What can we do to unify DUers?

[Onlooker]

You know, a lot of Barack supporters hate Hillary, Hillary supporters hate Barack, and supporters of others can't stand either Barack or Hillary. Yet, the sad thing is, we here are all part of a community that strives for roughly the same things: an end to war, more caring policies, end to discrimination, fairer treatment of the poor and middle class, and so on. But, it's as if we don't trust each other. It's as if the supporters of Candidate X are saying to the supporters of Candidate Y, "You may be progressive, but you're too stupid to know that your candidate is an ass" or "I don't trust your opinion. If your candidate wins, by golly I'm going to vote for McCain or Nader." When November comes around, we have to be united if we're to have any chance of ending the war in Iraq, and implementing more humane social policies. We have to restore our trust in each other.

Is there any way for members of DU to create a healing process so that at least here we can unite to stop the Republicans from getting the power to do even more harm than they already have?

[islandmkl]

1. big get-together around early September....

[sniffa]

20. For a rumble?

I suggest under an overpass.

[ulysses]

2. high heat and pressure.

Should do it.

[redqueen]

9. Smartass.

:loveya:

[ulysses]

17. of course.

:) :loveya:

[Demeter]

3. Champagne and Dark Chocolate Singles Mixer

I can hope, can't I?

[stop the bleeding]

5. Yum

:thumbsup:

[rug]

4. Key party.

[Demeter]

6. What's That?

[rug]

18. At a party everybody puts their keys in a bowl and then go home with whomever's key they pick.

As if you didn't know.

[Demeter]

27. NO, I Didn't Know

and I hope to god my kid doesn't, either.

[MADem]

25. Popular about thirty years ago--it's called SPOUSE swapping, I guess, nowadays.

Everyone puts their car keys in a bowl, and people draw keys and go home with the key owner's partner.

It is one of those ideas that sounds better in some fantasy treatment in a "men's magazine" than it probably does in practice. I've seen it used as a plot device in movies set during that era, but I've never known anyone who admits to participating in them...!

[durrrty libby]

34. Great way to pick up a few new and exciting bugs

[provis99]

7. get Howard Dean to start posting.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

8. We'll All Be Unified, Except For The Ones That Aren't.

But the ones that aren't, can go fuck themselves anyway. :)

[redqueen]

10. You've been saying a lot of ugly things.

Do you think that helps?

[ulysses]

19. evidently. n/t

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

47. No I Haven't. I'm Just Honest.

I can't stand selfish people. Someone selfish enough to continue propagating the animosity towards a candidate when in the general election, I really don't give a fuck about. That's not an ugly thing to say, just an honest thing to say.

November carries with it tremendous importance. For someone to put their petty primary squabbles ahead of that, makes them amazingly selfish if not ignorant. What's wrong with speaking the truth?

[redqueen]

51. I'm going to just send you a PM...

to try to explain what I'm talking about... feel free to respond there or here, but I'd like to know if after you read it, whether you would call it honest or ugly.

[MADem]

11. I support Clinton but I don't "hate Barack." That's a childish emotion.

I'm voting for the Dem nominee.

Don't worry about "unifying DUers." This is a small community of people, most of whom are left of the mainstream, in the big scheme, even though some people actually think it's a reflection of the Universe.

The "communal memory" here is only slightly longer than that of a fruit fly. This kind of griping and carping happens periodically. The only reason it is magnified this time around is because more people are interested in politics this time around.

Look at all the new members here--some are trolls, some are disruptors, some are sock puppets, but others are just people who have decided that politics interests them, and they want to play hardball (forgive the use of the expression that is also the name of a MSGOP show). They'll either stick around after this thing plays out, or they won't.

If they stick around, the memories will fade. There will be "Kumbayah" moments in the future. Just don't expect them right NOW. Because that just ain't happening at this stage of the game, no matter how many times people repeat the "Can't we all just get along?" themes.

This sign is illustrative of how well these "Why Can't We Be Friends?" exhortations work, generally speaking:

[redqueen]

14. I think we all expect the trolls to be assholes...

and for assholes in the lounge to be assholes, for fun.

But exacerbating the flameyness here is something I don't expect from DUers, nor will I excuse it or ignore it. It's childish fucking bullshit.

[MADem]

31. I am not terribly familiar with the Lounge. I don't much like the flaminess either.

I don't think carping about behavior will change the situation, though. I just don't.

The best bet is, if a post goes over the line, to simply hit that ALERT button. The real jerks will out themselves, and they'll have their posting privileges abrogated. And that's appropriate.

I think they ought to increase the minimum number of posts required before anyone can post a new topic. During election years, it ought to be two hundred or more--make the bastards really have to work for it, if their goal is to disrupt.

That way, if someone starts posting crazed bullshit that is designed purely and primarily to incite and upset people, there's a longer record of material to look at to gauge the "sincerity" of the new member. If those two hundred posts are bullshit like "Yeah! NT" and "I AGREE! NT" and "You got that right! NT" it will be pretty clear, pretty quick, what the little shit is up to!

[redqueen]

39. Yeah...

I guess you're right... just hitting alert is more realistic than expecting people to try or even want to rise above, I suppose.

*sigh*

[MADem]

46. I do concur with your intentions, but some folks just like to get down in the mud.

It's like wrestling with pigs--ya get all dirty, and the pig likes it! ALERT is the much easier road...!

[NastyRiffraff]

38. Yay!!

Best post on the subject of "can't we all get along?" I've seen yet. Bravo! :applause:

Face it, until we have a nominee, we're not gonna get along. In the meantime:

1. Nobody's going to drop out because of your wishes
2. Both candidates are politicians, not deities or devils
3. The Democratic Party/the country/the world isn't going to be destroyed if the candidate you oppose wins.
4. Both candidates want to defeat McCain. That's why they're running
6. Calling a candidate or a supporter silly names may make you feel clever, but in reality it makes you look stupid

[MADem]

50. Actually I have to disagree--YOURS is the best post on the subject. Really.

It should be its own thread, it's that good!

:applause: BRAVO! :applause: Well SAID!

[redqueen]

12. One thing that would really help is quit adding to the problems.

Quit broad-brushing supporters... quit trash-talking candidates... quit excusing that behavior from other DUers that you like... etc.

[WVRevy]

13. Until the smear machine is mothballed...

...not much. I can't see Obama supporters stopping calling lies when they see them.

In other words, it isn't going ro happen until she finally realizes she can't win without ripping the party apart by having the superdelegates overturn the decision of the electorate.

In other words, don't hold your breath.

[redqueen]

15. I think we can point out the things we think are lies

without being accused of flaming each other. Discussing the reasons we perceive a lie as a lie, or not... that can be done in a non idiotic way.

But, this is the internet...

[WVRevy]

28. lol...good point.

Still...that kind of "attack" mentality coming from the candidate just fuels it. It's one of the reasons I don't think things will be nearly as bad in the general election this year. Scummy as McCain has gotten in trying to cozy up to the Shrub crowd, I don't think he'll engage in those kinds of tactics directly, and his supporters will take their lead from him.

I'm just sick of seeing a good man get smeared with false allegations time after time. I was sick of it in 2004, and seeing it coming from another Democrat is just nauseating.

[redqueen]

30. Yeah... I think we'll all be glad when it's finally over.

:hug:

[MADem]

37. Oh, YES, it's all a dreadful ONE WAY street, now, isn't it?

The poor VICTIMIZED candidate!

:rofl:

You're clear as glass, you do know that? Just like BO's jaw, apparently. He needs to toughen up if he wants to even be considered worthy of battling pugnacious Popeye, who has taken a CANCEROUS hit to the jaw, and survived it.

[Guava Jelly]

16. A GD:P sex and orgy thread..

:D

[WillyT]

21. It's Gonna Be Tough, But... "Ain't A Feelin Like It In The World"

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SmgLtg1Izw

:hi::evilgrin::hi:

[cottonseed]

22. The candidates will lead here.

This animosity will surely keep up until one of the candidates emerges as the winner. The candidate failing to garner the nomination will have to make a sincere and professional acknowledgment of this win, and ask for party unity. This will help. The rest of the bad blood, who knows?

[surfin]

23. Hillary quits as it is impossible for her to win

That would do it. She can go to the senate and show she can accomplish something and pass healt care and President Obama will sign it. We will all be done with the clinton/bush white house finally.

[Hepburn]

24. Put a muzzle on Hillary???

Ya think that maybe her dirty politics is tearing the party apart? We can all thank her and her supporters for Prez McCain. Unless she stops and drops out, there will be NO party unity come the November elections.

[Bake]

33. A MUZZLE? I put a muzzle on my DOG sometimes.

Nice sexist slur, Hefner. Five points extra for calling HRC a bitch without actually using the word.

And the OP expects us all to just get along? I don't think so.

Bake

[Hepburn]

53. LOL.....

....you think muzzle are used ONLY on female dogs? Are you just stupid...or merely uninformed?

[Bake]

57. OK, here's the train of thought, since you clearly don't grasp it.

1. Muzzles are used on dogs.
2. A female dog is called a "bitch."
3. Hillary is female, and you called for her to be muzzled.
4. Ergo, Hillary - Female - Muzzle - Dog - i.e. bitch.

Don't try to sound so innocent, Hef.

Bake

[sandyd921]

26. Let's get behind a unity ticket!

I'm listening to Rachel Maddow right now and she is taking calls on the concept of a unity ticket. I say: yes, yes, yes, a million times YES!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's get lots of DUers behind the idea and loudly advocating for it. We may not get everyone, but maybe we can drown out the OB and HC partisans who refuse to be civil to each other. I myself have stopped coming to DU as a result of the acrimony. I will come back more to support this idea, if we can get enough support for it here. If we can spread it throughout the progressive web, even better! That's my two cents.

[redqueen]

What are the callers saying?

Please and thank you. :)

[sandyd921]

48. It's pretty mixed

There have been some, like me, totally in favor of it, but some partisan types totally opposed to it (but w/o providing a good reason why it won't work). I just think it's time for those of us who are willing to put aside our loyalties or preferences or those, like myself, w/o a dog in the process, to start pushing hard for this. The only thing that will really matter in the end, is defeating the repukes and ole man bomb, bomb!

[MADem]

54. Well, the GOP thinks a "Unity Ticket" is McCain-Lieberman!!

:rofl:

Where you stand depends on where you sit, I suppose...!

[mmonk]

29. It wouldn't be this bad if there wasn't deliberate bad blood on the campaign

trail. It's a reflection of the campaign.

[Bilyb]

32. There might be a reason for the divide.

A lot of people supporting Barrack will never vote for Hillary. I'm one of them. I think she's a liar and will not follow through with any of her promises unless they happen to coincide with what's best for Hillary. I'd vote for Shelia Jackson Lee or Lucy Killea or almost any woman in America but I'll vote against Hillary no matter the opponent.

A lot of Hillary supporters will never vote for Barrack because of his color. I've seen this firsthand in my own family and friends. I was born/raised in Ohio and live in Texas now. My 90 year old grandfather in Ohio went out in the freezing rain to vote for Hillary because he doesn't want a black man to be president.

I've got co-workers here in Tx telling be all kinds of nasty racist things about why they voted for Hillary. It breaks my heart to see it.

She just won two of the most racist states in the country and no one seems to connect the color issue.

Google these two names to see where I'm coming from in my racial indictments of Ohio and Texas:
Tarika Wilson from my hometown... Lima, Ohio
and James Byrd Jr. from rural Texas

:-(

[TheDeathadder]

36. Well

Sorry we'll be losing you but Clinton will still win the Presidency.

[redqueen]

42. *sigh*

:hug:

[Major Hogwash]

35. Wait for the convention.

Then let them figure it out. This isn't going to be settled anytime soon.

[Bake]

40. I've been insulted, talked down to, and vilified by so many BHO supporters

That frankly, I'll never have an iota of respect for them again. Some are long-time DUers.

And that's a damn shame. Have the picnic without me.

Bake

[redqueen]

43. And I've had the same from long time DUers who are Clinton supporters...

and before it was narrowed down like it is now, I got it from all sides.

Guess what though? I'll get over it. I hope you can see that maybe you might do the same, eventually.

[Bake]

44. I don't think I've taken a shot at you, redqueen (I certainly HOPE not!)

It's just hurtful when it comes from a DUer I've posted with, debated with, and defended on numerous occasion.

I suspect most DUers are willing to forgive and forget as long as THEIR candidate is the winner. Otherwise, we'll see how gracious they are.

Bake

[redqueen]

49. No... if you have it was so slight I've forgotten it...

:)

I know *just* what you mean about stuff from longtime DUers... and I've been 'forgiving and forgetting' since I supported Kucinich in 03-04 and took so much shit for it... passions are running full-tilt right now, that's all. As for graciousness, I know I'll be able to rally around the winner no matter who it is... but if I see shit talking I will for sure call people on it. I'm such a bitch that way. :P

:hug:

[emilyg]

45. I'll skip the picnic, too

Nasty pm's will do that.

[Hepburn]

55. And your post to me was sooooooooooo nice....

...NOT!

Has it dawned on you that since you are acting like a total jerk, you are getting treated like one?

Just a thought.....

[Bake]

58. Geez. Put a muzzle on it.

:rofl:

Bake

[uppityperson]

41. After there is an official Democratic nominee, wait a couple wks.

[Bake]

52. Once we have a nominee, at least, the newbie trolls will leave

That ought to help some.

Bake

[Mags]

56. I cannot unite with the BO people who have been so

obnoxious about Hillary, they are the most arrogant people on this board and I think they have lost a lot of votes for BO. I find it hard to have an open mind about BO after the trash they have thrown about. I have no desire to unite with them