An honest olive branch to the other side, from a Sanders supporter.

[TDale313]

It's been an ugly primary, and likely to get uglier before it gets better. I know many may not see this, because they don't read this Forum anymore, but I wasn't gonna post it in the Hillary Group cause I didn't want to intrude.

I did want to say this, though, and hope some will see it. I don't hate Hillary, although I have my reasons for not supporting her. I don't think supporting Hillary makes you stupid or bad, I just disagree on who would be the best candidate and where the party needs to head. And I am passionate in my support and beliefs, and I think many of you are too. I fear this may fall on deaf ears, because we're deep in the weeds right now, and maybe it's too soon for healing, but all Bernie supporters are not your enemy, and I don't think all Hillary supporters are my natural enemy either. A little respect from and for all can help keep wounds from being so deep that they can't be healed.

I know, pie in the sky, the other side started it. But hey, I can try, right?

[Empowerer]

1. Thanks!

<taking the olive branch and giving you a smile>

I appreciate your saying this and suspect that that many - and I hope most - Sanders supporters feel the way you do. If more supporters on both sides reach out the way you have, maybe we can tamp down some of the ugliness that is infecting this process.

[TDale313]

8. It'd be nice.

Of course primaries get heated, but there are good people on both sides and sometimes it helps me anyway to take a deep breath and remember that.

[Hortensis]

56. That was nice, thanks also. Most of us agree,

actually pretty strongly, on where the party needs to head.

[Tarc]

2. The problem is not on our end, it is on yours, I'm afraid.

It ain't the Hillary DU camp that floods the main page with 200-upvote attack screeds.

It ain't the Hillary DU camp that carries the water for Trey Gowdy & Co on "E-mailgate"

It ain't the Hillary DU camp that has seen high-profile members banned from this website for refusing to support the Dem nominee regardless of who it is.

Fix you own house, bro; ours is fine.

[Empowerer]

3. This may be better left for a different thread?

[handmade34]

4. not the best response to an olive branch

[villager]

51. I think that reply was what the OP meant by "the other side started it!"

We've seen how well clinging to that works in the Middle East.

In any case, good OP, and this Bernie supporter agrees with it.

[OnyxCollie]

11. It's the Hillary DU camp

that parades its ignorance by confusing the FBI investigation of Hillary's private email server with the House Oversight Committee's Benghazi investigation.

Derp.

[Tarc]

35. Both are GOP-led witch hunts

that the desperate denizens of Camp Bernie are turning to as they have no other way to close the 20-30 point gaps in most of the upcoming primary states.

[OnyxCollie]

39. Blame Obama for appointing a Republican to head the FBI.

If only Obama had listened to the Bernie supporters who opposed a torture advocate to head the FBI.

[Bettie]

14. Way to turn it ugly

The guy was trying to reach out and you couldn't be gracious.

Ah well. There's one in every crowd.

[Tarc]

18. It was ugly from the start

When 95% of the harassment and rancor comes from Camp Bernie and a guy says "it's both of us so let's both stop", no, that ain't gonna fly.

[TDale313]

26. Not that it really matters, but for the record, gal, not guy.

Other than that, not much to say if you feel that way.

[mythology]

30. You can't seriously claim that Clinton supporters are

All innocent in causing the rancor. Both sides have contributed.

[hootinholler]

37. Our house. Is a very, very fine house...

Attack screeds indeed.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

38. Which DUer posted that over there? I want to know. nt

[hootinholler]

44. The owner of the site over there.

It's all part of the DU Primary Drama, eh?

A thread in which he's very proud of that site, but at 1000 replies may tax your browser.

[libdem4life]

45. "There you go again." A reference to a certain 1980s candidate...repeated to howls of laughter

from the audience. I didn't vote for him, but still, it had a ring to it and yes, I laughed too.

[pangaia]

53. arrrhhhhggg snap snap

bite arrgghhhhhhhhhhh woof woof... ggrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[DonCoquixote]

55. actually, that is the policy of this site

"It ain't the Hillary DU camp that has seen high-profile members banned from this website for refusing to support the Dem nominee regardless of who it is. "

Back when people were refusing to vote for Clinton if she won, they were removed, justifiably if I may add. Or do the rule only work for one side, if so, they are not rules.

[Tarc]

61. Yes, it is that way now

Several high-profile Sanders supporters have been banned from the forums for advocating for 3rd party or stay-at-home options if their candidate does not secure the nomination.

[Hortensis]

58. Agree, another thread? There'll be others.

[99th_Monkey]

5. Here's some pie in the sky for you.

Posted because I believe Bernie would "approve this message", just as I approve as well.

[TDale313]

6. I like it!

[quickesst]

12. I think this is fitting...

... And goes well with your pic. Enjoy.

[hrmjustin]

28. Someone can't alert for 24 hours.

On Mon Jan 25, 2016, 09:45 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

I think this is fitting...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1060891

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Bernie Sanders supporters are homicidal maniacs?

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Mon Jan 25, 2016, 09:57 AM, and the Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Stretching things past the breaking point alerter
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: pretty sure this was meant in jest. get a sense of humor.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Get a life.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Leaving on principle. An inability to laugh at oneself is unattractive.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Stop trying to silences Hillary supporters! Hrmjustin

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future

[quickesst]

29. Thanks

Yeah, it was humor, and I thought it was appropriate for the post that I was replying to. Like ham and eggs, cheese and crackers, Abbott and Costello, George and Gracie.... some things just go together.

[Sheepshank]

7. That was nicely said nt

[Kali]

9. I try to stay out of GDP

because there are people on both sides I like and I don't want to see them at their worst.

I also don't want to start feeling like the worst supporters of either side represent their candidate. I am shocked by some of the stuff I still manage to get sucked into via MIRTing or jury duty and embarrassed by the antics of a few.

I will be voting for the Democratic nominee, I hope it is Bernie. But Clinton is better than anything from the repukes. I would like to see less declarations that folks aren't going to vote for _____ no matter what, and more actual promoting of (all) our candidates in a positive light.

[Agschmid]

10. Thanks.

[TDale313]

13. ...

[CajunBlazer]

15. K&R Olive Branch accepted returned to you

But you are only speaking as one individual, not a representative of the Bernie fan club. Now if you just had some influence over your fellow Sanders supporters. For ever attack on Bernie I have seen on GDP by a Hillary supporter, I have see many attacks Hillary.

And the viciousness of the attacks by Sanders supporters would be shocking if they did not occur on such a regular basis. In addition, if any one of us attempts to point out some weakness in Bernie's campaign, we had better be prepared to be attacked personally.

Some of your fellow Bernie supporters are most enthusiastic, unrealistic, dedicated and mean spirited true believers I have ever encountered on line, and that saying something. I strongly suspect that reasonable Bernie supporters like yourself will still be around regardless of which candidate wins the nomination, but I wonder how many of the most radical in your group will still hang around DU if Bernie doesn't win.

You may have notice that not many of the Hillary supporters post here on GDP anymore. The atmosphere has gone so toxic and the responses to our posts have grown so unreasonable that it just isn't worth it anymore.

I wish that I could convey the damage that some of your people are doing to your candidate. Most of those who frequent this site are some of the most dedicated Democrats around, and the Hillary supporters are no exception. I can't speak for other Clinton fans, but the personal attacks on my candidate have completely turned me off to Bernie Sanders. I started off really liking Bernie and his positions. I simply didn't believe he was the right person to carry the Democratic banner. But now.... Oh, I can probably still hold my nose and vote for him, but unlike in 2008 when went from full fledged Hillary supporter to contributing a lot of my time and money to the Obama campaign, currently I can't see myself doing that for Sanders.

I'm only human; when someone opposing my candidate acts like an jackass and is extremely vindictive, some of my ill feelings for that person are bound to be transferred to his/her candidate. However, I hope that when the primaries are over, those of us who are left on DU can patch things up and work together again for our ideals and our party.

[artislife]

16. That's pretty gracious.

I wish I only had read the title of your response.


Oh well, live and learn.

[DaGimpster]

36. I appreciate your response

I am caucusing here in Iowa for Senator Sanders, but I highly respect Secretary Clinton and will vote for her in the general election if indeed she is our nominee. There is NO SCENARIO in which a Trump, Cruz or Rubio presidency furthers anyone on this forums agenda.

I agree with you on the damage a vocal minority of people, particularly on the internet, have done to my preferred candidate. This does not excuse that behavior, but I can tell you where I work, we're having a lot of internal difficulties with younger employees giving harmful and negative feedback. I'm starting to think that a large portion of the electorate is only accustomed to dealing with people from behind a keyboard/smartphone.

I fear that we may potentially be in for a long nomination process, and I am concerned about the damage to the party. That said, 2008 wasn't nice in a lot of ways either and we all managed to get behind President Obama.

At the end of the day, adults will talk as adults and reason will prevail.

[CajunBlazer]

43. You sound like the kind of reasonable Sanders supporter with whom I could have....

.... a civil discussion of the issues, either on line or in person. Unfortunately on line there are far too many people, especially those still wet behind the ears, who will post crap (pardon my French) that they would never say to another person face to face. In my humble opinion this is a particularly galling form of cowardliness.

[DaGimpster]

49. I do not...

disagree one bit.

I mentioned the issues we're having at my employer. Some of the things people are willing to say on chat messenger, text or email is outrageous. When confronted, they are sheepish and realize they should've thought a little harder before hitting submit/send.

It's like almost everything in life has become some sort of zero sum shouting match.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

41. You "can probably still hold your nose and vote for" Bernie? Question:

Will you vote for the Democratic nominee, no matter who that will be?

[CajunBlazer]

47. So far yes, but I don't believe.....

.....that I can work for him and contribute fare too much of my money to his campaign like I did for Barack Obama in 2008 after my favorite Hillary dropped out of the race.

Other good Democrats like my wife that I have talked to are extremely leary of Sanders and would strongly consider not voting. I can see their point because they fear that Bernie will do irreparable damage to the Democratic party if he is elected.

The Republicans will tear Bernie down to kindling if he get the nomination. I think that the American public will be horrified if their only choices in November are Sanders and Trump.

[libdem4life]

46. First mistake was to agree then add the immense qualifier ... which means the opposite is about

to emerge. "But" is a highly rated flip switch. I love you, but..... You know it's not going to end well.

You're very qualified for the job, but ....

I didn't bother to read past that word and from some of the responses, glad I didn't.

[Uncle Joe]

17. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, TDale.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. Your intentions are laudable

Your intentions are laudable:

A little respect from and for all can help keep wounds from being so deep that they can't be healed.

but we passed that point so long ago...

[asuhornets]

20. I was with you until you said...

"the other side started it" - meaning the Hillary supporters. I am sorry but that is not the case.

[TDale313]

22. No, that wasn't what it meant.

It meant I think there are some (on both sides, actually) who aren't interested in making peace at this point because they feel the other side started it. And I've encountered that even in this thread. The op was specifically about not blaming the Hillary supporters.

[asuhornets]

23. OK Thanx. n/t

[TDale313]

24. Of course.

Sorry if I wasn't clear 🙂

[riversedge]

21. gd-p...

is past this a long time ago. Have you looked at the bulk of threads --and the individual threads lately??


It is and has been in the pig poop a long time ago"

..................because we're deep in the weeds right now, ............

[Cosmocat]

25. You my friend, are a lone, L O N E

voice in the wilderness.

I am voting Bernie and am repulsed by the Sanders supporters here.

Never seen a candidate's supporters who so feverishly work to burn bridges.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

42. It's a typical primary, no bridges are being burned. I could show you some...

...pretty shitty stuff coming from both sides on DU in 2008.

[DaGimpster]

54. I can saw without a doubt here in Iowa...

on the ground, it feels almost exactly like it did in 2008, just less players in the game.

[Cosmocat]

60. No it isn't

I had the same personal experience this time as the last time.

I was voting Hillary coming into it and flipped to BHO in 08 and Bernie this time.

Last time was "typical" with some harsh back and forth.

But, for the most part, BHO supporters were focused on BHO, confident and secure.

I felt good about voting for BHO, didn't have any problems with it.

I flipped from Hillary to Bernie maybe a month after he announced, and have been repulsed at how Bernie supporters have acted here. It has been what I have dealt with for three decades with conservatives, bullying and demeaning and like conservatives acting the victim while doing it.

And, this now reads like a right wing website with the vile thrown at Hillary and "her supporters." Word for word republican hit jobs on her and word for word the same degrading stuff they say about democrats.

I'll vote Bernie, but not for the lack of trying by people here to turn me away from him.

[steve2470]

27. lovely OP, thank you, from a fellow Sanders supporter nt

[stopbush]

31. This hasn't been an ugly primary by any means.

What's been ugly is the fighting inside the teapot called DU.

And uglier than the fighting are the pronouncements by many Bernie supporters that they won't support Hillary if she gets the nomination. That's a clear violation of DU's TOS, and I wonder why the mods haven't moved to shut down or at least confront said violation for the good of DU and D chances in the coming election.

[DanTex]

32. Olive branch accepted. K&R.

What matters here is beating the GOP. After the primaries, we're all on the same team. I'm for Hillary, but if Bernie wins, I'm a 100% Bernie supporter in the GE.

[firebrand80]

33. In 3 months the GOP will nominate a nutcase

and our petty differences will be pushed aside

[Orsino]

34. Let's nominate our best, and insist that our best be even better.

We got shit to accomplish.

[mmonk]

40. Funny thing as a Bernie supporter. I'm not as mad

at Clinton or her voting supporters as I am at some elected Democrats, the DNC, and the party apparatus. I hope they accept the olive branch.

[libdem4life]

48. There are a lot of us. It's the "squeaky wheel" concept.

[Persondem]

50. Nicely said. The world in general and DU in particular need more of this. Thank you.

I have backed down from posting much at all on DU the last few weeks other than to support those few posters who still post positives about Clinton. Oh, I'll occasionally take a shot at some of the more ridiculous posts from Sanders supporters but I avoid the big back and forth crap that goes nowhere.

Anyways, good on ya.

K & R

[gwheezie]

52. I have Bernie supporter relatives and friends

I love them all. They are fine people. I know one trump supporter but he's always been an ass. I support HRC I'm not stupid or evil. People who know me like me even Bernie supporters. Even the trump supporter

[Faux pas]

57. Kickin' with gusto!

[mhatrw]

59. Agreed. Hillary is my favorite Rockefeller Democrat. nt