Others have been defending BWD here quite vocally, in comments in related diaries by Olympia , and one by CatM.
I commented extensively in one those and in one of BWD's recent diaries, and am editing and posting those comments up here because i also feel that strongly about defending BWD's work on this site.
And about "rules" that everyone's discussing, how about let's simplify it down: BE KIND, DAMMIT (paraphrase of the famous quote by Vonnegut, #4 on this page). i feel fairly sure that would cover the vast majority of what's 'allowed' and unallowed in a general public discourse setting like DKos (yes yes, i know the avowed aim is to elect "more and better Dems", but c'mon -- we all know it's become the Nation's Water Cooler for progressives, so the latitude for 'allowability' is pretty wide by now, and most of us don't want to squelch Amendment #1 here as much as is possible and is reasonable..)
------ Ok, first, my comment in Olympia's diary:
..I'm stunned and surprised that BWD is thinking of not continuing her diaries -- i had no idea that was being considered.
My suggestion to her (and perhaps others who feel at times like this) is to just to NOT EVEN READ comments to her diaries! or ignore all extremely negative and non-productive ones, don't respond. even without reading them, she knows there is a huge amount she is contributing to this space, and the public sphere. to me, a diary on the reclist is often worth reading just on its own, without following any of the comment thread. just my take.
And there is simply far too little accountability and too much savagery in the online world (and alas, this will always include DKos unless people are ever required to give real names and emails or even phone numbers -- which will pretty much never happen) to care that much about it (yes, i've gotten my bit at DKos too). sure, no poll is ever quite exact, but i note that so far of 2000+ votes, 91% of the people want her to keep posting her diaries. this has got to say something.
Though i wouldn't say i'm a 'hardcore' Kossack like the names we know well, and i don't spend hours every day on the site, and i've never gotten onto the reclist (perhaps partly because i've never made enough effort to do so), i have been coming to DKos as my primary news/political commentary website for a couple of years now, have posted a dozen or so diaries, and several dozen comments over time, and i usually log on at least once daily now and scan the Frontpage, usually read/skim several of the reclist diaries at that point. so i've done my share of policy critiquing and positive progressive political discourse over time, feel like a 'solid' citizen contributing constructively here. and to me, this has always included, and will continue to include, pointed and sharp criticisms of the policies of the Admin that i do not agree with. i do not see any other way i could be an honest and upright citizen activist. and yes, i do appreciate these when meant constructively from others, on DKos and off, as well.
But -- as i said in my other comments -- at this time, BWD's diaries are THE most important ones to me. and if i could choose only one diary to read daily, BWD's is THE one i would choose to read daily. that's how significant her posts are, to me.
BWD -- for people like me, please don't abandon DKos because of various silly and puerile comments by people who just really haven't learned netiquette properly. i believe our Pres would rise above this, would still choose to engage, even in such an environment and arena -- let's all follow his example and become greater than the lowest common denominator, yes?
-- Second, my comment back to BWD's diary from this Mon, Apr 5
God -- i loved my Pres making those shots :->
The little clip with Clark Kellogg -- sure, the pro b-ball player let Barack have a couple there, but hot damn can the Pres shoot!!! i'd never seen him do it before i guess, and i can say one thing about the man, whatever else is written -- that i, and the vast majority of Americans, will never be able to shoot baskets as well as Barack Obama. :->
And BWD - i don't think i've ever commented in any of your diaries before, but probably like a significant fraction (though by no means all, nor even possibly the majority) of Kossacks, your diaries are the ones i most treasure, cherish, and look forward to at this point every single day. if there was only one i was allowed to read, yours would be it.
I know you've long decried the mushy support our Pres 'enjoys' from the Left, and his base, but i want to say to you and all that after the last few weeks, and all he did -- particularly the HCR victory and for me, his being behind EPA Admin Lisa Jackson's announcement on restrictions on MTR mining -- i stand by my Pres in a stronger way than i ever have. more even than when he was elected and i felt that my support wouldn't waver (i think i was in the 9% or so in one DKos poll who said that "honestly, i don't think my support for him will ever waver").
I may disagree with the man a times, even be mildly peeved or annoyed -- but when does that not happen even in a close-knit family? i believe very profoundly in the heart of my Pres, and that he is doing his best for a better America and world, in a way that i never have felt for any Pres in my life (starting really with Carter), and i will stand by him from here on out.
Thx for your daily posts, and all you do.
Peace--
X
--- And last, some words in a preface to an email to my friends when i forwarded them that last comment:
According to me, the most important diaries at DKos are by someone called "BlackWaterDog", and i wrote a comment in her last diary as below.
Btw -- in no way is this to ever discourage criticism of the Pres' policies -- you will see me continue to do plenty of that, too. it's just a slight shift back in my opinion of him and his character, after watching him closely again the last couple of months.
So i also am fully open at all times to criticism of his policies from any of you, though if it starts to get into ad hominem stuff about him and his personage, i'll probably just skip those parts, because i just don't find that stuff necessarily true -- and more relevantly -- useful, constructive, or helpful to the cause of social/progressive change in the long run.
Also -- i skimmed various definitions of the word "evil" and i do think some of them may well be applied to the previous ruling Junta, and various members of it, e.g. GWB himself, and certainly Darth Cheney (e.g. here's one: http://dictionary.reference.com/... ) -- but i do believe, and you can mark my words on this, that whatever else happens, i will never, ever use that term to describe B.H. Obama.
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Ok, open to comments, now -- and yes, i always read all those given in my own diaries..!