When we discuss our two candidates

[madokie]

is there any way that we can show each other respect? I read a lot of sniping and I'm guilty myself sometimes, mybad. But rather than forward dirt and generally talk shit on them why don't we simply discuss their known opinions and actions as a guide as to who should be our next President. Someone a clear majority here can get behind.
I know by listening to what each are saying I'm happy as a pig in mud with what I'm hearing and reading about how they think so maybe I can make a good decision on election day. I know I'm all in for Bernie right now, that can change. I was all in for Hillary for many years from time to time so I know that by discussing issues my opinion can and have in the past change.
What it is you like about them is a good too

How about it.

[99Forever]

1. I'll give what I get.

So far, I have seen very little to respect.

[madokie]

4. You want that I repost this as a Poll instead

[99Forever]

20. Not really.

Just stating my observation.

[NuclearDem]

32. Considering the way certain Sanders supporters behaved when he announced

that is certainly a true statement.

[99Forever]

34. Right back atcha.

[bigwillq]

2. No, thanks.

I do that in real life. I like when DU members are at each others throats. Makes for a fun time.

[Agschmid]

30. I see you are a Yankees fan, eh?

[bigwillq]

31. Yes.

And I see you're a Red Sox fan.

[Agschmid]

33. Well then...

It's on!!!!!

[zappaman]

3. That would be great.

I have not committed yet since it's such a long way off.
Both have good and bad points, but the constant bringing up the bad to attack the other candidate is out of control.
Meanwhile, the Repubs scramble to take advantage.

Sucks.

[jberryhill]

6. +1

[madokie]

7. Thats exactly it

As it is we're giving the 'CONs all the bullets they need to shoot us dead, so to say.

[Thor_MN]

5. I'm really tired of seeing right wing talking points

I come here for sanity, not RWNJ herp derp.

[lovemydog]

8. Yes.

[nashville_brook]

9. policy not personality...

there's a lot that can happen in the next 18 months.

[elleng]

10. Yes AND,

after Martin O'Malley enters the contest, May 30, I sincerely hope we add him to the list of those a clear majority here can get behind because, as a start, he

1. Ended death penalty in Maryland
2. Prevented fracking in Maryland and put regulations in the way to prevent next GOP Gov Hogan fom easily allowing fracking.
3. Provided health insurance for 380,000
4. Reduced infant mortality to an all time low.
5. Provided meals to thousands of hungry children and moved toward a goal for eradicating childhood hunger.
6. Enacted a $10.10 living wage and a $11. minimum wage for State workers.
7. Supported the Dream Act
8. Cut income taxes for 86% of Marylanders (raised taxes on the rich).
9. Reformed Maryland’s tax code to make it more progressive.
10. Enacted some of the nation’s most comprehensive reforms to protect homeowners from foreclosure.

There is a lot more, but Ill add that Mother Jones magazine called him the best candidate on environmental issues.
Article here:
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/martin-omalley-longshot-presidential-candidate-and-real-climate-hawk

[NYC_SKP]

12. Yes, AND!!!!

I love you elleng... are you familiar with the Tenets of Improv as a tool used to work collaboratively to develop big ideas?

[elleng]

13. love YOU, SKP!

[madokie]

14. Yes discuss him too

Dems are good people and for the most part we push good people towards our political offices, republiCONs not so much

The reason I like Bernie is he's talking about the things we need to do as a country to make it more equitable for all of us rather than just a few. Pretty much with all the issues I'm concerned with as a 67 year old Papa concerned with what we're leaving for my grand daughter to have to deal with. Bernie is talking the talk, and has walked the walk for a long time. Thats why I like Bernie

[GoneOffShore]

27. Like O'Malley - Haven't been following him too closely.

I'm still BoB (Big on Bernie), but he and Bernie are addressing the issues that need to be addressed.

[elleng]

28. Yes they are.

I look forward to the discussions after Governor O'Malley announces.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. I have no commitment for any of the clowns running for the WH

though I will probably endorse the big winner in this... BIG MONEY. Now talk about a big winner here.

Though I do not expect people to show an iota of respect here. It would be nice, but I just don't expect it. There is a script this silly season is following, at a faster pace than the 2008 silly season.

Hell, when one is critical of the MEDIA, people think one is talking of their favorite candidate.

[Dem2]

15. Recommended

I think we have good candidates this cycle.

[madokie]

16. Yes we do

more times than not we always do too.

Thats why I'm a democrat. Dems are good people who like to discuss, 'CON's on the other hand only know hate and discontent. I say fuck that noise. I'm a democrat because I like people, no matter if they're different than me, in fact that is a plus as I'm then in a learning situation. by learning I can understand

[hootinholler]

17. When the other guys stop calling us idiots

I'll stop pointing and laughing at them.

[madokie]

18. I'm cool with pointing and laughing

in that case

[MohRokTah]

19. O'Malley, Webb, Chaffee, Biden, Sanders, Clinton...

Lot more than two there.

[Dragonfli]

21. I must have missed all the hats thrown in today, better check the news. /nt

[elleng]

37. Martin O'Malley said he has an announcement on May 30.

[Dragonfli]

38. It is still 2 at the moment, I thought the poster thought all that was listed declaired

The post made such appear to be the assumption, I thought maybe I missed a couple but they appear to be still pending, is it true that the vice President and Webb have made an announcement that they will declare as well?

[elleng]

39. Yes, 2 at the moment.

VPotus and Webb have made no such announcements; O'Malley is as certain as is possible.

[TeamPooka]

29. only two official candidates so far with a few that have RSVP'd as "Maybe". What you have there is

a wish list right now.

[mountain grammy]

22. We have good candidates that will demand a good discussion

They are running against each others' policies, as it should be. They will agree on more than they disagree on. We should be as civil as they have been.

[madokie]

25. Yes

what you said

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

23. I know we are all liberals of varying degrees

So most of us know enough about the major issues to be able to have an informative, nonjudgmental, and polite discussion. But that requires giving some basic human respect to the participants.

Maybe we could set up a special "Civil Discussion Group" with very high standards to keep the trolls out. Then we could have serious back and forth.

In the end. I think the vast majority will vote for the Dem nominee. Until then, all bets are off.

[Martin Eden]

24. Respect is good, and so is honesty

My standard comment is that in a Democratic primary I will not support any candidate who voted for the IWR in October 2002. If a member of the House or Senate was fooled by the war propaganda they were unqualified for that office, and if they voted YES for other reasons they've lost my vote. Period.

There are other legitimate reasons why I believe HRC is not the People's Champion our country desperately needs, but I will vote for the nominee of the Democratic Party whoever it is because the R would be orders of magnitude worse and will likely affect the SCOTUS for many years to come.

But I truly believe the key to victory is GOTV and that requires a candidate who millions of young people will be enthusiastic to vote FOR (as opposed to AGAINST someone from the Clown Car).

I can express those opinions without snark, but I must admit I have on occasion responded in kind.

[Scuba]

40. +1

[Ford_Prefect]

26. Fair is Fair so long as I can call bullshit when I see it.

Debates over policy and philosophy are one thing. Facts are another matter.
You cannot call yourself a Democrat and be willing to negotiate away Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act or the Bill of Rights. If you cannot find it in yourself to defend these things and grow a country around them you must have some other goals in mind.

[Rex]

35. I think you and I have that respect for each other.

I would like to extend it to everyone about our two candidates.

[G_j]

36. K&R!

[pampango]

41. "Good vs evil" or "winner vs loser" are greater motivations to post than is liking them both.

The folks who like them both but prefer one to the other are not as motivated to post as are those who see one as 'good' and one as 'evil'; one as a 'winner', one as a 'loser'. I haven't seen a DU poll to prove that most DU'ers will vote for either of the two candidates. I suspect the majority would but you would not know that reading posts.

We lived through a bout of "if my person doesn't win the nomination, I'm taking my marbles and going home" syndrome in 2008. I suspect (although hope not) we will have another bout of it in 2016. We all know one party that will do what it can to promote the "take your marbles home" reaction among Democrats. It may be their only chance to win in 2016.

I like one more than the other right now but am not taking my marbles home no matter which one wins the nomination.