No, not a GBCW, but at times I feel like I'm getting close. I started checking in on this site when it was young, back in 2002. I found it to be a remarkable clearing house for Democratic opinion (and democratic expression). I liked the writing, I liked the enthusiasm, I liked the smarts, and I liked the community itself. Check out my user ID; I've been here a while. I still think DKos is the most important progressive site on the Web. But over the last few months, it's been more and more emotionally difficult to see what's going on here. That's what I need to talk about with you.
DKos has long fought the good fight against the right wing radicals who are destroying America. It still has some of the best progressive writing I've seen anywhere, and the Front Pagers are generally excellent. But man oh man, has the 2008 primary season been ugly. I thought it was pretty intense here in 2004, but that was nothing compared to the kind of crap that's happening now. I'm especially incensed at how vicious the criticism directed at our two major candidates has become, complete with vows that "I'll never vote for her (him) in the general." The level of bitterness being displayed, and the insulting snark directed at a lot of people who try to point it out, are getting increasingly disheartening. It's gotten to the point where I'm beginning to not give a damn who wins the nomination, although I lean to Obama. I just want all this garbage to stop. And for the record, just let me say this:
- Hillary Clinton IS NOT REPUBLICAN LITE. She has a fine progressive voting record in the Senate and has built a hugely grateful constituency in NY state.
- Barack Obama's followers ARE NOT CULTISTS. They are overwhelmingly deeply concerned about the direction America is taking and they want to do something about it.
- The Clintons ARE NOT RACISTS, AND THEY ARE NOT APPEALING TO RACISTS. Anyone who was alive and aware in the 90s knows that already, and the accusations of racism against them are absurdly overblown.
- Obama IS NOT "OBAMBI" (IN THE IDIOTIC WORDS OF MAUREEN DOWD.) He is a strong, tough political fighter and he can handle the Republican attack machine.
- EITHER ONE OF OUR CANDIDATES WOULD BE LIGHT YEARS BETTER THAN JOHN McCAIN. GOT IT?. Think Iraq policy. Think tax and economic policy. Think Supreme Court appointments. To use a Hamlet analogy, while we're fighting each other with swords and poison, Fortinbras is at the gates. We must stop the Republicans from retaining power. Our nation's survival depends on it. This nauseating squabbling on DKos is weakening us in our main battle: STOPPING JOHN McCAIN. Our nation is on the brink of catastrophe. McCain's victory would be a third term for Bush. It would allow that smirking little son of a bitch to feel vindicated if McCain is elected president. That's more than I can bear to think about. How about you?
This lunacy has gone on too long. The hatred directed against Hillary is making me sick. The anti-Obama hatred is appalling to me. KNOCK IT OFF,
G-D DAMN IT. And if you don't plan to vote against McCain on 4 November because "your" candidate didn't get the nomination, then you can kiss my ass.
DKos is truly becoming a drag to log on to. It's increasingly one stupid, dispiriting flame war after another. Maybe after all this has settled down things will get back to normal here. I hope so; I'd like us to go back to fighting the real political enemy--not each other.