Telling people they're stupid is not a good campaign strategy.

[MineralMan]

That trick never works.

Corollaries also have the same problem.

My reason for switching my support to Hillary Clinton remains the same.

[JaneyVee]

1. But their tactic IS working....

For Hillary.

[MineralMan]

5. Exactly. If you tell people they're stupid if they don't agree with you,

their reaction is going to be, "Oh, yeah? Watch this!"

It's guaranteed. I don't understand how anyone could think otherwise, frankly. Driving people to vote for an opposing candidate is easy, if you make mistakes like that.

It's not Bernie Sanders who's doing it, of course. He's probably shaking his head in despair at his own freelance volunteer supporters.

It's sure not working.

[RobertEarl]

46. You convinced me keep going for Bernie

Thx.

[JackInGreen]

2. Accusing people of any negative personal trait

Is not a good campeign strategy in general.

[flor-de-jasmim]

3. I don't know about others, ...

but I vote for CANDIDATES, not their supporters. All this bashing of candidates, supporters, etc., is just a distraction from the ISSUES.

[MineralMan]

6. I vote for the Democrat with the best chance of winning.

Presidential elections are binary.

[artislife]

23. I find that sad

It is primary season. At this time in the 2008 election cycle, few believed a man named Barak Obama could win the GE. But that didn't stop me from working for him. Did I think he could win it all? I would barely allow myself to go there or I would feel defeated. I had a lot of PoC tell me that there was no way he would be elected.

But I wanted it and I decided to fight for it in small ways, in large ways, in Always. And it happened. And I was not fully convinced until I watched the map of the country turn blue.

So I am not going to feel timid this election. I am equally excited and passionate for Bernie to make it to the White House.

[MineralMan]

26. I supported Barack Obama in 2008. I thought he had the

best chance to win.

In presidential elections supporting the candidate you think has the best chance of winning makes enormous sense. In that binary election, either a Republican or a Democrat wins. Every time. A calculation of which candidate is most likely to win during the primary election period is one way to do that.

It's not sad. It's reality. I've watched too many Democratic candidates for President lose in the past. I prefer it doesn't happen in 2016, when there's a serious risk of losing all three branches of government to the Republicans. That's a possibility I can't in any way support, so, my judgment is that Hillary Clinton, among the Democratic primary candidates, has the best chance of defeating whatever clown car occupant the Republicans nominate.

It's not a matter of being sad. It's a matter of who is President for the upcoming four years, starting in 2017.

[artislife]

30. You did?

I have to stop you there.

I was fully immersed in the election cycle of 2008 and at this point in time, very few actually thought he had "the best chance" to win.

I don't care what happened to McGovern or Humphrey or Gore.

If you don't want to lose all three branches then you must think about local elections. Those are the elections we need more people to vote in and we need the passion.

The fundies have it and that is why they are successful in those elections, we bring in someone at the top of the ticket, there will be more votes down ticket. I believe that to be Sanders. I don't see Hillary having long coat tails for progressives in the local elections.

[MineralMan]

31. In 2007, I hadn't decided who to support.

by the time our Minnesota caucuses came around in February of 2008, I had made my decision, based on my opinion of who was most likely to win in November. I caucused for Barack Obama, who won that caucus vote handily.

You don't care what happened to McGovern or Humphrey? Really. I cared very much. Look at who won in those years. As for Gore, he won the election, which was taken from him by the SCOTUS. Look who sat in office for eight years after that.

You don't care? Well, OK. I do care. It's important.

[artislife]

33. February 2008 is

Different from November of 2007.

Besides, you have been banging the electibility drum for many months. A lot of the h supporters have.
Time is slipping away but we still have had not one primary. Besides, I do believe the intruments for calculating where the votes are is flawed. Badly flawed because it is archaic.

So I will not jump on the who is most electible, therefore I will vote for them instead of who I wish to see lead the country until November of 2016. When I see the two candidates for the two top parties on my ballot, only then will the thought about who is the better of a binary choice be my guiding action.

Now is the time for possibility. Real choice. Aiming high!

[MohRokTah]

49. I thought Barack Obama would have the best chance of winning in 2008.

I formed that belief in 2004.

[upaloopa]

53. I supported Obama with more money than had I ever

gave any politician or charity during the primary. I was certain he would win. His speech at the Democratic convention and his book were the reasons I supported him.

[artislife]

55. That was a fantastic speech

But was I certain this country would elect him? No. Did that stop me from working for that very outcome? No.

[upaloopa]

56. I was behind him from the day he announced

[artislife]

67. and you believed without a doubt

That this country would elect him? Fantastic. But that is what MM and I are discussing. We are discussing whether to stand behind a candidate we believe in EVEN..If we are not sure 5 he country is ready to elect such a candidate.

It may seem subtle, but that is the discussion.

[upaloopa]

70. I think you should vote for your candidate in the

primary and the party's nominee in the general.
I voted for Jesse Jackson in the CA primary in 1988.
I'll vote for Hillary in the primary and Bernie in the general if he wins the nomination.

[artislife]

71. Cool.

I am not looking at the G.E. yet, I would rather think positively about the primaries.

[Skidmore]

48. Like it or not, a candidate's supporters

reflect on their candidate, which is why the only way teabagger candidates have made it in to office is by cheating. It's not due to popular support.

[Android3.14]

4. Why would someone call you stupid?

You have a link?

[MineralMan]

7. Oh, please...

[randome]

8. Maybe it's in relation to this stupid 'stupid' post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251787587
[hr][font color="blue"][center]No squirrels were harmed in the making of this post. Yet.[/center][/font][hr]

[MineralMan]

10. I hadn't seen that, but it's a good example.

Other examples can be seen by scanning the GD thread list at any time.

[Android3.14]

24. That really didn't answer the question

I'm not arguing that someone would call another person stupid.

I'm asking why.

Referencing WillyT's post, why do you think he would think the primaries/GE and midterms will show that the American voting public is stupid?

[morningfog]

37. It's stupid to think WileyT of DU is part of a campaign.

Or that he speaks for a candidate. That is stupid.

[jeff47]

34. Just go through his posting history. You'll find plenty of instances where he does it. (nt)

[mmonk]

9. Stating positions and reasons isn't calling people stupid.

[MineralMan]

11. You're quite correct. That's good campaign strategy.

That's not my point of reference, though.

[mcar]

12. Rec for Rocky and Bullwinkle

One of my favorites!

[sufrommich]

13. It will get worse as Sanders campaign stalls. nt

[MineralMan]

15. So it seems. Uff da.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

14. You never switched your support from Sanders; he never had your support.

Everyone knows this already.

[MineralMan]

17. I'm sorry, but you're wrong.

You do not know me.

[firebrand80]

16. DU Internet Warriors are not part of a "Campaign"

The actual, real life primary race has been very civil to this point. I'm sure that wouldn't be the case if the race was close, but the only nastiness I've seen is between the supporters of the candidates.

[Dawgs]

22. Exactly. It's so funny to see people on DU act like the rest of the world is paying attention to us.

You would think they would no better.

[firebrand80]

27. It's like when people think Sanders primary voters won't support Hillary

Everyone that will vote for Sanders isn't the kind of Sanders supporter that is on DU.

After a GE campaign between Hillary and a GOP nominee that wants to eliminate the social safety net, start another ground war in the Middle East, and blow a hole in the federal budget by giving a tax cut to rich people, there's no way that 99.9% of these Bernie supporters risk handing the Presidency to the Republicans. Sure, you'll have a few holdouts, but not enough to be consequential.

[Kentonio]

61. It was civil up until the insinuations of racism and sexism came from Clinton

It's still civil by the traumatic standards of a general, but it's no longer clean.

[firebrand80]

66. That was barely a blip on the radar

It was a big deal on DU, that's about it

[Kentonio]

72. It might have been a blip on your radar

But it caused a lot of the resentment and anger you're seeing now from Sanders supporters.

[firebrand80]

73. Yes, in the DU universe

Which is a small fraction of people that are paying attention right now, and an even smaller fraction of dem primary voters.

[cosmicone]

18. "You people"

just don't understand your group's problems as much as Bernie Sanders can....

[99Forever]

19. You're correct.

Perhaps you should convey that message over to your cohorts in Camp Weathervane.

[MineralMan]

20. I'm not aware of any such place, and don't normally participate

in discussion areas that only include supporters of a single candidate. I post in GD and GD . So, when I have something to post, I post it in whichever forum it fits. This is a primary campaign post, so I posted it in GD . Thanks for your interest.

[MrMickeysMom]

38. 99...

What a perfect name for that camp!

[NCTraveler]

41. Saint Bernard of Vermont does not approve of your tactic.

Just wanted to post this so you didn't feel foolish all on your own. lol

[99Forever]

43. That watcha think?

Isn't that special.

Bless your heart.

[NCTraveler]

44. The ways I have been personally blessed in life are countless.

I wish blessings upon you as well. Very kind of you.

[Dawgs]

21. LOL! The only people that are paying attention to politics have already made up their minds.

Most Democrats don't have a clue about the fight between the Hillary and Bernie supporters.

[artislife]

25. That is true

And I don't tell anyone I know who is a Democrat about this place.

[cantbeserious]

28. Being Told By HRC Supporters That I Am Stupid Is One Reason She Will Never Have My Support

eom

[MineralMan]

29. As I said, it's not a good campaign strategy.

Not for anyone.

[cantbeserious]

52. Agreed - My Mind Is Closed At This Point

eom

[HassleCat]

32. Not stupid to be afraid

Nominating Bernie Sanders is a journey into the unknown. It's risky because he's an unconventional candidate. He's a socialist. He's not a real Democrat. And so on. Many Democrats are afraid of departing from the accepted strategy of the past 30 years. Yes, it's a losing strategy, but it's comfortable. When we lose, we can tell ourselves it's due to Republican gerrymandering, or rigged elections. And we never fail to tell the voters they're stupid, so there's another example of that. We keep yelling, "Wake up, America!" while we go right on doing the same things that have pushed us down to the minority party at all levels of government.

But luck is with us this time. We will win the presidency, and we will do it by following the usual DLC style strategy, the same one that cost us congress, and governorships, and state legislatures, and county commissions, and city councils. We are lucky because the Republicans have nobody. We will run Hillary Clinton, but we could just as well run Martin O'Malley, or Martin Sheen, or Bernie Sanders, or Colonel Sanders. We will win, and Clinton will be president, and we will pat ourselves on the back, and wonder why we didn't pick up more sets in congress. Again. And we'll call ourselves smart, not timid or afraid. Because that's how we roll.

[mmonk]

35. Fear is seldom a thinking position.

[Kentonio]

63. Nailed it.

[morningfog]

36. Which candidate called you stupid?

[MineralMan]

40. That's not the point at all.

Seems pretty simple to me, really.

[morningfog]

51. Then your complaint is baseless. There is no campaign doing what you complain of.

[bunnies]

39. First thread I read this morning a Clinton supporter did just that.

Its since been agreed upon by others. But hey... whatever.

[restorefreedom]

42. it doesn't but it does a helluva job

alienating them for a ge.

[Fumesucker]

45. Welcome to DU..

Calling everyone but Democrats "stupid" has been a staple here as long as I've been on this board.

[Bread and Circus]

47. Why did you call Hillary stupid then?

[Xyzse]

50. I can understand. I have not switched my support for the 3 Democratic candidates. ;P

As it stands, the only thing I worry about is the infighting and people actually staying away from voting in the General Election since they got disenchanted during the primary process.

There is much to be excited about all 3 candidates, beyond just voting against the Republican candidate.

[Hiraeth]

54. Telling people their revolution is stupid is not a good campaign strategy. n/t

[MineralMan]

57. What revolution?

There is no revolution, and there's not going to be any revolution. There's a political campaign. That's all there is.

[polly7]

58. ...........

&index=2&list=PLEQ4qo5ubyw5fqkiBng3PPOXwHMoTZ9ut

[Hiraeth]

59. Keep telling yourself that. Comfortable and cozy are you.

[MineralMan]

60. Am I comfortable and cozy?

You know nothing about me, really. I can see quite clearly that there is no revolution on the horizon, though. Just another political campaign and a lot of rhetoric.

I've seen that before, you know. "Come the revolution..." is old school rhetoric.

Next year, we'll have primary elections, followed by nominating conventions and a general election. Just like we have for a long, long time. Then we'll have four years of whatever we decided to do, led by whomever we decided to elect.

There's not going to be any revolution. Just another election year and another change of our national executive. We will have had eight years of President Obama. We'll have four years of someone else, starting in 2017. The decision we'll be making in November of 2016 is who that President will be. That matters.

So, that's my focus. Dreams of revolutionary change notwithstanding. Good luck with all that.

[Hiraeth]

62. *yawn*

I know enough about you to realize you can afford to spend a vast amount of your time on this website.

The rest of your reply to me is dribbling down that beard in your avatar.

You come across as old and complacent to me.

I could be wrong but, somehow, I doubt it.

[MineralMan]

64. If you're yawning, maybe it's time for a nice nap.

I spend a good bit of time on DU. I'm sitting at my desk, as usual. I take breaks from my work from time to time through the day to give me a break from writing web pages for some small business near me. I need a break from that. It's pretty boring work, most of the time.

I don't drool in my beard. I'm old, yes, at 70, but circumstances don't allow me to be complacent. See, George W. Bush destroyed my retirement savings. My mother in law is recuperating from six broken ribs, and my 91-year-old parents are living precariously, due to their age. No time for complacency.

So, I'm continuing to work at what I'm good at. I'm my own boss, so I can take a break whenever I wish, as long as I meet my contract deadlines. I see you are also posting here at the same time.

I hope you continue to post on DU. I see your posts from time to time.

[Hiraeth]

65. The sun is shining here. I have errands to run. Nice chatting with you. Ciao! n/t

[Aerows]

68. Neither is implying that people are deluded and dumb

for supporting Bernie Sanders.

The irony is ... well, hell,

[Armstead]

69. Isn;t that what you're doing right now?

Accusing people who support a certain candidate of being stupid?