I'm so tired of the Republicans doing whatever the hell they want while the Dems tiptoe around always worried about how their actions will be perceived. It's a losing game. And not the way to shift the pendulum.
You're right. Playing fair when your opponent doesn't and hoping your opponent will see how fair you are and change their ways is a fairy-tale.
It's the people in the middle, and I've met quite a few, who are not so much about having opponents or saying "fuck your feelings" to some group. They can be watchful and pick up on who is playing fair. Or offer an olive branch. It doesn't mean you don't assert your positions, it just means you see people as humans first. That's Joe's real strength and I think we're going to see how amazing that is if he can really set the tone and not let it be shouted down by angry trolls and waves of demagoguery.
Years ago, my date and I are at a state fair. A booth with an astrologer. Me: that's bullshit. Her: cmon, it'll be a hoot. We go in. I forget most of it, but remember the lady tells me,
You are all about community, wherever you go. You need harmony. Well, yeah, sort of. What the fuck are we, without it? I can't go take a dump on my neighbors, just because some of them have one narrow information feed which they don't give much thought, and are easily frightened.
It's easy to love my neighbors to the west, because they see nature and life the way I do, and they care about our little community. But many of the other neighbors, I need to learn to see what's good about them, to offer a hand or an ear when it's requested, to find common ground. (we all are opposed to the speeders on Fourth street) When my yard signs go up, my Rosebud Sioux friends are cheered, others nearby fall silent, others still treat me and the spouse like we're still good people even if misguided, because we've shown respect and good will and we keep our long stretch of sidewalk shoveled. No one questions our right to free expression.
Poll
5 (45.5%)