I surely hate saying this, but as Rachel Maddow says nightly (paraphrased): "please talk me down". I am honestly at wit's end on the infighting here.
Someone please explain to me why only hours after we won the presidency we're already fighting amongst ourselves? Let's see, I just got back from a thread where we're basically fighting with each other about prop-8 and how some are going so far as to using racist-tinged insinuations to blame the blacks for its passage (even though, you know, all but white women voted for it). We had/have two diaries on the rec list with opposing messages. One seems to feel that the criticisms of Obama picking a CoS are getting to the point of silliness without even suggesting better options, the other by a front pager basically saying to those who are saying SYFPH to, well SYFPH. We're even fighting on fucking rumors of cabinet appointments brought up by the media (who, you know, is full of shit half the time).
Now here's my stance for anyone who gives a shit. I'm not in the camp to say we cannot criticize Obama for whatever reason, but I'm not in the camp who is going to think every choice he makes that isn't my preference is a shitty choice (frankly my opinion doesn't matter to him, and who is to say we're right anyway? Lots of pretentiousness from both sides of this argument). My views on the choices made so far are irrelevant to this discussion and thus am not inserting them, search my comments if you care enough. Either way, let's acknowledge also that not everyone believes the same thing you do: who you may think is the worst choice, others may feel the absolute opposite. For someone who is decrying the "circle-jerks" here regarding the factions that are against all criticisms, I'm seeing just as many from everyone else. However, this I can deal with, as I've survived the primary wars and the Veepstakes, and I already knew there would be drama galore based on who he picks for staff and cabinet (and the SC down the road). It happens, but most of us will carry on and get over our disappointments and look forward to hopefully a successful new Presidency.
Now on the prop-8 debacle, this I cannot handle. First off, with its passing I blame everyone. It's obvious to blame those who voted for it, and the fact that it even went to a fucking vote in the first place but hey guess what, it did anyway and that's just how the ball bounces so where were we given that? I blame our side for the following: being complacent, NOT SHOWING UP to the polls to vote no (50% turnout in San Francisco is pathetic, people), and not outreaching to the various communities such as Africans and Latinos while we let the "Yes" side do that in massive stride, as well as more or less having a crappy organization compared to the LDS. I am not saying we didn't try to make due with what I admit are serious limitations by comparison, but we could have done a lot better. We had the lead and we blew it, we have the bigots to blame but we didn't do our best and there's no excuses for not giving this our all so I blame us as a whole. Not because I think we're at fault like some want to believe, but because we're responsible for the No on 8 campaign and thus we have to accept the failure as our own and work to not let it happen again and we know now that we still have a lot of room to improve (unless you can tell me how to improve the Yes voters, I think we should look introspectively).
However, some of the spew I'm seeing on this that at times basically passes the point of racism is inexcusable. I'm sorry you're angry folks--we all are, straight and gay--but there are no excuses for this kind of shit. I'm sorry but if I'd call a right-winger dittohead a racist for saying something like I'm hearing, I'm going to call a left-wing gay a racist for saying the same thing. I don't really care about the excuses, we're better than that and I'm disappointed and accept zero excuses for us being this way. I will accept that it is disturbing that according to an imperfect exit poll that AAs voted for it in higher margins, I think the way to go is to find out why and to change that and not making flaccid race-baiting finger-pointing that all it does is alienate blacks on here who ARE your fucking allies.
Now to be fair, I've seen both of this shit elsewhere. However, there's no excuse to have this crap here in my opinion. I am really considering going away from here until after the inauguration if this is what the Daily Kos is going to devolve into (face it, I come here for the community, I can get my news elsewhere). I am not going yet, but please talk me down and tell me considering what I've been seeing why the hell shouldn't I? I may have a thin skin but I normally don't get upset at what I consider "stupid shit" yet for some reason I'm on the verge of tears right now at what I've seen and for fighting amongst this group. I am probably being an idiot for it, but I somehow doubt I am alone.
Side note: I am going to bed now and am not posting a TJ and since this won't be rec'd I have little reason to respond directly but I do encourage comments (WITHOUT BRINGING THE ARGUMENTS HERE! That will be a surefire way to cause another hiatus from me, first being right after the primaries). I probably am just being moody based on sleep deprivation and medical issues, but I truly am disturbed at some of what I witness.