I would like DU defeatists to keep their opinions to themselves until it is OVER!

[BigmanPigman]

Some people would like to keep the fight going since it IS NOT OVER YET! Until it is please do not post negative replies. I understand you think you are being a realist but you are being a defeatist. We do not need to hear negative comments at this time. Thanks! RESISTANCE is PATRIOTISM!

[Trust Buster]

1. We already have the Rethuglicans suppressing our free speech rights.

[pintobean]

4. Posting different views on DU is not suppressing anyone's speech

in any way.

[Trust Buster]

6. A thread telling us not to post those views is.

[pintobean]

9. Really? It hasn't stopped you.

It's a dumb OP, but your response is pretty funny.

[Trust Buster]

10. I have not commented on the probability of confirmation. You lost me.

[hlthe2b]

2. Yes, this is a very emotional and deadly important issue--not merely the loss of a political fight

Some seem to take glee out of predicting the worst (as though ALL OF US did not ALREADY know how tough the odds have been stacked against us).

As if to be "RIGHT"--no matter how callous to those us who want to go down (if we are to "go down" ) fighting -- is the end all be all.

[DavidDvorkin]

3. That's silly.

[pazzyanne]

30. Your opinion.

As a person who continues to fight, I concur that "downer" posts increases my stress and brings on depressive thoughts that I have to fight my way out of to keep on fighting. If you can't/ won't fight, at least don't bring those of us who are down. We are getting tired and need positive strokes to keep on going. Thank you for your cooperation.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

66. Good grief. So true.

[Hortensis]

70. That's undoubtedly the intent of many. Some of these

dispirited, defeatist posters are easy victims of others who come specifically to magnify their weakness, to demoralize and undermine confidence and trust.

DU is constantly identifying and removing hostile agents, but it is an ongoing job and some have been able to embed and spread their insidious poison without triggering removal.

[pazzyanne]

72. Thank you, Hortensis!

I am relatively new to DU, but I have been on the front lines since the 1960's. You get tired at times. This is one of those times. It helps when the veterans of DU can shed light on the "politics" seen here.

[Hortensis]

73. Subversive agents arrive and are literally removed every day.

Perhaps at some point you'll volunteer to serve on MIRT; it's quite an eye opener.

In addition to their victims, though, it sounds like you'll also be able to recognize those who welcome their messages -- the kind of people who are just wired to attack inward. Discussions of Republican threats and atrocities are usually just grabbed as excuses to blame Democrats for not bothering to stop it. Bizarre dysfunction, but I've come to realize they can't change and aren't about to shut up because they feed on this stuff.

As a suggestion, as you identify those tedious people, maybe just send them off to "ignore" land. They can't be influenced, but they can be deleted from your world, and with them the dishonest propaganda some often employ as weapons for their passive-aggressive hostility.

[pazzyanne]

74. I appreciate your insight.

[Hortensis]

75. I once got tired of it all and put hundreds on ignore

over time, creating a still-large but far more intelligent and thoughtful community that was a pleasure to visit. It was truly like a different forum entirely, one of the private ones that won't have me. But of course that also has its downsides. When I went on MIRT I restored everyone, and that was a rather mammoth task so I haven't repeated.

Enjoy. Just don't let the bastards get you down.

[FreepFryer]

86. Well-said, thanks! (n/t)

[Kaleva]

5. Rec'd

[pangaia]

7. Here is how I feel.

With all due respect to your great posts and energy and all that good stuff. ...

I think we are probably finished,. Does that mean I need to shut up? No, of course not.
BUT.BUT..BUT...
I keep fighting..... with no expectation.....

There is no other choice.
I make calls to reps, emails, etc....

I am locally trying as I can to help Nate McMurray beat the living shit out of Christopher Collins. Nate is busting his ass.. totally grassroots volunteerism.....

He is getting no help from the
DCCC or Cuomo, or almost..anybody... although Tom Perez did show up for an even recently. But as far as I kow not a dime..


We just keep plugging away...

[JudyM]

14. Fighting the good fight, thanks!

Integrity vs corruption really ought to carry the day. Hypocrites. Hopefully they’ll stay home and Nate will pull it off!

[pangaia]

18. Send $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

ACT BLUE


It has gone from definitely repub to a toss up in some poll somewhere....


Did you happen to see the sick ad Collin's handlers ran? Insulting his Korean wife, and HIM for speaking Korean.. and by association his 2 boys..

[JudyM]

25. No, haven't seen it, sounds disgusting.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

63. Why? I was out of pocket today :( Why is everyone

thinking BK is getting in for sure when there's a clear path for him not to. It's like everyone got a memo that Flake, Collins, Sasse, and Murkowski are yeses. what'd I miss ?

[ProudLib72]

8. Rah, rah, rah, kick them in the jaw!

Rah, rah, ree, kick them in the knee!
Rah, rah, ras, kick them in the other knee!

Rock on PB!

[Autumn]

11. People get worried and afraid and come here to discuss things and right now is a scary

time, DU was created for things like this. You demand they respect your wishes and feelings while you have no respect for theirs. STFU just doesn't work.

[BigmanPigman]

13. Read the replies on the different threads.

[Autumn]

15. You want me to look for the threads to find the posts you are objecting to?

I'll pass.

[Sherman A1]

35. Precisely

Well said.

[donkeypoofed]

58. Well said, Autumn

I'm not censoring myself because of someone else's delicate sensibilities. That being said, coming in here and pooping on others' optimism and resolve is out of bounds - but we damn well have a right to say what we think and feel in this democracy.

[Tipperary]

78. Thank you.

[bdamomma]

12. My stance

is this: NEVER. This is our country and our home. Period.

AND VOTE VOTE VOTE, I have already by absentee ballot.

[dameatball]

16. Oh bullshit. I get your post, but people on DU are free to voice their opinions.

Otherwise why have a website?
Let's quit attacking each other.

[Perseus]

32. That is why DU is a liberal website, a Democratic and Liberal

I speak for myself but I believe the feeling is in all of DU...We support Democrats and we resist, write, help out with campaigns, and many other things that members do, but that does not mean people cannot express their thoughts, fears, and concerns.

And I must say that I have expressed my fears as well on what the republicans might do, maybe what we need is to rephrase the message to make sure it doesn't sound defeatist but it is good to try to anticipate, and discuss, it may get to the ears of those in power on our side who may be able to do something about it.

Fighting is what the other side wants us to do, and trying to suppress opinion is also what the other side would love. Divide and conquer.

[Sherman A1]

34. Precisely

Apparently the OP considers themselves the thought police.

[LakeArenal]

44. Pick pick.

[Sherman A1]

46. I like responses like this.

They say volumes.

[LakeArenal]

51. See you like something. Not so defeatist now are you?

My job is done. Good night.

[Sherman A1]

54. Never said I was either a so called defeatist or not

Simply find the OP to be rude and unnecessary. As to Your job being done...well, I wouldn’t worry too much. I’m sure you will find plenty others who will accept your lecture, I however find it condescending.

[MBS]

17. THANK YOU.

[BeckyDem]

19. It is not impossible, just difficult.We might get lucky and that is worth fighting for.

We're even gaining support from unlikely people.

Senators Should Pay Attention.' Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens Speaks Out Against Brett Kavanaugh
“The Senators should pay attention to this,” Stevens said, according to Lulu Ramadan, a reporter for The Palm Beach Post who was at the event in Boca Raton, Fla., where the longtime Republican spoke.

http://fortune.com/2018/10/04/supreme-court-justice-john-paul-stevens-brett-kavanaugh/

[Kajun Gal]

20. It ain't over till the fat lady sings and I ain't sung yet!

[SergeStorms]

61. Can you say...

"fat lady" on DU?

[LakeArenal]

21. Looks like plenty of folks looking to pick fights.

It was over last week til it wasn’t.

[Sherman A1]

31. Particularly the OP

In this case.

[AdamGG]

22. Voicing your perception of reality doesn't mean you're not still going to fight to change it

And a discussion of your goals that excludes any assessment of the likelihood of achieving them is divorced from reality to the point of being useless.

[Kaleva]

28. The reality is that the vote hasn't taken place yet.

Proclaiming it's over before the vote and with the knowledge that just 2 Repubs voting No would make the difference isn't keeping in touch with reality. Remember the vote to repeal ACA and so many "realists" here were saying ACA is done for?

[AdamGG]

65. If NYT & WaPo are reporting that Flake & Collins are likely to vote to confirm...

That's a massive factor in what will happen and to argue that people on this site need to ignore unpleasant realities and not mention them is cult like and I don't think it's productive.

People can use that information to try to put more local pressure on Collins and Flake, but since two Republicans are needed, if those two are lost, that's HUGE news. It's unrealistic for there to be a thread on the topic and people not to discus that aspect of it.

[Kaleva]

67. The reality is that the WaPo is reporting no such thing

I can't see the NYTs article but the WaPo is saying Flake and Collins are satisfied with what they've read in the FBI report so far but caution that they are going to continue to read it. And Flake said earlier that lying to the committee would get a No vote from him.

Again, the reality is that this isn't over until the final vote. Remember the vote to repeal ACA when McCain came through and torpedoed that effort? I remember well the defeatist here who proclaimed that ACA was lost.

[Hekate]

23. Today there is a whole thread devoted to dragging Dems down. Easy to find, folks....

There is so much hand-wringing in that thread, so much anger and bile at Dem politicians, that it amazes me that most of those people are still Democrats themselves.

Among other things, there is the assertion that Senator Schumer should behave just like Kavanaugh at his hearing and like Trump does on a daily basis, and that because Schumer is not screaming and pounding the podium, he is clearly a lily livered DINO coward.

I am paraphrasing, of course, but gimme a break.

[GoCubsGo]

24. "Trash this thread" is your friend.

[elmac]

26. Its not over until the revolution. nt

[pazzyanne]

27. Amen and K & R

[Sherman A1]

29. I would prefer that I not be lectured

Or told how to think or what to post.

Did someone leave you in charge?

[pazzyanne]

37. No, but I believe I am a member of a team and I hope you are on that team too.

Team mates encourage each other. They don't sit around the locker room telling each other that the game is lost. Correct me if I am wrong.

[Sherman A1]

43. You are free to believe whatever you choose.

This remains a discussion board and those who post here are free to hold and express their opinions just as you have just chosen to do.

I for one disagree with the team viewpoint that you offer, however you are certainly free to feel as you choose.

[BigmanPigman]

49. "Be kind, everyone you meet is fighting a great battle"

[Sherman A1]

82. Yes,

Perhaps You could take that to heart and not lecture others as to what they should or shouldn’t say, do or post.

[pazzyanne]

68. Gee, I guess I have to bow out and leave the field of battle to you.

I will watch you move the ball forward. Maybe I can learn something from you.

[ms liberty]

77. Just as an fyi to a newbie

I've been here since '03. You should remove your name from your profile, and remove any identifying information. We have RWNJ trolls here all the time, and they wiill not hesitate to hunt you down and try to harass and ruin you in real life. They have done it to DU'ers before. Andy Stephenson is dead thanks to their interference. Look it up un the archives.

[pazzyanne]

84. Thanks, ms liberty.

...and done.

[Sherman A1]

81. Do as you wish

I contacted my senators and let them know my opinions. Beyond that there is nothing more for me to do than vote in November. Hopefully you and others have done the same, but that is your choice to do something, nothing or just make critic comments on a discussion board.

[pazzyanne]

83. I have been a activist since 1968.

I do all that you mentioned plus a lot more. I have gone door to door for candidates, taken part in protests, written opinion pieces for local and regional papers, volunteered at polling places, worked registration booths at county fairs, attended caucuses and town meetings for candidates, called and e-mailed my senators and representatives, and have driven people to the polls. Guess there is nothing new that you have shared. Thank you for your input.

[Sherman A1]

88. Good for You

I will let the candidates make their case and vote for whomever I believe to be the best suited for the office. Contact my officials on issues that are of importance to me and I too have written pieces for local papers. That you have chosen to do other things is you choice. Sorry that I seem to have failed to fulfill your expectations but life will just somehow manage to go on.

[GusBob]

36. Everyone should say whatever they want whenever they want

As long as it doesn't violate the rules of this forum

Pretty simple

[Kaleva]

40. Well, at least you support the OP in doing just that.

And people who disagree are expressing their views. All within the rules.

[Atticus]

38. "Can't we all just get along?" NT

[OneBro]

39. Foot soldiers vs cheerleaders.

I remember when people donating their time and money campaigning for Hillary in Michigan started voicing their concerns during the election. They too were called alarmists, defeatists and, of course, "concern trolls." We get it. You're an ever-optimist who can't fathom why any of our fellow Democrats would be pessimistic these days, let alone want to give voice to such pessimism at the sight of Trump and Kavanaugh yet still standing in a supposedly sane world.

When someone says the battle is going poorly, don't assume s/he is saying surrender. S/he is more likely asking for reinforcements and resources. If you can't do that, perhaps a pep talk. What I sure as hell would NOT do is tell someone to sit down and shut up, especially when we have no freaking idea what that person is doing in the field for the cause while others are sitting comfortably at home increasing their post counts.

[Kaleva]

41. I think the OP is referring to people who are declaring the fight to be over before it's over.

[OneBro]

45. That's fair.

What’s also fair is to assume that the most pessimistic among us will be shouting the loudest joy when their pessimism is proven wrong.

[Kaleva]

50. As long as there are still 4, maybe 5, undecideds, I'm hoping for the best.

[BigmanPigman]

48. Yes, the OP is.

[Azathoth]

42. +1

[Awsi Dooger]

53. Cheerleader posts are the most inaccurate of all

"Kavanaugh is going to withdraw his name"

How many times were we treated to that? It even showed up after Dr. Ford testified, with a thread asserting Kavanaugh wouldn't dare testify later that afternoon.

It's virtually impossible for the so-called defeatist posts to be more wrong than that type of thing. But the trend lingers and prospers and apparently nobody is supposed to say a thing. We had threads and posts here claiming Hillary would win by 12 points or more, and this cycle we've had posts insisting our House margin will be 14-16 or higher. That margin is impossible. Literally impossible. I can't remember a defeatist post that is impossible. Nobody is saying Republicans will sweep everything in California, or gain seats in the House.

[Kaleva]

55. Your post is inaccurate.

The OP is talking about members who are declaring the fight to be over before the Senate votes and while there are 4, maybe 5, Senators who remain undecided. No where does the OP say that Kavanaugh is going to be defeated. He's just saying the fight is still on, which it is until the final vote takes place, and those who are saying it's a lost cause should refrain from trying to spread defeatism here while there's still a chance.

[BigmanPigman]

59. Yes, and thank you.

[joet67]

47. My Aunt Theresa used to say "Want in one hand, and sh*t in the other, and see which gets full first"

Not sure if this is telling, or defeatist, or both, but I do know it's generally true.

[Marrah_Goodman]

52. I wasn't aware you were the decider here

Thought it was David.

[Charlotte Little]

56. No dear

I am a patriot, fighting my ass off.

But I won't be told that I'd better zip it when it comes to my opinions.

I believe there's an ignore function on here, is there not?

Use it.

[JoeOtterbein]

57. I've been hearing that argument since Reagan. So when do we admit we have been defeated?

In the face of an execution?

We must be ready to face the truth when it is staring us in the face.

[Enoki33]

60. Reminder of what is written on a shirt a member here recommended

and which is proudly worn: When injustice becomes law - Resistance becomes duty.

[Jake Stern]

62. There's a difference between being a defeatist and being a realist

Admitting the proverbial writing is on the wall is not being a downer, it's coming to terms with the fact that, barring divine intervention, Collins, Murkowski and Flake will come around and vote to confirm. Past performance has demonstrated their supposed "moderate" and "maverick" reputations are as phony as Melania's empathy.

Yes, it's possible that several Republican Senators will suddenly develop a conscience and give Kav a "nay".

Is it likely? No.

In my opinion, it's time to start strategizing on how to deal with a SCOTUS that has Kavanaugh on it.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

69. THANK YOU!

Keep slogging even when they say your boots are worn out.

Been reading the "wasted effort", "it won't matter" bullshit since Kavanaugh was first nominated. Thanks to active resistance, a helluva lot more people are aware of what's happening. Thanks to active resistance, reporters have dug up a mountain of facts that were not evident when this thing started. Thanks to active resistance, Senators have the backing to confidently stand for what's right.

We don't need to surrender before battle is joined.

[smirkymonkey]

71. I completely agree!

Thanks to you and the OP!

I am sick of all the downer posts, especially when we find out that they end up being wrong in the end. Maybe they are psychologically trying to protect themselves from disappointment, but they end up bringing everyone down. Their doom and gloom predictions don't help anybody and only end up depressing morale.

[MFM008]

76. We are not finished

These bastards are going to pay.
There is a karma in the universe
The pendulum always swings back.
We will win and live to enjoy the headlines
When it does.

[Tipperary]

79. People who post on du are generally the type who do not like being told what to do.

I am one of those.

Use the ignore function if you need to avoid posts that hurt your fee-fees.

[el_bryanto]

80. Why limit it to just now ? I think anybody who questions Democratic wisdom

should keep their opinions to themselves pretty much on an ongoing basis - if you think that the candidates that are nominated are too leftist or too centrist or too whatever - just keep that to yourself and vote for them. The truth is we don't need to hear from different opinions - we just need to vote the party line - and not just in the polling booth. We need to toe the line in every aspect of our public life.

If you insist on expressing your own opinions . . ..

Bryant

[Leonardo Da Biker]

85. I don't often post much

But believe me, bigmanpigman, I will post whatever I wish to post regardless of intimidation from thugs like you. Honestly dude, who the fuck do you think you are?

[BigmanPigman]

89. I am not a dude, I am a dudette!

[Progressive dog]

87. It is not defeatist to not agree with your opinion.

Reality is where most of us live, whether we like it or not.

If you have a plan to avoid defeat, you should share it. Not admitting defeat is a useless plan.