DU'ers: Please Boycott Presidential Candidate Polls on this site.

[radio4progressives]

Every single day, every single week and every single month since the 2004 elections, some sort of polling for 2008 "presidential candidates" have been frequently posted and requesting participation, and it's always the usual suspects.

I don't know if it's the DLC behind this or not, obviously i don't run this site, nor am I in anyway connected to the owners or moderators.

I think it's imperative that this site become or remain independent of the DLC for a number of reasons, which i think should be obvious to most readers/members.

I also think that the DLC agenda is as dangerous to our democracy, the future of our country, and the future of the DP as any thing the Neo Cons have done and plan to do.

In fact, I will assert right here and now, that the DLC are in bed with the Bush Crime Family, as amply evidenced by both Clinton's actions, and the actions of the DLC Senators currently in office.

Anyone who doesn't understand this at this juncture, have not been paying attention and it is critical that this is widely understood NOW.

DU progressives should actively work in communities across the country to do everything in their power to recruit genuine Democrats (genuine Liberals/Progressives) to run for local, state and national offices and work to replace DLC whereever and whenever possible.

That can be done very easily and handily imo, in campaigns that focus on both Domestic and Foreign policy matters - pointing to the support of an illegal war, (knowing that there were never any WMD's etc)as well as on the domestic issues, such as CAFTA, Patriotic ACT II, Bankruptcy etc.

And by the way, just because someone supports Womens Reproductive Rights, does not a Liberal, Moderate or "progressive" make and should not be the "litmus" test - the DLC should not be allowed to rely on that single issue which they have gotten away with for a very long time, to the detriment of many more important issues.

(a number of CONSERVATIVES support Women's reproductive Rights)

[tanyev]

1. I never bother.

At this point I'm not entirely convinced that this old world is going to make it to 2008.

[radio4progressives]

4. I know how you feel ... i often wonder the same thing - then reality kicks

me in the shin and wakes me up.

[Mountainman]

2. I think that the person who represents us in 2008 hasn't even been

mentioned here at DU yet. I don't know who it will be but surely it won't be a retread from the past. I suspect it will be someone who can pull the country together and none of those mentioned in the polls lately can do that. So I ignore the polls also.

[radio4progressives]

3. Thank you

just after i posted this, there i saw the poll for Hillary, Biden and Bayh again rotated back up to the top of the list.

it's insane.

It's refreshing to see a good number of people voiced complete opposition to that list - someone even posed Bernie Sanders, who I WOULD vote for (if only it were possible).

[Eloriel]

5. I'm way ahead of you; I'm putting chronic violators on Ignore n/t

[radio4progressives]

6. I haven't noted the addies - do you have a list?

[ClassWarrior]

7. I PROMISE to boycott unscientific, irresponsible DU presidential polls.

You should post this as a poll. B-)

NGU.

[spaniard]

8. This is pretty hysterical

A DUer with over 11,000 posts creates a poll referencing several of the leading contenders for '08, and he/she is practically called a DLC mole.

A round of thorazine for all pushing that silly notion.

[laugle]

9. Amen, this is a welcome change, thanks Newbie.

[blondeatlast]

23. Not a newbie by any means. Check the profile. nt

[laugle]

24. Well what constitutes a newbie anyway?

I've been here since 1/05. Am I a newbie? Is it based on number of posts or 1 years time. I don't know? 361 posts seemed like a newbie and the post seemed to be a new discussion. Logical conclusion on my part. But you know this is silly talk. Peace to newbie's and oldbie's. It's all good......

[Adelante]

10. Who are you talking about?

The only two polls I've seen today are by very, very long time DUers. They have a right to post what they want to post as long as it doesn't break any rules. I have no reason to think they are "DLC" and neither do you. This is part of a wave of McCarthyite absolutism rolling over DU. Are you now or have you ever been DLC-minded? Guess what? People here know how to think for themselves.

[ClassWarrior]

11. A boycott is McCARTHYISM??

Wow. Tell that to BuyBlue...

NGU.

[Adelante]

12. The OP misrepresents

Two longtime DUers are smeared as "DLC moles" -- any chance to point the finger is being jumped on day after day. Yes, I call it McCarthyite.

[wyldwolf]

13. I'm with you 100%

[ClassWarrior]

14. Well, smear or not, I like the idea of boycotting all DU prez polls.

They mean nothing and just cause the kind of bad feelings you're demonstrating. And besides, we need to focus on 2006 before 2008.

NGU.

[Adelante]

16. I've never posted a DU presidential poll

I'm not sensitive about that. I am sensitive about censorship, however, and I am sensitive when a DUer with 28465 posts and three years tenure gets a smear job just because it fits somebody's agenda.

[Adelante]

17. Ah, you changed your message

2006 -- yes, I am certainly with you on that.

My bad feelings are not caused by 2008 polls. I don't care about them one way or another, except I don't think anyone has a right to tell a DUer what to post and what not to post, and I surely don't think DUers should be branded as anything in particular for doing so. I already told you what is causing my bad feelings, so don't read anymore into it.

[ClassWarrior]

18. Yes, I went back and re-read the OP - but I still agree with its premise.

My bad feelings are the result of irresponsible, unscientific polls that are stacked to advance an agenda. I don't have time for that sort of crap.

And I don't think that by refusing to participate in them I'm telling anyone what to post or not, and I'll thank you to refrain from suggesting that I am.

NGU.

[Adelante]

20. No problem with your boycott

Anyone who doesn't like polls can stay out of them. Anyone can click a button and never see them again. I referred to the OP's post, not to yours. Boycott all you want.

[Wizard777]

15. I agree! Secrecy of the vote is more important than ever before.

Before anyone in any party can manipulate your vote. They must first know what is on your mind. How you are thinking to determine what your pivot points are. The end result is that you have not controlled your vote. Do you really think any one would pay someone like Karl Rove several hundred thousand dollars if he had no control over how anyone votes?
It begins with some simple harmless questions and answers. They might even benefit you greatly. Rhen comes some directs and redirects. Sling a little mud in there and vola'! You control the finger that casts the vote. But someone like Karl Rove controls the mind that controls the Finger that casts the vote. Keep your mind. Stay in control your vote and THEN give the Roves the finger.


That sound you hear is Political Consultants all across the country shitting a brick.

[Clark2008]

19. But a non-DLCer always wins it - Wes Clark

So why does it matter?

Not fussing at you, just wondering why it makes any difference at all.

[WildEyedLiberal]

21. There is no one issue that can be used as a litmus test

Not ONE single issue can be used as a litmus test for liberal acceptability. How about people look at the well-rounded individual, their lifetime record and their beliefs, and what they stand for, and make up our own minds?

There are some pretty scary Republicans who opposed the Iraq War, CAFTA, and the Patriot Act. Should they be our candidate because they opposed these things? Are they "progressive"? Are they good people with good ideas? Is Pat Buchanan a good liberal politician because he was anti-Iraq war?

Litmus tests are one of the piss poorest ways of determining anything besides the difference between an acid and a base. Let's just not be so high and mighty, can we? And yes, let's do desist from 2008 polls. We know who wins them all, and that's fine, but all they do is start flamewars, and prove nothing.

[blondeatlast]

22. Well said; I couldn't agree more. Nothing but divisive tactics with less-

than-pure motives, IMHO.

[ginnyinWI]

25. People should focus on 2006

and ignore those '08 polls until after that election. They will mean nothing until about a year out from the '08 election anyway. Waste of time. I promise not to vote in any until November 2006.