I'm tired of the nastiness.

Parent Cafe
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<p>I’ve enjoyed participating in a lot of the social/political debates here on CC in between checking up on, you know - “college” stuff. Debating Fundingfather over Nigerien yellowcake, Parent2Noles and some of the younger posters about the Second Amendment, etc. has been fun and educational - I have had my mind changed on some topics based on things posted here. I value that.</p>

<p>But now in the election year I’m seeing little but snarky, below-the-belt attacks and character assassination. Not a word about the positive characteristics of the candidates, while some posters can’t seem to refrain from posting snippy, sarcastic, spleen-venting attacks on the candidates they don’t support.</p>

<p>People! John McCain is an admirable man. Brave, patriotic, and willing (at times) to buck the conventional thinking in his party. He’s a good man, whom I respect, even if I’m not going to vote for him.</p>

<p>Hillary Clinton is an admirable woman - tough as nails, smart as a tack <a href=“running%20out%20of%20pointed%20object%20similes%20here”>I</a>* and has exhibited a lot of determination in battling the glass ceiling in America.</p>

<p>Barack Obama is even smarter than Clinton, possesses an ability to exhibit respect for differing opinions without pandering to the lowest common denominator, and has elected a life course which is far from the easiest and most profitable that was available to him after he graduated from Harvard Law School.</p>

<p>Three outstanding candidates, of whom we as a nation should be justly proud. Even the candidates who didn’t make it this far each have their manifest virtues. But I don’t see much reflection of that. (A little praise for Huckabee’s take on Obama’s pastor; not much else.) What do I see instead? Repetitive quarreling over McCain’s “temper” and his divorce. Obsessing about Obama’s pastor’s goofy ideas. Clinton referred to (offensively, IMHO) as “Billary.”</p>

<p>Okay, I get it: this is the level of “political” discourse we get these days. But folks - this is College Confidential. Isn’t this group better than that? Isn’t there a standard of discussion that this group of posters can aspire to that resides above the belt? Hopefully even above the eyes?</p>

<p>My personal request would be for those of you (and you know who you are) who just can’t seem to refrain from repeating the latest zinger you saw on some blog or forwarded e-mail, or repeating (again) how dishonest/racist/unstable that opponent is – just let it go. We’ve all heard it before. Repeating the bile won’t change our minds - about the candidate, that is.</p>

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<p>No kind words for Nader? (I’m kidding–you’re absolutely right, and I’m one of the culprits.)</p>

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<p>It’s why I hardly watch the so-called “news channels.” They’re all political and I’m tired of it all. It’s also why I don’t read ANYTHING about any of the candidates anymore.</p>

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<p>I think you have to take it with a grain of salt. As difficult as that may be. Hey, my mind is made up as to who I am voting for. I think most people know by now who they are going to vote for. It doesn’t matter how many nasty political remarks are made about a candidate I’m still voting for the person I feel will be the best President. I actually think it’s funny watching all of the news channels and how everyone tries to get their “digs” into the candidates they don’t like. I think they think they are really changing peoples minds out there.</p>

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<p>Nice post Kluge :)</p>

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<p>Ditto on the candidates and Amen to the rest, Kluge.</p>

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<p>Kluge, I just don’t read any of those threads… works for me!</p>

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<p>You put it well…Amen.</p>

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<p>Thank you, Kluge, for expressing so well the feelings that many of us share!</p>

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<p>And that’s a good thing?</p>

<p>I agree with you, Kluge, and that’s why I’ve stopped taking part in the political discussions here. I’m sure we all can do better.</p>

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<p>I’m with you 100% and in assessing the time I’ve wasted on this site, among other things, I’m heading for Indiana tomorrow to work for the Obama campaign. Time to put my money where my mouth is as they say.</p>

<p>Best to one and all. After Indiana I guess it’s on to Frostbite Falls and my alma mater Whatsamatta U.</p>

<p>Been lots of fun here on CC and again, best to one and all.</p>

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<p>Kluge – Sadly, I think the candidates themselves often behave like those whom you say are being snarky. We aren’t seeing issues being discussed … but rather who is more a woman, a black, or patriotic. Where are the topics of real importance and interest being discussed with enough specificity to make the dialogue meaningful? As role models for discourse, the three candidates leave much to be desired.</p>

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<p>Thank you, kluge, for those thoughts. That is the exact reason I have not participated in any of the political threads recently. And I think it is time for me to even stop reading them. They tend to depress me and make me forget the positives of the campaign and the people in it. I sometimes wish we could return to the days before TV, the Internet, and sound bite politics. I am totally sick of this focus on the non-essential and mud throwing.</p>

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<p>Another Amen to Kluge.</p>

<p>I don’t read the political threads. They are sad in how shallow they are.</p>

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<p>Kluge I respect your opinion but this is an election year and this is the Parent Cafe and people bring up many worthwhile points, some of which only comes out in heated debates. Sorry I won’t hold back, neither should others who want to argue their positions. You can always read another thread if you are tired of one.</p>

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<p>Consider me properly chastened, Kluge:o. I have been one of those posters who has repeated referred to Senator Clinton as, “Billary”. It is disrespectful to her supporters on the forums and overall, counter-productive to meaningful discussion. I sincerely apologize.</p>

<p>The lack of substantive (issues driven) discourse in the political forums has been distressing to me, too. You would think that gas wasn’t dishearteningly close to 4 bucks a gallon, that food prices (and potential shortages) weren’t impacting the American consumer, that health care and immigration were minor concerns, that we aren’t still bogged down in Iraq. </p>

<p>Are we intent on obsessing about Obama’s pastor because we really don’t want to confront our real and growing crisis’s?</p>

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<p>Try an election DECADE. The Democrats have basically been campaigning since President Bush “stole” the 2000 election. Hillary and Obama have been running for 2008 since late 2004!</p>

<p>It’s no wonder the government gets NOTHING done!!!</p>

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<p>Well, Kluge, inasmuch as I support the spirit of your post and have to agree that we should focus on the positive issues, it’s hard to do that when the people who you portray as worthy of our admiration are acting like dark alley wrestlers themselves. </p>

<p>Setting aside subjectivity --often called visceral hatred by some on CC-- you cannot expect people to overlook the character flaws of the “admirable” candidate. Where you see determination, one might see obsession for power. Where you see “tough as nails,” one might see vicious malice. </p>

<p>In the current political battle of 2008 where issues have become totally irrelevant, you cannot blame the observers to focus on the character, and lament the fact that the “best we have” to choose from does not amount to a whole lot. Even if WE would be ready to move on --mostly because of growing ennui with the subject-- the candidate(s) themselves won’t let us forget who they are or seem to be. </p>

<p>If you want people to respond with respect, place people worthy of it on the ballot. If you think Hillary is an admirable woman, power to you. You have a vote in November for her. With lots of manipulation and arm-twisting, that might even be in 2008. People who see a different Hillary are entitled to their own opinion, as well as the way they see fit to express it.</p>

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<p>this may be appropriate:</p>

<p>[When</a> Democrats Go Post-al: Politics & Power: vanityfair.com](<a href=“http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/06/wolcott200806]When”>When Democrats Go Post-al | Vanity Fair)</p>

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<p>How is Obama smarter than Clinton? From the impressions I got during debates, Clinton is a much better speaker and is much more intellectually formidable.</p>