Did I accidently start donating to Free Republic?

[last1standing]

I thought I was donating each month to Democratic Underground, which bills itself as a forum for the exchange of ideas and policy for Democrats and Progressives. Unfortunately, so much of what I've seen at this site for the last month are hatemongers attacking our most viable candidates for President. Clark supporters attacking Dean, Kerry supporters attacking Dean, and Dean supporters attacking Clark and Kerry. The bashing has become not just annoying, but repulsive. Honest discourse about our candidates is proper and good, but this attack dog mentality is only destructive.

I am of the belief that anyone who posts more negative information about our candidates than they do of bush* is a freeper. They are actively trying to destroy our party and our ideas with their hateful bashing.

I would hope that other true DUers would join me in trying to put an end to this disgusting hijacking of the forum we've been nurturing for three years. It has become too precious to see it destroyed by these hatemongering freepers.

[janx]

1. I am in complete agreement with you here.

It has really gotten out of control.

[jsw_81]

2. It's just politics

When we have a hotly contested nomination battle it's par for the course to see people yelling and getting upset. Remember Carter vs. Kennedy? Mondale vs. Hart? Clinton vs. Brown? Just try not to take it personally. As soon as we pick a nominee 95 percent of us will support him/her with all our hearts.

[brainshrub]

4. Except for Lieberman

I ain't supporting him. Nope. Won't do it.

[last1standing]

6. But it's that other five percent that are taking over DU.

n/t

[Cascadian]

3. The Democratic Party and the left is clearly divided.

I wished it wasn't the case. It is a combination of passions released, arrogance on the part of some people, and the refusal to meet some common ground. Something that Karl Rove wants. I wish we could unite but I am sad to say that nobody wants that.

John

[salin]

5. I try to do my part

and post news items - policy issues - and other things that we need to be aware of that can help us beat bush.

The get much less 'play' (reading/comments) than they once did.

[salin]

9. for example...

while I agree with your concerns (and have posted on this) - this thread had 6 responses within a minute. I started a thread about a scandalous attempt by the NSA (condi's group) to spy on the UN Security Council members in an effort to get information that could be used to persuade those members to vote with the US to go to war with Iraq. The story broke in the UK last winter/spring (leaked NSA memos). The US shortly after the leak decided not to go back to the UN to get final support - and went on to Iraq. The story, to my knowledge, got little to NO play in the US. But it is huge. And it says a great deal about how WEAK the admin knew their "evidence" for war was (even after Colin's grand "performance" in February to the UN) - that they would have to resort to dirty tricks. Big story. Never repeated much in the US. COmpletely ignored here as well.

*sigh*

[EarlG]

7. Locking

Inflammatory.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

8. Candidate-bashing is totally counter-productive to the poster.

You won't change anyone's mind. You'll piss a lot of people off. You'll just get flamed. Why bother.