Does DU REALLY matter in the larger scheme of things?

[fujiyama]

I've seen a couple posts, complaining about how certain posters here will bring a bad impression upon DU and drive away swing voters.

Assume that blowhard Limbutt, or Savage or some other right wing half wit mentions the name of this site and the evil liberals cheering the death of our beloved...and some freepers come here.

Who cares? Those people aren't likely to vote for Kerry anyways.

What's important is how the party reacts and what the politicians say, and Kerry has been very gracious and respectful (perhaps too much...I doubt Bush will suspend his campaigning and especially gundraising in anyway).

I also doubt that most people will try to convince voters to vote for Kerry by saying half the things that are mentioned on this board. Hell, if this board represented the party, (let alone the American public as a whole), Kerry wouldn't have won the primaries. Clark and Dean would have been the clear winners.

In the real world, no one uses the terms "LIHOP" and "MIHOP". To most it sounds like a chain of pancake restaurants.

So, while some of the posts are a bit disturbing in their glee, I really think it will take much more than a few posts from some internet message board to kill (or even hurt) Kerry's campaign.

[bemildred]

1. Yes, DU and places like DU do matter, a lot.

But they matter precisely because they are unfiltered.
There is no "controlling the terms of the debate" on the
internet, and that is a good thing.

[ArkDem]

7. 'unfiltered' I don't think so.

[bemildred]

9. I get your point, I think.

How about "somewhat unfiltered"?

[phaed]

2. I seriously doubt

DU or comments on DU will ruin Kerry's campaign. The Reagan thing will blow over in a couple of weeks, Freepers will have something else to talk about, the administration, after this lull, will go back to coverup, lies, deceit; you know, business as usual. I don't post much, but the posts on this board move along fast, just like life, and something new will refocus everyone's attention on matters at hand.

[SarahB]

3. Exactly

We are individuals who can be raw at times. We are Democrats, but also as Democrats, we're less of sheepish autotrons who just spew out the party line. We may vote for Kerry, but we are not necessarily his spokespeople either. As seen during the primaries, we're a diverse group.

[LTR]

4. It's a message board!

Message boards tend to bring out a bit of craziness. People will often post things that they may not say in public. Whether it be DU or FR or any kind of board, I really don't think the opinions of a few reflect a whole group.

Anyone who tries to pigeonhole a group like this is seriously grasping at straws.

[Paradise]

5. As to LIHOP or MIHOP,

strongly recommended reading:

"The New Pearl Harbor by David Ray Griffin
Disturbing Questions about the Bush Administration and 9/11"

IMO, the best book out there!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This article also suggested reading:

(Snip)
"Two years ago a project set up by the men who now surround George W Bush said what America needed was "a new Pearl Harbor". Its published aims have, alarmingly, come true.
By John Pilger
12 Dec 2002"
(Snip)

http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/WarOnTerror/NewPearlHarbor.asp

[kentuck]

6. Does DU REALLY matter in the larger scheme of things?

Only if you want it to....

[Walt Starr]

8. No

n/t

[Cannikin]

10. If we didn't matter, I dint think we'd have gotten so much recognition.

I first learned of DU from a Rush Limbaugh rant. I've heard us mentioned on Fox. I think it scares the Republicans a bit that we have a place to gather, organize and generaly stir up trouble.


And this post popped up today:

Neil Bortz is on the radio reading "supposedly" from DU
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1738713

[theboss]

11. Nope

If DU had any real power, I think Kucinich would have done better than 2 percent in the primaries. And Dean would have won.

[MontecitoDem]

12. It's (usually) a nice place to chat

and maybe catch a news item or two, but no real political work gets done.

Many that post here are doing great things in their lives to defeat Bush, and maybe this keeps some of us motivated.

[wndycty]

13. Yes, but not for the reasons one would think. . .

. . .to me DU is like a think tank. I am able to come in here and debate issues, become aware of issues and candidates and communicate with like minded people. I think DU means different things for different people. There are a lot of us who take part in offline activism and I am sure DU greatly influences our involvement. It matters a lot.

[Cannikin]

14. Well said.

[bemildred]

15. Well said. nt

[bobthedrummer]

16. Yes, DU matters to all the politically aware.

eom

[stavka]

17. About as much as the modern day Klan