Can We Assume We're All ABB, Unless We Express Otherwise?

[rucky]

The primary's still going on, and we should be able to discuss & debate without being given the ABB loyalty test over & over again. It would just avoid many fights & misunderstandings if we all work under the assumption that we're ABB unless we expressly say we're not.

Poll after poll after poll - thread after thread - shows that a vast majority of us are strategically ABB. The ABB strategy crosses the artificially drawn lines of allegance to candidates, factions, avatars & sig lines. But that's all it is - a strategy. Let's not turn it into anything more than that, a hollow slogan, an uncritical pledge of support, or a litmus test.

Some folks worried about a third-party movement are misunderstanding (or ignoring) the nature of some valid debate. Some folks are using it to avoid debate altogether. Some folks are pretending to lean third party to make a point. Some folks intend to vote third party. We can have those debates when they come up.

We don't need the loyalty oaths, and we don't need to try & ferret out the people who don't enthusiastically buy into the ABB dogma. Doesn't mean we can't discuss it when it comes up naturally in conversation. It just seems unecessary (and kinda creepy, IMO) when it's declared - or admonished - out of a strategic context.

[anti-NAFTA]

1. I second the motion. eom

[jpgray]

2. Might want to add "in the GE", there has been confusion on those lines

People rankle (rightly) at the thought of just choosing "anybody" in the primary.

I don't think even all of those who declare to be abandoning the Democratic Party will do so. This board can get pretty emotional, so I don't think we should be too hard on anyone who says "I won't vote for the nominee".

There have been many threads on this. A loyalty ABB thread can beget an "I will not vote for the nominee" thread, and vice versa. Both are more or less vanity threads, unless there is some new information within. Most of the time there isn't. :(

[yorgatron]

4. ABB or STFU!

do i need to spell it out? ABB or STFU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rucky]

7. I disagree with the last two exclamation points.

and everything before that.

This kind of stuff is why I said it "creeps me out".

[Forkboy]

10. Listen,dont beat around the bush

tell us what you really think.

[Cuban_Liberal]

3. Thank you!

For the record, I'm a yellow-dog Democrat, so NO ONE need worry about whether I'll support their candidate in the GE. If he's a Democrat, he's got my vote.

Enough with the loyalty oaths, peeps!:)

[Adelante]

5. ABB in the GE: Agreed nt

[Guava Jelly]

6. I am

but it appears alot of people who believe their candidate got shafted will either vote green or not vote.
So in essence some are vicariously going to vote for bush by not voting for the dem candidate and negating a bush vote.
people need to drop their Binkies remember what happened in 2000.
swallow their pride and vote the candidate.
or we get 4 more years of Bush John Ashcroft pnac and a conservative supreme court when bush appoints the next 2 conservative judges

[Devil Dog Dem]

8. Amen!

I'd vote for the proverbial yellow dog!

[nonconformist]

9. Absolutely. It should be a given

It's the primary, so we have people who are either mourning their candidate, supporting the front runner and trying to convince everyone why he's the best of the lot, and people who are supporting their candidate "who doesn't have a shot" and trying to convince everyone why he's the best of the lot. It's emotionally and ideologically charged.

After the Convention, I believe most everyone will band together to kick the squatter out.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

11. Absolutely not!

We must post loyalty threads every fifteen minutes! Normally, I'd suggest that they go up every five minutes, but I'm a centrist.

[NV1962]

12. Yes, Sir! - n/t

[Jacobin]

13. ABBoL

Lieberman would not get my vote. I would spend election day throwing up.

[eileen_d]

14. I agree - some of the "ABB" stuff is getting oppressive

Even though I will be voting according to that strategy in November, I respect other people's right to do otherwise (assuming they respect me)

Also, I would like to declare a moratorium on the phrase "Enjoy four more years of Bush." Isn't it obvious that NO ONE at DU will do anything of the sort?

[YNGW]

15. Never Assume

There are many of us who vote for the best candidate. That's what I've always done and will continue to do.