We need to take a deep breath and relax about attacks...

[Padraig18]

Maybe my political skin is just thicker than most since I'm a product of the Chicago ward-politics system where politics is a blood sport, but I've noticed a tendency here at GD-P2004 to equate every negative reference to someone's chosen candidate as an 'attack'. I don't see it that way, frankly, and here's why:

Every one of our candidates has something in their past that renders them less-than-perfect, and this is fine--- we're selecting a nominee to head our party, not nominating someone for the lead role in the Second Coming. Every candidate we have is human, and they've all done things that, with hindsight's 20/20 vision, they likely would have done differently: Howard Dean signed the civil unions bill in a hush-hush manner, Dennis Kucinich was pro-life, Carl Mosely-Braun tried to hide her mother's assets when applying for Medicaid, Wesley Clark supported Nixon, Reagan and Bush 41 for President, etc., etc. .

To raise factual matters in a primary contest with one's opponents may not be the best tactic to adopt, but doing so is hardly an 'attack'. It's really quite that simple.

Take heart, fellow DU-ers; though the 'silly season' is upon us, it will soon pass and we can all focus our energies on the real enemy--- GWB and his evil cabal.

Cheers! :hi:

[jmaier]

1. Another

useful, rational message, Padraig. Thanks.



Wes Clark. He will make an extraordinary American President.

[Padraig18]

2. It seemed like a good time to say it.

Thanks!:)

[WillyT]

3. Exactamundo Padraig18 !!!

:toast:

Can't wait for the silly season to beover, so we can get down to the REAL business at hand.

:kick:

[Padraig18]

4. Amen!

:toast:

[Padraig18]

5. Kick for sanity

:hi:

[liberalnurse]

6. I have learned a painful lesson here.

The attacks on the candidates have been unwarranted. I won't forgive or forget the inner family dysfunction I have seen by supporters who are democrats. I am very disappointed.

[Padraig18]

8. A wise, old Democratic ward committemen once told me...

... forgive readily, just never forget what is is that you're forgiving. :)

[MuseRider]

28. That is most excellent

advice! Thanks.

[chocolateeater]

7. I agree

It's been crazy and I can't wait for it to be over.

[BobbyJay]

9. Remember when you were defending Dean's tax raising polcies the other day?

lol and then like 2 days later Dean comes out with middle class tax cut proposals?





LOL

[Padraig18]

10. Huh?

*scratches head trying to remember Dean ever advocating raising taxes* :P

[BobbyJay]

12. LOL

Yes, Dean's total repeal of the current tax cuts doesn't mean he would raise taxes. <sarcasm>


Doesn't matter. Down is up and up is down in your world.

[edzontar]

16. This post is an excellent example of what is destroying this place

I will say no more....

[jmaier]

11. This post seems a bit

out of place on this thread, BobbyJay. What's your point?



Wes Clark. He will make an extraordinary American President.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Padraig18]

18. LOL!

Fair enough, but it felt DAMNED GOOD to say it! :D

[edzontar]

15. Well, Padraig, I think it is much worse than you let on....

Just look at some of the responses your attaempt at a soothing post has attracted....

This used to be a good board--but it has become so flooded with Dean-attacking threads and gushing Tiger Beat dialogues from newcomer Clark supporters that it has become a very different, even alien place.

Half at least of the Dean folks who were here as recently as one month ago seem to have gone....and the reason is clear just from looking at the rash of threads connected to the "Stop Dean Movement" controversy.

I am still here, for the time being, but feel like I am hanging by the skin of my teeth,

In a few weeks, this will probably be nothing but a Clark blog--the place has become just too unfriendly to Dean supporters and other progressive, long-term Dems, or so it seems to me.

[YellowDawgDemocrat]

17. Attacks are all part of the process...and healthy in most every respect

I've never seen a closely contested political race that didn't eventually end up in the blood and the mud. It's been part of politics in this country from the very beginning. Those of you who may not have studied the birth of our nation and the political discourse in the early years would be shocked to read how ugly it was. At least we aren't challenging each other to duels at 10 paces.

[edzontar]

19. Depends on the quality and value of the discourse, i think

What I have been reading here lately, from the "Dean is Satan" to the "Clark is Dreamy" threads, are of no possible value to any one or any thing.

Idiocy and worse are rampant here these days.

I am not the only one who has noticed this.

[boilerbabe]

20. I completely agree with your post.

particularly the part about this will be nothing but a CLark blog.

[Padraig18]

21. Now, now...

Don't let the rantings of a few poisonous ass hats run you off. They're still outnumbered by the supporters with class by a large margin. :hug:

[bearfartinthewoods]

23. have you considered that the missing dean people and

the influx of new clark people may be the same people?

[Padraig18]

24. Unlikely, IMO...

:shrug:

[edzontar]

27. I happen to KNOW this is not the case....

And I can say, for myself, that I am MUCH less favorably inclined to Clark than I was just 30 days agao thanks to the swill that his so-called supporters have been posting in great numbers on this once-great forum.

[JNelson6563]

30. no

They have gone elsewhere. It is nice to be able to have policital discussion without flames breaking out all over the place.

Too bad that is not the case here. Just read this thread and you will see that even in a thread where rationality is urged and unity anticipated, there are attempts to hijack into a flame war. Sad.

Julie

[edzontar]

31. I sympathise with you, but its too late..

The damage has already been done.

[Padraig18]

22. Kick

:dem:

[Clark4VotingRights]

25. I lived in Chicago for a while, and never developed that thick skin.

Drat. I should have stayed longer.

"Take heart, fellow DU-ers; though the 'silly season' is upon us, it will soon pass and we can all focus our energies on the real enemy--- GWB and his evil cabal."

I like that "take heart" part.
Good reminder.
Thanks Padraig18.

[NV1962]

26. Kick for agreement plus...

my opinion that this is a good place to learn to see things from different perspectives only if we're open to engage with arguments - not by becoming obsessed with getting into them.

Thanks Padraig, good shot.

[adadem]

29. You're absolutely correct

and it's better to get the problems of the various candidates hashed out here...if we know about them the pugs will too. Yes, Chicago politics makes one develop a thick skin...miss the 10th ward politicos...now I live in right wing heaven...yuck!

[edzontar]

32. Kicking this.

nt