Any criticism of actual Democrats with D's after their name, at this time, is very stupid.

[Eliot Rosewater]

I dont care what they believe and unless they have committed a crime, they need support for one simple reason:

Our country is under the control of Nazi's and the KGB. Until this is no longer the case, ANY democrat will do. Any!

End of discussion.

This includes Kirsten Gillibrand who did indeed help to push Al Franken away and he did not deserve it, at all. But it serves ONLY the republicans by criticizing her at this time.

If you feel so inclined might I suggest you tweet Al Franken and ask him if that is what he wants you to do or would he rather see you criticizing trump and the GOP.

I know what he will say. I do.


Just for accuracy sake, you will not find a DU poster who jumped to Al's defense faster than I did, as often as I did, and as emphatically as I did. The accusations are either outright lies or since when is putting your arm on a waist during a picture abuse? Since never but it was used to railroad a great man. In fact there is no greater supporter of women's rights in the US government than Al.

But he is also very smart and the GOP hates that, so he had to go. And our side fucked up, but it is OVER.

[leftstreet]

1. I wish Gillibrand had read your post

After all, Franken WAS a Democrat

Now a GOPer will go after his seat

[Eliot Rosewater]

2. Bash bash bash, and elect more republicans as a result.

[leftstreet]

3. Railroad railroad railroad, and a GOPer will take the seat

I hear the point you're making, and you're not wrong

It's just ironic that the party doesn't follow the same advice

[Eliot Rosewater]

4. Nah, you dont hear anything I am saying.

[mcar]

5. Agree 100%!

Vote for Democrats! We are fighting for our lives here. This is not the time for purity.

[Eliot Rosewater]

6. And yet the very FIRST response to this was to attack Democrats. Weird isnt it.

[mcar]

8. Old and frustrating, Eliot

[Eliot Rosewater]

10. I see another one already. Exposes them, but they dont seem to care that it does.

Hopefully they are few and far between.

This is life and death.

[Baconator]

7. I think you're in the wrong social group if you are looking for "Shut up and get in line"

A strength and a weakness but certainly a fact...

[Eliot Rosewater]

9. Bash bash bash, and elect more republicans as a result.

But thanks for getting on record.

[Baconator]

11. You're welcome...

[Eliot Rosewater]

12. Oops, I better not engage

[Baconator]

16. Engage or self-delete...

No reason to half ass it...

[Eliot Rosewater]

17. Oh wow, screen shots. Yep, I know what I am dealing with here, absolutely.

WOW

Everybody see this?

[mcar]

18. What is the point of this?

[Baconator]

19. I find passive aggressive vagueness annoying...

... so now it's clearer for everyone and saves them a few clicks.

I don't think there was anything out of line in the first one but the second one is broad and non-specific.

[R B Garr]

15. This is only legitimate if there are no double standards,

like being browbeaten into not criticizing any politicians from Vermont.

Otherwise it’s just another tactic to manipulate people into silence. I don’t think we’ll fall for that again.

[Squinch]

27. For me the operative word is "Democrats."

[msongs]

13. the goal is always BETTER democrats where possible. nt

[Eliot Rosewater]

14. Uh huh

[TheSmarterDog]

20. Attacking Democrats & The Democratic Party never helps enact a liberal/progressive agenda.

[Jim Lane]

22. What about attacking right-wing, anti-choice Democrats like Dan Lipinski? (n/t)

[TheSmarterDog]

23. If you can vote for a better Dem, then go for it. IN THE PRIMARIES.

The primaries are over. As the OP says, any criticism of Dem at this time is very stupid. Because the GOP is full of actual fascists.

Is Lipinski a fascist? Or just a conservative Dem?

[Jim Lane]

32. The 2016 primaries are over. The 2018 primaries are just beginning.

The OP decries "[a]ny criticism of actual Democrats with D's after their name, at this time" (emphasis added).

Dan Lipinski is an incumbent U.S. Representative (IL-3). He has a "D" after his name. He's definitely a conservative Democrat, but "fascist" would be going too far IMO.

He has been criticized on DU in more than one thread so far this year.

I disagree with the OP's denunciation of any criticism of any Democrat. We improve Congress (and other elected posts) by working for Democrats over Republicans in the general election, but also by working for good Democrats over bad Democrats in the primaries. Yes, it's nice that Lipinski, if re-elected, would be one vote (and possibly even the key swing vote) to enable the Democrats to organize the House, and that's a consideration, but it's not the only consideration.

If you're not allergic to criticism of a Democrat, you can read about Lipinski's challenger here: https://www.marienewmanforcongress.com/ (trigger warning: contains criticism of a Democrat).

[Skittles]

21. we're not repukes

[Trumpocalypse]

25. Very true.

But they win elections while we lose ones that we should have won.

[Eliot Rosewater]

28. I try and not engage people who insist on bashing Democrats, and many still do here on this board

I have decided anyone who does is working against me, my party and...well

never mind.

Thank YOU for your comments

[Trumpocalypse]

29. I don't publicly bash Dems

Even ones I have issues with. Unfortunately, some dems are allowed to be bashed here on a regular basis while others it is forbidden to speak one slight negative word about.

[Eliot Rosewater]

30. Yeah, like my OP says, regardless of anything our instincts tell us about

unconditional or blind support for a party, right now we must do that because we are at war.

An actual war.

[Trumpocalypse]

24. Excellent post!

I wish more understood this.

[Squinch]

26. I love Franken, I think he should have stuck around, and I will vote for Gillibrand when the time

comes.

We need ALL of them.

[Eliot Rosewater]

31. Thanks. I would be behind a Franken for President campaign, for sure.

His problem is he is smarter than the rest of them and a better person than most of them.

He is the LAST person on EARTH who should be accused of what he was accused of.

[redgreenandblue]

33. This sort have thing has not worked, ever. If this is where we are, I see little hope

for 2020 or 2018, to be honest.

We need candidates who people actually want to vote for. "To stop the other side" is usually not a good enough reason for people to turn out in the numbers needed. And I'm not speaking of DU. Overwhelmingly people here vote straight D tickets regularly.

I had a hunch that Trump would win when I witnessed how low morale was before the election. When your side is shaming people who are going out and doing their duty for not doing it enthusiastically enough you know you are in trouble.

Obama managed to inspire people. That is what we need now, not "shut up and vote".

If Kirsten Gillbrand runs for president in 2020 she will very likely lose. You might not like it but those are the facts. DUers will vote for her, but she won't have enthusiastic grassroots support, and she will need it. No amount of telling people how much they suck is going to change that. It can only make things worse.