I really need all you guys to clear something up for me....

[ClarkJonathanKent]

Someone posted a thread earlier today criticizing a choice the President made, I forget what it was exactly but I think it was the TPP. Anyway, another person came along immediately and said something along the lines of, "Hey, this is DemocraticUnderground...we support Democrats here!"

I gotta say, I was somewhat confused by this. Clearly, this person means that we are here to support elected Democrats only, and not pieces of the Democratic platform (whatever those might be, right?) or various Democratic ideals. This HAS to be his meaning, otherwise, he would have explained why the TPP was so great rather than just try to bully someone into shutting up.

Is that really what we are here for? If so, which Democratic candidates do we unconditionally support? Is it based on hierarchy, rather than position? If Obama is for relaxing gun laws, but Senator Warren is for more stringent gun laws, should we all beat up on Warren because the President is......what? Sacrosanct? Infallible? Does he unilaterally decide what it means to be a Democrat?

How about when all the blue dog Democrats join up and oppose Obama on something? Should we support the multiple Democrats or the singular Democrat?

If someone could explain the rules to me, it would be greatly appreciated so I can know my place, and when I have permission to speak and when I should keep my mouth shut. Thanks in advance.

[yourout]

1. As far as I am concerned..."We support Democratic Party Principles" here.

And the TPP is not one of them.

[MaggieD]

2. If the objective is to trash Dems 24/7

There are more appropriate places to do that. Freepervile for instance.

[RobertEarl]

4. Are we allowed 23/7 ?

Or 22/7 ? What's the limit, I'd like to know?

[MaggieD]

6. Read the TOS

[RobertEarl]

8. I read it

Now I'm trying to read you.

What's your limit?

[sabrina 1]

12. The TPP is a Republican dream come true. Evidenced by the fact that almost all

Democrats oppose it, including Unions, Labor groups, you now, traditional Dems. One Democrat is pushing it, while almost ALL republicans are for it.

You're right, stuff like that doesn't belong in Dem circles, take it to FR where I KNOW they supported the fast tracking of a similar trade bill when Bush tried it in 2007 and were crushed when Dems defeated it.

[mrdmk]

3. Everyone has an opinion, and this is an opinion board

Some persons are very protective certain people in Democratic Party to the point of being a bully. It happens...

There is a term of service page, which can help. Of course, like many rules, the rules are bent or broken. Not always though.

link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=termsofservice

Best thing to do is read and learn, then post. Also try to stay above the fray, it can be difficult at times.

Peace and Love,

mrdmk

[RobertEarl]

5. We are the democratic underground

Formed when the establishment Democrats refused to listen to arguments from other Democrats who wanted to voice their problems with how bush was elected in 2000.

So, yeah, it is in our nature to question our party's politics.

[MaggieD]

7. Actually no

It was formed in response to Bush's election. It wasn't formed as a place to trash Dems all day everyday. You're welcome for the history lesson.

[RobertEarl]

9. You have a problem with...

....how bush was selected, right?

In my former DU life I was about the 11,000th member to join. So, I know what DU is founded on. Trust me. It is underground for a damn good reason.

[sabrina 1]

13. Really? I see Democrats being trashed here all the time. See Grayson as one example just today eg.

And Kucinich, among others. Who said you can't trash Democrats on DU, they are trashed more here than on right wing forums.

Not to mention DUers themselves all of whom are Democrats. I have battled with Right Wingers going back to 2000 and was never attacked as fiercely, and I thought THEY were bad, as I have been on this forum. Not that I care, but just saying, you must be kidding if you think Dems are not trashed on this forum.

[KMOD]

10. Go ahead and speak.

But you may have to submit to various litmus and purity tests daily.

You should support your own ideas, but if that's too much to ask, just join a horde or a swarm.

Tonight for instance, the 7th grade cafeteria caucus seems to want to play games with a certain poster.

Like most 7th graders, they believe they're clever, but they're not.

[betsuni]

11. It IS a 7th grade cafeteria.

I don't even have to read certain threads anymore, just look at the poster's name. The rest of the cafeteria caucus will follow and I know what they will say because they always say the same thing (Obama/Hillary/Democrats BAD). They try to goad other posters into saying something they can get hidden by an alert. And of course they always accuse everyone else of swarming and bullying. Sigh.

I come to lefty forums to get away from stuff like this, which is everywhere. It's like joining a forum for vegetarians and seeing that one-third of the threads are recipes for barbecued chicken. Not only that, instead of posting one OP about your chicken recipe, you post three or more, make dozens of anti-vegetable comments in other OPs, and then make a poll about your chicken recipe. Sigh. Who cares.