Do you think your posting on DU about your candidate will convince anyone?

[More Than A Feeling]

The reason I ask is that people use different styles of writing when they are attempting to persuade than when they are "firing up the troops", so to speak. I can't tell which style is more prevalent at the moment, so I thought I'd ask the candidate supporters themselves which intent they have.

[madrchsod]

1. me? no........

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Not a candidate supporter yet, but I'll tell them what I like

to see in a post:

1. Concise statements on the candidate's positions on important topics, such as Iraq, energy, health care, the deficit

2. A brief summary of the candidate's experiences that might help them with the problems we face.

3. An honest assesment of their "problems" and how these might be overcome.

There are a lot of good candidates out there, and I'm still shopping around. Supporters, if you follow the points above, I'm more likely to read your posts, which is the first step in getting someone to support your candidate.

[More Than A Feeling]

4. Great guidelines. Perhaps if they were generally adopted,

this primary season might be easier for all of us. I'm stealing them for when I adopt a candidate.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. I am honored that you would

please make use of them as you see fit.

[Clark2008]

9. I may be in a similar boat should my preferred candidate not

opt to run.

[k_jerome]

3. lol. my avatar says it all. nt.

[WatchWhatISay]

5. Way too early

I agree. Just cuz the pundits do it, doesn't mean we have to

[illinoisprogressive]

6. If I cannot be convinced of other's guy then why would I think I could

I could do it with someone else. if there is a question I answer what I do believe and I try to either correct some wrong info or to quit people's trashing of my candidate.

[Digit]

10. I hear crickets....

[Rebellious Republican]

7. Nope, I do not participate in candidate promoting/bashing threads

They usually just turn into candidate bashing threads that have been flame baited by trolls for one reason only, to divide and conquer any democrat running for office against the GOP.

:think:

[LittleClarkie]

11. Eh, thing is, I think I'll post about Kerry even if he doesn't turn out to be a candidate

I just like the big lug.

[elocs]

12. I think those who promote a candidate are mostly preaching to the choir

or simply pumping themselves up. I think very few minds are changed. As far as candidate bashing goes, supporters often have very thin skins. If a poster simply says they do not prefer the candidate of choice, then the supporters react like their candidate is being bashed. It is way too early for all of this sort of nonsense to be going on.

[More Than A Feeling]

13. Only a year to go before the primaries begin.

I wouldn't say that's too early.

[AtomicKitten]

14. exactly

If a poster simply says they do not prefer the candidate of choice, then the supporters react like their candidate is being bashed.

Good insight on that dynamic. Rather than discussing something they take issue with, they immediately resort to bashing the DU'er, and then complain when they are blocked for their own bad behavior. And unfortunately they have ZERO insight into this oft-repeated dance and, thus, there is little hope for improvement in the discourse around here.

It's a given that any group of people is not going to agree an anything, much less political candidates. Knowing that, a tiny bit of effort should be put into not taking these preferences personally. But some folks get so wrapped up in a politician, that they are incapable of anything outside rah-rah repartee. The irony of that is that they end up making people feel nothing but disgust for that candidate which surely must be the opposite of what would want to occur, or maybe they didn't think it out that far.

Oh well.

[Matariki]

15. Someone posted a great list of Obama's accomplishment in the Senate

bills he sponsored or co-sponsored. And that actually made me think much differently about him and his chances.

Hope that helps.

[More Than A Feeling]

16. I've seen that list, too.

Yeah, it changed my perspective on Obama regarding the "experience factor". Now when people say that he isn't ready, I know what to say in return. Still, it hasn't convinced me to support him. I'm waiting to hear him speak in person. I also want to hear Hillary, Clark (if he runs), and either Kerry or Richardson, I haven't decided yet, before I make my final selection.

[Matariki]

18. It hasn't convinced me to support him either

it's convinced me to consider him.

More importanly, it's convinced me that I have A LOT of work to do if I want to make an informed choice at the polls.

[Renew Deal]

17. Better get used to it.

It's going to be like this for the next 15 months and worse.

[crispini]

19. Hum. No, actually.

When I start a thread about my candidate it's mostly for the purpose of informing others who are interested in that candidate. I also am posting sometimes to draw people's attention to my sigline (POINTS TO SIGGY, haha). I'm not particularly looking to convince at this time, but I'm not wanting to start a fight either --- I'm just talking.