I shouldn't have to say this, but I will...I am NOT part of JPR

[Ken Burch]

Yes, I was a Sanders supporter. I opposed Hillary on sincere, legitimate disagreements about some of her policies.

But even when I did, even when I posted in anger about her, I never posted out of hatred.

And I always planned to do what I did shortly before the convention...endorse Hillary if nominated and support her in the fall. I am fully committed to making sure she wins and trying do all that I can to get votes for her.

At one point some other Sanders supporters invited me to join JPR, but I haven't.

And I won't.

I am not part of that site.

I've been told that some on JPR have referred to me as MIA. I'm not responsible for them referring to me in that way, and no, it does not prove that I'm sort of double agent working to undermine the Democratic Party. As far as I can tell, the term simply means that they expected me to join that site and are surprised that I have not done so.

All that I have done is to ask honest questions, make positive suggestions, and speak out for what I stand for, with no malicious or destructive intent. For this, I'm being treated like a traitor.

It has to stop. Not because of me as a person, but because the habit of treating honorable posters as untrustworthy and disloyal has no positive effect on this site, or those who post on it, or the chances of electing Democratic candidates at all levels in November.

We are all on the same side here, and no one here should have to prove they aren't operating out of hatred of our presidential nominee.

Please stop, before long-term damage is done to DU.

[NaturalHigh]

1. What the hell is JPR?

Is it some sort of freep site or something?

[Ken Burch]

2. I'll tell you in a pm

n/t.

[BobbyDrake]

34. Obi-Wan said it best...

You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

[liberalnarb]

39. You could at free republic.

[BobbyDrake]

42. Having seen both, I stand by my comment.

When right-wingers demonstrate sexist and racist behavior, it's expected. When supposed progressives do the same, it's not. That makes the same behavior from the supposed progressives worse by comparison.

[Ken Burch]

51. On that, I agree with you. Always have.

I actually think a lot of people at that site(from what I've heard)are paid Trump trolls, there only to guano-shuffle and incite toxicity.

[Jim Lane]

76. Could we stop with all this paid trolls stuff?

You've "heard" that "a lot of people" at JPR (not just some, but "a lot&quot are paid Trump trolls.

Meanwhile, on JPR just today, there's a thread warning about the infiltration of the site by paid Clinton trolls.

I have two newsflashes for all the posters on both sites vending stories like this:

1. There are subjects on which people sincerely disagree. Whatever position you hold on the presidential race or a similar topic, your position is not so overwhelmingly and obviously right that no one could possibly disagree with you unless they were being paid.

2. Some participants at, for example, newspapers' online comment sections may be open to persuasion. I wouldn't be surprised if both major-party campaigns are paying people to post there. But both campaigns know that the election is not going to be won, lost, or even noticeably affected by what's said on online boards like DU and JPR (or, for that matter, Free Republic), where everyone already has their minds made up. To be blunt about it, neither campaign gives a flying fuck what happens on DU or JPR. They won't pay money to posters when they'd get more return by giving the same money to somebody standing out on a busy corner in a swing state with a clipboard and a bunch of voter registration forms.

BTW, I've posted on JPR about my reasons for reluctantly voting for Clinton. If it happens that you're right and I'm wrong about the perceived importance of these boards, can you hook me up with the Brooklyn HQ so I can start collecting whatever the standard rate is? TIA.

[niyad]

96. so very true

[Bill USA]

56. my question too! Just Pick a Republican? Juan Pedro's Revolutionaries?

[meadowlark5]

101. I did a search because I didn't know what it was

Some message forum called Jackpine Radicals. If you're interested, do a search and check out the forum.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I think you can safely ignore them.

JPR has become irrelevant. If they want to grumble among themselves that's fine, but nobody is paying any attention to them - they are a closed loop. All that anger is kind of sad, though, because JPR was set up to honor a DUer who passed away; he always seemed like a gentle soul, not an angry hater.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Yes he was.

Did not have a mean bone in his body.

[Hortensis]

30. Nice to have that confirmed so nicely. I didn't know him

but have seen a number of people's comments that that site did not represent him.

[Wellstone ruled]

44. Sending you a PM.

[riversedge]

32. YES, he was

a gentle soul. Loved wildlife. I attended his Remembrance Ceremony, which was held a Nature Conservatory, of which he was a part of.

Yes, he was an avid Sanders fan but that site is no way to honor the former DU member!

He was be appalled to see at such a vile site is in his name/honor. As others have said, the site started out OK, but has devolved--has become a hate site.
The only way to honor Jack Pine is to take that site down NOW. IMHO.

[mrs_p]

88. I was wondering about the connection

I'm in a residency program so miss a lot these days. I haven't visited the other site, but noticed that his name was being used and it didn't really make sense considering what I remember about him and his posts.

[Turin_C3PO]

4. I've enjoyed your posts

and perspectives over the years and know you're a true progressive who's coming from an honest place in any disagreements you may have with various Dem policies.

[Ken Burch]

9. Thank you.

n/t.

[LonePirate]

6. Most everybody posting here wants HRC to win and Trump to lose in November.

I'm sure you do as well, Ken. I'm glad to have you here and I hope you continue posting and can ignore those branding you with the t word.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. I couldn't have said it better, my dear Ken Burch.

I am a member over there, except I never post. I did, a little, when I first joined, but my heart wasn't in it, and it still isn't. So now I just don't post.

I joined so I could stay in touch with my friends who have left DU. I was sorry to see them go, and I was willing to do what I could to stay in touch. But I am unwilling to join in conversations that I find unpleasant. So I stay away.

No one should treat you as a traitor!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Hear, hear. I joined, too, when it was first created.

At first it seemed like a good place to go to get away from all the Bernie-bashing on DU. But it got so extreme after a bit that it was no longer very pleasant to read. So I don't go there at all any more.

[yuiyoshida]

95. I am also over there.

I just run the International Music forum, and that's it. I am not involved in any of the politics. I enjoy letting people hear my music, and so far that has worked out rather well. Others post their international music, and we all get to check out music from other countries. So far its has been fun, and there are no problems as of yet.

[DesertFlower]

10. never heard of them until now.

then again, i don't post much anymore.

[geek tragedy]

11. I've always thought of you as being one of the good guys Ken

Never thought you ran with that crowd.

[Ken Burch]

17. Thanks.

This may be the closest I will ever get to knowing what it was like to be "redbaited" in the Fifties. At least i hope so.

[bettyellen]

12. There's a Freudian typo in your first paragraph there, Ken...

And it's a Duzy!

LOL. legitimatre reasons? Heard that mommy first wife stuff too often to not think....

[Ken Burch]

16. It was a spelling error and nothing else. I've corrected it.

If I hated the idea of a woman being president, I would never have spent months encouraging Elizabeth Warren to run. And I wouldn't have endorsed Hillary, which I conspicuously did on this very site.

(I understand why you'd wonder, but it honestly was just a keystroke thing. My mother and I get along very well)

[bettyellen]

23. I'm busting your chops. It's been rough seeing people on Meet the Press get away with

Calling her Nana and b*tch. And so many with the ex wife shit. it's been a ridiculous year. I'm sure they just assumed you'd be over there because you were pretty rough on her. I'm so disillusioned that a few people I really liked went over there at all - let alone have stayed - seeing how hateful they were while here. I don't know how anybody could think they were FOR anything except rat fucking. They never met a dem they didn't have complete contempt for.
You never belonged there. I know that.

[Ken Burch]

48. Thanks. n/t.

[bettyellen]

65. Did they start an obligatory thread on you yet? Lol.

[Ken Burch]

66. There is nothing I would LESS like to know than that.

n/t.

[bettyellen]

69. Ha! I've peeped in a bit for shits and giggles. CT theories amuse me.

[bettyellen]

13. It's good to hear you were never a member because the folks who started it were always transparently

Hateful not just to Hillary but to Obama and the majority of Dems period. There was never any doubt that it was a few rat fuckers who brainwashed the easily stirred up types here. They crossed into demented and hateful a long time before they started that place.
I'm sorry we lost a few seemingly good people but fuck it, they want to swim in hatred it's their call.

[emulatorloo]

14. Yr a good guy, Ken. Sorry if some people are giving you shit.

[Hekate]

15. KnR, Ken. We've had our disagreements, but we'll get through this.

This is the worst election of my lifetime, thanks to Benedict Donald, and it has not improved my temper -- or that of just about anybody here, I imagine.

Be well.

[Ken Burch]

19. And you as well. n/t.

[DemonGoddess]

18. While I may not agree with some of the stuff you post

that doesn't mean that you run with that nasty mess over there. It just means we have a difference of opinion.

[Ken Burch]

20. Thanks. n/t.

[DFW]

21. Right from the beginning

You shouldn't have to say this.

What you post here matters here. Your membership (or lack of it) elsewhere has no bearing.

As for JPR, I again paraphrase GJ Cæsar: veni, vidi, satis (I came, I saw, I had enough).

[Agschmid]

24. Yup.

[JSup]

22. You were...

...one of the more reasonable posters during the primaries and were one of the first on Bernie's side to 'cautiously support her' when you thought it was over.

I can't think of you as a double-agent. Don't let people who hold grudges forever get you down.

[Adrahil]

25. I think you've been a victim...

Of anti-Clinton propaganda, but I think you've been a positive voice here and I'm glad you're with us. Everyone should cut you a break. And screw the nuts at JPR.

[Ken Burch]

53. Thanks. n/t.

[BeyondGeography]

26. Glad you stayed here

[Lunabell]

27. I was a Bernie supporter too.

And it may have taken a while, but I am 100% behind our candidate. Hillary is the ONLY grown up in the race. She is a strong and empowered woman who will be an excellent president. I am now eagerly awaiting my Hillary bumper sticker in the mail.

[LovingA2andMI]

28. That's An Interesting Bunch Over At....

JPR.

Joined originally as we're die-hard Bernie Supporters (and still are but respect he is backing Hillary now). However, it did not take long to notice the level of way down deep in the mud nature of that site.

When we're "threatened" literally for questioning a You-Tuber named Tim Black - who now by the way is promoting some quack that claims to "analyze" Hillary's Health - that was it for us. Have not posted over there since.

We had to mourn our Bernie but fully realize that a Racist, Bigoted, Fascist, Clown of a Man name Trump cannot ever step ONE TOE in the White House. With such, we are full #NeverEverTrump.

However, our concerns about enthusiasm still exist for Hillary. Ohio polls are 3-5% for the Clown. Michigan is too close for comfort. And Hillary's Marketing Team need to FLIP to have their ads talking about what SHE would do instead of what Trump is doing. Let her surrogates do that -- or save it for Campaign Rallies.

Either way, we understand how you feel.

[stonecutter357]

29. you get what you give.

https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.M4401e6a6c54823902f12219bf41a16a0H0&pid=15.1

[Ken Burch]

52. Nice. n/t.

[Vinca]

31. As a Sanders supporter I was also invited to join, but declined.

I looked at the site once and it wasn't for me. Elections have winners and losers and undermining the best choice of the final 2 remaining just doesn't make sense. This isn't junior high and we aren't talking about Beatles fans switching to the Rolling Stones. It's our country and our future.

[blm]

33. I hear you, Ken. My differences w/HRC would never lead me to oppose Dem party and platform

and, as much as I adored JackRad our DU compatriot, I didn't feel right about what was going on at that site after his untimely death. Too many pro-Putin trolls were welcomed there because they wore the mask of Sanders supporter.

I am certain that JackRad would have not allowed a site with his name to descend to the depths it has fallen at this point.

Yep - I hear ya, Ken. You've been involved here for so long, and any attacks on you based on suspicion of your Dem creds, are unwarranted.

[redstateblues]

35. Wow. I never thought that for one minute

Even in the heat of the primary. Your posts are always thought provoking and have nothing in common with the dead enders at JPR.

[Cary]

36. Who cares?

You are free to post wherever aren't you? Too much information, too much drama.

[democrattotheend]

47. Some of us care, because we have our motives questioned here

I finally changed my avatar because every time I posted a poll people didn't like, a few DU'ers questioned my motives. I imagine Ken Burch has been treated the same way.

[Ken Burch]

50. Tons of times. I doubt you and I are alone in that.

(love the "Skittles" avatar, btw...does DU have that in its in-house selection now?)

[democrattotheend]

54. No, it's from a design I made

I have it for sale here:

http://www.redbubble.com/people/democrattotheen/works/23225514-skittles-lovers-for-hillary?asc=u

If you just want the avatar go ahead and take it. I won't be offended.

[Ken Burch]

59. I think I will. Thanks.

[Cary]

55. Again, so what?

You don't have to prove yourself to anyone here. People are free to question your motives. BFD.

[LanternWaste]

109. No more and no less than one is free to counter skepticism against oneself...

"People are free to question your motives..."

No more and no less than one is free to counter skepticism against oneself...

[Cary]

110. What's your point?

Did you not notice the "BFD?" That was my point. Big fucking deal. I don't see what you're adding to that point.

[tralala]

81. Too right

[still_one]

37. We may not always agree, but we have had good discussions, that were always polite and

respectful.

Not sure what has happened, but you always said that you would support the Democratic nominee, and those of us who post here are of the same mindset.

Most of us are aware of how rough the primaries were on everyone from both sides, and there are still bruises from that ordeal.

I think you said it best:

"We are all on the same side here, and no one here should have to prove they aren't operating out of hatred of our presidential nominee."

You are right Ken.

Take care

[muriel_volestrangler]

38. Ignore the troll, Ken; it's just a nobody trying to refight the primaries

because they care more about hating Sanders supporters than they do about beating Trump.

If people see trolls behaving this way, please alert on them for 'refighting the primaries'. It's a specific alert category.

[lillypaddle]

40. I believe you are sincere in your posts

There are always some people who are spoiling for a fight. Don't let them get to you.

[liberalnarb]

41. I was invited to join JPR about months ago during the primary.

and I did. I don't use the site anymore for obvious reasons.

[democrattotheend]

45. Same here

And I feel the same way as you. While most DU'ers who supported Hillary have been perfectly welcoming, there are a few who cast doubt on my motives every time I post a bad poll. It's really frustrating. I changed my Bernie avatar because of it, although I kept the sticker I made in my signature.

[Demsrule86]

46. First of all I don't care if you are at JPR...I check it out from time to time.

Armstead is at JPR fighting the good fight to change minds and get votes for Hillary. I have seen his posts... I didn't sign up for posting privileges because many who are there don't like me as a Hillary supporter. ( if you see this Armstead...good job!) The reason why people question you is because you ask us to be understanding towards Green voters and others who refuse to support the Democratic nominee...why you ask that here I don't know because such voters should not even be here. And we don't want such voters...you want third party voters...then hit Reddit or JPR or any number of sites...work to change their minds, but we don't have to give such voters any breaks or 'respect' their choice, or understand that they must vote their 'conscience' (because clearly, they don't have a conscience if they help Trump). No one cares if you go to JPR, plenty of us check it out, but we resent the constant meme in your post that we need to be nice to Hillary haters and let them spew their venom here. We should never do that. Also, the idea that Hillary must do exactly as Sen. Sanders would have done or it is somehow disrespectful to you and other former supporters (or third party voters) is ridiculous. The primary is over Ken. Let's move on to the General and support our nominee...Hillary Clinton.

[Ken Burch]

49. Two clarifications:

1) I've never said to be nice to people who are actually spewing venom at Hillary. My posts were focused towards those who were leaning voting for other parties because they felt the Dems had been heavy-handed on some things.

2) I don't want Hillary to be EXACTLY like Bernie. Or even that much like Bernie. What I am saying is that there were good things in the spirit of that campaign that should be included in this, and that it should be acknowledged that the Sanders campaign changed things in the party and strongly influenced in the platform...i.e., that we make sure that the younger people who worked in that campaign, especially, not be treated like failures and given the message that all they did was for naught.

Neither of those things would hurt this party. They would help it greatly.

[Demsrule86]

58. I have not seen young people treated as failures here...I have three in my house

Two went for Bernie and one liked both. And name any young person who has been treated badly on this site by me or anyone else. I speak to my daughters and son's friend's and have brought some round to voting for Hillary...but why preach to us as if we are haters of the young and attacking willy-nilly? I feel anyone who votes for Trump or any third party candidate is either clueless or cares only for themselves... a reasonable opinion.

[grossproffit]

62. This post brings so much joy to my heart. (((((((((( Armstead )))))))))))

Thank you so much for sharing this.

[Demsrule86]

85. "He" is doing a hell of a job. nt.

[upaloopa]

57. We all have some pretty vivid memories of the primary. I know I do. I am not going to forgive and

forget.

People were out to destroy Hillary's candidacy. We are not to get personal here but we remember.

[Ken Burch]

60. People were also out to destroy Bernie's candidacy.

No one should ever have been driven by the urge to destroy.

And my own motivation was not to destroy anyone. I simply wanted the candidate I supported to win, and campaigned for that candidate strictly on the issues and the merits as I saw them. I respect anyone who supported a primary candidate in that way.

[upaloopa]

63. The past is gone. I will remember. The anger and the pain is remembered too.

We must move on and not dwell on the past because it ruins the here and now.

But we should never forget that people feel very righteous in spreading lies and conspiracy to the point that the lies have become the truth.

Those of us who know and understand Hillary just deal with it like she does. You get up and move forward.

[Ken Burch]

64. Agreed. n/t.

[Gothmog]

90. Really?

Sanders was treated with kid gloves by the Clinton campaign. There was a ton of material that could have been used against Sanders by the Clinton campaign but was not used. The only negative ad used against Sanders was by O'Malley early on. From my prospective, a significant amount of effort was made to not attack or destroy the Sanders campaign by the Clinton people

I was at the National Convention in Philadelphia and there was some significant efforts made to reach out and be nice to the Sanders delegates. The platform adopted many of Sanders proposals and the rules committee met until 2:30 AM to come up with a package on super delegates that avoided a floor fight. The vice chair of the rules committee was still exhausted on the Sunday night before the start of the convention.

I simply do not buy the concept that there were any serious attempts to destroy Sanders by the Clinton campaign. Pointing out that Sanders had no chance in the general election and that the match up polls being used by the Sanders campaign were worthless are not attacks given that there was a ton of good material that could have been used against Sanders if the aim was to destroy him.

[Ken Burch]

92. I can't go further with this without "refighting the primaries".

False accusations of indifference to major issues and major constituencies.

[Gothmog]

98. The fact that you believe these issues existed is really sad

I liked Sanders but never believed that he had a chance of being the nominee. The Clinton campaign was never really worried about Sanders winning the nomination which is why the Clinton campaign never went negative on Sanders. There was never a need for the Clinton campaign to go negative and attack Sanders for a host of reasons.

I supported Clinton for a host of reasons including reasons that I share with many members of the African Americans on this board. I am strong supporter of President Obama and have posted many times why supporters of President Obama tended to support one candidate over another

I find the JPR site to be really amusing in that the idiots posting on that board are buying every conspiracy theory out there including some rather ignorant views on the lawsuits being pursued against the DNC. I volunteer a great deal of my time in fighting for voting rights in the real world and the concept that the idiots on JPR think that there was voter suppression used in this campaign is really sad and I truly pity the idiots posting about these issues on JPR. Even with the wonderful ruling on Texas voter id law, we are gearing up for a nasty fight which is why I just spent several hours training poll watchers. Voter suppression is real but it is the GOP that is using these tactics and I am offended by the claims of voter suppression on the JPR site. You would not believe what the GOP is telling its election workers to do with respect to the recent voter id ruing.

I do not take the JPR people seriously. I do not judge you to be the same as the JPRs but I also do not agree with many of your positions and have doubts about your motives at times.

[Ken Burch]

100. For the record, here are my motives:

1)To elect a Democratic president and a Congress with a strong Democratic majority;
2)To get that president and Congress to carry out a transformative program of change;
3)To build a strong activist base that is kept involved at all times in the process of developing that program and mobilizing grassroots support for that program, in order to get that program passed;
4)To make the Democratic Party, at all levels, a place where all people of good faith and transparent intent on the left will feel welcome and be able to make their voices heard as that party carries on the work of transformation.

That's what I'm about. Nothing hidden, nothing nefarious. What you see is what you get.

[obamanut2012]

61. This

[Jim Lane]

82. Indeed we remember.

You write "We are not to get personal here...." There were people on both sides who did get personal and who spewed insults at other DUers. I understand that feelings can run high, but it's unfortunate that people on both sides thought that all the incivility was coming from the other side.

I was called a "bed bug" here because I supported Bernie in the primary. I've now been called a "bedbug" on JPR because I intend to vote for Clinton in the general election. Perhaps the admins of the two sites can put their heads together and create an appropriate avatar, the Order of the Double Bedbug. I've never bothered with an avatar but for that one I'd make an exception.

[NurseJackie]

67. Oh dear! :-D

This is very amusing to me!

[Ken Burch]

68. You think it's amusing that my motives and loyalties have been questioned,

as have those of other good people here, when none of us have done anything to deserve that?

[NurseJackie]

71. HA! It just gets better and better!

You're free to postulate until your heart's content. Your guesses are way off target (as per usual) but I'll let you know if you're getting warm.

[Ken Burch]

72. I'll just say this:

You know perfectly well I don't hate Hillary and that I don't want her to lose.

[NWCorona]

75. There have been diehard Hillary supporters here who've had their loyalties questioned so

Don't let it get to you.

[betsuni]

70. Me too!

[Ken Burch]

73. A person disproving unjustified accusations is amusing to you?

Grow up.

[Cary]

84. Hahaba

[Ken Burch]

86. A response that would be somewhat more credible if you'd spelled "Hahaha" correctly.

I've proved over and over again that I support Hillary now and want her to win. Give it a rest.

[Cary]

104. Which part of LMFAO don't you understand?

[Ken Burch]

106. There's something to laugh about?

[Cary]

107. Of course

Laugh and the whole world laughs with you.

Cry and you cry alone.

[betsuni]

89. "Grow up": Oh no! My legitimate sincere amusement is under accusation, my honor besmirched!

UNJUSTIFIED. Thanks for the positive suggestion. But wait! Someone was mean to me on the Internet and told me to grow up -- I AM THE VICTIM. ME ME ME. I now will write a carefully worded pseudo, pompous, passive-aggressive OP telling everyone else what to do. This will be fun, as an honorable poster.

[NurseJackie]

97. Nailed it!

[LAS14]

74. We must support honest discussions!

[NanceGreggs]

77. Anyone who has read the posts on JPR ...

... would immediately know that you wouldn't last a day there.

You are intelligent, reasonable, articulate and informed. Such people are not welcome at JPR.

If you can come up with an OP about how HRC is determined to destroy democracy here and abroad, how she murdered all of her political adversaries, how she "stole" the election from Bernie, how she's dying of at least twenty different diseases - with suitable links to some RW, basement-dwelling blogger's inane rantings to prove it - you would have been offered your own "column" by now, to be devotedly read by all 200 people who post there.

[NurseJackie]

87. "All 200 ..."

... I know, right?

[SCantiGOP]

78. I've disagreed with you in the past

But I respect your opinions. The only requirements I have to engage with anyone on DU is civility and intelligence.

[tralala]

79. OMG get over yourself

n/t

[NurseJackie]

83. Precisely.

Thank you.

[book_worm]

80. Don't know what JPR is but it sounds sinister. I really don't keep track of who was for

Hillary or Sanders in the primaries but I guess some do.

[MineralMan]

91. You don't have to say it.

Most of us don't go over there, anyhow, and your posts here stand for themselves.

[Ken Burch]

93. You've seen how some wouldn't let it go even in THIS thread.

It's bad for the cause of unity.

Thanks for what you said there.

[Kaleva]

94. I don't often agree with you but I read your posts with interest

[JTFrog]

99. If you want some honest feedback....

Last edited Sat Sep 24, 2016, 07:44 PM - Edit history (1)

I would like to thank you for voicing your support for Clinton. I would never call you a JPRer. Those are some of the most morally bankrupt people I've ever encountered on the internet.

Perhaps you could try posting your "positive suggestions" without lacing the posts with passive aggressive portrayals of Bernie and his supporters as perpetual victims and pushing the idea that Clinton and her supporters are somehow the villains in those portrayals.

And don't send unsolicited PMs "splaining" things and start tossing out words like "shriller and more demanding" when making comparisons between past campaigns and Clinton's when it comes to winning people over. I mean, seriously. That made me block any further PMs.

I know you've said you will vote for her. I'm glad you're on board. But many of your recent posts hold an element of primary bitterness. I just wanted to explain from my perspective why perhaps your "positive suggestions" might not be taken in the light you want them to be taken.

My two cents, which I know aren't worth diddly.

[Ken Burch]

102. No, I appreciate you feedback about how I might sound.

I'm not personally bitter about the primaries. What I've tried to convey is the way a lot of Sanders supporters have felt, and tried to offer ideas for communicating with them that acknowledge those feelings, because I think the best way to win people over is to understand what might be bothering them. It was all in the service of trying to maximize Hillary's vote total.

And the reason I sent you pm's was simply to try to communicate with you outside of the heat of the thread. I'm sorry if that wasn't appropriate.

I've seen a lot of posts here labelling Bernie's campaign a total failure and denying that he and his supporters played any significant role in shaping what the party stands for. If people prefer Hillary and always did, fine, that's their right and she won, but I can't see how the posters who insist on saying that Bernie's campaign was a dead loss could possibly think they are bolstering Hillary in doing so. It's not necessary to tear him down to build her up.

Unity requires mutual respect. And it should include listening to ideas to improve the campaign no matter which part of the party they come from.

That's pretty much all I was ever trying to say.

[NurseJackie]

105. Very astute observations. Thank you!

[TDale313]

103. It's a shame it's come to this.

Seriously. I was a Sanders supporter during the primaries. From what I saw, your posts were reasonable and passionate and civil.

I checked out JPR. Mostly because a lot of people I considered friends were migrating there. I was disappointed with what I saw there, tbh. I never really posted much there (if I hit 15 posts I'd be shocked) , but stopped altogether when they started requiring certain phrasing/disclaimers on speculation about how the primaries might turn out in order to supposedly weed out feared paid Hillary trolls. It was... odd.

In theory it could have been an interesting concept. In practice, not so much. I think questioning and dissent on the left is desperately needed, but there are productive and counterproductive ways to approach it.

[mvd]

108. Well even if you were, there is no reason for you to be targeted here

I feel like I can offer things at both sites. I don't agree with the philosophy of either one 100%, but rather than stay off both, I just choose where to post based on what I want to say. I strongly feel Trump is the worst candidate, unlike many at JPR - but I also have problems with what has happened at DU. We should all be united on wanting to keep Trump out, despite how we feel about Hillary.