While GD:Pee is still here, remember that advocating for spoilers or Republicans is a TOS violation.

[moriah]

I am not saying that even if math looks incredibly bad right now that the party's over. I'm not Skinner.

But make your Trump-humping or advocacy for Jill Stein posts at your own peril. Consider it preparation for "Rally Around the Nominee Time" -- it comes every time here on DU -- when this forum does disappear and such posts will be grounds for pizza.

Vote for Democrats.

Winning elections is important — therefore, advocating in favor of Republican nominees or in favor of third-party spoiler candidates that could split the vote and throw an election to our conservative opponents is never permitted on Democratic Underground. But that does not mean that DU members are required to always be completely supportive of Democrats. During the ups-and-downs of politics and policy-making, it is perfectly normal to have mixed feelings about the Democratic officials we worked hard to help elect. When we are not in the heat of election season, members are permitted to post strong criticism or disappointment with our Democratic elected officials, or to express ambivalence about voting for them. In Democratic primaries, members may support whomever they choose. But when general election season begins, DU members must support Democratic nominees (EXCEPT in rare cases where a non-Democrat is most likely to defeat the conservative alternative, or where there is no possibility of splitting the liberal vote and inadvertently throwing the election to the conservative alternative). For presidential contests, election season begins when both major-party nominees become clear. For non-presidential contests, election season begins on Labor Day. Everyone here on DU needs to work together to elect more Democrats and fewer Republicans to all levels of American government. If you are bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for our candidates during election season, we'll assume you are rooting for the other side.

I say this as someone whose preferred candidate didn't win before.

I say it with particular sympathy to the many people who haven't yet had the opportunity to actually cast their votes and have therefore had the process make them feel even more voiceless.

I say it with gratitude that there IS time before such things will become bannable, because I want to believe that anyone who spent time here during this primary process cares a great deal about the future of our party and our country, and therefore everyone is capable of accepting the reality of what the current voting process gave us and working to do something that will try to make our country better than it would be if we don't unite, at some point, against the GOP.

I admit wanting to see ranked choice voting so that the "lesser of two evils" nature of the General Election in our country is unnecessary. I think it will cause the Democratic Party to move leftward, and totally fracture the GOP between social and fiscal Conservatives. I want people to be able to vote their conscience instead of their fears. That's the revolution that's going to make real changes, I believe.

But I am not about waiting for the revolution or the perfect candidate, as my signature line indicates (a quote from the Exegesis on the Wiccan Rede by Judy Harrow).

For those of you not familiar with the Wiccan Rede, it's as follows: "An harm ye none, do what you will". She discussed the last part word for word, with the last one she focused on was "Do". Her words:

This is the challenge to action. Don't wait for Prince Charming or the revolution. Don't blame your mother or the system. Make a realistic plan that includes all your assets.... Then take the first steps right now."

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Those first steps for me have been calls to civility, to respect for each other. Disagree if you do, but do so about ideas and make your arguments about those ideas.

But if your idea is that it's better to "Let The Whole Thing Bern"..... I hope you change your mind before Skinner makes his call.