It's wierd to me, ya know

[Lobo_13]

Why out of 38 threads on the page, 17 were hit pieces on Dean? And most of them bring nothing new, it's the same tired old crap "Dean Can't Win", "Dean Can't Win, Vote for Clark", "Dean Can't Win, His Supporters are Crazy." And any positive threads about the man are quickly swarmed by detractors.

And then they have the utter gall to complain when someone points out a flaw in their guy. Because it's okay to jump on Dean, but saying even one bad word about another guy is grounds for alerting the mods.

No one gives any thought as to WHY he's ahead in the polls, raising more money, getting more attention, and generally beating the tar out of all of his opponents.

He has been working his a** off for two years on this endeavor. He put an organization together that beats anything that any three candidates have put in the field combined. He's saying all the right things to all the right people. And he's got a horde of followers that would go through hell and back again (I'm one of them, and I'm in personal contact with a boatload of others.) Meanwhile, one candidate has to mortgage his house to finance a vanity campaign. Another one has blown his wad on one state, and incidentally torqued off some of his major supporters with the infamous ad. And a third's idea of campaign fundraising is to do whatever Dean's doing on his website, but with lower expectations. Maybe if they spent as much time worrying about their own message rather than obsessing over everything Dean, they would be in a better position. (caveat: Edwards is doing a pretty good job of staying out of it, but Clark recently jumped on.)

But yet, vitually all the folks around here can do is piss and moan about how a guy who outworked, outcampaigned, and outraised their guy is going to spell doom for the Dems in 2004, and if only everyone would listen to reason, their guy would bring honor and glory to the Democratic party. Guess what, if your guy can't beat Dean, there is no way in hell he's going to beat Bush. How is Clark going to deal with the torrent of negative attacks that will go unanswered because of spending limits before the convention? How will Kerry do when he's tapped everyone that wanted to give him money?

I'm willing to allow that there are at least a few freepers hanging out here, and I'm also willing to concede that they are the most likely culprits of some of the more vulgar threads. But some of you folks need to get a grip.

[sam sarrha]

1. I am voting for dean just because both sides hate him ....!!!!

[Scott Lee]

2. So you see this too!

It's a bit mind boggling, isnt it. Attack attack attack - all because a guy is winning. It's gotten much worse over the last week or so, but I'm prepared for it to get much worse still.

I would not want to be a lot of these folks when, after the nomination and their guy isnt the one, they have to figure out a way to take back all of the defecation they've flung at Howard Dean. In truth, I don't think many on DU will listen to a thing they have to say, seriously, again. What a bummer.

[AP]

3. Thoughtful people sincerely believe a Dean candidancy would be a mess

in the general election.

As long as he's doing well in the polls and the nominee isn't yet a lock, you're going to have to deal with people sincerely raising their concerns about him, regardless of whether it's the first or fiftieth time that the you've read the same criticism.

I admit that it's tiresome to have to refute the same bad argumetns over and over again. However, I don't see that any of the Dean criticisms are all that easily dismissable. Many of them go to 70+ posts with both sides making credible arguments.

There's a truism in the law. If you're making a motion for summary judgment and it's more than 5 or 10 pages, there's obviously an issue in there that should go to trial.

I believe that's a truism that applies to Dean as well.

Another thing to consider is that the pro-Dean threads aren't exactly in the minority. If you sincerely don't like Dean, then having to respond to all the pro-Dean stuff hear sort of guarantees that you're going to see a reaction that is almost equal to the action.

[edzontar]

I agree totally!!!

And I cannot but wonder, too, how much of this is being fed or manipulated by "enemy" forces.

[Lisa0825]

4. Thanks Lobo_13!!! I heartily agree!!!

And welcome to DU!!!!:toast: :bounce: :hi:

[Hoppin_Mad]

5. Righto - It's an organized effort to take over this forum

And to drive out anyone but Clark supporters.

"Hell no - I won't go !"

---

"And I'm very glad we've got the great team in office, men like Colin Powell, Don Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice... people I know very well... our president George W. Bush. We need them there."

Wes Clark, May 11, 2001

[edzontar]

6. I hate to say this--but their plan is working...

I suspect that many longtime Dems and DU posters ahve already left these forums in dismay and disgust--I have heard from at least a few..


Thus the Dean and other numbers may have dwindled as the campaign to flood the forum with Dean-attacks heated up.

I am staying to fight--for now-but have rather frustrated.

[Lisa0825]

7. I haven't left, but I have become much more selective

about which topics I dive into... so much are just plain flamebait, and not worth the stress or bickering.

[SheilaT]

8. I'm sorry, but

over half a million people have registered on the official Dean site. He's raising money not only for himself, but for other Democrats running for office. He's so incompetent and so disorganized that he's raised more money in one quarter than any other Democrat ever, including the most popular sitting president of the 20th century. Of course he can't win. (sarcasm off)

Personally, I'm more than tired of the anti-Dean threads, and I rarely even read them, let alone post a reply. What we have here on DU is a vocal group of Dean bashers, and I'll neither feed into them, nor stoop to bashing other candidates.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

9. You nailed it

Dean continues to build support in the polls, in endorsements and in fund raising. The fact that his supporters are outnumbered on GD2004 doesn't concern me. :)

This board has been flooded with a rash of people opposed to Dean for one reason or another (usually just because they support another candidate who is chasing him in the polls), and most of us have chosen to just back off. What's the point? There's work to be done to get actual votes for Dean, and endless flame wars on DU isn't part of that work.

I suspect that most of the DU Dean supporters have found something better to do.

[Lisa0825]

11. yes, I have lots better to do!!!

Like calling to round up folks for the caucus, doing visibility events, and shopping for warm clothes for my trip to Iowa!!!!:bounce:

[RevolutionStartsNow]

12. Don't forget the long underwear

I've been told that silk is the best choice.

I need to go buy boots, too. Brr, it's going to be cold.

[caledesi]

10. I am a Dean supporter and I don't bother to read those anti-Dean

threads MOST of the time. I am very sick of this "repug-speak" about him not being electable.

"Read 'em and weep."






edit: drunk

[FXDS]

13. Say What?

I thought DU was a Kerry bash fest! He did vote for the security of the country ya know!