Should DU Rules include declared Primary Candidates now?

[Catchawave]

Constructive criticism of Democrats or the Democratic Party is permitted. When doing so, please keep in mind that most of our members come to this website in order to get a break from the constant attacks in the media against our candidates and our values. Highly inflammatory or divisive attacks that echo the tone or substance of our political opponents are not welcome here.

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I do work hard for Democrats, it just makes me sick to see Dems attacking Dems at this point of the Primary Season.

[rosesaylavee]

1. I vote yes.

I think its important to discuss how and where the candidates differ. But the personal attacks are nauseating. And folks who do it, please note that the personal attacks do NOT persuade.

[Catchawave]

2. I agree rose....DU could be better....

..if we want it to be. Right now, not so much :cry:

[rosesaylavee]

3. I find it depends on where I focus from day to day...

When the Gungeon heats up, I beat it to the non-political forums.

It's just this is such a powerful place - if we could harness it and move in one direction - even occasionally, we would move mountains. Hard to get 107,000 or so users to move in one direction ... maybe.

:hug:

[Catchawave]

5. I hear ya...so I'm allowed to call other Dem Candidates

Dumbasses on DU ?

That would be fun ?

It just hurts my heart to see that. So maybe I should move along, after 3 years, maybe it's time?

[rosesaylavee]

12. Naw,

don't go. Maybe take a break. Not everyone here is doing that. There are many here who are fairminded and read rather than write. If all the calm people leave, that won't help. I hear that this is what the campaigning was like in 2003-04 or until Kerry won the nomination.

Maybe take a break and come back after the world series. Speaking of, I haven't watched baseball in a month or longer ... may just hunt up a game on the teevee tonight.

[Capn Sunshine]

9. well, rose not so much

the huge silence at public Democratic Party gatherings (that's outside, in the real world) when you shout "Hey! Who's with DU?" is what it's all about.

DU is a big message board where RW loons on Fox troll for comments and Freepers come to stir up trouble. No one in the real world is aware of it's existence.

That's all. If you want action, put away the keyboard.

[rosesaylavee]

13. I can see some of the truth in that...

I guess its what we each bring to this board. For me personally, it has been tremendously helpful in informing me so I can get off the keyboard and be in the world.

I like the action outside of DU and also coming here for info, inspiration, irritation, and community. I bet you will get a different answer from any one who posts here though.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

4. Well,

I would have voted for "It's not my board. I don't make the rules," but that wasn't an option. :)

[Catchawave]

6. Thanks, I think.....

Can I call your candidate a Dumbass too? That's my concern.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

20. Haha

I don't have "a" candidate. I have three at the moment, so call 'em whatever you want! (Although I am leaning towards one.)

[rinsd]

7. Hillary supporters would likely welcome the break but its the primaries, the time to vet

And one DUer important info against a candidate would likely be looked at as an unfair attack by that candidate's supporters.

Its gonna get squirrely enough as we come down to the wire without people screaming that they are being censored or whatever.

[Catchawave]

10. rinsd...you called my candidate a dumbass...that hurts

my response was deleted and yours stayed.

I'm the dumb ass now, huh. Good for you, YOU WON.

[rinsd]

14. Catchwave, you are not a dumbass. I've won nothing.

You can't accuse people of being rwers or CUers or freepers just because they upset you with their characterization of your candidate.

I called Edwards a dumbass in the heat of the moment for saying something I thought was rather foolish.

I apologize for having hurt your feelings.

[Catchawave]

18. Your post stayed...my response was deleted....

Therefore, the system hurt me, not you.

Just trying to make it MANDATORY we stop pissing on each other's leg and claim it was raining.

Our Dem Candidates deserve that much respect, no matter how much we agree or disagree with their positions.

[Lucinda]

11. I dont think we're looking at a censorship issue

If its a vaild post it would stand...I think it would help to eliminate all the mean-spirited counter-productive attacks.

[rinsd]

16. One man's muckraking is another's mean spirited attack.

Changing the policy leads to fights over who is being "protected", who is being "punished" etc etc.

You can still alert mods now if you think a thread is out of line.

But changing the policy to a more stringent one is more trouble than it is worth.

[Lucinda]

8. Yep.

It's almost impossible to have any productive discussion about the candidates as things stand

[Catchawave]

15. Thank you wlucinda....

well stated :hi:

[Baby Snooks]

19. Keep in mind...

The Republicans will make lots of personal attacks. Something to consider when voting in the primary. Sad to say but part of who to vote for may depend on who is less likely to be "Swift Boated" during the election itself more than just who is most likely to get the most Democrats to the polls to vote for them. Like it or not, "Swift Boating" worked. And will work again. Turn off enough Democrats from their candidate and they will simply not vote. Rile up the Republicans against the Democratic candidate and most of them will vote. Which makes rigging the election that much easier. And don't think they won't try to do it again.

Something else to consider is that even Republicans are getting tired of Republicans. If the Democrats manage to select someone with some level of connection to the real issues that concern all Americans you may see some Republicans voting for them since their own candidates all seem to be competely disconnected. Talking about "morality" when millions are living in poverty, including here in this country, doesn't really come across the way it once did. Not all Republicans are rich. Some of them are hurting along with the rest of us.

Better to turn Republicans into Democrats in 2008, even if only at the polls, than to turn them into Independents.

Not nice to call someone a ******* unless of course it is something based on something the Republicans can and will use.

If you just don't like the candidate personally, keep it to yourself. Because otherwise, whatever you offer in terms of legitimate criticism will be dismissed on the basis that you have said you don't like the candidate and it will be dismissed on the basis of a personal attack by someone who does like the candidate.

[FiveGoodMen]

17. Boils down to

If someone registers as a Dem and runs for office, do we have to be nice to them no matter what they say?

Extreme hypothetical example: Dem (really DINO) throws hat in ring while saying that all non-whites should be deported. Doesn't matter that none of them will really do that -- point is I'd scream bloody murder if they did. I'd tear them a new one!

But this thread essentially asks whether I should be forced by DU to shut the fuck up about it because they call themselves a Dem.

That's going to help the party and the country along real well isn't it?

Are we just rooting for a team to win ... or are we trying to get our constitution back?!?

[Catchawave]

21. Weekend kick

Thanks for all your input guys....I learned a lot and will try not to make/take it so personally :toast:

[LSK]

22. no, politics is not a pretty business

If you are sick of it, maybe you should spend more time watching tennis or something else.

[Catchawave]

24. Thanks for the suggestion...

Edwards supporter eating an Edwards supporter....my cycle of life on DU is complete now :rofl:

[CTyankee]

23. I guess I'm the only vote for "Other."

I don't like Independents and Libertarians who have no intention of voting Democratic coming on our website and posting their rants against OUR candidates. Sorry, but that's not why I'm here.

Having said that, I think it is great for Dems to lambaste or praise Dem candidates, or ask questions about them. If someone is a candidate for office, he/she had better be prepared to answer tough questions. But I draw the line at DU becoming just a free for all for anybody who isn't (and probably never will be) a Democrat. I was glad to see one such thread by a libertarian supporting Ron Paul, for god's sake, locked!

[Catchawave]

30. I don't mind the "constructive criticism" part of the rules....

I've been married to a Republican for 38 years :evilgrin: And I know when he crosses the line between "constructive" and "jerK".

Thanks for your vote :toast: But I think the majority here would like the smash-face discussions to continue...or...

MY POLL HAS BEEN FREEPed....:rofl:

[Sapphire Blue]

25. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

[calteacherguy]

26. Absolutely not. Doing otherwise would weaken the natural selection process.

It's an imperfect and sometimes ugly process, but it's still our best chance of selecting the best and strongest nominee.

[Sapphire Blue]

27. Or it would prevent certain people from bashing the Democratic candidates.

[calteacherguy]

28. I only "bash" when I am of the opinion the bashing has been earned.

Is that bashing? If it is, it's an important part of the political process.

[Sapphire Blue]

29. "... an important part of the political process." Perhaps at FR.

[ripple]

31. Certain people such as yourself?

As much as I might appreciate that, I think it would make the moderators' jobs a lot more difficult.

We're hear to discuss and debate issues. For some reason, the supporters of some candidates don't seem to be able to defend their candidates' actual record, without whining about their candidate being unfairly attacked, yet it's often the very same people who apparently believe it's perfectly ok to take an issue that has little or nothing to do with policy and gleefully smear a candidate.