Kerry runs a perfect campaign.

[Redneck Socialist]

Well, not really. Sorry somewhere along the line I guess I missed the Verily, thou shalt all march in lockstep commandment.

Give the reaction when someone points out that Kerry has a hair out of place you would think that it was suggested that Kerry strangles kittens for kicks.

Oh no, there I go, I’ve done it again. Next thing you know Limbaugh will be announcing that Kerry is a kitten killer and what’s more even democrats think so.

You know what? What we say on this board doesn’t much matter. Do you want to see Kerry get elected? Then take the time you spend at DU and spend it volunteering for Kerry, donate your money to Kerry. Those thing will do a lot more to advance his chances than defending him from every slight, real or imagined, that he suffers here.

But we should focus our wrath upon the pubs and not turn on one of our own. True, that is a very good idea. Bush does suck, but we all agree with that, and that does not make for very entertaining reading. Talking about politics is FUN; universal agreement is not. Examining the Kerry campaign, analyzing the good and the bad of it is fun AND makes for far more entertaining and interesting reading than the mass group think. Bush bad, bush bad, bush bad…

Here’s a suggestion: Let’s all take a deep breath and admit that the Kerry campaign has made mistakes and will make more before he is inaugurated. Pretending that he is perfect will not make those mistakes go away or make them any less real. We can have honest disagreement as to what constitutes a mistake. Fine. Let’s disagree, let’s argue, but let’s not hide our collective heads in the sand and only squawk bush bad, bush bad…

[Melodybe]

1. Right on, I'm so busy me head is spinning.

[movonne]

2. I am sure that everyone don't think that Kerry doesn't make

mistakes. I think we are so worried that bush might get in again that it makes people very nervous and don't like anything said against Kerry can hurt him. This is such an important election and we must get bush out of the WH and way we can.

[louis-t]

5. The sad thing is

* makes so many more mistakes yet the American public is oblivious to them.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. This isn't about constructive criticism. This is about people whose only

agenda on DU is slamming Kerry and if there weren't a rule against naming names or naming sites, I'd lead you right to them.....

Anyone can make an honest critique...when it becomes their raison d'etre on DU and when their critiques become as propagandistic as anything the RW has to offer, they should be shown the door...or the tombstone as the case may be.

I could reference a particular person who came to DU in mid-March, has done nothing BUT criticize Kerry, calls Dean "Howard' in the first person as though he is his best friend and confidante and doesn't speak an ounce of truth regarding Kerry...he is simply here to slam Kerry, deify Dean, and spread propaganda against the presumptive nominee.

I'm not hiding my head in the sand regarding the reality of the weaknesses of Kerry as a candidate...any candidate who was nominated would have to survive such attacks. But if people think the purpose of this site is to help SHITCAN Kerry...maybe they should re-read the site's mission paragraph.

[Redneck Socialist]

6. I honestly haven't seen a lot of that.

I think it is more as Movonne suggested that people are so concerned with that outcome of this election that they take everything to heart. The paranoia engendered by a few trolls is far more corrosive and damaging than the trolls themselves. IMO it is that creeping fear that sucks much of the joy from this site.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. I don't participate in paranoia threads

but i DO pay attention. Again, once one establishes a pattern, I tend to consider that when reading their posts. For the most part I DO distinguish between those fearful of missteps and those simply creating propaganda.

As far as what sucks the joy from this site, I don't look for joy from this site..I either bring it TO this site when I do or a I don't.

I DO think we ARE a mode of MEDIA and as such should consider that when we post...in fact, I think some of the people pulling this propagandistic shit know it far better than we.

It's why insurance carriers, drug companies and advocacy orgs actually PAY people to post and surf the internet.

[Redneck Socialist]

8. I agree we are a mode of media and a public one.

I don't see DU, or forums in general, as a very effective form of political activism though.

Like most things DU reflects what you bring to it. I can only speak for myself. I come to DU for entertainment and to a lesser extent education. That's what works for me. :shrug:

[UrbScotty]

4. Exactly; he's a human. (nt)

[blm]

9. His human and real mistakes are open territory.

Those who spread thirty years of propaganda that has been planted against him, however, deserve to have their posts picked apart.