Just an observation. But at this time four years ago, I think DU was a lot more squabbly

Maybe my recollection is off by a couple of months. But I think, for all their little dust ups, the Edwards, Obama, and Clinton supporters are comporting themselves much better than the Kucinich, Dean, and Kerry people did who were dominating the board in the summer of '04.

And don't even get me started on the Clarkies. We came in late, but we were real baaastids. :o)

That's no implied criticism of the afore mentioned candidates, of course. I'm just thinking that DU seems to have grown up a bit in the last four years. I think we're better, as an online culture, at accepting disagreements among ourselves.

The summer of '04 was right before the election. As I recall, the previous spring's primary season was really ugly. I was mostly just a lurker then.

And I just got onto someone else in another thread for implying that seven minus four equals two. Here I've made the EXACT same mistake!! :O

if you enjoy smacking people around and getting your ass kicked.

We haven't come near that level of intensity yet, but give it time.

Mud slinging is ugly at its best. I have written literally hundreds of letters and memos to everybody I can think of to restrain your enthusiasm, make sure any slam you perpetrate is solidly grounded on facts and doesn't look like swift-boating or you will lose. We the people are sick and tired of that crap.

Direct your attacks toward the real ideological enemy and still make deadly sure you are solidly in the ball park and then really hit 'em hard, using real words like "liar" and "convicted" and "hypocrite" in your drive and point to real facts to back up your assertions. This election has the spotlight firmly centered on republican corruption and one should not have to look very far to unearth all sorts of examples of stunning criminality.

I'll bet there were a lot more who echoed those sentiments. Whether or not that has made a difference is difficult to ascertain, but that is good as no one can claim credit and we are all responsible.

The campaign discussions offered considerably more gratification to my combative inclinations than my old haunt of Israel v. Palestine could provide....

We have not reached nearly that state yet.