Dear World:

Let me just put this out there now so no one is surprised by any future action I might take.  The next person who, either directly or indirectly, suggests to me that the only reason I support Barack Obama for president is because "I like black people better" is getting the teeth knocked out of their mouth.  Man, woman or child, friend, foe or family, it doesn't matter.  It's happened 3 times now and I will not tolerate it a 4th.

It's not actually necessary to go into a diary and mock other people.  It's not necessary to troll the diaries looking for something nice said about a candidate you don't support just so you can piss on the parade.  It's possible to disagree without demonizing.  It's possible to have different points of view without belittling.  It's possible, in fact, to carry on a political conversation in primary season without acting like you are stuck in some kind of fucking high school hell.

Though you might not be able to tell it from here.

Pastordan asks over at Street Prophets for us to explain why we hate Christmas.  My answer is too long for a comment, so I'm making it a diary over here.  I hope it will also educate and inform the dKos readership.

I hate Christmas because I am a true-blue Democrat.  You may think that as a Democrat you are not required to hate Christmas. If you think this (and I hope you don't), you would be mistaken and I will explain why.

Real Democrats are not religious, we are secular progressives.  Ask Bill O'Reilly, he'll tell you.  As a secular progressive, I am completely unconcerned about the religious meaning of Christmas.  What I must concern myself with are the secular symbols and imagery of Christmas.  Everyone knows that the biggest secular image of the Christmas season is that jolly old elf himself; Santa Claus.

As a true Democrat, I can't support Santa Claus, therefore I hate Christmas.  Reasons after the jump.

Can someone help me articulate these vague feelings?

Maybe it's the lemming thing.  Maybe it is the extrapolating to ridiculousness thing.  Maybe it's the fact they forgive their guy's (or gal's) blunders but not his.  

Maybe because, by their logic, I'm a racist.

Dear Sir,

I have watched the NSA hearings with a great deal of interest.  This is a subject that I feel is very important.  I think that the safety and security of the American people should be first and foremost on the minds of every elected official we have.  A people that are not safe and secure in their homes and on their streets can never be truly free.

This diary will serve 2 main purposes.  First, it will explain what podcasting is and is not, how one can find new podcasts, and give a general overview of the beauty of its simplicity.  Second, it will show how it has the potential to change the political landscape in the favor of progressives.

More on the flip..

What we need is a unifying theme.  An umbrella under which all of our ideas, as myriad and wonderfully diverse as they are, can fit.  And after much thought, I say that the slogan ought to be: FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

What benefits could come from that slogan?  I explain on the flip.

I also believe very strongly that current Democrats want what is best for the vast majority of Americans.  I also believe that we would still want it no matter what we call ourselves.

I believe that Republicans have convinced alot of people to vote Republican reflexively without considering whether or not the person they are voting for will fulfill their needs.

"When the president tells me this is eight inches, I must believe that this is eight inches."

Or, "Yes, I have seen his 'mandate'."

Or, "Oh, we had maybe this much warning before the 9/11 attacks."

Or, "They only look this big from the bomber."

I couldn't resist when I saw this picture.  Any other takers?

I just had to vote for the unopposed Republican Sheriff candidate just because I wanted to be able to say, "I voted for Mike Hunt".

Is Mrs. Cheney jealous considering how hard it is to get sun in the undisclosed location with her husband Dick? Or is she distracted over how red-in-the-face George Bush  should be considering his failed presidency?

Let them try and think of a rejoinder to that.

More....

I just saw the most ridiculous MSNBC.com poll ever.  It was pointed out at Josh Marshall's TPM.

This is the letter I sent to them in reply to it:

Ohh, come on guys!  You asked, "Did Rudy Giuliani's speech reassure you or
move you to support the Bush-Cheney ticket?"  How ridiculous is that choice?
How about just asking ,"Did you love it, or really, really love it?"

How about another alternative like, "Did Rudy Giuliani's speech reassure you
about the Bush-Cheney ticket or did it scare you that he wants to stubbornly
follow misguided policy?"  Or better yet, "Does it bother you that Giulani
is on the record opposing most of the key issues of the Republican platform
or are Republicans such hypocrites that it doesn't really matter?"  How
about that for a "choice"?

I remember days long past when journalists and news organizations took pride
in what they did and did it well.  Do you remember those days and wish they
were back or are you happy with the lack of thought you put into your jobs
now?

James Slusher