The first part of the title was inspired (indirectly) by Moe Szyslak which resulted in this scene:
A troll? That's it! Our book could be about an orphan troll."
―Bart Simpson
"Trolls live under bridges, the school should be under a bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge!"
―Seymour Skinner
"And the cool kids are elves, the cheerleaders are pixies and the stoners are... er... gargoyles!"
―Patty Bouvier
"And they play a complicated sport that makes no sense called fuzzlepitch!"
―Jonathan Frink
So please join me below the dkos fuzzlepitch for some listy goodness.
The second part of title was taken (indirectly) from a comment connected to another diary. I wrote:
Lots of thin-skin around these parts lately. Can we toughen-up our hides to get through the election? If that means papering over some differences until mid-November, then so be it.
Thus endeth the introduction. And we're almost to the list.
Want to go on a troll hunt? Here's an idea: LET'S NOT. Instead, here are some no-brainers for 2012 that you are welcome to add to.
- We all have similarities to and differences from our fellow Democrats.
- Identity politics play a role in party affiliation.
- Some of us have a major issue that we consider a deal-breaker or deal-maker.
- The strategy that may work in an open caucus is not useful for us in 2012. Morally and publicly 'strong-arming, shaming, or guilt-tripping' somebody's vote (no matter how righteous your position) is risky and possibly ineffective when the ballot is totally secret.
- The ballot for Democrats this year is totally secret on the national level.
- Voting is not compulsory.
- The deference your group receives is (or strategically, should be) largely proportional to the group's actual or potential Electoral College significance.
But...
- For President Barack Obama to win re-election, he will need the votes of people you don't like.
- Insisting on winning every debating point at any cost is done at the risk of blowing your rhetorical budget prematurely.
- "Let's fight" diaries that include broad prohibitions as to the arguments that commenters may use tend to be monologues rather than dialogues.
But...
- Remember that 'deal-breaker' point above? Sometimes things that might seem trivial to you are vital to somebody else.
And...
- Respect is given. It is not a Constitutional right. However strongly you may feel that it is (or at least ought to be) a human right.
- Winning ugly is still a win.
- All trolls are different. And you (and I) have probably come across as a troll to at least one other person on this site. No matter how pure our motives.
- Drinking nothing but purified water is ultimately deadly.
What that all means is, like it or not, we need to convince people to vote for our candidate. To persuade them to cross a bridge of sorts. Let the trolls huddle under the bridge. But please, please, please remember to keep the top of the bridge open and inviting in your own diaries and comments.
Now, in the time honored tradition of rhetoric, here is the key argument rephrased in slightly more colorful style and in bold type:
Barack Obama in 2012 is going to need the votes of some people that irritate the hell out of you.
Let's not drive them away if we can help it. The one message that President Obama doesn't need any of us to give a potential D voter in 2012 is, 'how dare you (member of group X) besmirch our (group Y) candidate with your evil vote.'
...
PS, Any hints on how to avoid the extra 'bu' point following the 'buts' and 'and?' If not, think of that as representing your favorite bu point (which you are invited to list in the comments).