I miss the old DU, the comraderie. The amount of vitriol now is scary (and disgusting).

[BigBearJohn]

What amazes me is the fact that there are soooooooo many
more important things to be focusing on in this world
right now. And here we all are attacking each other as
if we were enemies. The sheer pettiness and raw ugliness
of it all is stupefying. This place used to be such a
comforting family for me.

I can't wait for January 2009. I pray things will improve
before we all take this too far. Maybe we have already.
I don't know.

[casus belli]

1. It's one of the drawbacks to being a big-tent.

There are alot of different philosophies compiled under the progressive tent. It shouldn't come as a surprise that we should find ourselves disagreeing on who best to take the country forward. However, I completely agree that we should try doing it with a lot less vitriol.

[Eurobabe]

2. There certainly are ALOT more trolls in here than ever before...

In 2004, I didn't have a dog in the hunt. I mainly stayed out of it after Clark dropped out. My guess is that many people have double or triple screen names and registrations.

[RummyTheDummy]

3. I blame the Clinton supporters

NT

[Trajan]

6. I blame all who would demean other Democrats for political expediency ...

Clinton and Obama supporters fit the bill ....

I especially blame those who blame one side ....

[RummyTheDummy]

9. Check that, I blame the Gravel supporters

The true villains of this rodeo.

[robbedvoter]

22. As a Gravel AND Clinton supporters, I seem to be the root of all your problems

[donheld]

11. Does blaming help?

Our side isn't totally saintly either.

[Marrah_G]

20. I blame asshats who continue to revel in this circular firing event.

[liberalnurse]

4. Just another 3-4 weeks left max.

we will have out Nominee's selected by then.

[Gore1FL]

5. I left for a long time in 2004 over this crap

Not sure why I came back in the middle of it now.

I have a better time beating up right wing nuts at www.capitolgrilling.com when I am in a fighting mood. At least there is purpose to it.

[donheld]

7. Me too. I've never used Ignore until last week. Now

I have about 15 people on ignore. It's time for the shit to end.

[LadyVT]

8. Yes, I feel the same way. I do think it's gone too far.

But it also reflects the despair in the electorate, and the lengths some will go to feel "hopeful."

[LadyVT]

10. Does anyone know of a site more like the old DU?

I'd really like to go there and leave here at this point. It's like being in an echo chamber with enraged, tantruming children.

[Lorien]

12. I haven't visited it in a long time

but there's one called "The smirking chimp" which is a smaller community, so it might be a bit more like the old DU. I also know that a bunch of the old timers split off and formed another board, but I can't recall the name. Maybe someone else will chime in.

[BigBearJohn]

14. Was it called "the Liberal Underground"?

[robbedvoter]

27. Try other DU forums - like GD

[Dogmudgeon]

13. I love a good fight. But it's getting too bat-shit crazy.

I am seriously beginning to believe that WE are being played. The crazy/ugly stuff is the fallout of the Republican Bomb (it destroys political parties, but leaves Conservatives standing).

Six months ago, the Democratic party had the possibility to utterly dominate politics for three or more decades. Now it's split between the Romantic wing and the Pragmatic wing of the party, though the real poison seems to be leaking in from "other sources".

It's easy to blame it on Hillary or Obama, given the excesses of each of the candidates, but there have been too many "tells" that signal otherwise.

There is no shadowy conspiracy here, simply the neo-Con movement acting in its own self-interest. And our press relying on "narrative" rather than reportage. And our own relative blindness.

We don't stay blind for very long. But will we open our eyes soon enough to prevent serious damage from being done?

Yeah ... we're being played.

--p!

[BigBearJohn]

15. I agree with you. We are being played.

[LostinVA]

23. You aren't the only one who thinks so

I know I do, and I also know other DUers think so.

[robbedvoter]

26. No doubt about it. Candidates/genuine supporters are all OK - but MSM is

stirring the shit - and many trolls on DU are too.

[soothsayer]

16. politics ain't for the faint or heart

[terrya]

17. I think the damage here is done.

Around here, at least.

I don't see a "get around the nominee" attitude around here after the nomination has been settled.
Too much nastiness on both sides.

[Marrah_G]

19. I don't think I will be holding hands singing Kumbaya with many folks after this

Having differing opinions on candidates is great. Being first class assholes is something completely different.

I'm to the point where a lot of folks I once respected are simply dead to me. They no longer appear on my screen and never will again. I have no use for the kind of nastiness seen here lately.

Shame on all of them.

[calico1]

24. I agree. I have never seen it this bad here

before. I am very disappointed as I once thought this was a place to find sanctuary from all the other crazy, nasty boards out there. That does not seem to be the case anymore. :-(

[LostinVA]

25. I agree 100%

[Marrah_G]

18. I started reading DU after the 2004 election

I don't know how bad that was...but I do know that I check DU less and less now. GD-P has become a cesspool of cruelty, meanness, RW talking points, and outright rudeness.

Shame on all of those who are doing it.

[Coexist]

21. it got this ugly during the immigration debate - only this lasts longer

that was just a few weeks.

I was called many disgusting names back then, no matter how much thought I tried to put into the shortest post or response.