Got some interesting news today about the October 13 debate.

[Old Crow]

144. Merrily, I think we have an honest disagreement...

... on what is and what isn't acceptable in the Bernie Sanders Group, seeing as this is the second time I seem to have rubbed you the wrong way.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems you are of the opinion that nothing negative should ever be voiced about Bernie Sanders or his supporters in this safe haven. I understand the position.

My position--and I may be wrong here--is that some negative or critical statements are permissible provided that the poster is clearly in support of a Bernie Sanders presidency. One of the things I find repellant about the other camp on DU is that they seem to have gotten caught up in groupthink and a cult of personality. Everything is sunshine and rainbows in their group, 24/7, and if you sneeze in the wrong direction, you can expect to be banned quickly. I like to think Bernie Sanders supporters are more tolerant of dissenting views and, like Bernie, consider intelligent dialogue between parties who disagree important.

Permitting disagreement can be tricky, granted. There are, no doubt, some posters out there feigning concern regarding Sanders and his supporters as a way of propagating negative talking points. I am not one of them. If you'll search my posts, you'll find I want a Bernie Sanders presidency as much as anyone and consistently post to that effect. I've even put several hours into creating a couple graphics to promote his campaign.

Now, regarding my comment about "debate performance hubris": My concern has everything to do with managing expectations. I fully expect Bernie Sanders to perform better than Hillary Clinton in the debates. But I don't think Clinton will be a pushover, and if Sanders supporters set up the expectation that she will be crushed, the narrative in the media may hurt us. Should, for example, Bernie turn in an A- performance (using a lettergrade scale), and Hillary a B, he will have outperformed her, yet the media response could well be: "Well, no doubt the Bernie Sanders supporters are disappointed tonight because the resounding defeat of Hillary Clinton they'd been hoping for did not occur. Despite predictions that Clinton would not be able to hold her ground, she managed to do just that. Yadda yadda yadda." You get the idea.

Sorry to go on at such length.

If a host can advise me if my understanding of the rules of the Bernie Sanders Group is incorrect, I'll delete my "hubris" post swiftly and with no hard feelings.

Thanks!