In 2008, there were two candidates in the Democratic primaries. (EDITED)

[BidenBacker]

87. Listen

I'm an intelligent guy...even if I have to say so myself because nobody else agrees. I assure you that I can turn the flame dial up as high as anyone else when I want to.

On WaPo, the moderators would give you a temporary time-out when in their judgment you crossed the line. I got a few of those myself over the years and fully expected it when I made the offending post...and I agreed with their decision and abided by it without complaint or a peep of protest. I knowingly asked for it and I justifiably got it and since that was my choice I could easily live with it. Despite getting some time on the bench there they still thought enough of my input to ask me to become a moderator myself which I declined because I would much rather respond to a person than decide if they needed to be shut up.

I know that in polarized and overheated political times like we are in that it's tough for any forum to maintain civility and not let things degenerate into flame wars. Every forum has to try to enforce some kind of standards, but that doesn't mean that the system they adopt is truly fair or objective...it just is what it is because you have to do something or you'll have nothing. What I wrote today didn't even come close to violating the spirit of an honest exchange of ideas, opinions or information...and I have read 100s if not 1000s of posts here that were two orders of magnitude worse than mine was and they are still up for all to see. I am perceptive and objective enough to know what is over the top and what is not. If you believe that DU judges are infallible then I suggest we get them appointed to the Supreme Court ASAP because several of those SC guys aren't even qualified to be forum moderators let alone justices on the highest court in the land.

There appears to be one common denominator with my posts in question...so the choices I have at the moment seem to be to either stop participating altogether or simply accept selective censorship. I enjoy posting but I'm not a big fan of censorship either. But I do love watching a good ball game so at least I'll have that option soon. Sure beats watching the stock market plunge 2000 points.