Political discussion in a vibrant, healthy democracy will include anger at politicians,

[cheapdate]

15. So the shitstorm that followed and continues on spin-off threads

is arguably nothing more than a completely expected and predictable consequence of an extremely "provocative" post and is not an indicator of creeping, authoritarianism at DU.

This isn't simply a general political discussion board, it's a political discussion board specifically intended to support the electoral success of the Democratic Party.

Argument is never unacceptable on a political discussion board. It's why we're here.

(on edit : anyway, "Fuck you, Mr. President, you piece of shit..." isn't really an argument. The argument would be over how the senate bill came to be and how it came to replace the bill passed by the house, which included a public option. The short answer is that political support in congress for health care reform was on a razor's edge. Electing more progressive Democrats is the only way to improve health care.)

(on edit : "Fuck you Max Baucus" would be more fair. Or maybe fuck Joe Lieberman for existing.)