I'm Sick of the Infighting -- I'm quitting DU...

[liberalpragmatist]

...until this campaign lightens up a bit. I'm not gone forever, just until the nominee is clear. I'll linger, and maybe I'll post something, but probably not.

When I have to endure vitriolic statements against my candidate that equate him with Hitler and refuse to even contribute to a meaningful debate and instead refuse to contemplate another person's perspective? The disrespect that's being paid to John Kerry is dispicable. No, all his votes aren't perfect, he's human and he has faults just like the rest of us and all the candidates. But I'm not even seeing any substansive discussion over it -- it's simply statements meant to do nothing but inflame tensions further.

And before you go and say that I'm blind to the rap Dean's been getting, just know that I have NEVER flamed Dean. I like him a lot and I would be perfectly fine with him as the nominee. The treatment many DU'ers have given him is equally shameful. The way same take glee in harassing Dean supporters over his bad fortunes in Iowa is as disrespectful as the trauma I have as a Kerry supporter.

And that goes for Clark, Edwards, the whole lot. And poor Gephardt wasn't even allowed to Rest in peace when some DU'ers attacked him mercilessly and took perverse joy in his fall. (Okay, so Lieberman...well, for the sake of consistency and fair-mindedness, he should be treated better here than he is.. I'll leave it at that.).

I can't post in this kind of environment, where no inteligent discussion is going on and where our candidates -- an excellent field -- are treated like scum. The environment is too toxic. I just hope (and based on the votes and polls have reason to believe) that the vast majority of committed dems aren't like DU. of course, I also retain hope that there is a silent majority of DU'ers who don't hate everybody else.

Until March. Goodbye.

[gristy]

1. Don't let the door hit you on the...

Kidding!!! :) Yeah, I know where you're coming from.

[Mass_Liberal]

2. I sympathize

I also get flamed. My candidate, Dean, is also equated to hitler. It is a shame that we at DU, some of the few remaining diehard liberals, could not get along better.


Peace be with you,


Dave

[aldian159]

3. Good bye and good luck

hopefully you'll come back in March or whenever the nomination is locked up (for real).

[Stuckinthebush]

4. You know...you can just stay out of this forum

The Lounge is light hearted.

The Meeting Room is mellow (until the astrologers and skeptics get heated up, that is).

GD has become such a beautiful place.

LBN is my first stop every morning.

Editorials is my favorite haunt.

Give up GD-Primary for a while and enjoy the rest of the community!

[Democrats unite]

5. Please don't go! you will be missed

And it will let them know they won. Stay & support your candidate!

[gristy]

9. That's right

it will let them know they won

Stay here. And keep on shopping.

[Endangered Specie]

6. another casuality of war

[bitchkitty]

7. You can't quit, darlin'!

You're addicted! Take it from me, don't do a goodbye thread. You'll feel silly later when you post again. I know I did! ;)

[liberalpragmatist]

18. I'll be back

But I'm leaving until things cool down, that's all.

And I think I will drop by the other forums, just not GD2004 until then

[RafterMan]

8. It's hard

But useful.

I don't think I've encountered a smear of my candidate in the real world that I haven't already seen here. Reading the attack pieces and the arguments that win and lose against them may be emotionally trying, but has made me a more capable advocate.

[wyldwolf]

10. Why not just post in the regular GD?

You'll avoid most of the bickering.

[fleetus]

15. Yes, it is a good idea to move to GD or Lounge.

Obviously the 2004 Primary discussion board will be filled with infighting. Isn't that half the point of a primary? I was just commenting to my wife how happy I was they made a new board for the 2004 Election because it filters out the bickering. Then I read your post and I was floored.

Maybe I'm too new (I've only been on this site for about 6 months) to understand your pain, but from my perspective you could just ignore the 2004 Primary section. :shrug:

[liberalpragmatist]

17. That's not a bad idea

You're right, I'll probably just hang out other forums and abandon GD2004 until we have a presumptive nominee.

[MODemocrat]

11. It's wrong to use inflamatory statements about any candidate

Like you, it makes me feel so bad for the candidates, to think they're out there fighting George W. Bush for us, and we have the audacity to treat them so shamefully.
On the other hand, I just ignore the hostility, and work ever so much harder for my candidate. These people are the ones who don't really know what they want or who they like, and if they don't know anything negative about a candidate, they will pick up bits and pieces from the right wing thug websites, and spew them on our forums.They will not force me off of here, and please don't let them force you away.
We need you on our side.

:think: Maybe I'll just have a :beer:

[Jacobin]

12. Now you know how its felt to be a Deaniac for the last couple of months

With my favorite on the ropes (with more than a little help from "democrats"), the new front runner, your candidate now gets to step into the torture chamber.

The attacks from the media will only be rivaled by the circular firing squad at DU.

We have been cleverly torn asunder by the opposition and are swirling in the dust storm left behind by the Bush junta. A MA liberal gun control guy with a rich wife, botox treatments, who can't make up his mind about the war is now foisted upon the public for extermination by Herr Bush. That will just about guarantee an electoral rout.

I do hope you don't go for long. Kerry will need his supporters, just as Dean needed his. Alas, it was for naught in the case of my candidate. I wish your candidate luck. He'll need a miracle to win.

[candy331]

14. Hang tight, it's a cruel world out there

been fighting it all my life. I doubt if Kerry will get the scrutiny and lam blasting that was and is being heaped on Dean. Sometimes you have to consider the source if you get what I mean and just let it go. Good luck and chins up.

[flaminbats]

13. ohhhhhh, please don't leave me all alone!!!

The disrespect that's being paid to John Kerry is dispicable. No, all his votes aren't perfect, he's human and he has faults just like the rest of us and all the candidates. But I'm not even seeing any substansive discussion over it -- it's simply statements meant to do nothing but inflame tensions further.
;(
And that goes for Clark, Edwards, the whole lot. And poor Gephardt wasn't even allowed to Rest in peace when some DU'ers attacked him mercilessly and took perverse joy in his fall. (Okay, so Lieberman...well, for the sake of consistency and fair-mindedness, he should be treated better here than he is.. I'll leave it at that.).

So you want to have a meaningful debate or substansive discussion? I'll be happy to provide it...

[Exultant Democracy]

16. I was out of GD till GD 04 started

leaving DU on the other hand was never an option.

[crushbush04]

19. See Ya

if you cant stand the heat...

when the going gets tough..

that and all the other cliches ...Bye Bye

[agingdem]

20. I agree but I'm staying put!

I thought our mantra was "ANYONE BUT BUSH" not "IT'S MY GUY OR I'M VOTING GREEN!"

[Insider]

21. weekend pass?

hawkeye and trapper went to tokyo for their R&R. come back in few days, refreshed and recharged...yadda yadda yadda...

thanks for sharing.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

22. There are good threads and bad threads

Learn to use the little white X liberally and GD o4 will be tolerable.

If you need to take a break..you know where we are. ;-)

[Moderator]

23. Locking

Posts about the Dem primary belong in the GD: 2004 Primary forum.

Thank you,
DU Moderator