Like many, I have been appalled by the recent hostility within our community - not because we disagree, but because of how we are currently choosing to disagree. By reducing our discussion of Health Care Reform to ad hominem poo-flinging, we are doing the other side's work for them, per the following...
From Red State: They are going completely ape at dkos.
From Free Republic: Kos Kids Wish They Had a "Do-Over" with Obama (No, really.)
From Live Leak: Lefty anger splits Dems -- and may sink them
From DKos: One thing we progressives and dems do great is whine.
Blue Ardvaark has had (sigh) a great diary on the rec list that is a must-read for all of us. Here are a few nuggets:
Does it really make any good legislation more passable in this Congress to treat Lieberman like the boil on the ass of humanity that his behavior on HC shows him to be? He's toast in 2012. Let there be no doubt about that. But until the voters of Connecticut can lance and drain Joe, we need to act in the manner which passes the most legislation.
On every one of (the) issues even the worst blue dog is more reliable than the best Republican. I'm sorry, but pretending there is no difference between the parties is stupid.
Giving up is stupid. Trying to frame each other as having the wrong values because we disagree on politics or policy is stupid. Personal attacks on other Kossacks are stupid.
I encourage you to read the entire diary. If, after reading, you are still so spitting mad that you feel the need to launch another rant against the current spate of concessions on health care reform, here are some additional hints on how to "disagree without being disagreeable". Although I have not linked through, all highlighted text is from recent DKos diaries or comments.
- Be polite. There has been much written on the subject of etiquette by more eloquent advocates than I. However, please believe me when I tell you that it is generally unhelpful to your argument to use expletives or to refer to another Kossack as a lying shill, a jerk or a sellout..
HR'd for being a hypocrite and a lying shill. Why is it OK for you to call me a jerk and not OK for me to call you a sellout?
I'm sick of your "I got mine,screw everyone else" attitude.
- It is confusing to use the term "This is not the America I grew up in." The term is already patented by the right-wing crazies.
We lost real health care reform not because we don't have a "real" filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. We lost health care reform because we don't have a real leader anywhere in our party.
The next three years are going to be about mediocrity, broken promises, and striving for second best. That's not the America I grew up in. And it's not what I voted for, or was promised.
- Never feed a troll or an attention whore, and Joe Lieberman is the ultimate attention whore.
There's a recommendation in grannyhelen's diary to change all rec list diary titles to "F*ck you Joe Lieberman."
- It is always helpful to "respectfully disagree", especially when you disagree with the founder of this site.
I respectfully disagree with Markos. I think that a bill that expands insurance to 30 million Americans, bringing coverage to very-near-universal, is a watershed moment in our history. To belittle it over a disappointment compromise over the lack of a public option for health insurance is unsound.
- Humor is good.
It is time to take away what Lieberman loves most of all... and that is John McCain.
All we have to do is support John McCain as the choice of liberals, progressives and DFHs in the Arizona Republican Primary in 2010. We write glowing articles about how McCain will help with environmental issues. We point to the work he did with campaign finance reform and Russ Feingold. We talk about how he has to say tough things about President Obama just to get through the primary, but that once he is re-elected we can count on McCain to pass a progressive agenda.
In short, we make it clear that it is a goal of liberals, progressives and DFHs everywhere that John McCain wins the Republican Primary for Senate in Arizonia.
Once folks start to think that liberals, progressives and DFHs want McCain to win, he will be doomed. And when McCain is defeated in the GOP Primary in Arizona, we will know that we help to take away from Lieberman the only thing that he loves: John McCain.
Lastly, let's not forget that we are on the same side. I understand that emotions are currently running very high but people, we are better than this.
In the spirit of lightening up a bit I offer an old-school poll. (h/t to aggeiric)