So... When Exactly, Are We Supposed To End The DU Primary Mud Wrestling ???

[WillyT]

After the media tells us who the nominee is going to be after the first couple of primaries?

After Super Tuesday on February 5th?

After the last primaries on June 3rd in Montana and South Dakota?

Or do we wait until the actual nomination and convention vote on August 28th in Denver?



Just wondering how much, and for how long, I'm gonna have to up my meds.

Any and all help is appreciated.

:hi:

[Maddy McCall]

1. You were here in 2003.

You should know that the worst offenders won't ever let it go. Even after the general election has been decided, they'll continue to attack, smear, and belittle the candidates that they didn't favor.

If their candidate doesn't win the primary, they'll say, "Well, if candidate X had been elected, this wouldn't be happening."

They'll hold grudges, take potshots at people who favored candidates other than theirs.

It never really ends. I've seen animosity carry over from primary 2004 to present. It's waaay ridiculous.

[davsand]

8. I know people still pissed off about local Primary races from 20 years ago.

I think the distinguishing feature of people who stay active in politics for very long is the ability to get over it and work the full ticket once the Primary is over.

I've been active in politics for a while now (yeah, I am an old fart) and I have seen a lot of people come and go. It isn't so much about dedication as it is about the ability to move and change your outlook based on the current set of facts. Literally, one of the most difficult things I have had to do is pull my socks up and walk into the other guys' campaign HQ AFTER my side lost a Primary. That is the price of calling yourself a member of any political party, and it is one of the ways you earn your stripes in the party.

You don't have to be enthusiastic--hell there are any number of other races you can work and still be active--but you do work the full ticket after the Primary is done. In truth, my track record of backing winners at the Presidential Primary level is pretty dismal--I honestly can't think of a Presidential Primary that I was working the winning side. That does not change the fact that I have a garage full of Dem yard signs from both Primaries AND General elections.

Never forget the DU--with all of its passion--is made up of folks with a variety of political savvy. Some will stick it out and others will flame out. No harm, no foul--that is just the reality. Hopefully, the folks with some experience and some perspective can help lead the way for the others.


Peace.


Laura

[liberalnurse]

2. When the Democratic GE Candidate

has been identified. Skinner should make a formal announcement. I believe he has in the past.

[Kucinich4America]

14. How can Skinner make a "formal announcement" when there is no formal candidate until 8/28/08?

It's his board, and he can make any informal announcement of his choosing. But he's not in any position to declare a formal candidate where none exists. Unless he has a time machine, and if that's the case, can I borrow it for a few days?

[last1standing]

3. Is is sad to see so much hatred here, isn't it?

But be prepared for many more months to come. I remember a few Dean haters that lasted over a year after the 2004 election before finally being tombstoned. I wouldn't be surprised if some were back under recycled names and IP addresses spreading the same old hate.

[mcscajun]

4. I'm willing to lay money down that February 5th will see a clear decision

on a nominee. I hope that will be the case. The sooner we can stop our infighting, the better, IMO. Too much is at stake not to be united and organized as soon as possible, to well and truly whip the Republicans, put a Democrat in the White House and begin repairing the damage of the BushCo years.

[WillyT]

9. I'm Thinking We Will Know After Feb 5th Myself, But...

Is Skinner gonna say that's it, or do we wait for the convention?

:shrug:

I'm trying to remember what we did in 2004.

:banghead:

[mcscajun]

11. Ah, now that's an entirely different question. One I cannot answer.

Past performance is no predictor of future results.

[Kucinich4America]

17. I gotta disagree with that one.

The longer this primary season lasts, the better chance of a united party. If this thing is forced to a conclusion as early as February 5, and the winner happens to be one of the two media-annointed (and corporate financed) candidates, then the perception is going to be that the nomination was bought, not earned. And that perception would be an accurate one. It would be very difficult to unite a party under those circumstances.

If this thing really went all the way to Denver, I believe the nominee would emerge with the appearance of someone who truly had the backing of the majority of Democrats. And maybe even at least grudgingly the support of those who most vociferously opposed that candidate in the primary.

The presidential primary system as we now know it didn't really exist until 1972. Since then, we have only "won" three presidential elections (thefts in 2000 and 2004 are another matter)and have seen huge majorites in both houses of Congress reduced, and even eliminated entirely for 12 years.

Maybe it's time to go back to actually picking the candidates at the conventions?

[kansasblue]

5. I don't see a problem with it. It will get worse when

then Republican aim their guns at the candidates. I see this as a way to test the candidates and to make sure the dirt (if any) from each candidate is known before we make them our nominee. They think this is bad? Remember the Republicans reduced a war hero to a flip-flopper and made Bush's National Guard stint look heroic. This is a warm up and I think it is painful but valuable.

it's all (ok mostly) good.

[CTyankee]

20. Yes, that whole swift boat thing was totally unexpected. We shoulda known!

So now I keep a little list in my mind of things the RWers can smear each candidate on: Hillary's list is endless, Edwards has only about 2 or 3(hair and trial lawyers and maybe his wife's cancer), Obama's is the elephant in the room, Biden (aneurisms, hair plugs and myriad Senate votes to pluck from, one by one), the rest aren't gonna be in contention, so I don't worry about them.

[G_Leo_Criley]

6. Massachusetts primary date has been changed

Massachusetts will hold its primary on "Super Tuesday" -- February 5, 2008.

Good luck with the meds though.... :+

glc

[WillyT]

7. LOL !!! - Thanks !!!

:silly:

[spanone]

10. hiding threads becomes an art

[TSIAS]

12. Somewhere in between

My guess is that people will be given a period to cool off once the nomination is wrapped up. I expect that it'll still be okay to advocate a candidate if they decide to stay in until the convention (like Kucinich and Sharpton in 2004), but cricisim of the presumptive nominee will be stifled way before Denver.

[WillyT]

13. Kick !!!

:kick:

[leftofthedial]

15. considering the ongoing (since 2000) Nader-is-evil debates,

I'd say never.

:hi:

[WillyT]

16. Funny You Mention That...

Had this nightmare that Bloomberg, Hagel, Nader, and Gore all jumped into the race.

Woke up with a case of the sweats, I tell ya.

:hi:

[Yael]

18. That list is really out of date

Is there a web site where I can get a current one in that format?

[WillyT]

19. Yikes... You Are Correct !!! - Go Here:

Site: http://www.nass.org/

Updated Calendar (requires Adbobe Acrobet Reader): http://www.nass.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=92

Thank you !!!

[Yael]

21. Thanks! Bookmarked and printed

:hi: