Why do we do this to ourselves?

[Symarip]

And no, I'm not talking about snatching defeat from victory (I'll save room for that later).

I'm more concerned about the immediate knee jerk reactions to everything Clinton. Belay my last; I'm more surprised at the knee jerk reactions when anything Clinton is mentioned. What hell is going in the world where we have to monitor everything they do? And, in a world where the media does seem to follow the Clintons foot steps, why should we care?

There's three sides to this story of a non-story. The worst of whom are the media. These people are in the business of making news and keeping you on the edge of your seat. Re-read that last sentence. These people are not on anyone's side but their own. Right wing, Left wing, non partisan, whatever. They need you, the consumer, to tune in. When there isn't anything to report on, they make shit up. We watch hour by hour, minute by minute thinking this is a close race and that there's a shit ton of drama between all these characters (none of which I firmly believe to be true). They interview low level politicians, take one sentence quotes, and pass around the stone to all these fucktarded pundits and the only reason they do it is because the public asks for it. Wonder why Scarborough gets so much free time at DU? Because we're watching him.

The other players (sans trolls) are us, neatly divided into Clinton supporter and Clinton hater. The Clinton hater loves to beat on Bill and Hillary because obviously, those two are trying to destroy Obama, America, and the future of the human race. Meanwhile, the Clinton lover has to defend Clinton because they can, clearly, do no wrong. Finally, these two groups who basically agree on everything, come face to face, virtually, on DU to square off and throw down because THIS MEANS WAR!?!?!?!eleventy. Don't mind the fact that the primaries have been over for what seems like an eternity.

You may be saying to yourself, "this isn't really the case." And it's not, not in real life. But here it is. When the commentators on TV talk about 'the blogosphere', just who do you think they're reading? US! And we're buying into their bullshit. We are making their fantasy a reality. If you are reacting one way or the other to these assholes, even our own kind, on an anonymous message board, I hereby congratulate you on being a tool.

I'm not urging anyone to stop this behavior or to pick up some strategy to play it down. Sometimes, in the heat of anger, I jump the gun. We're all guilty of it. But wouldn't it be better if we posted about how McCain is going to lose and why? Or how about the thread I read earlier about rednecks getting out the vote for Obama? See, we can have diversity and differences and stand united which is why we WILL win come November. And if we keep that attitude, and stay progressive, and measure our wins in goals accomplished we will continue to win. That's what our party is all about.

I don't know. This is the only thing I was thinking hanging out in DU-P today. Maybe I'm the one that's wrong. I hesitate even posting this because I feel I'm being over critical, as is. Fuck it. I'm pressing the Post message button... NOW.

[bunnies]

1. Its not hate. Its distrust. And its earned. Carry on. nt

[apnu]

2. I'll take your torch and run with it.

I'm not a Clinton hater, but I did dislike the way she ran her campaign. But that's my opinion, just one in a sea of others. Not a big deal. Just saying that in the interest of full disclosure.

Sadly I cannot answer your question, I do not know the answer. However...

Having said that, all the Primaries nonsense is over. We all need to pony up and get on with the real issues here. And frankly I would have been pleased to see Hillary Clinton on top of the ticket. It would have been just as magical and historic as Obama.

Once it came down to Obama or Clinton I knew we were on to something special. I knew we were going to give the country something it should have had a long time ago, either a woman in the White House or an African American. Its a win-win for equality. It doesn't matter if our nominee is a black man or a woman the statement it makes is that we are all created equal and we all have a shot. Both Hillary and Barack tell the world that, yest a President can pull themselves up and snatch the brass ring. That the Presidency is not the realm of the privileged, moneyed old white man. No, it is the realm of all of us. That is what this election means

We all should be happy with that, understand that, and fight for that. Its about equality, folks and we're finally moving in that direction.

[azmouse]

3. Fear.

Democrats have become so fearful since Raygun.
And we're still afraid... of a stolen election yet again, of a candidate that is different, of other Dems who won't 'fall in line', of our rights continuing to be eroded, of other Americans who don't see how desperate the state of our country has become, of losing a job, of just about everything.... and the Reps love it. Ab-so-lute-ly love it.

[damntexdem]

4. Because we don't want to pay someone else to do it to us?

But, hey, the GOP would likely do it to us for free.