Any and all candidate flame warriors: Come hither and learn.

This is how you conduct a civil, intelligent, wise, well-argued, combatitive yet respectful discussion about a candidate:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=782823&mesg_id=782823

The magic there is not the beginning post so much (though I will take a wee bit of pride away), but in the incredibly intelligent, well-crafted responses. Here and there you will find a flame-up or two. For the rest of it, read it all, and read it close, and read it well. This is how it is done.

An appropriate thread for Thanksgiving. Thank you, DUers, for being the best that I know and have always known you can be. Well done.

I didn't chime in on that thread but found it incredibly interesting. I too have been fascinated with the Dean phenomenon but haven't been able to figure out why people were getting involved in his campaign, especially people who I knew didn't agree with him on some of the issues. I was really glad you asked.

That people were able to have a mostly rational and reasonable discussion about it shocked me. Happy Turkey Day DU! *smooches to the whole board*

:-)

indication that we are really all on the same side. We are just like a big, loving but slightly dysfunctional family. Sometimes we handle it, sometimes we don't. Thank you Will Pitt, you started this one.

on edit HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU!

He Started It! ;-)

My oldest just got home, walked in the door, looked at his brother and said, "You suck." So it goes. Happy T day VelmaD!

and happy T-Day to you too. *smooches*

Cherish these happy family holiday moments. I would love for my little brother to be here to tell me "you suck". :-) But alas he's in Florida. :-(

"But that does not make things easier when I am alone with myself and have to face my own eyes in the mirror. That is why I admire the Green/Super-Lefties. They were born without this nasty pragmatism gene I endure, they can and do stand on righteousness (which I think we all have to admit is there, whether we like to face it or not). They are the 'beautiful losers' in this corrupted and compromised political culture whose souls are strong and pure. We would be lost without them. I cannot and will not do what they do, but damn, I envy the sleep of the righteous they must enjoy."

Here is a more accurate description of that last posting or thread..contemptible, knavish, degenerate, and mediocre. Hopefully your new thread will reap better results, whatever it's about..:hurts:

so folks like you can toil angrily in the unheeded minority. :)

hmmm...

I toil on construction sites with my fellow minimum wage workers, there is no room for anger or bitterness in our job. Are all such toilers angry, bitter minorities as well? I will agree that we toilers are often unheeded, but shall never surrounder.

And one more thing Mr. Pragmatic Majority, Matt for Mayor! :thumbsup:

Thank you.

I call a spade a spade. I now understand why some conservatives have a strong dislike for certain liberals (who certainly cannot lay claim to any moral highground).

blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God :hippie:

blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

blessed are those persecuted for righteousness sake, for their's is the kingdom of heaven.

I enjoyed spelling it out in a less responsive way.

First I respect your work and standing in the community. But that thread was basically a Dean supporter only thread. There were very few dissenting opinions expressed with regard to the other candidates.

I applaud your effort to conduct a civil debate and I think DU is a wonderful forum which is why I am here.

Cheers

You didn't ask other folks to express their opinion. I, for one, respected that and read the thread without posting. I respect most of the posters on DU, but most of the posts on that thread seemed to take for granted the idea that Dean is honest, and not cynically manipulating them to win their support. I don't think that is a smart premise to start with when evaluating candidates.

Nobody likes to admit that they've been 'played', but we all have been at one time or another in our lives.

Dean is an awfully good politician. He really reminds me of Clinton in the way he operates. If I met someone who reminded me of Clinton in my daily life, would I buy a used car from him? No.

A number of people posted, myself included, who are not full-on Dean supporters.

Still reading it...

With all due deference to your thread, of course - it really was an example of how we can discuss candidates without wallowing in the mud - but I wanted to point out that this thread about Clark was another example of that kind of discussion. As with yours, there were some pot-shots taken, and returned, but in the main, it was a civil discussion on why Clark appeals to some of the folks here. I personally found both threads refreshing because of their lack of flames and backbiting.

Edit: fixed link

I wanted to see which thread you referenced but I think there is a problem with your link...

Cheers

I forgot to take the "http://" part off. Fixed now.