How do those of us who are not set on a Dem candidate fit in right now?

[HuckleB]

That's a weird question, I know. It's not really what I'm getting at, but I do feel out of it. The battles don't make sense to me. The anger doesn't make sense to me. I've had to check out of even following the "battles." Now, I'm not a newbie. I've watched the primary battles of the past, and some of them were ugly, but I just can't check in, this time around, for some reason. It's probably "me, and not you," so to speak.

Still, as someone in this position, I'm worried about it all coming together this Fall. The GOP candidate will be more horrific than any in history. That scares me. We have to win the White House. We have to win the White House. We have to win the White House. Oh, I guess I have a mantra.

Maybe I'm just asking for the classic "talking down" from someone who will remind me that we will get back together and organize for the general election, no matter what, because we have to do so.

Yeah, that's probably it.




and...

[Lucinda]

1. We always have, so I hope we will.

I wish we were different now though.

[HuckleB]

3. Indeed.

The funny thing is that DU's check system screwed me up, because my automatic response is to check the box to post in regular GD, because I'm so checked out from the primaries.

That was funny, at least to me!

[Lucinda]

10. My default was to avoid it for a long time.

And I will when it gets to be too much. But for now, people are mostly being kind to me and we are just talking through stuff. But I like Bernie, even though I prefer Hillary. So I avoid most of the posts with yelling.

[HuckleB]

14. Yeah, I'm good with both candidates.

I like Bernie a bit more, though there are areas where he drives me crazy, and I'm starting to realize that some of the anti-Hillary stuff is not all that. Still... We need to win as a party in November!!!

[Lucinda]

15. Absolutely!

[Agnosticsherbet]

2. Roll dice in the primary. Vote for the Democratic Party nominee in the general.

Easy-peasy.

[HuckleB]

9. I hope you're right.

[Agnosticsherbet]

18. Sadly, the worst possible Democrat will be far better than the best possible Republican.

It would be nice if we had a world where both parties nominated good candidates.

They don't.

[HuckleB]

19. That might be part of what makes me wary.

If one party in a two party system fails to put up a legit candidate, what does that mean? (And the GOP clearly put up illegitimate VP candidates each of the last two elections, nevermind the silliness of the two before that. The road they're on is scary.)

[Recursion]

4. I'm definitely not enthused about my remaining choices

Neither of them have a narrative that really works for me.

[HuckleB]

6. I guess that's where I'm at, but the alternative is too horrific.

I wasn't excited about Gore, but that loss sucked for all of us. Big time.

I worry that I'm getting old and cynical, too, of course, but...

[metroins]

5. I feel like

Our D Party is cannibalizing itself between Hillary and Bernie.

I personally like Hillary but would be Ok with Bernie.

This is apparently not a feasible opinion.

[HuckleB]

7. Either one has to be a feasible option.

Too many people would be hurt, otherwise.

[Laffy Kat]

12. Yes, it's a no brainer.

Democratic all the way. The alternative is too awful to consider.

[metroins]

22. Yea the gop is nuts

[TCJ70]

17. There isn't anything wrong with that...

...I think if you're going to be involved in a forum like this you have to put on your "Passionate Candidate Support" filter. Many criticisms brought against the candidates are legit, but sometimes you have to look past the language used to find the truth behind it.

Example 1: When you see "HILLARY IS A LIAR!" What's at the heart of that is that she's changed positions numerous times over the years on any issue you want. It's a matter of record that is easily confirmed in video. Is she a liar? I'm not ready to say that's part of her character, but consistency isn't her strong suit.

Example 2: When you see "BERNIE LOVES THEM GUNS!" At the heart of that is a vote he took for the PLCAA and against the Brady Bill. He did those things. He had his reasons and he's explained them. He doesn't believe in blanket immunity for anyone in the gun industry and really if you look at the PLCAA bill it doesn't provide that immunity. He does believe in legal gun ownership.

It's easy for those who exhibit symptoms of Passionate Candidate Support to lean towards extremes. All of us have a responsibility to either look past it to get to the kernel of truth and do our best not to fall into it ourselves. Not everyone is so good at that. That doesn't make those people bad or terrible, it just makes them really into it.

[metroins]

20. I think you made a great post

And I appreciate you taking the time to write it up.

I agree with it all.

[TCJ70]

23. I was a victim...

...of Passionate Candidate Support and am currently in self recovery. Lol

Trying to tone it down...it's not always easy.

But you're welcome!

[HuckleB]

34. Facebook needs a "Passionate Candidate Support" recovery option.

It's crazy. Maybe spending more time in the woods is the way to go in election years.

[NowSam]

8. Great Question

Since you asked I suggest that when its time to vote that you vote for the candidate who you think is honest, fair, just, compassionate and wants to make our nation and our world a better place for everyone. More peaceful. Less, poverty. Healthcare for all. Affordable College. Cleaner air and water. A world that cares of the children, the sick, the poor, the elderly and the veterans. Ask yourself if winning for the sake of winning is really a win if the status quo remains the same or do we dare to dream big and take the future by the horns and say together, there is nothing we cannot do.

[HuckleB]

11. My vote in the primary won't matter, so you don't have to campaign to me.

I've looked long and hard at both, and have come to the conclusion that their pros and cons are more similar, though different, than most realize. I could be wrong, but that's where I am at...

[PoliticAverse]

13. You're between a rock and a hard place...

(I kid, I kid)

[HuckleB]

16. It could depend on what kind of rock!

[brooklynite]

21. Allow me...

You should vote for the person YOU want to, for the reasons YOU think are important. All I would ask is that you think seriously about what those issues are. In my case, I support Hillary Clinton because she hold mainstream principles in sync with the majority of Democratic Voters, she has managerial and legislative experience, and because she has the savvy and resources to run and win a national General Election. I will never criticize you or any other voter for that choice. I WILL attempt to convince you, respectfully, if I think you're mistaken, but I won't attack or insult you or your candidate of choice, provided you don't either.

[HuckleB]

24. Well, DUers know that I've been less than kind to some, especially in my drinking days...

... which I hope are behind me, but, if everyone had your attitude here and on other social forums, I probably wouldn't have posted this OP.

[Armstead]

25. I'd say enjoy your equanamity if you'd be happy with either.....

and maybe take all of the fussing here with a few grains of salt.

Personally, I wish I believed the outcome of the primary didn't matter, but ....

Anyway, the underlying friction is nothing new, but the horrid alternative tends to have a temporarily healing quality, at least for those months between the primaries and the Big One in November.

[HuckleB]

26. "Happy" is an interesting term.

We live in a theoretical democracy/republic, so we're always going to be unhappy to some extent. I think my worry is the reality that the GOP has no viable candidate. Thus, as a citizen of the country and the planet, I'm scared that we might inadvertently put a ludicrous person in the White House.

Thanks. I think you're helping me get to the core of my anxiety.

[Armstead]

29. One consolation is that their candidates are awful

and likely to turn a lot of people off

[HuckleB]

31. I guess I don't trust enough of my fellow citizens, at the end of the day.

Too many buy into ugly fear, and that seems to be something that might benefit from the odd ways the Internet affects opinion. Or maybe I'm FOS. I hope I'm FOS!

[Armstead]

33. I know that feeling and often share it

But I'm gonna hold off worrying about that until later in the year.

And I try to remember that ultimately, it's all only a movie.

[HuckleB]

35. Good point.

I'm here, and then I'm outta here. I need to enjoy as much of the ride as I can, but I just hate seeing others despise the ride because of ugliness. Oh, that's why I'm a Dem. Dang it!

[Fumesucker]

30. You're a bit late on that one

[HuckleB]

32. OK, then.

[Fumesucker]

27. I'm reminded of a once popular poster here that I haven't seen in a while

[HuckleB]

28. I like that, and I like that guy.