Criticism is the oxygen of democracy.

[cali]

That is why I find the attempts to shut down any and all criticism of democrats, including President Obama or Hillary Clinton or anyone else, anathema.

I'm not talking about bashing or hating. I'm talking about criticism of policies, criticism of appointments, etc.

Attempting to shut down criticism is simply undemocratic.

It's not heresy to criticize. It doesn't automatically make one a "hater".

Opposing policies one thinks are bad policy, simply because they may come from the blue side of the aisle, doesn't make one a traitor to Democratic ideals.

[TCJ70]

1. It's the kind of thinking that leads to:

"If you're not with us you're with the terrorists."

No thanks.

[sheshe2]

3. Me?

I am tired of hearing ad nauseum. I do not trust her. I do not trust her. I do not trust her.

[cali]

5. I understand that.

but this isn't about you or me individually. And it's not about merely about DU. It's about an essential component of democracy.

[sheshe2]

8. Lol!

Alrighty then message received. This is about everything in the universe OTHER than the peeps saying they do not trust Hillary on a Democratic board that according to the Admins are in GE mode. Your light and your might transcends that.



Chose wisely cali. The alternative.....

[cali]

11. OK.

I prefer actual wisdom from historians and philosophers- from Thucydides- called the father of political realism to Herodotus and Xenophon and beyond, (there is something to be said for reading the classics) to Enlightenment figures such as Diderot and novelists, poets and essayists throughout the ages.

Does that sound elitist? It's not. It's my passion for the past illuminating the present.

"Only connect..."


Time present and time past
Are both perhaps present in time future
And time future contained in time past. (I)
What might have been and what has been
Point to one end, which is always present.
Footfalls echo in the memory
Down the passage which we did not take
Towards the door we never opened

[sheshe2]

13. Fact!

Vote for the Democrat. Stop sounding so concerned. Do not suppress the vote. Do not keep saying YOU DO NOT TRUST HER. FACT! DU is in GE mode.

You came back from JPR a week or so ago stating soundly you would not vote for Hillary. A day or two later you came back once again stating you would indeed support Hill for what your son and a friend that died said. You came back and I stood up for you and got a dayum hide for my efforts. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

Yet here you are subtly so subtly trashing Hill. You will not fool me twice.

Stop it.

[cali]

14. I rarely say I don't trust her. I trust people know that.

I've advocated fiercely for voting for her- and you damned well know that. I said I'd vote for her. I've said I'll phone bank for her. I have said that it's largely because of Donald Trump who must not be allowed anywhere near the oval office. But to hell with the forced trust bullshit. That is pernicious and undemocratic. Ugh.


I'm not trashing her in the least.

Jaysus. How dare you?

Ignore it is.

And we do share one sentiment- Fool me once... that is precisely how I feel regarding you.

Bye.

[sheshe2]

15. You slip it in every chance you get.

Bye.

[KMOD]

4. Criticism is fine.

Smearing and insulting is not.

I don't understand why this is so difficult for some.

[cali]

6. Ah, but that goes both ways. I posted, for example, an op saying I believed

that HRC could benefit by doing more press conferences come the fall. I was jumped all over. It doesn't bother me personally, it troubles me on the premise of this op.

Some folks see everything as smearing. Other's can't distinguish between unhinged hate and legitimate criticism.

[KMOD]

7. Perhaps people didn't agree with you,

that HRC would benefit by holding more press conferences. I know I personally don't agree with that.

As far as the rest, hopefully they will learn to distinguish it. For the most part, the new TOS has been quite beneficial in providing guidelines.

[cali]

9. I was attacked personally. It was not mere disagreement.

And I think the new guidelines are iffy- particularly if they continue after the election.

[KMOD]

12. I'm not familiar with what you are speaking about,

so I can't comment.

I for one welcome the new guidelines. I think the conversations and discussions on the board have improved vastly, in both style and substance, since they were implemented.

[mathematic]

10. Too much oxygen and everything burns

Which is the point of so much of this "criticism", so well done on the analogy. However unintended. LOL.

[NuclearDem]

16. Welcome to the world of safe spaces.

[AgadorSparticus]

17. This again? Every damn channel, all the time is about criticizing everything Hillary.

That is ALL we EVER get outside of DU. This is the ONE freaking place that I can go to feel support and sanity for being a Democrat and for supporting Hillary.

In an election where we have fascist bat shit crazy and a female Democrat with a damn good shot at winning, I don't want to hear about so called "criticism" because it is anything thing but constructive. The gist of it is always to undermine Hillary's campaign. It doesn't go unnoticed.

But just hang tight. After she is elected, you can go back to trashing her all you want. I am sure you are just chomping at the bit.

[Arazi]

18. Yeah well good luck with this here