Friends how about some new rules re candidate diaries?

The closer we get to primary date, the more "I hate" X diaries continue to pop up. At the moment, there are not 1 but 2 recommended diaries taking team Hillary to task for bringing up Barack Obama's drug use, as if one were not enough. [Disclosure: I am an Edwards supporter, will support any Dem primary winner, I did right 1 negative Barack diary on the McClurkin issue because I was very upset about it]. Day by day, the diaries mount referencing the slime of such and such candidate. Join me below for why this is not productive...

...While I certainly do not condone Hillary's actions at all, these diaries have gone beyond a simple exchange of ideas to be increasingly nasty, venom-filled diatribes. There are certainly many beefs one could have about Hillary, Obama and Edwards but now we are having multiple diaries a day saying essentially the same thing. Golly gee, we need ANOTHER diary talking about Hillary's recent Iran vote etc. The first 45 diaries were not quite enough to get a grasp of the issue! Also note, I am not talking about well-reasoned diaries in which a candidate's specific position or statement is challenged in an analytical manner. I am speaking about the increasingly acrimonious diaries where people endeavor to bring us the up-to-the-minute accounts of how horrible candidate is.
These diaries, I argue, are a waste of our time and not productive. Why:

1. What is written on Dailykos is not the outside world. Here we are a group of super-well-informed political junkies, the rest of the world generally is not. Every diary posted here is "preaching to the choir" to a major extent, we are aware of the issues but more importantly, we have our basic opinions already set. Does anyone really think that the 350th negative Hillary diary is going to change that many minds here? It won't. Hillary is not the choice of many here or many here already have a candidate they are supporting. So the "candidate X is satan" diaries do nothing productive and really change the minds of very few. They mostly serve as a stress release valve and an outlet for a lot of bitching.

2. Moreover, these diaries have nothing to do with the price of tea in China or moreover the votes of voters in Iowa, New Hampshire etc. If I saw ONE freaking diary about how Kossacks got a bus together to go to New Hampshire or Iowa for every twenty "Hillary is a bitch" diary, I think we would be accomplishing something. Diaries at Kos are only as good as their ability to stimulate activism in the real world (your occasional humorous or informational diaries aside which do have value)otherwise they are mental masturbation. You are better picking up a phone and making one call for whoever than writing 5 diaries telling us Hillary's or John's or Barack's bad points.

3. Educate instead of denigrate. I have a few issues with Barack Obama, they can probably be overcome. But the way to do that is to educate me better and alieviate my concerns: Can he handle the Repub media machine if he is the nominee, does he play it too nice? I learn nothing about this from a diary that tells me "Hillary is a bitch". The positive talking points we provide here can then be translated into activism to help other people with their doubts.

4. Afraid Hillary will win? Afraid Barack will win? I fear something else. I fear that there will be so much acrimony between the two camps when it is over that people won't come together as democrats to support the winner. Will the African American community support Hillary if Barack loses to her? Will the Clinton's use their power and abilities to fight the Repug media machine if Barack is the winner or will they run away and pout? Because anyone thinking it's a pushover against the Repub candidate is taking lots for granted.

5. I worry about this community too. Yes, I know we are grown ups and should be able to withstand spirited debate but the backlash of the 2004 primary campaign seriously fragmented this community for a while, many very talented activists engaged in big pissing contests among each other. I see this primary having the tendency of being even more devisive and destructive to the community than in 2004, the "I hate X" diaries are popping up by the dozens, very few with information we haven't heard 1,000 times already. Again I ask, what really is the point, you aren't changing anybody's mind. In fact, if you are a Hillary supporter and you see 8,000 "I hate Hillary diaries" you will be on the defensive and angry, LESS likely to respond to cogent arguments and you may be alienating an ally to help you help John or Barack or Chris..or... down the road

6. That slimebag may be your president. Yes, some have issues with Hillary. Some with Barack. By the fact is, each of them has some big flaws yet one will be our candidate. If you weekly write a "I hate X" diary, can  you then work for that candidate with all your heart to prevent a President Giuliani? I'm not so sure. Would it not be better to leave the trashing of the Dem candidate to the Republicans and instead each side develops thoughtful positive diaries about the candidate of his/her choice and better yet translate those diaries into concrete action on the ground in a primary?

So, a la Bill Maher, I hereby propose new rules re diaries on candidates:

For every negative diary you write, you should be prepared to show the community 3 positive diaries about a candidate or diaries about positive activism on the ground to advance a candidacy. Know why? Because this circle jerk of bitching gets us no where and creates a super negative atmosphere after which it will be difficult to reunite around the ultimate Democratic winner. At the end of the day, we are all Democrats. At the end of the day we have to support the Democratic nominee. I propose a more enlightened approach