The infighting has heated up

[Fish Eye]

I have noticed on numerous threads a great deal of fighting about which candidate is best to represent the democratic party in the 2004 elections. What I have not seen is a good debate about the positions the democratic party will stand on after the primaries.

I am afraid that the issues have been neglected for cadidate bashing. I don't see much unity in the democratic party at this time and I fear that the time from the primaries till the general election will not be enough to develop a strong base from which to fight the current administration. (and win!)

What will the choosen candidate actually stand for in the general election? Jobs,war,security?

Will most democrats stand behind the choosen candidate?

At least there is not a large third party distraction this time around.

[quaker bill]

1. True

Part of this is the natural energy of the selection process. The arguement over which set of ideas will be the best base to recapture the WH from is reasonable.

There is a lot of misinformation out there. Some of it is fabricated by our true opponents. More will be created as the candidates rise in the polls.

We would be well served here to keep republican misinformation out of our debates.

[lindashaw]

2. I doubt that will happen, this site is heavily infected, Ijust tune out

and go to another thread. *shakes head*

[Le Taz Hot]

3. The split started several years ago

when the DLC came up with their brilliant "New Democrat" scheme -- i.e., a shove to the right. The BASE of the Democratic party -- those who do the campaigning, put on the fundraisers, register people to vote, etc., were marginalized and it was full steam ahead. They pulled it off in 1992 and 1996 because of Clinton's charisma and skill as a born politician. By 2000 and without a charismatic leader, the "message" or what was left of it, was diluted and our candidate followed the DLC "wisdom." There are many factors that led to the Gore loss, not the least of which was Florida, but the fact remains that had the election not been so close, Florida wouldn't have been a factor.

So, it's 2002 and the DLC, once again, is paddling to the right. The Base, though STILL incredibly pissed off about 2000 went along because the DLC assured us they had a "plan." Most of us followed the "plan" and we lost the Senate and lost even more seats in the House.

The Base reached boiling point and we're pretty much in all-out revolt. The popularity of non-DLC candidates is a testament to that revolt.

I think the candidate bashing represents a couple of things: a) people's frustration at the DLC and their rightward policies and b) an inability of too many DUers to engage in intelligent, reasoned debate.

I have faith that, in the end, Democrats WILL rally 'round the nominee (unless it's Lieberman in which case, the Democrats will lose anyway so it won't much matter). But it's going to be MUCH harder to come together at the end if a few, very prolific and loud-mouthed indivuals make a virtual career out of bashing candidates.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. well.....I believe we are united in replacing Bush.

and has anyone seen Al Gore lately?...of course not. He's quietly revving up the engines for the big fight next summer. Same with a lot of heavyweight Dems.
The Democratic Party is everywhere oiling the machinery, getting ready to put the big hurt on the fraud and his evil cabal.
Give us time. We're coalesciing, coming together, putting up the planks on a platform. Yes blood is being spilt right now, but the eggs will be broken to make the omelet. And we will emerge strong and united. And we will not lose sight of our ultimate goal.

[Mountainman]

5. I will continue to ignore the candidate threads here on DU

Very few if any of the candidate threads have any real information about a candidate. It is all propaganda just like the freep's support of Bush, those who have a favorite Dem candidate use this board to post proaganda about thier favorite and bash the other guys.

I am looking to other sources to get my information about the primaries and who I will vote for.

All this candidate infighting has turned me off and I refuse to read any of your posts and I think I am not the only one.

[Minstrel Boy]

6. infighting now is an indication of health

Seriously: you're a political party, not a support group. Playing politics, heading into a primary season, ought not resemble tiddlywinks.

If everyone was getting along, it would suggest nothing was at stake; that Bush was invulnerable. But he isn't, you know it, and so the gloves are off.

There's still plently of time and lots of common ground to pull together later. Don't sweat it. Enjoy it. That's politics.