I love me some William Rivers Pitt GOP ass-kickin'

[PsychoBabble]

The AHCA: Mass Murder in Broad Daylight

In light of House Speaker Paul Ryan's revelations this week that House Republicans plan to continue pushing to overhaul the health care system in the months ahead, despite their colossal failure to pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA), there's one truth we can't repeat to each other enough: The AHCA would have amounted to attempted mass murder on a national scale, and the implications of its near-success are flatly terrifying.

The total collapse of the AHCA -- the GOP-designed legislative torpedo intended to sink Obamacare once and for all -- was seen as a stinging rebuke for President Trump, Speaker Ryan and the Republican Party in general. It raised doubts about their ability to govern and keep their promises, and the defeat put their whole legislative agenda in peril. Many people took great joy from these developments, and from watching the Republicans try to puzzle their way through why the whole thing exploded so ignominiously in their faces.

Trump, as is his way, meandered through the blame game with typical stagger-step precision. It was the Democrats fault, no, the media's fault, no, Ryan's fault, no, the sink in the bathroom's fault, until eventually blame for the fiasco was properly laid at the feet of a clutch of ultra-conservative House members who call themselves the Freedom Caucus. These Flat-Earth bitter-enders are a real piece of work; their entire purpose in government is to destroy government. They took one look at the AHCA, deemed it too generous, and locked themselves together in a Trojan phalanx of "No" votes that ultimately ran the thing onto the reef.

That's the horserace crap, the kind of "details" and "substance" we got during media coverage of the 2016 presidential campaign. The rancid meat on this bone, however, can be found in the bloody body of the AHCA itself. Before Ryan started meddling with it to try and placate the Freedom Caucus, the bill was already an astonishment of greed and cruelty...

MORE >

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/40029-the-ahca-mass-murder-in-broad-daylight

(emphasis mine)

[nycbos]

1. Remember this is the guy who called Obama a POS used car salesman.

The used are salesman reference was attacking Obama over the ACA. He should get zero credit for calling out Paul Ryan. With "friends" like that who needs enemies.


People like that shouldn't be celebrated here.



We have turned a corner here. Before the hack the top recd post was someone who was saying there was no difference between the parties.


Lets not go back by honoring someone who thinks that way.

[LanternWaste]

2. It's a simple or lazy mind that refuses to separate the art from the artist.

You see honoring, I merely see a well-written and topical editorial. It's a simple or lazy mind that refuses to separate the art from the artist. I'm certain you never do that...

[KittyWampus]

4. A lazy mind is what I'd call blaming Obama for insurance company issues which is what prompted

POS Used Car Salesman.

[nycbos]

8. How dare you.

How dare you bring facts here. This is an internet comment section.

[nycbos]

5. Re: well-written and topical editorial

His material is less relevant because if Hillary was president he would say her plan for a public option to ad to ACA is a sellout because it is not "single-payer."


Never mind the millions of people who would benefit.



People like this only care about the number of clicks they get.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Meh!

The article is fine, but those guys are an easy target for someone who can write in good syntax and a cogent thought pattern.

When the target is less obvious, POS used car salesman ends up being the rantings of a bitter fool

[George II]

46. Coining the phrase "POS used car salesman" is most certainly NOT "art" from an "artist".

[pnwmom]

71. This isn't art, it's political discussion. And the context of his piece ,

within the rest of his views, is important. He said he would vote 3rd party rather than Hillary.

If she were President, he'd go back to writing scathing things about her.

[Skittles]

89. .

(sorry, posted in wrong spot)

[NCTraveler]

121. I separate the scam from the artist.

You have gone too simple with your reasoning.

[NurseJackie]

13. That's absolutely disgusting.

I hope they're not here any longer.

[Jim Lane]

27. Do you believe that William Rivers Pitt possesses reverse infallibility?

If you consider this particular piece to be merely stating the obvious and therefore not worth highlighting, that's one thing. But your post appears to imply that absolutely nothing by Pitt should ever be posted here, regardless of its content.

[nycbos]

29. I believe that a leftist keyboard warrior...

Last edited Wed Mar 29, 2017, 05:17 PM - Edit history (1)

... who says there is no difference between the parties should not be given the time of day on a site that is allegedly about promoting Democrats.

[Jim Lane]

38. As Gore Vidal wrote, "Who knows through what door wisdom will walk?"

I don't know to what extent that represents Vidal's actual opinion; it was dialog he wrote for the Emperor in his novel Julian.

But it represents my actual opinion. I'm ready to give the time of day to anyone who'll help me learn something. Even Ron Paul, amidst generally spouting libertarian craziness, took an occasional break to be sensible about the invasion of Iraq.

I don't always agree with Pitt or Paul but Pitt is more reliably insightful.

[G_j]

64. I never saw that he said that

I doubt he did. Are you sure that is accurate?

[treestar]

57. True that was because he was unhappy with the ACA

and blaming Obama that it did not go far enough. But such persons are on the same side as us when it comes to the ACHA.

[mcar]

87. I remember it well as I had respected him to that point

He moved from a city to a rural area without bothering to check if the health plans available on the new state's exchange would cover the expensive meds necessary to manage his wife's chronic health condition.

When he found out they wouldn't, he pitched a DU fit.

But here's the kicker: I and a few other DUers provided him with info that solved the problem within a hour. He still refused to pull the thread - the pile-on by the Obama haters was epic. A week or so later, he apologized.

Any "writer" worth his or her salt would have known to do the research before the move and have discovered the solution.

[treestar]

97. And as if the health plans available before the ACA

were going to cover anything at all!

[mcar]

99. Right?

The ACA isn't perfect but Pitt went crazy with his slamming of it, President Obama, etc. And others here happily joined him.

The hatred of Obama and Democrats on this board during that time was distressing, to say the least.

[Cha]

106. pit also had a Stupid OP calling President Obama a

"Trojan Horse".. he got off on Obama hate.. big click bait for him.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026687597#post1

I wouldn't read one gd word he ever writes.

[mcar]

108. He became a huge ODSer

And false equivalence type.

Remember how they used to taunt us BOGers, Cha? On a Democratic board?

[Cha]

111. Yes, the "false equivalence" was his bread and butter..

Yeah, We supported the Democratic President who made Progress.. the ODSers couldn't handle it.. and look where they are now..

Relegated to jpr.. especially that one whose OP it is in the link.. many of them trump fans..

We Won!

[mcar]

115. We won, but we all lost

And they hold some responsibility for the disaster we are now facing.

And still, some criticize Democrats.

[Cha]

125. You're right, mcar.. We Won

with President Obama being vindicated on this board.. but the Planet lost because of those like them who'd rather have a Climate Change Denier in the wh than a President who actually cared about our Earth. and would build on President Obama's EO's on making us a greener Earth.

They're part owner of the fascisttump.

[NurseJackie]

119. He's NO DEMOCRAT!! Is it unfair for me to hate that son-of-a-bitch?

[NurseJackie]

122. Who does he think he is? Ann Coulter? Michelle Malkin?

Last edited Fri Mar 31, 2017, 11:14 AM - Edit history (1)

We wouldn't allow anyone to promote either of those "writers" on this site... so why would we allow this Guy Fieri look-alike to post his crap here?

[uponit7771]

135. +1, then he bashed HRC and voted 3rd party... he doesn't sound like a dem to me.

[Cha]

178. pitt owns a chunk of trump.. and all the other little footstompers who

Last edited Thu Mar 30, 2017, 02:42 AM - Edit history (1)

don't give a shite about our Planet or her People.

[Hekate]

100. Plus a thousand or so

[mcar]

102. Thanks Hekate

Some things one just doesn't forget.

[brer cat]

112. Thanks for calmly providing the recap, mcar.

It was one of the most disgusting displays I can recall here.

[mcar]

114. The OP was bad

The pile-on was, to say the least, eye-opening.

[JTFrog]

155. No, it was because he hadn't done his research and he ended up having egg on his face. nt

[pnwmom]

164. He was a 3rd party advocate during the election. He's not much of an ally. n/t

[MineralMan]

190. So are the Freedom Caucus House members on the same side.

When it comes to the ACHA. I try to look at things from a larger perspective.

There are plenty of people out there writing about their political opinions who are consistent and correct. I have little time for those who turn on a dime when it suits them.

Sorry.

[Skittles]

90. he was in crisis mode, over his wife's serious illness

get over it already

[Hekate]

105. He got a LOT of sympathy for that, as I recall, and much valuable advice. But he was too busy...

...throwing himself on the floor and flailing his arms and kicking to heed any of it. The degree to which he made it personal and about his hatred of Barack Obama was startling. Piece Of Shit Used Car Salesman.

The Admins let it play itself out, and that thread got something like 500 or 600 posts. The pile-on from the Obama-haters was epic and did no credit to a Democratic board.

I remember Will from when he was a young pup, so to speak, going off to Camp Casey in Texas. I used to like him. But the POSUCS episode was the last straw.

[Skittles]

107. he was upset and let his anger get the best of him

that has never happened to you?

GET OVER IT

[mcar]

118. He is not a child

[Skittles]

169. yes, only children lose it

*DONE HERE*

[mcar]

116. ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=8869088

[Orrex]

191. Thread win

If Pitt posted it, that likely means that someone with a lower profile made a very similar argument three days earlier.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. F**k William Rivers "Used Car Salesman POS" Pitt. Glad he doesn't post here anymore. n/t

[nycbos]

6. Yup absolutely.

[grantcart]

76. +1

[uponit7771]

129. WOW !! This is the dude who posted that?!?!?! ....... yeah fuck him!! He bashed Hillary too !!!

[Tarheel_Dem]

144. He & his compatriots migrated over to JPR, and I hope they stay there.

[uponit7771]

145. +1

[JTFrog]

157. Why does that not surprise me one bit. nt

[we can do it]

160. Thank you.

[LexVegas]

9. Is he the abusive "journalist" I've heard about? nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. I know William Rivers Pitt personally, and I can tell you he is the real deal.

I did not agree with his used car salesman stance. We ALL make mistakes, and I believe that was his.

However, to decide that he is worse than useless and should not be celebrated here or anywhere is also a mistake.

He is normally a clear, intelligent thinker and writer and I value what he has to say.

Carry on.

[LexVegas]

11. He shit on Hillary in the election too. Seems like a pattern. nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. And your point?

[LexVegas]

14. He is clearly not an intelligent thinker.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

18. Oh my. That is just patently not true.

He did not like Hillary, true. She has faults, and he pointed them out.

I have no idea how you can think he's not intelligent. I read his TruthOut columns regularly, and they are intelligently written.

[Champion Jack]

26. agreed

[NurseJackie]

31. Intelligent writers know now to avoid using Purple Prose and needless distracting tangents.

He's not that great of a writer. Seriously.

It's like the difference between saying "The sad dog walked home."

Versus: "The lugubrious mongrel ambled into its dwelling, despairing over the cruel aggravations life endows on our weakened shoulders. Silently, the unfortunate canine sauntered into his domicile, knowing that tomorrow, only depression and despair awaited his frail frame. "I'm in despair" the bitter canine howled. "Life's hopelessness has left me in despair."

[greatauntoftriplets]

45. Agreed.

I'm a professional writer/editor. Generally, people are too busy these days to read that much. Less is more.

[NurseJackie]

51. Don't you actually mean...

Last edited Wed Mar 29, 2017, 06:42 PM - Edit history (1)

"After years of study and hard work and my tireless efforts to improve my craft, I can now proudly proclaim, without hesitation and in all truthfulness, that due to the fact of my proficiency in this field, and because I have been acknowledged by my peers, and because I've earned a living in my chosen career, I have left the bounds of being a beginner or hobbyist, and am therefore a professional writer and or editor."




----
EDIT: Typo. (Even the best purple prose wordsmiths need proof-readers, eh?)

[greatauntoftriplets]

56. Yes, and excellent job!

Of course I tend to mentally edit most things I read, including menus.

[mcar]

81. I'm a professional writer/editor too

And you win the thread!

[betsuni]

86. I'm impressed!

That's funny.

[ismnotwasm]

101. OMG that's awesome

[brer cat]

113. !

[frazzled]

70. Another professional editor chiming in to agree

My distaste for the style of his writing goes way back to the early 2000s: it's florid AF. I would blue-pencil the living daylights out of his prose.

But that is beside the point. He also presents an extremely offensive persona. And what are his credentials? (Hint: none.) He's just another internet opinion writer. For those who care for his opinions, knock yourselves out. I would not deign to look at one.

[greatauntoftriplets]

74. I'd edit too.

But then, I'd always edited myself, sometimes heavily if something in a draft didn't work.

[mcar]

83. One of my mentors taught me to

go through a draft and remove all of the adjectives before the final edit. Methinks Mr Pitt wouldn't be able to handle that.

[greatauntoftriplets]

91. Same here.

When I wore my makeup editor hat years ago, if we had to cut a story to fit the space, the adjectives were the first thing to go.

[mcar]

92. Yep!

[greatauntoftriplets]

117. Journalism 101.

OK, maybe 102.

[OilemFirchen]

59. Ernest Hemingway:

"Prose is architecture, not interior decoration."

[melman]

177. He's a lot better

than a certain someone everyone constantly fawns over here.

[NurseJackie]

179. Who?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

181. Yep.

[Orrex]

193. I can always tell when people are talking about me.

[NurseJackie]

196. You're probably correct.

[George II]

47. So he didn't like Obama, he didn't like Clinton, just how long is that "didn't like" list?

[uponit7771]

146. +1

[sellitman]

104. I agree Peggy

I miss seeing his posts here. DU is less without them.

Has he been perfect, who cares? I haven't been. I don't expect more from others.

Too many haters here.

[pnwmom]

72. He shat on both Obama and Hillary. His judgement is questionable. That is the point. n/t

[we can do it]

161. Agree.

[Texasgal]

198. He was also an abusive

drunk that posted awful things about members here.

Fuck him.

[pnwmom]

211. Somehow I missed those particular things -- thanks for the mention. n/t

[tenderfoot]

16. He threatened to beat a homeless woman... he's a blowhard.

Last edited Thu Mar 30, 2017, 03:57 PM - Edit history (1)

as is his bud Zomby. He's also anti-choice in case anyone didn't know.

[NurseJackie]

34. William Rivers Pitt threatened to BEAT A HOMLESS WOMAN?? Good lord, WHY??!!

[LexVegas]

36. He is an intelligent thinker. nt

[NurseJackie]

42. Well, perhaps she "had her faults" and that was his way of "pointing them out."

He sounds like a real piece of work.

[JI7]

183. she was fucking annoying but so was he. she annoyed just about everyone

but he was the only one who threatened to beat her up and he was allowed to come back on.

and yet there are some others on this site who are still not allowed to post.

[NurseJackie]

186. The whole thing is just so bizarre.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ... two distinct "personalities" are being revealed and it's unclear which is the "real" one. But one thing that IS clear to me: I'm not particularly impressed with either one.

[Lionel Mandrake]

49. No comparison

Will Pitt is a good guy who sometimes makes mistakes. I sometimes make mistakes too. Who doesn't?

"Zomby" was once a good guy, but like Gollum he turned into a vicious monster. "Zomby" specialized in character assassination before he was banned from DU once and for all. Why Will would have anything to do with him is something I'll never understand.

[uponit7771]

132. You HOPEFULLY don't continue making stupid ass'd mistakes either like bashing HRC and voting 3rd ...

... party or some other bullshit like that then claiming a dem progressive figure.

Fuck that

[Lionel Mandrake]

194. I liked Bernie better but supported Hillary when she was nominated.

[NurseJackie]

17. Was that his only mistake? Or one of many?

[LexVegas]

19. I've secondhand seen the shit he posts on Facebook. He's fairly horrible.nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

20. Everyone makes mistakes, and Will is no exception. I don't keep score, normally. n/t

[NurseJackie]

24. Well, do you know if he was he banned for that one mistake? Or was it something else?

If it was "something else" ... does anyone remember what it was?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

25. Yes, he was banned for that.

He did apologize and they allowed him to return.

[still_one]

35. He apologized to DU for the language he used. It was a half-assed apology at that

[NurseJackie]

43. The arrogant and self-important assholes rarely give sincere apologies...

... from what I've observed, it's pretty clear that he's not the type to give a sincere apology.

[grantcart]

78. Pattern of abusive posts. He is a narcissist of the first order. He judges everyone,

actual liberal politicians who get things done, by their actions and judges himself by his intentions.

That inconsistency alone betrays the working of an "intelligent mind".

[uponit7771]

136. +1

[NurseJackie]

180. He sounds like an alcoholic. I've known the type.

[George II]

208. There are happy drunks and there are nasty drunks. This one appears to be the latter.

[NurseJackie]

210. I'm praying for him.

[kentuck]

21. How dare you Peggy!

Let me tell you how you must think. Don't think for yourself. You must follow the herd.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

22. Sorry darling!

[Champion Jack]

28. agree

[NurseJackie]

32. What herd?

[LexVegas]

206. The anti-violence, pro-Democratic Party herd.

[still_one]

37. Did he vote for Hillary in the general election?

[LexVegas]

39. He attacked her incessantly. nt

[still_one]

41. I asked the question because someone referred to him as a clear thinker, and based on

his constant attacks toward her after she became the nominee, that is no clear thinker

[sheshe2]

44. The answer is no.

I was on the thread where he said he would vote 3rd party or do a write in.

[still_one]

48. Thanks sheshe, that is what I presumed, but wasn't a 100% sure

[sheshe2]

65. You are most welcome.

[George II]

50. I believe that is why he was banned, not for calling Obama a POS. Thankfully he got only TWO strikes

[sheshe2]

52. Yep...

He went way over the top on that thread.

[greatauntoftriplets]

58. Yes, the homeless woman is why he was banned.

I was a moderator at the time and was online. EarlG explained what had happened and even posted the PMs in question for us.

[NurseJackie]

61. That doesn't sound like someone who's an "intelligent thinker".

Sounds like someone who'd lost all sense of propriety and decency. (Or someone who was drunk raving mad.)

[greatauntoftriplets]

63. It was pretty shocking.

[JI7]

184. NOPE, he was allowed to post AFTER he threatened to beat up a homeless woman

and he was allowed to continue posting after calling obama a piece of shit.

if he was banned from posting it was probably around that time after the primary where the rules get more strict and people have to support the nominee.

[tammywammy]

62. He's not banned, just in purgatory of FFR

He has been banned before, specifically after he threatened to beat up a homeless DUer he was banned. Why they let him back, I'm not sure.

[NurseJackie]

73. Okay, so he's an asshole and a second-rate hack writer with a thesaurus. What's the big attraction?

Does he have any real claim-to-fame? Any legitimate reason that anyone should care what he has to say?

If he hates Hillary and hates Obama and refused to vote for Hillary... it sounds like he's just a provocateur who likes to make trouble.

Does he hate the Democratic party as well?

[NastyRiffraff]

162. He's been banned at least once

and let back in, AND he has "left" DU several times with lots of angst and fanfare, leaving long, incoherent posts explaining why he was SICK OF ALL THE SHIT and how he would NEVER RETURN! Each time I thought "good!" and then was disappointed when he returned.

I hope he's gone for good this time.

[still_one]

165. I agree

[mcar]

84. Wonder how that's worked out for him

[we can do it]

163. He's the kind of person who gave us prez dump.

[shanti]

67. You go, Peggy!

Thank you for always being yourself!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

68. I've got mixed feeling about WRP, but when I see an important point well explained,

I appreciate it.

I'm surprised no one made the point sooner--this absolutely and unequivocally amounts to mass murder legislated by the U.S. govt.
I don't care WHO says it. It's the goddamn truth, and like science, it doesn't matter if you believe it, or whether like the messenger.

I've made the same point about laws making safe medical abortion inaccessible or arbitrarily limited. Because that's the result of such laws--women die.

[malaise]

75. +1,000

[leftstreet]

80. +1

I agree

We of The Oldtimers were able to take Will's more controversial posts in context


He could be a pain in the ass, but I miss seeing him here

[annabanana]

96. +1. . . . n/t

[NurseJackie]

123. I'm guessing you must have been unaware of his threats to beat a homeless woman. So...

... now that you know, are you still as eager to defend him and make excuses for him? Or was that just another example of "being human" and making a "mistake"?

If that doesn't define "worse than useless", then I don't know what does. Or, maybe my standards are higher than those who like him.

[uponit7771]

141. +1

[LexVegas]

207. +1000. nt

[Vinnie From Indy]

15. Not a fan!

[Starry Messenger]

23. I'm sure the author is thrilled he gets a paycheck for the Presidency he worked so hard for.

[still_one]

30. F**k you, William Rivers Pitt, you POS used-car salesman. From my heart and soul,

F**k you.

For those who may not be aware this is how Mr. Pitt referred to President Obama.

[murielm99]

33. meh

[sheshe2]

40. Who?

[NurseJackie]

53. Is that a reliable site? Wasn't it included in a list of sites that echoed Russian propoganda? Or...

... was it some other site?

[George II]

98. That was the one.

[Docreed2003]

137. Sad...truthout used to have some great articles years ago....but I haven't been there in ages

[uponit7771]

147. Like whoa !! It is, wtf... these bastards are still up to it

[JHB]

54. WP can be ok when he's pointed in the right direction, but...

...between -- how shall we put it? -- journalistic incaution, bouts of rage-writing, and pointing it in the wrong direction, the positives just don't make up for the negatives.

Pity.

[OilemFirchen]

55. To Pitt's credit...

I believe he holds the record for DU GBCW threads.

Who couldn't love that?

[NurseJackie]

60. Practice makes perfect, I guess. Did these threads have a lot of "Please stay!" replies?

I imagine that having a bunch of groupies posting "please don't go" and "we love you" messages could be a very intoxicating ego booster. Perhaps that could explain why he did it so often.

[OilemFirchen]

69. Tons.

Attention-seeking is the hallmark of an "intelligent thinker" (sic). That, and name-dropping.

At least that's what my very important fans tell me.

[NurseJackie]

110. HOW MUCH YA WANNA BET he's lurking and reading this RIGHT NOW?

[madinmaryland]

77. I'll get back to you in "24 business hours"...

[leftstreet]

82. DURec

[betsuni]

85. The Obama-is-a-Trojan-horse-president-POS-used-car-salesman guy?

I don't even want to know what he said about Hillary Clinton last year. He seems to be wrong quite often. You'd think a person with such poor judgement would at least take 24 business hours to reflect and vow to change his ways. How refreshing that he's finally criticizing Republicans.

[sheshe2]

103. + infinity!

[uponit7771]

140. +1

[Hekate]

88. Ah, Pitt. Speaking of blaming others, has he apologized for the POSUCS tantrum yet?

Best wishes, nonetheless.

[PdxSean]

93. Forgive and forget?

Pitt Representative: "Remember that one time the Pitt Cafe put a piece of shit in your sandwich 'cause they were having a bad day? Yea, I know it was bad, but that was then and this is now, and, well, they've got a whole new menu now, so, forgive and forget, right? Don't you want to at least try it?

Me: "No."

[Skittles]

109. so you never forgive

good to know

[uponit7771]

134. Only those who've minds have changed and its followed up with the actions, I don't see that out of..

... this guy bashing HRC and voting 3rd party.

He doesn't sound like a Dem to me

[JTFrog]

94. No thanks.

I was a fan of his back before 2010.

I think his insight was lost inside a bottle. How else do you explain ignorantly calling Obama a Piece of Shit Used Car Salesman and all of his other ridiculous screeds against the best president of my lifetime?

Just sayin....

[ismnotwasm]

95. Ew.

[NCTraveler]

120. POS Used Car Salesman. Nt

[LWolf]

124. This ought to be good.

Will certainly has written many great rants. Often, but not always, I agree with them, unlike many here.

[randome]

126. Well, look at this. WRP wrote something without using the word 'fuck' even once.

I suppose we're supposed to be awed that he said something we already agreed with. That's like congratulating Dolt45 for successfully reading a teleprompter. Who's a big boy now?

[Turbineguy]

127. The AHCA failed because:

1. They did not name it after Josef Mengele

2. They left out the part about shooting everybody when they reach the age of 70.

[Talk Is Cheap]

128. Terms of Service: Don't bash Democratic public figures

I thought the TOS prohibited trashing our Democratic figures...

Pitt is a Dem public figure.

Guess the rules don't apply to special people...

Don't bash Democratic public figures
Do not post disrespectful nicknames, insults, or highly inflammatory attacks against any Democratic public figures. Do not post anything that could be construed as bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for any Democratic general election candidate, and do not compare any Democratic general election candidate unfavorably to their general election opponent(s).

Why we have this rule: Our forum members support and admire a wide variety of Democratic politicians and public figures. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but our members don't expect to see Democrats viciously denigrated on this website. This rule also applies to Independents who align themselves with Democrats (eg: Bernie Sanders).

[uponit7771]

130. Or, don't support people who've bashed Obama or the dem candidate like Pitt has done and then voted

... 3rd party didn't he?

[Talk Is Cheap]

131. Why we have this rule:

Why we have this rule: Our forum members support and admire a wide variety of Democratic politicians and public figures. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but our members don't expect to see Democrats viciously denigrated on this website. This rule also applies to Independents who align themselves with Democrats (eg: Bernie Sanders).

[uponit7771]

133. Don't know too many dems calling Obama a POS and bashing HRC and voting 3rd party. His words don't

... match his deeds.

[Starry Messenger]

142. He's not a Democrat anymore, he voted 3rd Party

"Tell you what: If she loses by one vote, blame me. If she can't beat Trump, she should get out of the race now. Beyond that, I intend to be able to sleep at night." WRP, July 27th, 2016

https://www.facebook.com/william.r.pitt.1/posts/10154800699176111

[Tarheel_Dem]

150. Even ones whose accounts have been FFR'd? Quite frankly, despite what he says, I don't think of....

him as a Democrat. As far as "bashing Democratic figures" goes, Pitt wrote the book. Funny you don't remember that.

[Talk Is Cheap]

151. What's FFR'd?

[Tarheel_Dem]

153. Flagged for Review. n/t

[NurseJackie]

158. Nice try.

Pitt is a Dem public figure.

Oh brother!

[Talk Is Cheap]

159. He is a Democrat and a pubic figure.

Oh sister!

[NurseJackie]

174. No he's not.

[George II]

199. In what sense is he a "public figure"?

I have confidence and trust in the administrators on this site, and he's been left on FFR for about nine months for obvious reasons as noted by several members in this discussion.

I don't think it is appropriate for someone to assist him in circumventing the administrators' will to not permit him to post on DU by posting for him.

[LexVegas]

209. Public intoxication?

[Tarheel_Dem]

168. Yup. That one made me lose my coffee. "Public Figure"? Where? In what universe?

[betsuni]

182. It is true in the strange universe where saying things makes it true.

Especially if it is repeated many times. Like the saying goes, talk is cheap.

[Tarheel_Dem]

187. Will Pitt is as careless & clueless as anyone we know. If he's a public figure, then so are we all.

[betsuni]

188. Indeed. And I guess researchless curse-filled rants makes one a "writer."

[MineralMan]

192. Pitt is NOT a Democratic public figure.

From what he has posted, it's clear that he is not a Democrat, really. As for being a public figure, he is a blogger of sorts. I don't believe that qualifies.

[Orrex]

195. Correct. And he bashes Democratic public figures all the time.

I don't recall his fans criticizing His Eminence Mr. Pitt when he was attacking Democratic public figures at every opportunity during his time at DU.

[H2O Man]

138. Recommended.

Will is a great friend. I have great respect for him.

[Generic Other]

156. Me too

I was there when he delivered Andy's eulogy. I drew comfort from his words when we were in the minority about Iraq, Bush, 9/11, etc. I remember him camping out in Crawford.

Some of us go back to the early days of DU when we all said stupid things, cried together, fought with each other, forgave each other, and moved on. We said things in the heat of the moment that we regretted after cooling off. People didn't keep score, regurgitate our mistakes endlessly, alert on posts they didn't agree with. I miss that old DU.

[Horse with no Name]

173. Me too. N/t

[KittyWampus]

212. I've been on DU since the beginning. It's generally the same as it ever was. Except f/ being overrun

by Russian trolls this past election.

This time we now know a good deal of it was agitators-prop and there's proof.

Oh, another difference is there are no longer any moderators.

[ms liberty]

167. A K&R from me too.

It is a really good piece.I've always liked Will and appreciated his writing, even when I disagreed with him.

[Horse with no Name]

171. I like Will

And glad to consider him a friend.

[JI7]

139. a lot of so called liberals want republicans in office so they can sell to angry liberals

They don't make as much with democrats in office.

That did prett well when Bush was president.

[Tarheel_Dem]

152. You are exactly right. $$$$$$$

[JI7]

172. you act like i threatened to kill someone

[Starry Messenger]

175. The Chris Hedges School of Journalism

Lots of book deals coming soon for these typists, I'm sure.

[Foamfollower]

143. I've heard about that guy before!

He went all anti-Democrat after the primaries from what I recall. Fucker advocated third party from what I heard.

Why bring him here? I thought this site was for people who support the Democratic Party?

[JI7]

185. he went anti democratic before the primary when he called Obama a piece of shit

and then there was the time he threatened to beat up a homeless woman and was allowed to continue posting.

[cwydro]

202. I always assumed he has a pretty severe drinking problem.

[likesmountains 52]

148. Will, is it you?

[William769]

149. Who?

[Cha]

189. ..

[hrmjustin]

154. I don't miss that guy.

He insulted Obama and said he wasn't voted for Hillary so I don't miss him.

[roamer65]

170. I usually ignored his posts.

Mostly pontification.

[alarimer]

197. I hate how anyone who doesn't fall in lockstep gets thrown under the bus, here.

It is absolutely the worst feature of this site and contrary to critical thinking.

You can agree or disagree with someone at any given point. It is by no means necessary to throw them out altogether. That kind of intolerance in liberals, who should know better, bothers me.

[Texasgal]

201. I understand what you are saying.

My issue with Will is not so much the "used car salesman" thing. It was more the obnoxious rude and sometimes threatening posts he made when you didn't agree with HIM.

He went after several members in the vilest of ways. Usually, he'd return and blame it on alcohol. He's been banned and reinstated many times over the years usually for being an asshole.

Meh. I'm glad he's not here.

[NurseJackie]

203. Can you elaborate on that? Describe this "lockstep" position that someone must fall in line with.

197. I hate how anyone who doesn't fall in lockstep gets thrown under the bus, here. It is absolutely the worst feature of this site and contrary to critical thinking.

That's a very unfair broad-brush attack the members here. That's saying that, on the whole, the members of this site lack the ability to think for themselves.

That kind of intolerance in liberals, who should know better, bothers me.

Where do you draw the line? Or, for the sake of being "liberally-tolerant" are you suggesting that there should be absolutely NO line at all? Should people be allowed to repeatedly break the rules, to threaten others, to have public temper tantrums? How many times must one be "forgiven" before it becomes obvious that they're not going to change, and that the "apologies" are not sincere?

[FSogol]

204. I disagree with your premise. People with oddball views

Aren't kicked out, but there is a fine line between helping liberal and democratic causes and just bashing. A person who hates every elected democratic party member is not a friend. We need to put a premium on getting elected, governing, and working on legislation. We need to care less about rhetoric which is all the will pitts and jprs of the world offer.

[still_one]

213. Let's see, Pitt did not vote for Hillary in probably the most critical election

of our country. The Supreme Court, the environment, Civil Rights, women's rights, and a wealth of other critical issues are now at risk because of that.

Mr. Pitt's trashing in the most vulgar terms of President Obama had nothing to do with critical thinking. In fact, it was his LACK of critical thinking that set him off against President Obama by saying the ACA wasn't covering his family when they were.

Mr. Pitt's undermining of Hillary after she became the Democratic nominee also points to Mr. Pitts LACK of critical thinking. That isn't simply a question of agreeing or disagreeing with someone. Instead it is someone who is working and trying to influence people not to vote for the Democratic nominee.

As for the straw man intolerance argument, the TOS on DU are very clear, and the trashing of President Obama and the Democratic nominee was a violation of that. That line of thinking I guess would argue that not allowing the views of David Duke in a favorable way would make us intolerant also. It is BS

This site supports DEMOCRATS and progressives. It doesn't mean we don't discuss or argue about different issues on policy or candidates, but it does mean we don't support third party candidates, or bash Democrats running in critical elections. There are plenty of sites available for people so inclined to do that