Man, do I hate DailyKos during Presidential election primary seasons. All sense of reason goes out the window as bitter tribalism creeps in.
Kossacks that I usually respect too often debase themselves by committing to a candidate and somehow buy into the idea that one person alone can transform a country. That will never happen.
However, by believing that their chosen candidate is capable of such heroic feats and anyone who gets in the way of the “Savior” is somehow evil or a sellout, otherwise reasonable compatriots become bitter enemies.
I have been a member since 2004 and inevitably pie fights breakout between candidate supporters.
I tried to do a search of 2004 and 2008 DailyKos diaries to find examples in which the authors would regret what they wrote. Then I realized that wouldn’t be necessary. Let’s just look at the whole John Edwards phenomenon.
The way I remember the 2007 to 2008 primary season, DailyKos was a hotbed of Edwards support, which always baffled me. From 2004 to 2008, Edwards threw out all of his positions and recreated himself as the most liberal, populist candidate. How in the world could a person have such a wholesale change of nearly every one of his beliefs in the matter of four years? However — even more perplexing — how in the world could a community of supposedly intelligent people be so blinded by such a total transformation? Nevertheless, here is a comment from a 2008 diary that I will post without providing the author, because I am sure he/she would feel embarrassed that he/she posted such delusion:
Fool me once...Thank the Lord for 2nd chances and for people who learn and grow from mistakes
In 2002-2004, Edwards was a freshman Senator who made mistakes. One of the biggest mistakes was that he listened to Very. Important. People.
The fact that Edwards has already had the experience of being immersed in the belly of the beast and has emerged stronger for it makes or (sic) 2nd choice even more powerful than the 1st. We don’t know how well Dean would have survived in the sewer of DC, but Edwards has already jumped the hurdle and left it forever in the dust.
It’s extremely rare that a politician, even one of the highest ideals, rises to the highest levels as Edwards has done, rejects with rightful disdain the rigged system, rather than capitulating to it with a warped sense of respect and a new goal only to stay there — and STILL maintains enough presence, power, support and exposure, to offer a real chance at capturing the Presidency. There IS no one else in this position. It just doesn’t happen. The likelihood that we will ever have this kind of opportunity again if we fail to run with it this time — is to (sic) dismal to even consider.
This comment is rather tame compared to the pie-throwing that was going on at the time. However, this comment encapsulates the rationalization many supporters carried out in an attempt to justify Edwards total “change of heart.” This Kossack had no idea what a flawed human being Edwards would turn out to be. About the same time this comment was posted, I would estimate 1/3 to ½ of DailyKos was strongly behind Edwards. I am sure there are few people at DailyKos who would confess to have been such committed and passionate Edwards supporters.
My point is not to compare any of today’s Democratic candidates to Edwards. Rather, I would hope that people would have enough self-reflection to realize that, while passion is nothing to be ashamed of, sometimes it can blind us to reality. And sometimes we allow the power of the crowd to carry us along, even when our better judgment would stop us from doing so.
We have always prided ourselves as a step above conservative hate sites, such as FreeRepublic. (Actually does that site even have any clout anymore? I am definitely dating myself.) Unfortunately, DailyKos can sink nearly as low when supporters sense that their candidates are losing. Invective replaces well-crafted argument.
This is not a plea for cynicism. Rather, it is just a plea for more reasoned arguments. I hate fearing to come to DailyKos because Kossacks have lost all sense proportion. We are better than that.
