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spin

(17,493 posts)

101. I read a lot of criticism of the Democratic Party here on DU and much of it is accurate ...

Thu Jul 25, 2013, 11:59 AM

Jul 2013

and warranted. Even Obama gets a fair amount of criticism.

The members of a political party have every right to expect the candidates they elect to largely support the views of the party and the voters who elected them and to try to do what they promised. When an elected politician doesn't deliver on his promises to his constituents and doesn't even try to do so, he deserves some criticism. Such behavior helps to explain why many citizens avoid voting. I've had many people tell me that it doesn't make any difference who you vote for as they all are more interested in supporting the big corporations than the little guy and will sell out their voters in a heartbeat. These people also inform me that once a politician gets into office he will do everything possible to insure he gets reelected.

When an elected politician behaves badly (for example Anthony Weiner), it is not wrong to criticism him and suggest he gets some help to overcome his problem. Bad behavior by the few can damage the entire party and ruin effort to achieve change.

But I will agree that too much criticism is not helpful and can be counterproductive.

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I criticize democrats more than republicans [View all] cali Jul 2013 OP

Cool. I criticize Republicans more than Democrats. ProSense Jul 2013 #1

lol DontTreadOnMe Jul 2013 #2

Good analogy vi5 Jul 2013 #10

And that is a healthy relationship. zeemike Jul 2013 #102

Should a wife be held to a higher standard AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #120

You just described our current government. RC Jul 2013 #204

you're more than welcome. cali Jul 2013 #4

Have you counted? n2doc Jul 2013 #8

Actually, ProSense Jul 2013 #12

^ THIS ^ mac56 Jul 2013 #33

The truth isn't a "straw man". Zoeisright Jul 2013 #104

Exactly right! AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #41

Bingo AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #84

Good one lark Jul 2013 #128

But you agree w /them & not Dems regarding limiting the NSA. DirkGently Jul 2013 #43

You criticize Democrats? burnodo Jul 2013 #46

Me, too. If I wanted to read endless Dem-bashing, I'd go to that funky website with the clunky MADem Jul 2013 #51

There are endless DUer bashing threads here AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #86

America's intelligence policies deserve a robust debate, I think. MADem Jul 2013 #97

And robust debate is fine AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #110

Challenge the assertion and ask for detail. As I said, this is not a conversation that should be MADem Jul 2013 #117

That is not a strawman AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #126

YOU are the person who keeps rattling on about strawmen in this thread. MADem Jul 2013 #131

Then don't use them AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #134

I am not--you are talking to everyone in this thread and apparently confusing people. nt MADem Jul 2013 #137

I know you are.... AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #142

I think you're just being disruptive in an attempt -- for reasons unclear to me - to try to derail MADem Jul 2013 #145

That must be it! AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #158

Priceless! ("Infinity") - LOL - nt HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #159

Republicans are too stupid to know any better AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #72

Yes! Cali_Democrat Jul 2013 #132

Amen. Criticizing Republicans is no more than "look over there!" "Look at that dirty kitchen!" Catherina Jul 2013 #3

You misunderstood Savannahmann Jul 2013 #9

Well done! Catherina Jul 2013 #18

Put some cats in Congress and the Senate. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #42

Hey I would vote for Grumpy Cat. zeemike Jul 2013 #119

Me, I go after the wealthy and the Repub economic policies that benefit them. HughBeaumont Jul 2013 #5

Uh Huh. trumad Jul 2013 #6

you're usual incisive commentary. does your, er, brilliance know no bounds? cali Jul 2013 #7

If it walks like a duck--- trumad Jul 2013 #15

Should Democrats he held to a higher standard AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #89

We do have higher standards---by a fucking mile. trumad Jul 2013 #185

+1,000 nt MADem Jul 2013 #199

So we agree AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #207

well, because babbling is all you do, trumad cali Jul 2013 #103

Trumad is a DU treasure. tridim Jul 2013 #17

A chacun son gout. I happen to disagree. cali Jul 2013 #98

Not sure how praising Trumad is speaking for all of DU. tridim Jul 2013 #148

Your misuse of "you're" is telling, along with a number of other things. kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #93

lol, honey. yeah. I don't know the difference between the possessive form and a contraction. cali Jul 2013 #96

My general rule; kentuck Jul 2013 #11

I criticize the ones who might actually see the errors of their ways. truebluegreen Jul 2013 #13

Ever have thoughts you don't deem worthy of an OP? great white snark Jul 2013 #14

84,000 posts since 2004. trumad Jul 2013 #16

I did the math and I think it averages around 13 posts a day every day for 9 years. Pretzel_Warrior Jul 2013 #108

You are free to put that user on ignore bigwillq Jul 2013 #25

lol grantcart Jul 2013 #28

thank god for forum police... Psephos Jul 2013 #133

I thought of posting something along these lines earlier in the week LearningCurve Jul 2013 #19

In a democracy, it is the peoples' responsibility to hold public servants accountable. Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2013 #20

I criticize them when they act like Republicans - and it's hard to see much forestpath Jul 2013 #21

I'm a Dem ...so repukes make me look good and bad Dems make me look bad. L0oniX Jul 2013 #22

I give all of my time, money, and votes to Dems Doctor_J Jul 2013 #23

Thank god, because the MSM is already so good at insightful criticism of Republicans, why pile on? SunSeeker Jul 2013 #24

+1 000 000 000 kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #95

Republicans are like rust. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2013 #26

^ this ^ mac56 Jul 2013 #34

+1 D23MIURG23 Jul 2013 #127

Perspective WovenGems Jul 2013 #27

This. I have locked horns with you but this is spot on. nt Dreamer Tatum Jul 2013 #29

When the barbarians are at the gate, inter-family squabbles are a waste of time and destructive scheming daemons Jul 2013 #30

Totally agree DontTreadOnMe Jul 2013 #39

I'm sick of the "perfect is the enemy of the good" and "They're all the same" arguments as well. MADem Jul 2013 #57

Perfect? AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #100

If X doesn't do Y, which is what I demand because it's what I want, then I'm leaving! MADem Jul 2013 #111

That's another strawman AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #115

No, it isn't. You have a nice day, now. nt MADem Jul 2013 #118

If Obama is criticized AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #122

That's your example, not mine. nt MADem Jul 2013 #135

I hold Democrats to a higher standard than Republicans AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #139

if the GOP takes Congress, they will be vindicated (in their own minds). KittyWampus Jul 2013 #165

Personally if I found out members of my family.. vi5 Jul 2013 #129

If Repukes are barbaraians burnodo Jul 2013 #138

This message was self-deleted by its author Cali_Democrat Jul 2013 #192

When the Barbarians are at the gate AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #152

This message was self-deleted by its author seaglass Jul 2013 #162

Good point rock Jul 2013 #31

I don't. Even when they deserve it. And I don't care to admit it. nt AllINeedIsCoffee Jul 2013 #32

I complain to Democratic office holders, I try not to Progressive dog Jul 2013 #35

They or their staff ACTUALLY read some posts on DU and other web sites. Individual emails and AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #45

Bullshit. They keep stats on the number of letters they receive, not DU posts. SunSeeker Jul 2013 #61

Bullshit yourself. They are influenced by the public's perception, which includes web postings. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #65

A post on DU does not even compare to a letter. The Repukes know it. SunSeeker Jul 2013 #85

The NRA has something to do with your thinking? Tell that to the Democratic Congressmen who lost AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #144

Ooh. Hit a sore spot didn't I? You forgot all about your bullshit about DU posts. SunSeeker Jul 2013 #157

Hit a sore spot? Not at all. the 1994 policy of being anti-choice helped Republican candidates. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #169

OFFS, the "right" to an AR-15 is not the same as the right to abortion. SunSeeker Jul 2013 #171

The right to choose whether to own a firearm or not has been an American tradition. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #182

Owning an AR-15 is not an "American Tradition." No one is talking about banning all guns. SunSeeker Jul 2013 #184

Authoritarians want to restrict choices. Restricting discussions to only one type of choice AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #187

Restricting abortion is authoritarian. Restricting AR-15's is sanity. SunSeeker Jul 2013 #191

"Restricting AR-15's is sanity." Only in the imagination of those who forgot the '94 election. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #194

Like I said, it is not 1994. nt SunSeeker Jul 2013 #195

You just figured that out? Why do you want to repeat that? Most sensible politicians who are AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #198

The U.S. has changed. The NRA is vulnerable, unlike in 1994. nt SunSeeker Jul 2013 #200

A change is that gun ownership amongst Democrats is higher than ever before. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #201

Very misleading. The percentage of people who own guns has not risen. SunSeeker Jul 2013 #202

Nope. See #201. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #203

Nope. See link below. Your 2011 Gallup link is a bit outdated. SunSeeker Jul 2013 #205

Actually, the CNN analysis is unreliable because parroted talking points from an advocacy group. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #208

Wrong. Favoring reasonable gun control is not the kiss of death it was in 1994. SunSeeker Jul 2013 #210

Of course they do, and they also pick up telephones. Progressive dog Jul 2013 #70

You criticize Republicans? Do you ever criticize Republicans that have been put in high-level AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #79

Oh wow, someone who continually complains about the Democratic President Progressive dog Jul 2013 #91

No one called you a Republican. You may be a Republican, but no one called you that. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #147

I hate to call someone untruthful but in your own words Progressive dog Jul 2013 #186

You expressly said "MY REPRESENTATIVE IS A REPUBLICAN ..." at #70. Were you being truthful AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #189

You can't read your whole sentence. Progressive dog Jul 2013 #193

Are you referring to the sentence: "More than just your Congressional Representative is a Republican AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #197

Okay so you didn't call me a Republican Progressive dog Jul 2013 #212

It's like having one out-of-control abusive parent. canoeist52 Jul 2013 #36

republicans are counting on that bigtree Jul 2013 #37

+1 SunSeeker Jul 2013 #62

Plus one million. Zoeisright Jul 2013 #106

Hear hear lumpy Jul 2013 #164

You hit the nail on the head. Thanks for getting to the heart of the matter. n/t emulatorloo Jul 2013 #168

That's for damn sure. I seldom hear any criticism of Republicans Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2013 #38

I don't criticize Dogs for being Dogs. bvar22 Jul 2013 #40

Exactly. The support doesn't come without strings. Catherina Jul 2013 #47

EXCELLENT post. Deserves an OP. nt laundry_queen Jul 2013 #209

bvar22, I love ya Oilwellian Jul 2013 #211

It you again fjlovato Jul 2013 #44

Hear hear lumpy Jul 2013 #166

lol. like YOU can tell me to leave DU. bzzzt. fail, dear. cali Jul 2013 #183

I have given up on obama Garion_55 Jul 2013 #48

Okay, like who? HappyMe Jul 2013 #49

good question. Garion_55 Jul 2013 #52

No answer? HappyMe Jul 2013 #71

its a pretty thin bench. Garion_55 Jul 2013 #77

That person voted Libertarian (Gary Johnson) in 2012. nt geek tragedy Jul 2013 #56

yes i voted Pro-Pot. Garion_55 Jul 2013 #60

So you are basically a one issue voter? HappyMe Jul 2013 #66

last election i was, yes. Garion_55 Jul 2013 #73

Part of the Doritos lobby then. HappyMe Jul 2013 #76

at the time i was watching my step mom wither away and die from cancer Garion_55 Jul 2013 #81

Pot doesn't keep people alive. HappyMe Jul 2013 #87

no but it does allow Garion_55 Jul 2013 #90

I am 5 years cancer free. HappyMe Jul 2013 #107

none of which are getting solved Garion_55 Jul 2013 #125

Then I guess the only thing HappyMe Jul 2013 #130

nah ill just vote for the progressives Garion_55 Jul 2013 #136

+1 sheshe2 Jul 2013 #140

ah, the age-old cry of the "one-issue-voter", eh? burnodo Jul 2013 #141

Maybe you should grow up and not think that your ability to smoke weed geek tragedy Jul 2013 #68

actually i was thinking about my step mom (rip) Garion_55 Jul 2013 #75

You also voted pro-free trade, pro-fair tax, pro-voucher, pro-deregulation, pro-life . . . HughBeaumont Jul 2013 #196

Oh boy. HappyMe Jul 2013 #80

You voted for a Republican in 2012, so bullshit you're lying nt geek tragedy Jul 2013 #54

actually i voted gary johnson Garion_55 Jul 2013 #58

No matter your intentions, persistent criticism can do more harm than good. DCBob Jul 2013 #50

Good point. However not criticizing your friend when he obviously has a serious problem .... spin Jul 2013 #55

Sure, its a balance.. DCBob Jul 2013 #59

I read a lot of criticism of the Democratic Party here on DU and much of it is accurate ... spin Jul 2013 #101

The Democratic Party is not my friend. LWolf Jul 2013 #160

In the world of hard core politics the Democratic Party is our friend. DCBob Jul 2013 #172

Bullshit. LWolf Jul 2013 #178

Elephantshit. DCBob Jul 2013 #179

Of course I see the big picture. LWolf Jul 2013 #181

Well you are looking at an even bigger big picture. DCBob Jul 2013 #188

K&R MotherPetrie Jul 2013 #53

This message was self-deleted by its author woo me with science Jul 2013 #63

Do you really believe that change will come through this party? polichick Jul 2013 #69

No. woo me with science Jul 2013 #78

It's not clear how change will come but I'm a little bit hopeful about... polichick Jul 2013 #109

In other words, Republicans get a "free pass" from you emulatorloo Jul 2013 #64

Certainly not the Republicans who have been put in high-level Administrative positions by Obama. AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2013 #83

cool story, bro. emulatorloo Jul 2013 #92

I highly recommend and kick your thread. see? I'm not so bad Pretzel_Warrior Jul 2013 #67

Democrats AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #74

Come on ProSense Jul 2013 #82

Your posts have become a surreal, mocking celebration of the destruction of America. woo me with science Jul 2013 #94

This message was self-deleted by its author emulatorloo Jul 2013 #105

Your comments are silly, but at least I'm not ProSense Jul 2013 #114

"having to respond your obsessive reposting" AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #154

cheer up,we still have wyden questionseverything Jul 2013 #180

No kidding. Really?? I don't believe I've ever yet seen you criticize Republicans. kestrel91316 Jul 2013 #88

And that is the disconnect here bobduca Jul 2013 #99

Yes, because Democratic Underground should not be about fighting the Republican Agenda. emulatorloo Jul 2013 #112

let's say DU came together, totally unequivocally fighting the Pukes and supporting Democrats... burnodo Jul 2013 #151

Agreed, it is best to let the Teabaggers finish taking over the House and Senate emulatorloo Jul 2013 #161

They're already doing that. They're already winning. burnodo Jul 2013 #170

"If Democrats are superior elections shouldn't be so close. " emulatorloo Jul 2013 #175

Yes! That's it. I criticize Democrats because it's much more important to do so. limpyhobbler Jul 2013 #113

Republicans ARE bad AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #116

so bad they usually can't be reasoned with. limpyhobbler Jul 2013 #121

Many times AgingAmerican Jul 2013 #123

Repubs are bad and always will be. Why should morningfog Jul 2013 #143

So do I Spirochete Jul 2013 #124

K&R... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2013 #146

I despised LBJ JohnnyRingo Jul 2013 #149

I hate the republican party. I have zero respect for them. morningfog Jul 2013 #150

Bravo! The Republicans these days are mostly good only for ridicule, as far HardTimes99 Jul 2013 #153

poor excuse treestar Jul 2013 #155

So do I. LWolf Jul 2013 #156

There's a website where people people criticize Dems, especially Obama, more than Republicans Cali_Democrat Jul 2013 #163

So in your opinion we should continue to support any and all Democrats ... spin Jul 2013 #173

Republicans are followers - Dems, not so much... polichick Jul 2013 #174

I'm with you, cali....nt Enthusiast Jul 2013 #167

Indeed you do. MineralMan Jul 2013 #176

Yet, despite the best attempts by the RAH RAH crowd you are still here. Rex Jul 2013 #177

Imagine if you used the time spent complaining trying to find and promote JoePhilly Jul 2013 #190

Criticizing Republicans here is preaching to the choir. backscatter712 Jul 2013 #206

It appears this thread did not go down quite the way I'm sure that you were hoping. Number23 Jul 2013 #213