We might as well admit it: this stupid netroots battle between DailyKos and MyDD is the Middle East in miniature.  The same combination of stupidity, incompetence, rabid thought processes, macho posturing, and mob mentality that is killing people in the Holy Land is irritating the crap out of Democrats on the internet.  And the fault is OURS.

Not Kos.  Not Jerome.  YOU.  Yes, you.  Every one of us is guilty.  So stop pointing fingers before you poke someone's eye out, mmkay?

We brought this mess on ourselves, and it's up to us to fix it.  Let's start by being honest with ourselves:

1. DailyKos is an Obama echo chamber.  MyDD is a Clinton echo chamber.  Pot, meet kettle.  He's black.

2. Many Obama supporters are ignorant, bigoted, and offensive buffoons.  Many Clinton supporters are ignorant, bigoted, and offensive buffoons.  You know why?  Because many PEOPLE are ignorant, bigoted, and offensive buffoons, and they still vote.  

3. By the same token, many people in both camps are intelligent and well-informed.  Neither side has a monopoly on brains or informed-ness.  Also, neither side has a monopoly on "true progressives," "true feminists," "true Democrats," or "true" anything, for that matter.  That argument, from either side, should be ecognized for what it is: true BS.

4. Anyone who threatens to vote for McCain because his or her disfavored Democratic candidate would "hurt the country" was not blessed with an overabundance of gray matter.  In plain terms, what they're saying is this: "I'm going to vote for an ongoing war in Iraq and a 7-2 neocon majority on the SCOTUS for the next twenty years because I don't want to hurt the country!"  Whatever floats your boat, I guess...but if you insist on cutting off your nose to spite your face, don't come whining to the Democratic Party when you get gangrene.

5. Sexism is bad.  Racism is bad.  Homophobia is bad.  Ageism--against young voters AND older voters--is bad.  Bad, bad, bad.  Not funny.  Bad.

6. That said, they are all equally bad--and not in an Animal Farm "some are more equal than others" way.  So really, this whole "what form of bigotry is the most awful?" contest is a waste of time and oxygen.  Discrimination is bad.  Capisce?

7. While we're on the subject of badness, non-issues are bad.  Very, very bad.  Real issues, on the other hand, are good.  Very, very good.  If you can't tell a real issue from a non-issue,  I'll give you a hint: anything that the media appends the suffix "gate" to is NOT a real issue.  On the other hand, health care, the economy, the Iraq War, global warming, the housing crisis, torture, the Middle East, Al-Qaida, Darfur, taxes, and alternative energy ARE real issues.  And what's the only thing better than discussing real issues?  Discussing more real issues.

You still with me?  Good.  Now that we're all back in reality, let's make a peace plan.  Place your hand on whatever text you hold sacred--Qur'an, Book of Shadows, Bible, Constitution, the latest issue of Playboy, whatever--and swear to abide by these terms of peace:

1. I will only recommend candidate diaries which discuss the merits of the author's chosen candidate.  Any diary which instead discusses the perceived demerits of the other candidate, I will not recommend, nor will I tip the author.

2. In following 1, I will not bend the rule for posters who are rec list regulars, but will treat all MyDDers equally and without bias.

3. I will give ratings of "1" to any post which does one of the following:
     a. Threatens to vote for McCain.
     b. Employs ageism, sexism, racism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, or any other form of bigotry.
     c. Attacks DailyKos.
     d. Uses the terms "Kool-Aid," "brainwashed," "sheep," "cult," "Clintonista," "Obamabot," or any other derogatory or generalized term for supporters of the candidate the poster does not support.
     e. Uses the terms "Obambi," "Billary," or any other derogatory term for either Democratic presidential candidate.

4. I will give "1" ratings (as per 3) consistently and fairly, regardless of whether the poster and I support the same candidate or not.

5. I will give "2" ratings to posts which are positive and well articulated, regardless of whether the author and I support the same candidate.

6. I will not concern troll or post "I told you so!" diaries on DailyKos.

7. I will not write attack diaries as described in 1, nor will I make posts which merit a "1" rating as described in 3, but will instead strive to support my own candidate in a positive way.

Got all that?  Good.  Now let's get back to the real reason we're here: to elect Democrats and tackle issues of importance to the world and country we live in.