Acting Like YOU'RE Not Concerned Too, And That Those Who Are Must Be Trolls, Is HOGWASH.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

There are a ton of new members here, and most of them are here because they recognize the gravity of this election and are passionate about it. They are only beginning to get their feet wet in the depth of politics and aren't as seasoned as some of us are. But they should be welcomed here with open arms and with an attitude of your being a big brother or sister, and guiding them intellectually and with a sincere heart. They shouldn't be chastised as trolls and met with contempt merely because they show fear, anxiety or concern with the day to day ups and downs of things. In fact, I'm glad they do. It shows they know how important this election is and that they are passionate about the outcome. It shows that they are involved and emotionally invested. I'm proud of them for that.

But what I think is the biggest load of bullshit here is the brave face so many pretend to have as they so readily chastise those with concern while acting like they have none. I don't believe it for a second.

Even if so many of you won't admit it on here, I'd wager the overwhelming majority of you wince just a little when you see the same poll results that have some of the newbies concerned. I'd wager the overwhelming majority of you feel just a little fear or a little voice in your head saying "dammit! I was hoping those numbers were going to show a larger spread". I'd wager the overwhelming majority of you believe we're gonna win, but are nervous as hell awaiting election day and can't wait for it to be over. In essence, I'd say most of you share the EXACT SAME CONCERNS as many you chastise do; you simply don't come forward and admit it.

And to be honest, I'd think you'd have to be NUTS to not be a little scared sometimes. I'd say if certain polls didn't make you twinge just a little, that if day to day reports of certain things didn't make you fear just a little, that if when some polls tighten just a wee bit it didn't make you concerned even a little, that you must've been in a cave for the past 8 years and don't have a true understanding of the gravity of this election.

Exuding confidence is honorable. I'm a big fan of positive thinking. But chastising those who voice their fears and concerns over certain events and polls, is just ridiculous. Admit it: You twinge a little at the exact same things. Those that voice it simply do so because they may not have as much experience in politics as you. But that doesn't make them trolls. In fact, they're just as passionate and involved with this election as you are.

So stop the crap of chastising those who show concern. We ALL should be concerned from now until next Tuesday, regardless of how much confidence we have in victory. This is the most important election of our lifetime. If you're not concerned, then you've likely not paid much attention the last 8 years.

End rant.

[TroglodyteScholar]

1. I'm concerned. n/t

[msblueinredstate]

5. Seen this to many times and yes I will worry

until they say our next President is President Obama.

[TheWraith]

2. What's hogwash is people who post naught but paranoid negative threads insisting we're about to lose

I don't know if they're trolls, pessimists, or just some kind of political PTSD cases from 2000 and 2004, but it's not warranted by the facts.

[pnwmom]

16. I don't see people doing that. n/t

[tavalon]

52. I try hard not to post those,

but you pegged me correctly. I have PTSD from 2004. In 2004, I worked at the campaign headquarters in Seattle and I watched the results with deepening dread, but it was the morning when Kerry conceded that broke me. It took months to pull myself out of that and it's all back right now. I'm terrified to hope.

[illuminaughty]

98. You just put a label on it for me. Thanks.

PTSD. I worked on the Kerry campaign for a long time under some pretty horrific conditions. I was still at the Uptown Theatre (here in KC) as they televised the results early am Wed. I looked pretty crazy...I was the only MoveOn member left in my group and was walking on a cane at the time, sobbing uncontrollably.

Then he conceded. I watched "To Kill A Mockingbird" on a loop for a couple of days. We had lots of info about a stolen election that we begged MoveOn to work on...no replies to e-mails. We spent months working locally with a group that still exists...No Stolen Elections. Whole other story in itself.

Tonight, I actually drove to Obama's campaign headquarters at 10:00 to volunteer. I couldn't get out of the car and was so ashamed of myself for not being able to do it. It IS like re-living 2004. I'm not only terrified, I'm useless. But my MS triggers with stress and there is nobody else to take care of myself and my mom if I "go down". She and I both were in better shape four years ago.
Thanks for putting a name to this fear. Maybe I can still do it. I don't know.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. I can't read others' minds, but aside from that, I support you 100%.

"We ALL should be concerned from now until next Tuesday, regardless of how much confidence we have in victory."

[EFerrari]

4. I don't mean to bring anyone down but I am worried about some voters

that are running into problems. I hope it is a landslide and I hope everything goes fine but, I can't unknow what I've learned here about our elections.

"And that's just the way it is."

We have some work we could do, this week, to help votes get counted. That could sound like trolling to some people, I guess.

[stray cat]

6. Anyone who isn't concerned doesn't understand the stakes

many people in the nation will support McCain and Palin for a variety of different reasons and it will come down to voter turnout and not polls

[InvisibleTouch]

7. Thank you.

I've been appalled at the way relatively new posters have been treated here lately. Aren't people allowed to express a worry without being branded a troll? And gods forbid they should have less than 1000 posts - then they're automatically freepers in disguise! Some of them might very well be freepers in disguise - but I suspect most of them are not. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt - innocent until proven guilty - and not alienate new members of our community. And hell, if they are rethugs in disguise, and we treat them with respect, maybe they'll hang around and learn something! If nothing else, they might find that those "evil liberals" they've been hearing so much about, maybe aren't so horrible after all. There's no harm erring on the side of friendliness.

[wryter2000]

8. I'm scared spitless

The other side will do anything to keep us from winning. Anything.

I remember election day in 2004 and listening to Al Franken on the radio yelling, "He's (Bush) going down!" A friend called me from Canada to make sure I heard what he was hearing on the news -- that Bush was losing and everything was going to be okay.

I won't take an easy breath until I hear the results from Virginia and Pennsylvania. When we have those two states, I'll start to believe it. Until then, I'm hella concerned.

[WritersBlock]

67. Me, too.

There are too many instances already of vote-flipping; several threads have mentioned them in the past few days. Then we have the problem of straight-ticket undervotes with the Hart Intercivic machines (and maybe others?)

I've got no doubt we would win by a spectacular landslide if (a) all legitimately registered voters were allowed to vote and (b) *if all the votes were counted* ... but neither of those scenarios will happen, so yeah, I'm damned concerned. We need a huge turnout so they can't possibly steal it a third time.

[Ms. Toad]

70. The vote flipping described,

in and of itself, is not a problem - as long as voters look to verify that their vote is displayed correctly and fix it if it isn't, then recheck again at the end of the ballot before pressing the cast ballot button. We should all be doing that anyway - but far too many people expect technology to be perfect, and it isn't. No self-respecting hacker would be stupid enough to make deliberate vote switching visible to the user - what is being reported are calibration problems that are easily correctable by alert voters. The problem is voters asleep at the wheel. Even in states that require a paper audit trail, very few people actually take the time to check the paper trail to make sure the votes are recorded correctly - the same problem exists when the verification is solely the last screen before the cast vote button. Too many people don't bother to take the few extra seconds to check.

Granted, the machines should be properly calibrated - but given the reality that they are not, and likely will not be before election day, we should be spending our energy encouraging everyone to check their ballot at every opportunity up to pressing the cast vote button to make sure that a calibration problem doesn't turn into something worse.

I haven't seen the reports of straight-ticket undervotes - but state laws vary about how your straight ticket vote is spread across the ballot. Personally, I would never press a straight ticket button (or fill in a straight ticket bubble). Too many chances for error - either because I misunderstood that state law prohibits a straight party vote from counting for the presidential race (like North Carolina) or because I'm trusting something other than myself to properly select a whole bunch of candidates.

[Mike 03]

9. Thank you

I just remember 2004 and how, no matter how I played with the electoral map, Kerry couldn't lose.

Now, looking back, I see some things I didn't see before.

But I can't even articulate how scared I am, or how badly my heart will be broken if Obama does not win this. I will give up on politics forever.

I can't pretend I'm not scared.

Yes, I check the polls every hour at least.

Yes, I care what they say.

Yes, I worry when they tighten.

Yes, I have given as much as I can responsibly give to the campaign.

Yes, I have nightmares about a replay of 2004.

I'm glad so many people are assured. I feel pretty optimistic too. But cynicism has eclipsed the hope that used to be such a big part of my life. I will believe it when I see it.

I can't help it. The past eight years have been the darkest, most depressing, worst, most hopeless period of my life. I have grown to feel hate for Republicans, and hate for myself for feeling that hate...

I surrender to something better. And I just hope it is coming.

[Psyop Samurai]

30. Welcome back, Mike03...

:hi:

I hear ya.

[AsahinaKimi]

54. I don't holding my breath helps..

I am scared too.. but sometimes I just take deep breaths and
drink lots of Green tea. I still have HOPE though...(~shivers~)

[eowyn_of_rohan]

66. Wow. You express well what many of us feel

The 2000 election was also a nightmare. Like many, I never went to bed that night. For weeks i was glued to the TV, and kept a running log of the voting irregularities, legal actions, controversies, etc., which generated reams of hand-written notes... Helped me cope with the insanity somehow. Seems really pathetic now. I thought Kerry had it, too, in 2004, with "record turnouts" at the polls then, too, and Teddy Kennedy smiling on TV that night, assured that we had a victory...when they stole it again, it was like the coup de grace, and we knew for sure we had a dictatorship... we have been in an evil grip for 8 long years, almost a decade of our lives... I just pray for Barak OBama to be kept safe, and for the election to not be stolen again.

[illuminaughty]

100. Great post Mike

I have so many friends who gave up, who are so cynical now.

And I have friends who really will leave if he doesn't win. It's just been 8 years of hell. Why wouldn't we all be scared. We have more than an election to lose.

[JitterbugPerfume]

10. I won't exhale until

I see him sworn in . I am really afraid of what could happen

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. I'm very concerned about the concern trolls' track record.

They haven't been right once this entire election cycle, shouldn't they be concerned with their own credibility?

[crim son]

12. Well stated.

I've seen newbies chastised again and again for simply being uninformed. It doesn't become DU, and it does Dems in general no good.

[plaintiff]

13. I knew beyond any doubt back in 2000 Bush would never live in the White House.

Damn right I'm concerned.

[BrklynLiberal]

14. I know that I will celebrate when Obama wins the election, but I will not really feel

relaxed until his Inauguration takes place.

[Dr Fate]

15. You may be right- but if they are to be good Duers, they can take it.

I'm not too concerned about how "concerns" are handled here at DU-Most DUers worth having around, including yourself, knows how to handle a good flaming now & then.

[pnwmom]

17. If they are "good DUers"? You don't have to have a taste for flaming

to be a worthwhile person on this board.

[Dr Fate]

23. I didnt say you had to like defending yourself in an argument- I suggested you should be able to.

I would also suggest that people who cant defend themselves in an argument are the last people who need to be spending time at political debate/discussion sites.

I would think the best of the newbies could handle a little flaming, or they might be in the wrong type of forum...

[pnwmom]

45. Do you think this could possibly be a "guy thing"?

IMHO, I don't think women are as likely to come here to flame each other, although there are certainly some offenders.

[AsahinaKimi]

55. I wouldn't :/

I took Kendo..I know what its like to be hit with a shinai..it HURTS!

[Dr Fate]

58. Never thought of it like that-most female DUers I know are pretty bad-ass in a debate.

I'm not suggesting we all be jerks to each other either, or that we should get in finger-pointing flame wars on purpose- I'm just saying that most folks worth having around can handle such attacks...

[pnwmom]

64. I'm not talking about debating, really.

I'm talking about put-downs, insults, etc. -- instead of just taking another position, attacking another poster personally. There's way too much of that around here.

[Dr Fate]

79. In that case, we agree. n/t

n/t

[Midlodemocrat]

18. I'm concerned as well.

I don't know what to have for dinner.

Love ya, you freeper. :rofl:

How're the boys? I know last month was hard for you. You doing okay?

[pnwmom]

19. The reality based community IS concerned.

After two stolen elections, we'd be crazy -- and not listening to Obama -- if we were complacent.

[flthinker]

20. Hi, I'm new

and loving the DU! I think I'm obsessed. I'm on here every spare minute I get. But maybe I've missed the posts you are talking about. Or maybe I just don't click on those that sound negative. My level of anxiety is so high I can't take the negative stuff right now. And you're right, I am very passionate about this election. I am also very involved and doing as much for Obama's campaign as I can. I canvass until I have blisters. I feel like I'm holding my breath and won't be able to breathe until Nov. 5th.

Thank you all for all the great posts! I am truly enjoying this site and have told friends how great it is.

[DB1]

27. Welcome to DU!

[bridgit]

34. Welcome to DU...

:kick:

[AsahinaKimi]

63. I'm new too!

YAY!

[leftynyc]

69. Welcome aboard

We have all kinds here - the perpetually optimistic and the pathologically pessimistic. The thing we all have in common is knowing how important this election is.

[Mandate My Ass]

21. The undisputed DU king of the ad hominem attack giving lectures on civility....

and the hidden agenda of "an overwhelming majority" of DUers.

How does that song go? "Isn't it ironic?"

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

22. You Might Want To Look Up The Definition Of Ad Hominem Attack.

I rarely if ever engage in them.

You, however, just did.

Now THAT'S ironic. :hi:

[Mandate My Ass]

28. I'm the rubber, you're the glue, yet another of your greatest hits

blah blah blah :eyes:

[clear eye]

95. Blocking n/t

[Bake]

77. That was uncalled for.

OMC has been here for a damn long time and has the repsect of a lot of us old-timers. You would do well to temper your own ad hominem b.s.

Bake

[Runcible Spoon]

86. and some of us old timers think that was perfectly called for.

being here a kazillion years doesn't give you any more or less right to lecture others on their opinion of OMC. He is bombastic enough that it is quite easy for people to make up their own minds. OMC has been guilty of patronizing, bullying, and cajoling other DUers many times a day. Hell, at this point he is more like a mascot to me than someone whose opinions I hold with any regard. But hey, to each her own.

[Two Americas]

92. and some of us object...

...to those who are objecting to people who are trying to object to the opinions of those who are objecting to OMC's posts.

That's where I stand on this issue. I am very concerned about it.

[DB1]

24. " we are the underdog until Barack Obama is sitting in the oval office." MO

[Chulanowa]

25. I'm absolutely terrified

I'm a democrat. I get nervious when it looks like we might win. When it looks almost certain we're going to win, I pretty much piss myself in abject terror.

But I'm not rending my shirt and screaming to the heavens about how we're all doomed and Karl Rove will triumph and all our work will have been wasted blah blah blah. That's no only unproductive, but it's also counter-productive, and I've seen plenty of it lately. I don't bother calling it out, but it really is very stupid.

I wouldn't label them trolls - trolling is being intentionally disruptive - But some form of head-smacking should be employed.

[Subdivisions]

26. Gotta go with you on this one, OMC. Good post. Thanks. n/t

[arthritisR_US]

29. given what happened to you guys in 2000 and 2004, you should, and have every right to be scared. n/t

[Ian_rd]

31. I'm with you. I'm sweating bullets. This is NOT over until McCain concedes. After that, it's up to

the Secret Service to protect Obama from Fox News-inspired murderers.

[Canuckistanian]

32. Hahahhahaha!

Oh, you're serious.

Never mind.

[JerseygirlCT]

33. Yup

There are those things out of our control - they scare me to bits. I'm going to be just destroyed if I have to spend another election night in stunned disbelief.

I'm totally confident, and terribly scared, all at once.

And if anyone doesn't like that, it's too bad.

[BamaGirl]

107. I couldn't have said it better.

"I'm totally confident, and terribly scared, all at once."

[leftofthedial]

35. in the age of "sanctioned" repuke vote suppression and election fraud,

a 7.5% Democratic lead ends up being a repuke win.

In many states, it's 15%.

[bridgit]

36. It seems this subject has been covered, there's nothing that can really be done...

freedom & liberty even if others get all dumped on and shit is what it is and that's the way it is; DUer's aren't about to change why should we; we have earphone heads we have dirty beds it's the 20th century!

[FloriTexan]

37. Thank you.

I feel like you're speaking of me. I have read DU for a few years now and tip-toed into posting since the primary. Today, I made a post looking for some information that I knew was debunked but was looking for some informed DUers who possibly had additional information that I couldn't find on my own so that I could use it to help convert a new voter for Obama. For my trouble I took some harsh words and a locked thread, apparently, because the topic had been done to death. I think I was probably perceived as a troll which kinda hurts my feelings because I've put up with a lot of crap this election season on behalf of Obama. Just so ya'll know I live in Texas and we're fighting for every vote here, even the moronic vote and I've apparently been nicer to the people I trying to bring over than to my own constiuents here have been to me in that endeavor. I did get some nice replies and more information that I requested and for that I'm thankful. Last night, hubby and I early voted for Obama. We didn't vote straight ticket because we wanted to vote against republicans as often as possible and there wasn't always a dem in the race.

Anyway, thanks for your post. I feel a little better now.

[bridgit]

38. Welcome to DU...

:kick:

[Quantess]

97. Probably most of us have been called something unflattering by other DUers,

especially when we had low post counts. Don't let it get to you, and don't take it personally.
Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Beregond2]

39. A few hours ago, someone posted here, freaking out about some poll.

I didn't respond in any negative way. I simply posted the current average of polls and the reasonable EV projectons based on them. Response? Zero. Zilch. Nada. That tells me that the poster wasn't interested in the facts, just in spreading irrational fear. And THAT is what I and so many others here object to.

The simple truth is, the situations in 2000 and 2004 bear no resemblance to what is going on now. The poll results are radically better for us. Obama's ground game simply didn't exist then. The economic situation couldn't be more different. Our candidate is infinitely more skilled at campaigning. He has unprecedented appeal to young people and minorities. Republicans are jumping ship. The Republican VP candidate is disaster.

I could go on and on and on.

I have no problem with people being frightened. Perhaps even some paranoia is justified, given the Republican's track record of election theft. But the facts do not justify the many threads here that reak of pessimism and defeatism.

And I will be much more likely to take people's "concerns" seriously when they show some gratitude for being enlightened as to the facts, and the courtesy to acknowledge our efforts to do so. Until then, I will dismiss them as hopelessly defeatist, or as trolls.

[clear eye]

96. There are a bunch of alternative explanations for a poster not responding to your reply.

1) Life called the poster away from the computer, and by the time he/she saw your comment it seemed too late to respond.
2) The poster didn't know board ettiquette, and although grateful was timid about posting a textless "Thank you", for fear it would be perceived as wasting readers' time.
3) Poster happily absorbed your info, but is the kind of careless person who never sends thank you notes, etc.
4) Poster had already commented more than once on the thread, and didn't want to appear to be monopolizing it by doing so again.

Etc., etc., etc.

[wildflowergardener]

40. new posters

I am sure there are bound to be alot of new posters around every election. I know I came here just before or after the 2004 election.

Some people just don't post as much as others (like me - I don't know if I'll ever make it to 1000 posts because I mostly read and post occasionally.) However I am on the board several times a day, so it is possible to be here a long time and just not post much.

It doesn't mean they are trolls.

Meg

[notaboutus]

41. I was getting turned off by the nastiness

and insensitivity of some especially if the issue centered around race. It can get like a clique with no new members welcome.
Me I could care less "mind over matter, if you don't mind it doesn't matter" but I feel for others who come here for support and get put down made fun of and are met with sarcastic remarks.

[Myrina]

42. I rarely agree with you, but YOU NAILED IT!!!

:applause: :patriot: Thank you. :patriot: :applause:

[Adsos Letter]

43. What, exactly, is "hogwash" anyway...?

Who originally came up with that term?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

46. Sarah Palin's lipstick remover.

[Adsos Letter]

47. LOL!

[Chulanowa]

48. Same thing as "bullbath"

In other words, a dumb idea that doesn't make any sense. Who goes around washing hogs and bathing bulls? :)

Well, at least back when the terms were coined...

[JohnnyLib2]

44. You speak for me, OMC.

Thank you. K & R

[Leftist Agitator]

49. A post of yours that I actually agree with?!

I never thought that I'd see the day!

:)

I'm happy to recommend it.

We should all be gravely concerned about this election, and we should all be nicer to the new folks.

Incidentally, I've never seen more newbies join in such a short time in the five years that I have been reading this website. That tells me that the enthusiasm among political neophytes is at a record high!

Welcome to DU, everyone!

:hi:

[bullwinkle428]

50. The accusations of Rachel Maddow as a "concern troll" pushed me off DU last night

I think I sprained my eyeballs rolling them after that one...

[tavalon]

51. I am totally with you

10,000 posts ago, I came here as a newbie myself. I learned much of my wonkiness from this and other sites. I see the same simple confusion in a lot of the new ones. Unfortunately, the trolls aren't making it easy, but I think you are right, that we should assume the best of these people who come here and if we're wrong, well, so what? They'll eventually show their hand and get a pizza but we don't have to play at their level. And most importantly, we won't inadvertently treat a good one like a troll.

As far as your second point, in a fair fight, we won 2 months ago but this isn't a fair fight. I'm scared to death. I've been researching moving to Canada as a backup plan just so I can get through these last two months. I've also been canvassing and helping my fellow coworkers to remember to vote and contributing to a number of campaigns but I still need that backup plan to be able to continue breathing and hoping.

I'm not scared, I'm fucking terrified. Terrified and determined.

You may call this a rant, I call it a DU public service reminder. Thank you.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

53. How many of us joined DU during the 2004 election because we were concerned?

Let's try to give each other the benefit of the doubt

[TxRider]

56. What's there to fear, I mean really...

The world will not end suddenly no matter what happens on the 4th...

Take a deep breath folks...

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

57. Well, It Won't Be Sudden...

But there's a hell of a lot at stake on the 4th. Most important election of our lifetime.

[Newrulz2008]

59. I Understand the Fears and Concerns, but....

I have been posting the following on every wing-nut blog I can find:

November 4, 2008 is going to be a watershed day for America. Barack Obama will win the Presidency in the face of the bullshit, lies and hypocrisy of the right-wing nuts. The next day, November 5, 2008 will be the day that the right-wing nuts wake up, hoping that it was all a dream, but soon they come to the realization that their years of supremacy are over and they have become insignificant.

The insignificant right-wing nuts will cry and whine about non-existent Democratic voter fraud... they'll stomp their feet about every subject imaginable. Worse yet to them, they will see a Democratic Super-Majority in the Senate and will know again the breadth of their insignificance.

The most beautiful part of all is that to their incredible dismay the President of the United States will be Barack Hussein Obama and there will be nothing they can do about it.

Poor Poor Pitiful Republicans

It's a nail biter, it's scary, but fellow Democrats WE'RE WINNING THIS GODDAMN ELECTION

[Hissyspit]

60. Um...

You stuck in Nov. 3, 2000?

[salguine]

61. Thanks, OPERATIONMINDCRIME...I've bitterly resented not only

the merciless berating of anyone who's not already doing their little end-zone dance, but some of us whose memories stretch aaaaalll the way back to 2000 (and even 2004) can't begin to fathom the seemingly inexhaustible smugness from these "It's in the bag" and "We've already won!" people. As far as I'm concerned, how are they any different from this guy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HlEzrNbWHw

We're not at the finish line yet, either.

Have people completely forgotten what a completely vicious, amoral cabal of criminals Obama is running against? I'm not talking about McCain—I'm talking about the people who've actually been running the country for the last eight years. They're going to do everything possible to steal this election if there's any way at all to do it—it worked twice before, why the fuck wouldn't they try it again!? Has everybody forgotten that this Administration—and yes, with the complicity of the Democrats in Congress—now has the legal authority to suspend the Constitution and declare martial law in response to a "national emergency" that the President gets to define? Couldn't that "national emergency" be something, like, oh...an Obama victory? These people have been laying the groundwork for a full-on totalitarian fascist dictatorship for thirty years, and they've now brought it to within 98% of completion—do you really think they're going to just let it slip away when they're this close, and probably never will be this close again?

I'm not necessarily saying that worst-case scenario will happen, but I'm not going to pretend it can't, either.

I feel generally optimistic, but I won't breathe totally easily until Obama is sworn in. And if anyone feels like labeling me a tinfoil hat nut-job, they can kiss my white Irish ass. I've already seen far too many things come to pass in the last eight years that I never, EVER thought could happen in America.

Best wishes to all.

[El Pinko]

74. I thought he meant that we had to be enthused and excited about this election.

So rather than "concerned" he should have said "worried".

Well, of course I'm worried. I would NEVER underestimate Americans' ability to vote against their own interests for the least-appealing wackadoodle right-wing candidate.
They do it ALL THE TIME.

Nor do I underestimate the GOP's dirty tactics, like telling people in minority neighborhoods that the election date has been changed, etc.

Nor do I underestimate the Democrats' amazing knack for imploding in the last minute of a campaign.

This election is so far from in the bag it's not even funny.

[devilgrrl]

62. Why are you ranting? The Rangers won, now quit it!

:spank:

[El Pinko]

65. What a strange post...

...coming from a poster who routinely trivializes the concerns of others - when those concerns are about any left-of-center issue.

I'm rooting for Obama, because I think life will be better in the short term if he wins. But my hopes are not all riding on it, because if McCain wins and drives the final nail in the coffin of the present incarnation of American government, paving way for something better, I can live with that too.

I'm fed up as hell with both right-wing corporate parties, and my sig line reflects that, but I can't say I totally don't care about the outcome of this election.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

72. ...

:boring:

[El Pinko]

73. ...and he does it again.

...like your insistence that we all "care" about the outcome of this election is so freaking insightful and scintillating.



"Care! Because I said so!"



:eyes:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

76. ...

:boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring: :boring:

[leftynyc]

68. Wonderful rant

Anybody who is not the least bit nervous hasn't been paying attention the last 8 years.

[Name removed]

71. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tjwash]

75. Curses...I've been horn-swaggled again!

nt

[Bake]

78. I'm feeling pretty good about it now. But I understand those who are truly concerned.

We're all waiting to exhale.

Bake

[happydreams]

80. OPERATION MINDFART!! Another post "from where I SIT"!

Hey mods can we get an avatar with a cartoon of a bull shitting??

We need it bad.

:rofl:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

82. OPERATION MINDFART! HAHAHA HEHEHE HOHOHOHO!

Attack of the 3rd graders!!!!

:rofl:

[happydreams]

102. Kick!

[BlooInBloo]

81. You going for Andy Rooney's job?

:rofl:

[cwydro]

83. Thank you for this post.

I frequently do not agree with you, but this post is a great one.

K and R.

[ecstatic]

84. I get nervous at least once a day. I'm not a total pessimist

but one can't help but be a little concerned after what happened in the last 2 elections.

[Orsino]

85. Please realize that the paranoia may just be a symptom of the same concern.

And that it's silly to use one's own coping mechanism to deride someone else's.

[BostonMa]

87. LOL

[GreenFiles]

88. I don't have 1000+ posts

And a DUer has pointed that out in exactly 60% of my topics.

Why does that matter? Everyone's got to start somewhere!

[Kind of Blue]

89. Thanks for posting. I was truly shocked being called a freeper once by 10-gazillion-post DUer.

for something I thought was innocuous. For heaven's sake! I didn't even know what a freeper was but I knew that the intent was mean. Luckily, several other longtime DUers came to my rescue. On the other hand, I've also learned to buck up and not let my mood take drastic swings. For instance, I give big thanks to those who always stated it's the state polls that count. You don't know how much that's helped my state of mind these past months. Just yesterday someone OP about California going red, it was a pleasure to let'em know even my once very red county has turned blue in an already blue state!

[Cats Against Frist]

90. I'm a little concerened too, but some of the hand-wringing on here

is ridiculous. I'm returning to DU for the first time in a couple years and GD:P is like the peak of someone's bad acid trip in there. I'm concerned Obama's BMs are .0000095 off from McCain's. Seriously -- what the fuck. There used to be some intelligent discourse -- and interesting flames for crying out loud. Now there's -- Rachel Maddow? And Rachel Maddow's BMs?

I'm speechless.

[Cerridwen]

91. Welcome back to the new DU.

:hi:

I remember your name from days gone by. It's good to see you again. It's weird around here.

:D

[Bluebear]

99. Welcome back! I certainly remember the name very well!

Don't be a stranger!

[Gemini Cat]

104. I remember you

I always liked your name. My cats did too!

[Naturyl]

93. I'm on board with this.

I haven't seen a ton of OMC's stuff I'd agree with, but he hits the mark on this.

Concern is not a crime.

[Naturyl]

94. I'm on board with this.

I haven't seen a ton of OMC's stuff I'd agree with, but he hits the mark on this.

Concern is not a crime.

[Dems4me]

101. I'm concerned too..

everytime I a see a poll that shows our lead falling I
feel sick about it. This is going to be one long weekend.

[AngryOldDem]

103. Good rant.

I remember back in 2004, when I was dropping off a precinct report at the office of a Congressional candidate. It was about 5 p.m. I asked a staffer how things were going, and he said that Kerry was going to take Ohio and go on to win. He wasn't giddy; he wasn't talking out of his ass. The numbers were looking very much in our favor at that hour, and by that time with exit polling and all, you could get a good sense of where things were headed.

I also remember watching in 2000, when Bush was asked if he was concerned about losing Florida. With a look that at the time struck me as the ultimate in arrogance, he looked straight at the reporter and said, "It's not over." That snip was replayed just the other day and I got the same chills then as I did in 2000.

Well, we all know what happened, both in 2000 and 2004.

I will be concerned until I hear that Obama has reached the Electoral College majority on Tuesday night, or Wednesday morning, or whenever it happens. Until then, I take nothing as a given.

[happydreams]

105. MODS HELP!! Operation "from where I sit" is threatening to

destroy the intellectual integrity, already seriously compromised, of DU!!

For the sake of humanity stop this!!

[happydreams]

106. .........

:rofl:

[pipi_k]

108. The nightmare the next day

I went to bed on Election Night 2004 secure with the idea that Americans would not be stupid enough to elect a man I KNEW was an amoral piece of shit, after having put up with him for four years already... I can't even say "re-elected" because he wasn't "elected" the first time around.

I felt secure...yes...a change!!! Bush would be gone...Kerry would take over!

The next day I woke up and saw the debacle in Ohio and I swear it was like being in a nightmare. Or maybe it was just all a big mistake...or a huge practical joke...

I just did NOT believe it...and I was literally sick. Heartsick...sick in my body and soul. The disbelief and sickness took months to fade...not only because of the way things turned out, but because I knew that we, as a country, had crossed a line between Democracy and Banana Republic and that things might never be the same again, if a second election could so easily be stolen from the people.


So yep....count me in as another person who can see the possibility of more....or worse...frauds committed upon us by a government that clearly doesn't fear the people, as it should.

I'm hopeful, but very very frightened until Jan 20th....

[billyoc]

109. If I implied that the army of pathetic hand-wringing liberal ultrapussies were trolls, I apoligize.

to the trolls.

[enigmatic]

110. I'm not concerned

Seriously.

Obama's going to win; there's too much breaking his way for it not to happen. They aren't going to steal this. W isn't going to declare himself El Presidente For Life and cancel the election. McCain isn't going to make up 8 points in 2 days across the battleground states. It isn't going to happen.

A good 40-50% of DUers here love the Political Drama; it's their crack cocaine. It's not mine.

[Kajsa]

111. It's hard NOT to be concerned after the last two elections

were stolen,OMC.

But I try to see the glass half full and will not rest until the election
is over.