Is "ABD" really all that shocking at this point in the primaries?

ABD standing for "Anybody But Dean" which I saw in another post. I am *not* ABD myself, although I prefer Kerry and Clark.

But honestly - Dean has been the frontrunner in terms of the media coverage, fundraising, etc. for quite a while; Gore's endorsement made the front pages all over the country yesterday, and there is no clear second-place contender at this point.

The primaries are not yet over; many folks have strong committments to candidates other than Dean. Others are undecided about the main candidate to support, but have concluded after research that Dean is not "their man."

Is anyone really surprised that emotions are running high; that resentment and anxiety re: Dean is flaring up; that Dean is getting flak from all sides? The other 8 candidates all have a stake in the primaries. If they're still in the race, don't you think they might just want to win as much as Dean does?

I don't like some of the attacks against Dean (and Gore) that I'm seeing, but that doesn't mean the attackers are not also Democrats who care about the future of this country. Anyone who is supporting a Democratic candidate is a Democrat who wants to see Bush out of office.

To quote my ex-sponsor (who I have a great deal of resentment toward, and would probably verbally attack if I saw her again, LOL): This Too Shall Pass.

considering what things looked like in May.

.

In '76 an ABC (Anybody But Carter) movement began among powerful democrats in hopes of curtailing his nomination. But they all kissed and made up after he was nominated.

there are supposed democrats who say the "hate" Dean. I just don't get this emotion.

I don't hate any candidate, although I am really peeved at Lieberman, but he's not a concern. I still would vote for anyone who gets the nomination , and am secure in saying that because there's no way in hell it would be Lieberman.

But these folks act like Dean is Bush, and do the party no good with the level of hostility seen here.

But this post is pointless, absolutely pointless. These folks will not change.

You know, I really don't like my posts being called pointless. But I'll save my vitriol for Dean (just kidding)

Think about it - your candidate is winning. There's no reason for you to be angry at the other candidates. Other people's candidates are not in Dean's position. I think it's natural for them to be angry and sometimes anger crosses the line into hate.

I think if Dean does get the nomination, there will still be haters on DU, but you might be surprised at some of the former haters who'll do 180s.

I often grit my teeth when some Dean supporters are smug and arrogant, but I'm starting to understand that is pretty natural too, and for the same reason - Dean is winning at this point. It must be nice to know that your guy's on top, especially considering all of the defeat Democrats have been experiencing lately. But recognize that not all Democrats are sharing this victory, because their candidates are (at this point) still experiencing defeat.

I'm furious with some of their supporters who are acting like Dean is worse than Bush. The dopes.

I have been a Dean supporter since about January. I think he's the best of the field, and will be a great President.

But...I also think that Edwards, Gephardt, Clark and Kerry have a lot to offer, too. Even Lieberman! And the "fringe" candidates represent a lot of my values.

I would support anyone who gets the nomination. We can't afford for people to be poor sports. If Dean's the nominee, I hope the other candidates' supporters close ranks and support Dean. If Clark or Gephardt or anyone else is the nominee, that's exactly what I would do.

Although some Dean/Gore attackers of a certain faction are certainly sounding like they literally mean ABD. I don't get it. I don't understand where the hatred-like quality they're spewing comes from. There's not a single Dem, besides Lieberman among the candidates and of course Zell Miller beyond them, who arouses anything in me like the contempt coming from that quarter toward Dean.

is that I want to sincerely find out the facts about all the other candidates. But there has been so much bashing of Dean on threads that I thought were going to give me information about other candidates I hesitate to go read them. More's the pity because I've found things I like about each candidate. Personally, I still believe Dean is our best hope to win in 2004, but I will support whoever is nominated.

I don't consider DU a source of "facts" about candidates anymore; more of a source of media buzz about candidates, and news about other topics. I think if I do choose a candidate to support before the nomination I will stick to that candidate's blog. (I don't have a lot of stake in the primaries, really, since my state's is in June)

(or something like it). There's a certain faction here you'll almost never get that from. And they accuse *us* of being cultists!

To me it is, and I won't forget.

and some of the "ABD" folks repent, will you hold a grudge?

...but I won't exactly trust them completely either...

;-)

"I don't like some of the attacks against Dean (and Gore) that I'm seeing, but that doesn't mean the attackers are not also Democrats who care about the future of this country. Anyone who is supporting a Democratic candidate is a Democrat who wants to see Bush out of office."

I agree fully, and good luck not getting flamed by people who STILL won't get it. I also hope you avoid being told you are copping a "meme". :eyes:

Makes me want to grab my (metaphorical) balls and say "MEME THIS!"

It is singlehandedly the most pretentious and meaningless device to surface on DU this year. The MEME. In the absence of a real argument, the MEME is dragged out for all to cherish and fondle. I LOVE when people who criticize Dean, or are ABD, are accused of being GOP sympathizers. Downright McCarthyite in its absurdity and extreme stupidity.

(This is elsewhere in GD, buried in a thread, lol)

"The primaries are not yet over"

How about "not even started"

I find it disengenuos because if Clark were in the lead, Kerry and Kucinich supporters would be hollering ABC. It's just bullshit.

Anyone who's in the lead is going to get piled on in an attempt to catch up. ABD could be ABC, ABK, ABK part deux, ABMB...

That's funny! I get your point.

:shrug:

I want Kucinich to be the nominee, but I know better than to support Lieberman because I'd rather have Kucinich than Dean. ABD's fundamental flaw is that Dean is in the center as far as candidates go.