This Time and Place

There are sites out there where the callous bashing of others down deep in the comments goes without notice, where voices are cut off and censored and bullied; this little site is not one of them.

This presidential race is a tough one on the left - a very tough one, to use a weak but available modifier - and passions are deeply stirred. Anger builds and spreads and steams over the side of the cup. And folks who might normally converse pleasantly about the general state of the world fling vituperation a bit too casually. At least for my taste.

So let's go open kimono on a few things around here. We haven't done that for a while, and there are lots of  welcome newcomers - some of whom are passionate Hillary backers, while others adore Barack. (Still others dig McCain or no one at all).

First, this is my blog - it's entirely an iconoclastic view, my own perception of reality. No one pays me to write it, and all editorial judgments are mine. You don't have to agree; indeed, agreement here is kind of rare. But let's try to argue about it with civility.

Secondly, I support Hillary Clinton for president. It's been that way around here for a year. I'm not part of her campaign, have never been paid a nickel for what I've written, and have nothing material to gain from my support. Further, that support is based on my judgment on who'd make the best president. I've tried to make the argument agreeably - sometimes, I've failed. Sometimes my candidate and her campaign have let me down. Many times, her grace and stamina have amazed me. And as of today, I believe she's the best candidate.

Third, that may change.

Fourth, I admire Barack Obama and have said it here many times. He is accomplished, a fine writer, and his heart's in the right place, as best as I can tell of a talented politician running for national office. Just because I'm pro-Clinton doesn't mean I'm anti-Obama. (By the by, I don't despise Senator McCain, either - more about that at some future date). If I fail to fall out in ecstasy over a particular political speech, don't count me as the enemy of hope. If he wins the nomination in Denver, I'll support the Senator for President.

Finally, about those comments. To my way of thinking, comments are the life's blood of a good blog. My posts are starting points for the conversation; sometimes they're full essays, other times the barest throat-clearing tarted up with a few links. I'm interested in what the small community of users has to say. I ask that you keep it civil, and generally you have for more than four years. (Though I've lost it a few times myself). I don't really police the comments, but I do wade in as much as I can. Let me repeat: keep it civil. Try to keep the name-calling off the forms (a little cussin' is a-okay with me). No libel. No threats. No bullying. There are some long-time regulars here, so if you're new, treat 'em like you'd treat Norm in the corner seat at that neighborhood bar you just walked into.

The rough-and-tumble of politics is welcome - I fairly revel in it. Indeed, I've taken vicious body blows here from some of my closest friends and relatives - and lived to respond. Across many of the more popular political blogs, the level of discourse has dropped to some rat-infested subterranean slime. Let's keep the drainage level higher here. Now let's get back to it. I'll start: Obama sucks. McCain's the anti-Christ. Go Hillary.

Comments

[Christian Prophet]

Barack Obama gave a good speech on race, but it's being argued that it was designed to distract attention from much more damaging non-racial aspects of his THEOLOGY. See:
http://christianprophecy.blogspot.com/

[judith]

Tom - nicely put. You are even more mature than I thought. I appreciate the nice words about Obama, too. I started there a while ago, but have to say that the ugliness got to me and I started to dislike him. Thanks for pulling me back from the brink. I still didlike his campaign though.

Yes - quite a lot of the blogs out there bite in the comments section. I like to travel around wih my virtual expired Europass and my intellectual backpack and meet people. Well, I just cant do that anymore...it is just too nasty and I am called a troll by Obama people AND Clinton people. If you arent some kind of neutered mob member you needn't visit thank you very much.

with 2 or 3 exceptional exceptions, of course.

Okay - that was my say. Bye!

[tdraicer]

I don't really admire Obama, but I'm not a huge fan of Hillary either. I was for Gore or Clark or Edwards or Dodd, but between Hillary and Obama I think Hillary is more likely to win in the fall (I don't see Obama carrying Ohio, and I don't see the Dems winning without it) and more likely to govern well enough to get a second term (I'll take competentence over Unity, Hope, and Change).

But I don't have a problem with any Obama supporter willing to admit the man has flaws, or who refuses to paint Hillary as a racist neocon. Alas, online at least, such Obama supporters seem rather thin on the ground.

[Vegan4Hillary]

Judith, hi. I think I know one website that called you a troll. It's one of my favorites, but I have been called a troll there, too. I nevertheless persevered and just lately got taken to task for talking to trolls. Now we apparently have a blacklist of people to whom we are not to speak. Sigh. And this is actually a very good website (not usually like the big orange head or whatever it is -- I was never a Kos fan). Commenting is getting harder and harder. I changed the name under which I usually comment just to avoid all the "your brain's not working, you idiot, eat some meat" jibes, but it appears that just stating an opinion these days will really set someone off (and sometimes it's me).

Anyway --- I have enjoyed reading your posts for quite some time, Mr. Watson; and I must compliment you on your insightful analysis of the merits of each candidate, as stated in the last couple of sentences in today's post (I always think something is insightful when it coincides with my opinion).

Now can anyone explain to me how to change my screen name in typekey or typepad or whatever this is? Please. Before the carnivores start up again.

MessyMarcy

[Joelarama]

I've just recently discovered your blog. I admire your writing for its clarity and honesty.

I, too, am a Hillary supporter. Obama is fine with me, and I will vote for him if he is the nominee, but I believe strongly that Hillary would be the better president.

I'm also disillusioned with the "netroots" and looking to talk off the beaten path, or at least away from the usual blogger boyz. The Hillary-hatred and sexism they have cultivated is beyond the pale.

Thanks for the welcome.

[judith]

MessyMarcy - hi - I think you can just type over what is there...being called a troll makes me feel I am back in freshman year of highschool only this time I have my own car.

[Tom_c]

Tom,

You are a greater man than I am. I will not vote for Obama if he were to be the nominee. Nor can i vote for McCain. It will be a Hillary write-in or stay home for me. I don't think I will have to go there. Hillary will be the nominee this year.

[andre lee]

Tom, good one, dude. You had me relaxed and contemplative and then, BAM!!! You hit me with Colbert-like uppercut. Thanks. I giggled for a good bit.

[ShellyT]

Very well said and a good piece of writing. In fact, I may attempt to paraphrase part of it on my own web site where I have tussled with the Obama fans very inartfully and lost my temper far too often lately. I would only try to do that because I agree with it and you are so eloquent. I cannot stand Hillary bashing because to me, as a woman, it all feels and sounds like deep-seated sexism. If that's similar to how Obama supporters feel (only not with sexism), then we are all in trouble. I wonder how anyone will survive until June, much less November. I know people who will not support one or the other if their choice does not get the nomination. I'm not sure I will. I was never a Kos fan either, and I'm much too busy to worry about sites like that, but it's sad to see one big reputable site after another become less inclusive and more and more hateful and sexist. I used to think Democrats and liberals were the civilized ones. Now that little fantasy has been turned on its head. We seem to be no better than "they" are!

[Kevin K.]

You're a good dude, Tom. I, obviously, disagree with you regarding who's the best candidate, but you run an essentially pro-Clinton forum where other voices are allowed to be heard (and encouraged) and you tolerate, with good humor, pot shots directed at you. All the best (sincerely), K

[Bluegrass Poet]

Thanks, Tom, for this post and for hosting this forum. Like Joelarama, I am disillusioned with, if not exactly netroots, certainly with blogs that I have been reading faithfully for years in search of solid political analysis. I have not been a KOS reader for a long time but I've sworn by Josh Marshall. If this election does nothing else, it has shoved me out of my rut and made me cut some new neural pathways through my stiff old grey matter. I've found some great writers, including you.

I, too, have been doing some soul-searching about negativity. Like Judith, I dislike the way Obama campaigns and that was beginning to translate into dislike of the man. Obama's speech made me remember that I like him, though I still have grave doubts about his running to the right and I still think his speech should have contained some apology, acknowledgement at least, for his own use of racism.

On my own blog, which isn't really political except that I can't keep my mouth shut about politics, I've made more negative posts about Obama than positive ones about Clinton and I've been asking myself why. The answer is that no one else is pointing out the man's flaws. Well only a few. I feel a need to correct that. To point out that the emperor is clothing impaired.

But maybe I'm getting seriously out of balance.

Long comment. Apologies. I haven't been here long enough to know who's an old timer but I promise to try to play nice.

I am still officially uncommitted but lean heavily towards Hillary. Obama fans are not persuasive; they're exclusive. Guess we should be leery of the same trap.

[Concerned Netizen]

I have never liked the Clintons but I support Hillary because she has the chops and only she (and yes, Bill) can get us out of the deep doo-doo that Dubya has got us into.

Obama is a kid. NO THAT IS NOT A RACIST COMMENT, DAMMIT.

No way I am voting for a kid to be President. Not now. The country is at a very dangerous place. Our economic system could go under if we put an unsteady hand at the helm.

The Wright stuff makes me sick, but if I thought Obama had the chops I'd suck it up and vote for him. But I don't, so I won't.

[wwolfe]

My first experience with the Internet and any on-line community was at a "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" web site. It's amazing, and more than a little sad, how similar the "Obama vs. Hillary" exchanges are - in tone, if not importance - to the old "Spike vs. Angel" arguments.

(For what it's worth, I'm an Angel and Hillary guy - but I also think Spike and Obama are interesting characters.)

[tdraicer]

I'm Spike and Hillary myself. :)

[Ralph]

Ahh, Concerned Netizen....so Teddy Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy were kids too? Were they failures because of their ages? Well, they were both about 5 years younger than Obama is now. Strange argument. The Constitution allows anyone 35 or over to be elected President. Should we amend that?

[Concerned Netizen]

I said he was a kid. I didn't mention his age.

[The Viscount]

Tom:

Extremely_well_said.

Thanks for posting this.

- Al

[Ralph DeMarco]

You mean 'boy' then? What the hell are you talking about? Man, I hope you don't represent the average H.Clinton supporter.

[AlleenSmithee]

Maybe Concerned Netizen meant that Obama is untested and politically immature?

JFK may be a heroic figure today, but there is some evidence that he was in over his head when it came to foreign policy and nearly got us all killed during the Cuban Missile crisis. He was not perfect so don't assume your point about age not being relevant is an obvious one.

[judith]

Tom - I just want to say that I love your blog. Your comments are edgy but with fun intent - not meanness. It has been its strong appeal to me in a sea of meanness. But I think I have come on a bit strong here a few times and I regret it. So to any regular I have been harsh with, please dont blame Tom and his fine blog. I think I am just overloaded and need to streamline. We really all have to come through this together - so I will continue to fight but hoepfully in a good hairtugging kind of way. I will reserve the right not to respond to a post addressed to me that ticks me off, though. :-)

Oh, and it just occured to me that I should find your books.
Thanks.