What Do You Think Is The Underlying Reason For The Animosity On This Forum?

[THUNDER HANDS]

I'll post my theory.

I think the reason this forum, and the campaign in general, has been so negative and ugly, is because all the candidates have essentially the same positions on all the issues, so to separate themselves they need to ratchet up the minor issues, or outside issues, in order to get some sort of advantage.

If there was more ideological diversity in our candidates, I think the debate would be more civil.

Just my theory.

What's yours?

[Proud2BAmurkin]

1. Concern about nominating an unexamined sure loser with one year in the senate

before starting his campaign for president.

[Buzz Clik]

3. Somebody is running who has only one year in the Senate?

I guess I don't know who that is.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

7. One year in the senate before beginning a presidential campaign. Hubris.

[Buzz Clik]

13. I see. When, exactly, did Hillary begin her campaign for president?

How many terms had she served? Part of one? Before she was elected for the first time?

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. thank you

for your concern.

[The Magistrate]

2. There Is Something To Your Personal Theory, Sir

Scraps over marginal differences frequently are exaggerated out of all proportion.

[jpgray]

5. I think the stakes are so high people are willing to be intellectually dishonest to push their views

In other words, people who support a candidate will attempt to rationalize away -any- statement or vote that is less than perfect, as opposed to just admitting the flaw. Conversely, they will have a desire to inflate the flaws of other candidates, and dishonestly promote neutral or even good statements/votes as failures if they come from an opposing candidate.

Also, people interpret context and intent based on whom they support or oppose. For the candidate they support, the most favorable context and intent is assumed; for the candidate they oppose, the most negative context and intent is assumed. This is true even if the statement/behavior is very vague and difficult to pin down.

It's not true of everybody, but I see quite a bit of it.

[NoBorders]

17. Well said.

I agree.

[harun]

6. Frustration

I think everyone is frustrated with a media that promotes talk of nothing and ignores talk of anything substantive.

The candidates also know, at least those in the lead, that they have to talk about nothing or get toasted by the media and the opposition for talking substance. It is a crap system.

[joshcryer]

8. Yes, the two major candidates are essentially the same.

And anyone disputing this is full of crap.

[sandnsea]

9. DLC Corporatism vs. real hope and change

Is not an insignificant difference. The reason there is so much animosity on this forum is because people intuitively know that. And I'll just leave it at that.

[Armstead]

11. That's what I think....And why I occasionally get vitriolic myself

I believe the brand of Democrats embodied by the Clintons have betrayed what the Democratic Party is supposed to stand for....And by extension they have betrayed the country that needs a counterbalance to the power of corporations and the GOP.

I'm sure Hillary is a very nice person. But I sure as hell don;t want to see any more reign by the DLC and Vichy Democrats.

[sandnsea]

15. At least the Edwards people get the purpose of the fight

The ones that really want to make my head explode are the ones that like all 3 equally. WTF???

[Flabbergasted]

10. I think partly, Dems believe they will win this year. And the primary is more or less the GE.

IOW whoever wins the primary has a very good shot at winning POTUS.

[zorahopkins]

12. Passion

People feel quite passionately about their own candidates.

Sometimes, passionate people express their passion in mean ways.

[Uben]

14. My theory ...they're mad dammit!

People are mad! Mad that we're squandering billions in Iraq, mad that we are taking care of other countries before we take care of our own. Mad that the current administration has shown so much disregard for the American people and the constitution. Mad that nothing gets done in congress. Mad that the middle class of America is disappearing. Mad that there aren't any good jobs for those who are not fortunate enough to get a college education, or even those that do have one. Mad that the big box stores have ruined our local economies. Mad that they cannot afford the health care they need to stay alive.

They are mad dammit, and I am too! Mad that our leaders talk of these things but do nothing to solve them. When does it end?

It's going to take a revolution. A nasty one. And it's going to happen. It has to.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

16. I think it's terror that the other candidates would lose and we'd get a Repuke AGAIN nt

[NoBorders]

18. that too. we all believe our candidate is best to beat the repuke

we're all convinced our candidate is the best choice to beat the repukes, and we can't stand the other side/s is supporting the candidate we think will lose, and we can't deal with that possibility.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

22. Yes! The supporters of Clinton, Obama and Edwards all want the SAME THING: to beat the Repukes...

... we can't take 1 more term of Repugnicans, so much damage has been done to this country.

[featherman]

19. Pettiness and cynicism mostly

but some of it is just trouble making trolls

[Kermitt Gribble]

20. Immature supporters.

I think half of the posters here are expecting to be able to text in their vote to choose the nominee. I keep expecting to tune into one of the debates and see Paula Abdul moderating.

[JVS]

21. Because Joe Lieberman is gone and we need him back to regain our Joe-mentum!

COME BACK JOE!!!!