If you want me to feel comfortable voting for your candidate in the general

sanctimonious lectures and loyalty oaths are not the way to make that happen. Browbeating, name-calling, guilt-tripping, and finger-pointing will only turn me off. But its very easy to do those things, and so a lot of people, out of frustration, choose them as a way to express their frustration. I'm asking you to take the harder, but more fruitful road. Sell me on your candidate. Calm my fears. Reassure me. Talk up your candidate's policies and good points beyond "he or she is inevitable, just look at this latest poll." I'm not voting for a poll number. My vote is for a candidate that represents me. If you think that's your candidate, tell me so, and tell me why.

Fact is, I have higher expectations this time around. We're talking a rare moment. Never will the stench of George W. Bush stink so strongly in voters' nostrils, never will the Republican party be more divided and unsure. If we want to make a progressive change in this country, now is the time. If that's not what your candidate is about, if your candidate is about just keeping power out of the Republican Party's hands, then I say that the vision of your candidate is too narrow. I'm not voting for a placeholder, I'm voting for a president.

Bottom line: you can catch more flies with honey than...well, you know the rest. Don't disrespect me, don't patronize me. Sell me. I guarantee you have a higher chance of getting your way without raising both of our blood pressures.

On edit: Voluntary disclosure: I support John Edwards to win the nomination.

It really sucks to be a new poster here & read so many threads that contain the crap you're talking about. And its kinda scary. Actually.

:hi:

:hi:

It's kinda sickening.

The repubs don't have to discredit the Democratic candidates - we do it all by our lonesome. :puke:


edit to add: Welcome to DU! :hi:

I mean... politics is what it is but... damn! Even a little less hatred goes a long way.

Thanks for the welcome! :hi:

There are many that feel they can bully everyone else and amplify their candidate's presence here by cajoling you, chiding you, telling you are stupid, etc.

Frankly, I suggest using the ignore feature. Their posts are predictable, anyways.

...and welcome to DU!

turned off being batted around by idiots makes me feel. I've voted for 40 years. I will continue to vote but don't lecture me. Thank you, thank you. :)

the republicans are fair game, of course.

That is going to happen and the candidates are not member of this bord, but rather, the subject of debate. If you have a criticism, let it fly. If you go overboard, someone will point it out.

What bothers me is when DUers transfer that debate to trashing each other. This is about politics, not whether some member of the community is "whiny" or "a stooge".

I've been turned off recently by a certain candidate who shall remain unnamed that I actually have no beef with politically because of his/her caustic supporters on this board, they're really obnoxious.

I haven't looked at his more recent work. Why do you ask?

and agree with you totally - what bothers me more than anything is when I post something positive about Edwards and inevitably, two or three other candidates supporters (most have never ventured to do an OP themselves supporting their choice) come along and trash him.....If I see a Hillary or Obama thread, I read it and move on...why waste my finger strength tying trash?

Don't fall for it.

I think there are genuine differences of opinion within the party, and strong feelings too. No need to posit a Republican infiltration to explain what is happening.

He wants to make sure everyone has a fighting chance, but he's not a band-aid giveaway lefty of the past. His college education initiative is dependent upon the student working a real job, which he amusingly points out "won't hurt 'em a bit." He was the first and most vocal against predatory lending, something that is destroying the poor, weak and confused. The initiatives to bring health care to rural areas is another aspect of his core philosophy: he wants the system to work for everyone.

He listens and admits his mistakes. When making unpopular decisions, he doesn't shrink from them.

What made this country work so well was when most people had a chance to make a decent wage, take care of themselves and their families, buy stuff, have hope and pay taxes. His plans and priorities show this: he's against NAFTA and he's completely pro-union.

More than anything else, he's tireless and endlessly curious, and he listens to people and adjusts. He wants to bind together the wounds and end the rancor so we can address some serious systemic problems like the health care crisis. He's approachable and makes time for those of other beliefs and opinions, yet he's tough as nails and a fearsome competitor.

This is what matters to me, and this is why I've been an annoying partisan since 2001. The way he went after Ashcroft in the confirmation hearings was riveting and showed a core of decency and perspicacity. He's also very smooth, so he doesn't make too many blunders, and although that's often leveled as a slickness that smacks of falseness, I see it as respect for others: to not go off half-cocked and to have heart and emotions without being a victim of their vagaries.

Many a time, when attacked, he could have blistered the tormentor, but he doesn't. It's not because he's afraid to, it's because he knows there are other ways to counter adversity than being shrill or petty.

More than anything else, I believe in him, and many others get the same feeling. That's a great thing in a leader; we're all rubbed pretty raw in this country right now, and what we need is someone we can all feel comfortable with and proud of. He's the real thing.

All that, plus he supports public financing for elections! :thumbsup:

I can make up my own damn mind; I don't need any "selling" or spin or lies or cajoling or pleading or aforementioned browbeating, etc. So I'm ignoring almost all candidate threads and fully intend to continue just that.

for this one!;)

Why must my forum pages look weird??? I don't get that

I don't post on many candidate threads, that's for sure. Were GDP ONLY comprised of candidate threads, you'd be right.

As a matter of fact, in the last month -- May 21 to today, I've responded in only 9 candidate threads in GDP, all Hillary and Obama. I even counted the one that asked: How many Women here support Hillary and how many don't?

I did NOT count my participation in this one, since he's not a candidate: If Al Gore runs, will you support him in the primary?