The STOU ops on DU today has me a little shocked..

[Peacetrain]

I will be honest with anyone who is reading this.. the last 6 STOU speeches, the next day.. there would be so many anti Obama, anti Democratic Party, ops on here, that I usually just checked out of DU for a few days..

I am pleasantly surprised...

[BlueCaliDem]

1. I'm pretty shocked, too, Peacetrain.

So I'm in good company.

[Peacetrain]

2. I loved the speech.. and thought he really knocked it out of the ballpark

Blue, I am a very happy Democrat today and proud to be in your company also

[Warren Stupidity]

3. The new "Fuck It, I'm Doing it My Way" Obama, is much better. nt.

[Peacetrain]

5. He really did draw a line in the sand with the

"I won the last two elections.. and the spark that flew out of his eye.. It was pretty amazing

[madokie]

49. The fuck you smile following that

is what really knocked it out of the park. I've never seen a look say FUCK YOU like that one did and I'm damn near 67 years old

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

51. And the look on whatserface, cant get the name now...you know who i mean

[ann---]

8. It's a shame he

tried so hard in the beginning to get the GOP to agree. Maybe he learned that caving in to them got him nothing. Too late, though.

[Nye Bevan]

4. I'm surprised more DUers are not knocking him for pushing the TPP.

Are folks around here starting to warm up to it?

[F4lconF16]

7. No, we're just celebrating him for finally doing

What he promised he would do 6 years ago. When democrats actually do good stuff for the poor and the middle class, we don't have to criticize them. It's surprisingly simple.

[NYC Liberal]

18. He's been talking about and doing this stuff from day one.

The problem is there are some people who apparently were living under a rock for 6 years and don't have a clue about any of it.

[Cha]

58. thank you, NYC LIberal.. and they don't mind popping up and spouting off their ignorance at the

appropriate times.

[bemildred]

6. Our loyalties are not to persons, but to ideas. nt

[Skittles]

9. he improved when he stopped kissing repuke ass

[Number23]

11. Oh, the Walking Dead are reawakening. Just saw one OP basically saying

"screw the SOTU. TPP will still cause the world to end in a few months anyway" so I have no doubt they'll be restaking their claim on GD again very, VERY soon.

(Edit: And just saw the post directly over mine )

Edit: And the dumb little image is still about 100 times more intelligent than the rest of the post. That is just too funny.

[Peacetrain]

12. ROFL

You are kidding.. sigh.. oh well

[bigtree]

13. It's fascinating how dissenting views are treated by many here as 'attacks'

Last edited Wed Jan 21, 2015, 11:20 PM - Edit history (4)

...as if it's more important to regard ideas and differences of opinion as betrayal than an instigation to debate. Unanimity is fine and useful for campaigns, but most politics requires reconciling different points of view and different interests. Most of what's being offered as dissent from the president's view here is along the lines of progressive expectations and concern, so I regard surprise and derision that someone in our party would demand or expect more adherence to those ideals as remarkably short-sighted and a lost opportunity to help advance our Democratic politics into action or law.

(edited to comply with complaints about grammar. The 'wordiness' will have to suffice.)

[Number23]

14. Lol, okay

[bigtree]

17. lol, to democratic activism?

...par for a fan club, no so much for a discussion board.

[Number23]

19. No, lol to your overly wordy post riddled with typos and reactions to words I never typed

You're gunning for a fight in your recent and all consuming conversion to the Blame Obama for all of the World's Ills club in this forum. Go do it with someone else.

[bigtree]

24. that's your response? Overly worded?

... better to post snarky slams on dissenting posters?

You make a good illustration of my point.

The 'typo' thing? Is that really something to deride here? I can't believe the level of discourse you've chosen to respond to me. Ridicule? Disgusting.

[Number23]

25. You are the one who came after me with your needlessly insulting bull

Complete with insults and now you want to play the "I can't believe the level of discourse" game. You have definitely learned the rules of this forum to a T.

It's apparent that you and your friends (really lovely crew you're running with now, btw) are pissed that this board is spending one whole ENTIRE day praising the president. It just pisses you guys OFF. And it's as funny as it is wildly obvious.

[bigtree]

29. I'm consistent in the views I express here

...some get agreement, some do not.

I'm not defined by the little boxes you choose to place me in; only in your own narrow view.

[Number23]

32. I genuinely couldn't care less about your views.

Fascinating that you think yourself important enough for me to put you in some sort of 'box'. You can think, type, and care about whatever you like. Means nothing to me.

[bigtree]

34. that you 'couldn't care less about' my views is obvious

. . .and a sad reflection of what I've expressed here.

[Number23]

37. So having done the "you're opposing liberal values!1" and the "how dare you respond to my insults

with anything other than smiling pleasantries," you're now going the "I'm so terribly, terribly sad" route.

Pretty much done with letting you waste any more of my time. See ya

[RiverLover]

38. I'm ALL for Progressove views, b/c I think they'd help our country if upheld, so count me

as one of many, bigtree, who care about your views & appreciate your contributions.

[bigtree]

43. hey

[LiberalElite]

15. "The Walking Dead"

REALLY?

[Number23]

16. The Typing Dead?

[1StrongBlackMan]

39. LOL ...

Perfect

[Number23]

41. Oh, you rabble rouser, you...

[bigtree]

20. basically a big FU to dissent

...in this case, progressive differences of opinion; not a presentation of ideas, but a blanket denunciation of differing ones.

[LiberalElite]

22. Yeah - Walking Dead is really ironic -

[walks with arms out in front]: "MUST PRAISE OBAMA...MUST PRAISE OBAMA...MUST PRAISE OBAMA........."

[Number23]

23. You are really UPSET, aren't you?

I'm perfectly capable of speaking for myself, thanks. And even if I wasn't, I wouldn't elect you to be my voice in your current state.

Sorry your last Obama pic thread didn't go so well. But funny how you still throw out the "fan club" pejorative as you've apparently forgotten the number of times you were on the receiving end of that 2nd grade and irrelevant little jab.

[bigtree]

26. the pic thread didn't 'go well?

... you think posting here is some sort of contest?

I posted those for interest, not adulation or for some sort of approval. More ridicule, but feigning surprise that you got a bit in return.

Dissenting views are par for a discussion board. no one should be surprised to find them here, or derided for them. That's my point. You seem to think otherwise. Attacking me for an unrelated thread is amazingly inconsiderate and rude.

[Number23]

31. No, I brought up your very recent, very poorly received pic thread to counter your "fan club"

comment. It's the height of irony that you, a person who was reviled by the same crowd that you are now doing everything you can to be all BFF's with, would go that route considering the number of times you caught that stupid little nothing of an insult yourself. And now, you just can't wait to do it to others.

And if you think I'm "attacking" you, you need to see who started this exchange and who pretended that one person said things that they didn't in order to insult them.

I'd be perfectly fine if the two of us didn't say one other word to each other for the remainder of our times on this board. Your new crew is not one that I have even the SLIGHTEST interest in hanging with so it's obvious we don't have anything to say to each other.

[bigtree]

35. I made a general statement in regard to the op that I thought you were agreeing with

... a statement about how dissenting views are regarded on this board. You're free to disagree, but I don't really know why you took my opinion about that so personally.

[Number23]

36. Yeah, how could I take that "fan club" quip as anything other than the compliment that it was?

Just stop. Seriously.

[bigtree]

42. you deserved it with that 'walking dead' post and all of the innuendo attached to the rest of it

...but my initial response was a general one about debate here at DU and did not deserve all of the rest of your projection.

[Number23]

44. If anything, your bizarre and completely unnecessary "refuation" of my Walking Dead comment

did nothing but brilliantly highlight the kind of brain dead "thinking" that goes into that. I know you are itching to be in the Cool Kidz Club in GD and with that level of discourse, you'll be there in no time!

I say that the Walking Dead are already imploring people to ignore the State of the Union because TPP is going to blow up the world anyway and you come out of absolutely nowhere with the stupidest, most irrelevant post all in the name of patting yourself and others on the back who do nothing but whine and bray on this web site. And then toss in some bullshit that I said that the people saying those things about the SOTU were "attacking" (even put it in quotes!) when I did no such thing.

It's obvious that you can't be honest about anything so why do you keep launching yourself into this thread? Like I said, would be extremely happy if you steered very clear of me.

[bigtree]

45. you obviously don't know fuck about me

I'm a 54 year old who works a very menial job, hard labor, at night and takes the time to post here by day, often at the expense of sleep, as a release and as a bit of indulgence in my own political ideals, not because of any juvenile projection that you're using here to ridicule me, but because I care deeply about the issues that I advocate for. Your continued ridicule is a sad reflection of what I wrote in my initial response to your taunting of folks who bother to post dissenting views here. My life is so hard. I don't deserve this.

Read the fucking post. It was a general response to the notion that dissenting posters were 'walking dead' with some petty reason for posting opposing views of the President's address. That was my take on your echo of the op and it wasn't really a personal attack, just an observation. You, on the other hand, seem to want to bury me. For what reason? I can't even guess what motivates you to speak about total strangers with such derision.

I've been here since 2003. I came to this board to express my concern about issues, more than I was interested in some sort of political fealty. It used to be understood that issues would be debated here. Now disagreements are characterized and ridiculed as 'whining' and 'braying' (quotations should suffice here). It's a sad obstruction of progressive debate; debate which should be the motivator and an instigation for our politics, rather than regarded as some threat to some political figure or party.

But hey, good going, you. You've managed to alienate me from this board once again. You want an echo chamber; a flurry of hurrahs for your pol and for your narrow politics? Such short-sighted, small-minded a goal should be easy to obtain. Just keep this ridicule thing going. It's a sure winner.

[Number23]

46. I've already made it clear that I don't care one bit about you or your opinions

And your overly long-winded and absurd posts only bolster that opinion. You're right, I don't know "fuck" about you and that's still too much.

I have not read your post and truly could give less than a damn what it says about anything. Your insistence on keeping all of this going says so much about who you are.

[bigtree]

53. but you care enough to keep coming on here with your ridicule

...why I bother to defend myself against your ridicule should be obvious. Why you see a need to continue slamming me for defending myself is a mystery to me. This is about the nastiest response I have ever received for posting here. You should realize that's a reflection on your own character - says volumes about 'who you are'.

[Number23]

55. If the "ridicule" of a person on the Internet who will never know you gets you this unhinged

then it's no wonder that you think your idiotic and pointless responses are warranted. It's funny how I'm "ridiculing" you when I have not made even the first comment about you personally and you were the one that started the insults first. (Edit, removed a true but possibly hurtful sentence)

I just remembered the circumstances of your last DU break and what lead to them. Finally, your posts and bizarre behavior make a bit more sense. Edit: And because I DO remember what happened (and am at this point beyond bored with the hysterics, dishonesty and melodrama), it's just better to let you get whatever this is out of their system.

[bigtree]

57. more ridicule?

It's ridiculous to describe my responses to your insults as 'bizzare'. What's 'bizzare are your repeated posts attempting to belittle me for bothering to defend myself against your personal attacks. It's just incredibly insensitive to mock me for the circumstances of my last 'break' from posting here. There's really no depth you won't reach to try and hurt me. I'm really surprised that you haven't felt any need to stop. Given the low that you just reached, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Again my first response to your post about the 'walking dead,' I assumed in reference to dissenting posters here, wasn't directed to you, personally. It wasn't even an insult; more of my observation of the reaction to dissenting views on this board. You, however, have gone out of your way to fit the mold.

Here's my initial statement in response to your insult of dissenting posters:

It's fascinating how dissenting views are treated by many here as 'attacks'...as if it's more important to regard ideas and differences of opinion as betrayal than an instigation to debate. Unanimity is fine and useful for campaigns, but most politics requires reconciling different points of view and different interests. Most of what's being offered as dissent from the president's view here is along the lines of progressive expectations and concern, so I regard surprise and derision that someone in our party would demand or expect more adherence to those ideals as remarkably short-sighted and a lost opportunity to help advance our Democratic politics into action or law

Not much of an insult as it's an observation, and certainly not directed specifically to you. For that reasonable observation I get all this:

"recent and all consuming conversion to the Blame Obama for all of the World's Ills club"

"you and your friends (really lovely crew you're running with now, btw) are pissed that this board is spending one whole ENTIRE day praising the president. It just pisses you guys OFF. And it's as funny as it is wildly obvious"

"I genuinely couldn't care less about your views."

"you're now going the "I'm so terribly, terribly sad" route."

"Sorry your last Obama pic thread didn't go so well." (strange slam from someone complaining that all I want is to criticize the President)

"Your new crew is not one that I have even the SLIGHTEST interest in hanging with"

"your bizarre and completely unnecessary "refuation" of my Walking Dead comment did nothing but brilliantly highlight the kind of brain dead "thinking" that goes into that. I know you are itching to be in the Cool Kidz Club in GD and with that level of discourse, you'll be there in no time!"

"you come out of absolutely nowhere with the stupidest, most irrelevant post all in the name of patting yourself and others on the back who do nothing but whine and bray on this web site."

"It's obvious that you can't be honest about anything"

"your overly long-winded and absurd posts only bolster that opinion. You're right, I don't know "fuck" about you and that's still too much."

"you think your idiotic and pointless responses are warranted"

"I just remembered the circumstances of your last DU break and what lead to them. Finally, your posts and bizarre behavior make a bit more sense."

...

[VanillaRhapsody]

28. This isn't DissentUnderground.com...

[bigtree]

30. dissent is at the heart of democratic debate

... there should be room for dissent here, especially along the lines of progressive ideals and reasoning.

[VanillaRhapsody]

48. Dissent is the heart of "Independents" you mean

sorry....but WE are a party....that votes....we accept OUR collective decision.

[bigtree]

54. no, you're wrong

Our Democratic coalition has a wide variety of opinion, interest and concern.

I've voted Democratic in every election since I was eligible. That doesn't mean that I should be expected to fall in line behind each and every Democratic initiative.

[VanillaRhapsody]

62. No....we don't have MILLIONS of individualists...we are a PARTY that has a Primary Election....

and if YOU cannot agree to accept that decision of OUR majority...then you are not one of us...that would make you "Left Leaning Independent" by definition...

[bigtree]

63. no, our party is a coalition of individuals

...dissent on issues after we've already voted should be expected from such a broad coalition of disparate concerns and interests from myriads of individuals from different regions and locales around the nation.

We all bring our individual concerns and ideals to the political process and those of us who identify as Democrats rally under our Democratic banner to elevate our issues, initiatives, and concerns to a level where they can be debated and reconciled in our legislature - often resulting in compromise legislation.

If we fail to recognize the individuality of our Democratic voters we will lose the genius of our coalition. It's an impossibility that we will agree on every issue. It's just unrealistic; and, in many ways, unnecessary. What I believe is vital is that we recognize and respect our different views (within reasonable boundaries of our party's philosophy and platform) and work to resolve any differences we may have without unnecessarily alienating Democratic-minded voters from our coalition. That's what keeps us together at election time and attracts more voters to our coalition; not some arbitrary demand for fealty to our party or pols.

It's as if you completely disregarded what I said. I have NEVER voted for or advocated for an 'independent' candidate in my entire 36 years of voting. I ALWAYS vote Democratic.

[FSogol]

47. Yeah, it is MalcontentUnderground.com...

[VanillaRhapsody]

50. You got that right FSogol!

the perpetual malcontents!

[Cha]

61. WU

[LiberalElite]

21. Ok you want a complaint about Obama (I know I know you don't)

I wish he had stood up to the Republicans for the past six years.

[VanillaRhapsody]

27. Its about Fucking time he got some respect here....

[bravenak]

33. +1

[madville]

52. Lowest watched SOTU during this Administration

I work in a decent size office with a diverse crew, at the morning meeting someone quipped, "So who watched the SOTU last night?"

Someone responded, "I saw the first 5 seconds before I changed the channel". Then everyone just nodded in agreement and laughed. I would be shocked if more than 20% of the population even knows what the SOTU address is or has actually watched one in the last couple of decades.

[Cha]

59. I watched it it online.. my sister just called and said she missed it and was bummed. Told her to go

to whitehouse.gov she could see it there.

Yeah, only 31 Million People watched it.. and got to see how great it was.. a grand introduction to Dems for 2016.

As your office illustrates .. many don't give a shite. I'm grateful for the ones who do.

[BainsBane]

56. They've got Hillary in their sights

I'll call it transference.

[Liberal_in_LA]

60. great to hear