All your comment threads are belong to us

by Stacie

Wowza. One of the things that has really been damaged by the acrimony in the primary battle is comment threads on the intertubes. Check out the thread at this WaPo post, for instance. Can this comment possibly have come from a Democrat?

If the Democratic Party nominates [Obama], we'll vote for McCain, and if the Republican party can demonstrate that they care more about us, our values, and our votes, than the Democratic party does, we'll switch Parties for good.

Ferreal? Just... wow. How radically would the GOP have to transform itself to demonstrate that it cares more about "us, [and] our values" to capture the loyalty of average Americans? Limitless war, anti-gay and anti-immigrant demagoguery, anti-choice legislation, a judiciary that incessantly favors business and punishment over people and freedom... the list of ways the GOP fails to represent the values of ordinary Americans seems pretty endless these days.

TPM is another site where the comment threads have just been obliterated by bickering. I'm a daily reader -- actually many times daily reader -- and while I don't participate in the comment threads at Election Central, I often like to check in with them to see what other addict/readers have to say. It's less interesting these days, that's for sure, except when it's just irritating.

And there's here, where already this week I've been told that I am singlehandedly pushing Clinton Democrats into the arms of John McCain. Dude, can we all take a minute and breathe? The fighting's gotta end. I know there are a variety of magical mathematics floating around whereby a lot of people have decided that Clinton can still somehow eek out the nomination, but I just don't see it. What I do see is a primary race that's gone on too long and is now producing only damage for the eventual winner. Since one candidate has only the slimmest hope of winning the contest, let's get on with the general election.

Comments

[CKR]

I suspect that the "if Clinton isn't the nominee, I'll vote for McCain" comments that come from Democrats will largely fade after the convention. It's easy to be that upset now, and my unscientific sample suggests that Clinton supporters are much more emotional than Obama supporters.

Then there's the possibility that such comments are being left by Republican trolls.

But yeah, emotion is running high, and it might be a good thing for the Democratic candidates (mostly Clinton) to tone it down. And Hillary might take a realistic assessment of her chances. Hopeless causes seem to inspire the wildest excesses.

[Stacie Boschma]

I'm deeply sympathetic to what they're going through, having been a Deaniac back in the day. But really, let's get on with it. There's a presidential election to win, so let's do that.

[jason kenny]

Just like you, I go forever with out reading RSS. My view is, if it’s important at all, It will hit my twitter stream.