeattleGirl]

4. Very good analogy, NJ

As I've said before, disagreements are just fine with me. Critiques are just fine. But when I see those two things being used as an excuse to bash the democratic party and to bash a democratic President, that, I don't like. For instance, it's quire reasonable to express anger and disappointment with Obama for saying he never said he supported a public option when there is video proof that he DID say that. When I heard that (denying he had ever said that), my reaction was, "Come on, Barack! You DID say that!" But that doesn't mean I automatically think he doesn't tell the truth about anything, that he's a corporate sell-out, and he must be condemned to hell forever. Doing things like that is something I expect from FreeRepublic, not from Democratic Underground.

[dcsmart]

5. we can approach this from a "Democratic Strategist"

point of view and start encouraging proactive discussion that contributes to focusing and strengthen the Democratic Party's agenda and goals. If someone is a Democrat, then the ideals of the party are what bind us. We can disagree about particulars, but the general philosophy stays intact and we build from that. FrenchieCat's post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=388x10105

is the way to go. i think you and others in this group posted links to other sources that document the administration's policies and achievements. as we review this information, we can offer our own "democratic talking points" and strategies.

[babylonsister]

6. I knew there was a reason I liked you.

MAJOR (disappointed) Giants fan here! :fistbump:

And great comparison! Too bad everyone here aren't Giants/Dem fans.

[Kaleva]

7. Nobody cheers a defeat or bemoans the rare victory at the Lions forum I belong to.

Every so often someone says that they've had enough of the losing and are switching their loyalty to another team. They leave and don't stick around telling the rest of us that the Lions are too lousy to support and we all ought to be (insert other teams name here) fans.

[CTLawGuy]

9. the people who stay are the real fans

not sure how anyone just switches loyalties no matter how bad the team is.

signed, long time Red Sox fan.

[CTLawGuy]

8. not quite on point

bashing is not as harmful for football because there is not going to be a popular vote next year where if enough Giants fans don't show up for that particular vote, the Giants will move to L.A. The Giants are going to be stay in New York (er New Jersey) no matter what.

In politics, if not enough Democrats vote next year, Democrats will lose control of Congress to a much worse party and will lose the White House in 2012 to a nutcase. It's harmful to have people on here bashing vs. engaging in constructive criticism.

A few days ago a substitute host on the Bill Press show was telling people to de-register as Democrats. Ed Schultz routinely indirectly suggests that progressives should stay home in 2010. These people are an influence on the progressive base and vice versa. All this is going to do is reward the party whose obstruction has led to the frustrating inability to pass good legislation.

[LiberalAndProud]

10. Ed Schultz is telling disenchanted progressives to stay home?

I've always questioned his motives. For crying out loud, that will do a great deal to disempower the progressive movement within our party. I, for one, think that would be a tremendous loss, both for our party and for our country.

I hope reason prevails.

[CTLawGuy]

11. yeah

he keeps saying "boy I wonder whether progressives will stay home if X does not happen?" "will progressives come out in 2010 if Obama doesn't do X?" "has Obama lost the progressives?" It's not direct, but he's basically planting the idea in people's heads that they should stay home in protest.

[FrenchieCat]

12. I don't watch sports much......

But I still get it! :)

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

13. You know how much I like you, NJmaverick?

I like you so much that I won't make some snarky joke about your being a Giants fan.

...but it's killing me.

And I'm in complete agreement. We don't have to agree on everything, and we can even be passionate in our disagreements (Go, Pack, Go), but that doesn't mean that we MUST attack each other to make our point. I think it warps the discussion in GD and GDP -- I'm loathe to criticize Obama because a dozen Concern Trolls will just pile on. I daresay that some of us have sharp disagreements with the Administration that we don't care to bring into those forums.

And as a Packers fan, can I tell you how disappointed I was in your team's performance last week? I SO wanted to see the Minnesota Quarterback (he-who-shall-not-be-named) continue his late-season swoon.

[NJmaverick]

14. lol, just remember the Giants still have a Super Bowl trophy that isn't that dusty

but you're right about one thing. The concern trolls make it impossible to post a reasoned criticism because they blow anything all out of proportion.

[old mark]

15. You should read the Eagles site after the disgusting loss to the 'boys Sunday

People want to fire everyone and start all over again after losing ONE game out of the last 7.

I see it here too much, on GDP - there is no thought or understanding of how the political system works, and no comprehension that Obama DOES really have a magnificent grasp of how national politics actually runs in the US (disgusting as it is). He KNOWS what he is doing, certainly more so than many of those who put up such junk here.

Be glad you aren't a redskins fan.....


mark