on what your opinion is on how others should be conducting themselves and what others should be thinking...you behave just like those you criticize.

Tsk-tsk.

Instead of lecturing us, why don't you go door-to-door in a red neighborhood and lecture them?

I believe we all have a pretty solid idea about this election.  And the last time we checked, the position of "parent" has already be filled, so the audition is over.

And a lot of us all lost perspective.

My fear though is: McCain is rising the polls thanks to a long planned strategy, hatched during the prolonged Democratic primary season, to sully Obama's reputation, and in a rovian sense turn all his positive qualities into negatives

There's a time for intense sometimes heated debates about a democratic candidate - but with the republican swiftboats now surging in the water, we all should do what we can to defeat their smears and lies, and make sure there's a democratic president, a democratic congress.

It's not about us as individuals, but MYDD is still a leading progressive blog. Those values are worth fighting for.

I read somewhere that the proportion of meta content on a blog is how you can tell when it's in decline. In other words, as the ship is sinking, more and more people post about the reasons why and how to save it, as opposed to discussing whatever its actual purpose was.

After a while, it's no longer fun, amusing or cute to play with the trolls or roll your eyes at the misguided, fake democrats. It's just boring.

So unfortunately, this site IS about the generic "you," because that's what gets on the wreck list, generates 100+ comments, and satisfies some people's ravenous need to argue. Meanwhile, the real political analysis, insight and news can be found at other blogs.

Your point is well-stated, but also a bit obvious. Of course this election is about bigger issues that troll-rating wars between political nobodies or "girls versus boys" elementary school do-overs.

Your invitation to the squabblers, the McCain surrogates, and the primary-wounded to either take a hike or get behind the candidate is one of the best I've read.

But I'm not optimistic that you receive a positive response. I'm pretty sure that the people to whom you addressed the diary aren't really interested in politics and couldn't tell you the difference between the Democratic Party and the Republic Party.

But I wish you luck. MyDD would benefit greatly if these whiners and squabblers would give it a break.

Thanks polticsmatters for the important reminder.

Politics matters. Policy matters.

One-upmanship, I-told-you-sos, and snarky comments don't matter.

Rec'd

Exactly.  Well said!

I find that a little presumptuous and insulting.

Not only am I an active volunteer, voter registrar AND election judge, I'm using a vacation day to work the GE this year.

Just because people blog, diary or comment frequently doesn't mean that's ALL they do. I might even go so far as to call that a stereotype.

With respect, PM, every election is about every voter.  People vote their values and their interests, and often those interests conflict.  There is nothing wrong with voting those interests or discussing them.

Not to impugn your diary at all, but there are other sides to each of the situations you described.  The desires of the parents of the soldier in Iraq, in this case, are likely to be in direct conflict with the desires of the soldier himself or herself, and the spouse who may be glad to be able to pay a few more bills because of the deployment.

The desires of the poorer college student for federal assistance are in direct conflict with the desires of future taxpayers and private capital markets.

The healthcare issue is moot in this election.  Both Obama and McCain have plans and strategies that are directed primarily toward improving service to those who are already insured, well-off, and healthy.  As has been stated by the advisers of both candidates, the health care needs of the poor, unhealthy, or disabled are too expensive to deal with right now.  I think it's a bullshit situation, but here we are none the less.

People vote their interests, particularly their economic interests, and will continue to do so.  The voting patterns within the Democratic primary are a prime example of this.  Poorer voters tended to vote for the candidate who represented their interests, and the relatively well-off voted the candidate who promised a payout to them.  Caucuses favor the healthy and well-off and they voted their economic interests.  As a result, we have the candidate we have.

The real purpose of campaigns should not be to advance talking points or to paint caricatures.  Ideally, candidates should have to outline their plans, portray their vision, and make the expected trade-offs clear.  Unfortunately, neither Obama nor McCain are interested in that kind of election.  Most likely because neither believe they could win it.

Believe it or not, I thought my vote was about my interests. Should I use my vote to do what's best for those that are worse off than me, even if its against my own self interests? I guess voting is sort of a selfish thing. I get to vote for who I think is best for me. Now "me" might be my family, my wife, my girl friend, my neighborhood, my coworkers, my church, etc. But ultimately its not about everyone else. They get their vote, I get mine.

As for your list, you forgot some people.

-The doctor who put himself through 15 years of advanced education to become successful and wealthy and doesn't like being taxed double, triple or more than what others who make less are taxed.

-The libertarian gun owner, hunting guide that doesn't like a bunch of suits in Washington telling him what guns he/she can buy or what animals he/she can shoot on her own land.

-The homeschooling Baptist husband and wife who are sick of the government telling them how to raise their children

-The self-made branch manager of a major bank that worries about the level of care her family will receive if universal health care is mandated.

Believe it or not, there are counter arguments to progressive positions that our many of our fellow Americans believe in. The cases you present in your OP lend themselves to supporting progressive positions (and Jeez that felt like a guilt trip). But there are others in this country that are in situations/positions/lifestyles, etc that-gasp-favor more conservative/libertarian positions on the issues. So should I concern myself with them when I'm in the voting booth or only the poor, disadvantaged and downtrodden?

was to have some troll mislead as many people as possible regarding Obama's wailing wall prayer.

Not even a a great positive diary can be free of troll jacking and flame wars.

Lame.