Is the constant left-vs-center infighting in the D.U. good?

[ConservativeDemocrat]

(Choice 1)
Hell yes! As soon as we drive centrist Democrats out of the party, we'll be on track to win the next election hands down! In fact, why wait for that? Just by raising our collective voices (since I never see Democrats do that on FOX), the Republican Congress will see the wisdom of our arguments and Impeach that Warmonger Bush in '05. Oh, and I'm INSULTED you think I'm not realistic.

(Choice 2)
Hell yes! As soon as we get rid of that psychotic Howard Dean who DARED TO YELL AT A PEP RALLY, the party will be much better off. In fact, if we cooperate with Bush totally, we'll completely confuse Republicans because they won't be able to attack us for anything! No doubt about it - I'm feeling that Joe-mentum coming on right now!

(Choice 3-5)
Fits

[comradebillyboy]

1. its a place to exchange ideas

vigorous debate is a good thing. ideas need to be challenged and tested. sometimes feelings are going to get hurt. if you want unamity and lack of critical thinking go to a creationist bb.

[DaedelusNemo]

8. But does that happen?

It seems like few of these discussions go beyond name-calling. Does anyone actually know what the respective positions referred to by 'left' and 'center' actually are? Is the disagreement on economic grounds, social issues, foreign policy, what? What's the difference, if any, between liberals, progressives, and populists? What do non-DLC moderates believe? WHAT'S THE FREAKING DEBATE HERE? I can't find it.

Before we can build, we have to understand what we're standing on.

[Spiffarino]

9. Debate and discussion make us stronger intellectually

I only fear for the damage it does to us electorally.

But I'm with you...if I wanted to be one of the sheep, I'd be a Repub.

[Q]

2. I'm not sure about the question you posed...

...but what the heck is a 'conservative democrat'?

[Mountainman]

3. It has to be done.

We are a group of people looking for some representation. If out ideas are not represented here we will look else where.

The country is on a collision course. How do we turn it around? If we don't talk about all possibilities then none of us gets a complete picture.

Should we kiss Bush's ass so we might win next time or should we turn in the other direction hoping that enough people also want to do that to elect us.

[AntiCoup2K4]

4. What I want to really know is why the DLC'ers always assume...

...that the only ones in the party who oppose neocon appeasing "centrism" are Deaniacs?

[ConservativeDemocrat]

6. It's funny. Laugh.

I made the most absurd caricature I could think of for the sake of humor, and people are responding to it seriously. Self selecting too!

Geeeeez.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

p.s. I gave money to Dean in the primaries, since he appealed to me as a centrist who fights. Dunno about some people in his new fan-club, though. I'm interested in bringing Democrats together, not tearing them apart.

[AntiCoup2K4]

7. If I took half the shit on this board seriously, I'd go postal!

But some of your fellow DLC'ers aren't as humorous about it as yourself.

[lostnfound]

5. I picked #1 but I'd prefer #6

The debate is good for understanding the wisdom of both sides. We can learn from each other.

[LoZoccolo]

10. I like how people who lost the election...

...vote for the first option to drive people out.

[sendero]

11. None of the above...

... it is good for us to have this discussion, however heated it may become, here on DU.

Let everyone make their best case, let everyone consider each side. Let's try to come to some sort of consensus.

[LoZoccolo]

12. Now hear me out about the DLC.

A lot of people who've been here a while know that I am pretty centrist (for here, at least), and defend the DLC a lot. And, I was a Dean supporter and am a member of DFA as well. So I know something about both sides of this debate, and admire something about each side.

That having been said, don't you think Al From is really doing a lot of damage with some of the very arrogant and dismissive things he says about activists? Don't you think he could put things better to help people understand where he's coming from so they might actually get behind some of his ideas? Would you trust someone that's been that divisive to be able to play chess and win the center? There are a lot of DLCers I like, but I really think something's wrong and they should get him out from in front of the mic.

[Spiffarino]

13. Al From is poison

...as are Roemer, Bob Shrum, and the rest of the crew that's pushing the party toward Republicanism.

I'm sorry, but I don't share much with the DLC. In many ways I'm more conservative than most DUers, yet I vehemently oppose the Dems turning any more to the right. It's already gone too far.

Ultimately we must stay true to ourselves and our core beliefs. All the gray areas can be dealt with in debate, but there are some things that are simply too important to compromise.

To me it comes to a simple equation: The right believes in sparing the unborn and killing the living; we believe in the rights of living people and the dignity of the individual.

Frankly, I like our side a lot better.

[PassingFair]

16. Well said! How about it, DLC apologists?

The revulsion you see is not self induced.
From, Reed, et. al. are literally making us sick.

[ulysses]

14. the party is divided, therefore infighting will happen.

Find a *meaningful* way to heal the divide, or just wait until it resolves itself naturally in whatever way it might, and the infighting will go away.

[Redleg]

15. No, it devolves into socioemotional conflict rather than functional

conflict.

[LSdemocrat]

17. I don't get the constant fights about ideology

There is room for all sorts of ideologies in the Democratic party. I'm a Deaniac who thinks that the DLC can be quite valuable as a think tank.

[leanin_green]

18. Choices aren't very good. Show lack of clarity.

Yes the debate is good, but not for the reasons you state. At least we do debate and the flow of ideas continues. Unlike the other party that flames any idea or criticism other than the party line. I know that seems as if they have their act together, but I'd hate to be inside the minds of many of the intelligent, moderate ones that go along.

[Califooyah Operative]

19. Both sides need each other to be effective. Compromise and find common gr

ound or one side is going to break off. The democrats have an opportunity to get this country back, Youth and minority voters are still out there and they are just waiting to be courted and will become the majority soon. fixing the way we get our message across and clarrifying it would be a good thing changing our values would be wrong. I'm pretty sure we can all agree on the need for progressive change socially and otherwise, withing our nation,and our party .