All the Division and Acrimony Must End

It is becoming increasingly clear: those of us who want to see a Democrat in the White House must put aside our disagreements, end the divisive rhetoric, and come together to answer the pressing question of this political season:

Is it spelled Obamican or Obamacan?

Daily Kos continues to be riven by this destructive dispute, with brutal attacks in over-the-line diaries launched from both sides. This acrimony can only serve to hurt us in the general election.

Note well, my fellow Kossacks, that both factions in this fight agree on 87.5% of our positions. Should we really be hurting each other over a piddling twelve-and-a-half percent difference?

Now, with all that said, I must admit that my hands have not always been clean. I am an "ican" partisan; I grieve for the misguided few (such as Mark Barabak of the Los Angeles Times, putting the lie to the objectivity of the MSM) who have drunk the "acan" Kool-Aid. (Rolling Stone is obviously a more trustworthy authority.) "Obamacan" is a term suitable for a derriere ("OBAMA" + "CAN," duh), not a Republican voter who has seen the light. ...Hey, that may explain why "acan"-obots are such asse....

But no! This is no time for infighting. If we hope to reach our goals in this election season, we must unite to support the principled Republicans who choose to become our allies behind a banner that is one half (exactly four letters and two syllables!) "Obama" and one half "Republican," rather than a title that reeks of "old politics," one that sends a message that it's all about a candidate rather than a movement.

So say it with me:

Yes "ICAN"! Yes "ICAN"! Yes "ICAN"!

•  Tip "Can"

  Because "ican."

  by Rieux on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:30:59 PM PDT

•  obamagasm!

  And anything is better than McCain't.

  by bubbanomics on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:31:23 PM PDT

  •  How about

    Democrats United!

    by palantir on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:32:21 PM PDT

    •  sounds good to me.

      Better than the old motto of our union:  every one for him/her self.

      by bubbanomics on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:44:41 PM PDT

•  Rebamicans. n/t

  by The R and The M on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:32:53 PM PDT

  •  Get thee to an Obamillary?

    I'm thinking about a red headed Reba trying to talk progressive...interesting day dream.

    Insisting on Democrats Uniting...whew...boy, now the pressures on.  The one thing I've seen consistently happen over the last 30+ years is fracturing over who is the 'real' boss as crunch time hits. Kennedy, Humphrey, McGovern, Mondale, Hart, Gore...we got such a history of beating our own up to overcome, as well as a 'longterm' history of real fear of 'the people' being actually 'allowed' to have their say as a simple majority.  We can't actually have a majority of them really like their nominee...it must be a blended compromise, so nobody really feels motivated to help win, someone who knows how to call in the 'chits' and hand out the favors.

    Given our situation, either candidate is better than the GOP option, regardless of how that may still be repellant to some.  It may be a matter of degrees, but we will need every degree we can get to shift this Titanic ship of state called America away from the icebergs toward which W's neocons have steered us.  Whatever they may have imagined as the New America they could create, sure isn't what the reality has become.  Getting a saner hand on the tiller and wheel is the most critical thing to obtain at this time.

    by antirove on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:52:04 PM PDT

•  I was thinking of

  John McBushiCain

  by dvogel001 on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:37:06 PM PDT

•  how about something less creative

  Like The Pissed Off Majority?

  by sunshineonthebay on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:38:34 PM PDT

•  I was also thinking you forgot

  Obamapendents, but I guess that sounds a bit like adult diapers.  Anyway....I fall into that group of supporters.

  by ancblu on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:40:51 PM PDT

  •  Bah ha ha ha....

    by leftbird on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:48:54 PM PDT

  •  Do those Obamapendents hang from the neckline?

    or perhaps the waistline?  Will they clash with my Tommy Hillaryfigure pantsuits?

    by antirove on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:54:24 PM PDT

    •  they usually clash with everything

      it's an authority thing.

      by ancblu on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:59:02 PM PDT

  •  Try Obamaindies.

    Hmm... sounds like a clove cigarrette or maybe some really cool boxer undies.

    by doinaheckuvanutjob on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 04:47:06 PM PDT

•  This is a complete myth

  No Republicans will vote for Obama in November.  Some are voting for him in the primaries because their race is over, they either hate Hillary or fear her as the stronger candidate (or both) and want her to lose, and we foolishly allow Republicans a voice in picking the nominee of the Democratic party in some states.  

  by markusd on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:43:04 PM PDT

  •  fake indies do

    I agree that no outright repub will vote for him.  But plenty of supposedly "independents" have and will.  What is wrong with the analysis of indies is that so few are truly indies.  Vast majority are greens, or ultra-progressives who don't declare themselves as dems.

    by sunshineonthebay on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:47:57 PM PDT

    •  fake indies--is that like falsies?

      by ancblu on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 04:03:02 PM PDT

      •  that's disrespectful

        I would never say that!
        I'm a fake indie/falsy :)

        by sunshineonthebay on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 04:04:43 PM PDT

  •  Repubs promote voting for....

    Obama on Rush Limbaugh. That's what worries me.
    That being said, I don't think they'll vote for Hillary come Nov. either...but I see your point. I too think Republicans would rather go up against Obama.

    by leftbird on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 03:52:47 PM PDT

    •  They don't have a strong hand, either way.

      Rush can't stand Maverick McCain.  Even so, my bet is Rush will dutifully carry the buckets of fire water and slime for the GOP nominee, when the time comes.  He's still a key catapault in the propoganda war for GOP ears.  As GOP and Rush's influence wane, he'll have to focus on where he can retain a viable audience. He'll have to be, well, a bit more tolerant of his weakened GOP tribe and sell the upside as best as he can find.

      by antirove on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 04:01:35 PM PDT

      •  yeah they're all liars

        Like Coulter "threatening" to vote for Hillary in the GE if she's up against McCain.  Yeah right.

        by sunshineonthebay on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 04:03:21 PM PDT

        •  I LMFAO when I heard about that...

          Just like I LMFAO imagining Coulter being a traditional republican woman that she claims to be. The only thing she cares about is.... $$$$$$

          by leftbird on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 04:13:42 PM PDT

          •  coulter's christian values

            Like how she isn't a virgin and uses birth control (thank god for that)?

            by sunshineonthebay on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 04:18:51 PM PDT

            •  I think they made a movie about her...

              titled "The 40 year old virgin"

              by leftbird on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 04:22:24 PM PDT

      •  There's still a strong Republican base...

        they may be down but they're definitely not out.

        As far as Limbaugh/McCain goes; Limbaugh is already backpedaling when it comes to his stance on McCain. Limbaugh wouldn't have become filthy rich without the status quo Republicans; in the end he's not going to bite the hand that feeds him.

        by leftbird on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 04:08:52 PM PDT

•  NO!!

  Now you people want unity?  Give me a break.  I'm still with Hillary.  I will vote for Obama, but you people in here can kiss my ass.  What you have done to Hillary is sad.  You are sad.  I know I'm not wanted and my opinion is not wanted here, so stop the kum by ya crap.  This and other threads do nothing to heal the wounds that were caused by the destructive attitude here (and by the way, the negative campaign run by David Axlerod).  I know, I know, I'm wrong and I'm an idiot.  Go ahead and tell me I know noting and my Masters in Public Administration is worthless because I'm not smart enough to figure out that Barack Obama is almost God-Like.  If I wasn't worried about the supreme court, I wouldn't vote for Obama, because of jack-asses like the one's who populate this site and Obama's my Senator!

  by wsumike on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 04:40:29 PM PDT

  •  Just take a breath...

    realize that nobody here is anything but human. No reasonable person would argue that you're an idiot. The stress of this primary cycle has inflammed passions and insecurities. I support Obama but I don't believe he's a god. Neither do I believe that Clinton is the bride of Satan.

    I really do believe the diarist is right. We simply must get beyond the derision and hyperbole. I'm sorry that you've been offended. It's not fair. It's not fun. Unfortunately, it is modern politics. We are all better than the behavior some have chosen to manifest.

    by doug in texas on Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 05:06:38 PM PDT