Democratic Underground Administrator Posts Absurdly Detailed Rules to Micromanage Dissent

NewsBusters ^ | June 21, 2010 | P.J. Gladnick

[PJ-Comix]

The leftwing blogosphere has a big problem: dissent. Last week we saw Keith Olbermann leaving the Daily Kos because he was attacked there for mildly criticizing Barack Obama. And this week, the administrator of the Democratic Underground, David Allen aka Skinner, was forced to deal with a recent wave of purges (tombstoning). One reason was due to simple liberal crackup temper tantrums among the DUers as happened when their most prominent member, William Rivers Pitt of Karl Rove indictment hoax fame, was tombstoned last month for threatening physical violence upon a fellow DUer who turned out to be a homeless woman. More serious is the current wave of dissent from DUers who are expressing dissatification with Obama's poor performance as president.

In order to stifle more dissent, Allen has set forth an absurdly detailed and lengthy set of rules for posting at the Democratic Underground. The result is pure comedy gold. So enjoy this small sampling from the buffet table of Allen's obsessive micromanagement down to the smallest laughable detail:

{ } Inappropriate attacks against Democrats
- Insults against prominent Democrats, such as "F--- Obama."
- Name-calling against prominent Democrats. Calling Barack Obama "Barry" or some other name.
- Repeating Republican partisan attacks against Democrats.
- Broadly suggesting that there is no difference between Barack Obama and George W. Bush, or that there is no difference between Democrats and Republicans. (Arguing that specific policies are the same would be permitted.)
- Suggesting that President Obama has perpetrated a "con job" or "fraud," or similarly over-the-top assertions of bad faith.
- Advocating voting against Democrats, or in favor of third-party or GOP candidates.
- Broad-brush smears against Democrats generally.

[cripplecreek]

Turd burglar Barney Frank?

[omega4179]

They can’t even ask when where and how he legally became Barack Hussein Obama jr. when he was known as Barry Soetoro.

[EternalVigilance]

It would be simpler if they just posted Axelrod's daily talking points and told everyone that any deviation will result in banning.

[Ticonderoga34]

This isn’t anything new. This has been going on for years at DU.

That place is a cesspool. Has been for quite a long time. It isn’t worth bothering with, IMHO.

[Eye of Unk]

The truth to them is like Holy water to vampires.

[FrankR]

Change the website name from DU to cumbaya...peace, love, and stupidity...er, I mean tranquility.

Those rules sound like a 4th grader made them up to manage the "Our Gang" clubhouse. We should rename this Skinner guy to "Spanky".

[autumnraine]

DIXIE CHICKS!!!!

So where are the folks crying about freedom of speech? Wasn’t that their big squawk? That they shouldn’t have ANY penalty for their big fat mouths?

[jonascord]

What's most frightening is how entirely, utterly clueless this Stalinist is. It's as if he is trapped in some isolating bubble, with only the echo of his own word to keep him sane. (Hint: The 'sane' part ain't...)

I'm going to wager, however, that this retard is totally convinced of his own genius. How typically progressive.

[Charles Martel]

DU is the internet version of a wire reinforced observation window on an asylum cell door.

An accurate choice of imagery. Post of the Day material, I'd say.

[highlander_UW]

Is glass jawed goat humping commie dilweed ok?

I think that one is out as well, I'm afraid. Sorry.

[budwiesest]

Can't be pointin' to the Emperor unclothed. If there are any on the left who still love this country, now is the time to check themselves.

Even if equality were superior liberty (which it isn't), now is the time to realize to what extent government will use force to achieve equality as compared to liberty which springs forth from individuals who aren't burdened with a "boot on the neck".

[B-Chan]

There are plenty of Freepers who’d have the same rules here (with the GOP instead of the Democrats).

[berdie]

later

[buccaneer81]

Wow. Just went over to that thread of theirs. Their civil war is going to thankfully destroy them.

[Mojave]

Change the website name from DU to cumbaya..

Or the Website of Peace..

[Brytani]

My Lord, that is a disturbing image!!!

[muawiyah]

What’s wild about those rules is that when I post over at the WarshPost there’ll occasionally be a brain burned DU addict who wonders over and wants to know why the “posties” don’t enforce such rules against me and kick me out of there.

[Brytani]

Are they at each others throats over the new rules?

[callthemlikeyouseethem]

LOL... new rules for radicals...;)

[rj45mis]

“So where are the folks crying about freedom of speech?”

Indeed! I’ve been wondering when Jimmy Cahtah, Sean Penn, Richard Gere, Julia Roberts and a host of other politically astute celebs are going to speak out against the current administration’s naziesk policies. Deafening silence indeed!