I lieu of an annual DU awards ceremony, which DU'ers do you like to read?

[AP]

I hope DU indulges me for a moment, before, perhaps, bumping this to the lounge.

In an effort to reward thoughtful posting, whether you agree or disagree with the poster, I ask: when you see a 50+ post thread and can't read every post, whose screen names do you click on when you scroll down so that you know you're getting to the heart of the matter, and so that you know that you're not wasting time reading stuff that isn't useful?

If I'm missing anyone, let me know, and I'll throw it in.

Oh, and if you make this first list, I'm not trying to kiss your ass. I'm just being honest. One or two of the names below are people with whom I never agree, but they are people I go out of my way to read when I need to get to the crux of the matter

Much of this is just from memory. I may be misremembering, or misattributing. If anyone gets zero votes, I'll replace them with someone else. I wish there 30 slots, rather than 10.

So, who do/did you go out of your way to read?

[david_vincent]

1. La Serpiente n/t

[chimpymustgo]

24. Purity of Essence. Gifted writer, thoughtful, eloquent, knowledgable.

Always offers another dimension to any discussion.

AP - I like you too, and blm.

And wyndycty.

Frenchie's passion is endearing.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

2. LittleDannySlowhorse

[AP]

3. I haven't noticed you before. You'll have to get this seconded and thirded

and fourthed down here before I replace you with one of the above

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

10. But, but...

You and I had an argument just yesterday! Didn't I mean anything to you? Or am I just your cheap argument floozy du jour to be cast aside afterwards like so much effluvium?

I need chocolate.

[AP]

13. Sorry, sailor.

[Sagan]

4. what happened to jiacinto?

did I miss something?

[AP]

5. He criticized a candidate in the Daily Democrat and got tombstoned.

[GinaMaria]

96. Tahiti Nut

On living in the world of lies

Edit: Sorry, I meant this to be a response to the original post.

And sorry it posted twice.

[GinaMaria]

97. Tahiti Nut

On living in the world of lies

[goobergunch]

115. Here's what he said following his tombstoning:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=849339

[tom_paine]

7. He got booted for some infraction, I don't know what.

He's got the RIP tombstone up on his profile...

[La_Serpiente]

9. He had like 25000 posts

kind of weird eh? But that was his fault. He should have done it outside the daily democrat.

Oh, mines? Well, I always like to read Darranar, Vilet Crumble, Bluesoul, Tinoire, Slinkerwink, William Pitt, and Hawkeye X. :-)

[Kolesar]

16. At least Carlos knew what he was talking about

He composed a lot of posts that were well written and well researched. He has the training in politics.

I missed the daily democrat thread gone awry.

[Terwilliger]

21. I think it was more than just a simple interruption of one of those thread

it was the Al Sharpton thread...say no more :eyes:

[AP]

23. C liked the stats and he read the books, but he constantly pushed the line

He was the kind of person who always seemed like he was going to grow up to be a Republican.

He was SO hostile to some very basic democratic principles, and wouldn't listen to or respond to any argument that contradicted his very firmly held opinons, and this was DESPITE the fact that he read way more about these issues than anyone else here.

Once he asked DU to proofread a paper he had written for a class he was taking.

It was a total apologia/love letter to privitizing utilities in South America. It was very stunningly right wing.

[Kolesar]

53. I did not know politics when I found DU

I learned a lot here from many writeres and Carlos wrote some good stuff. You do raise some good points (indeed!).

[legin]

58. I want jiacinto back

.

[CWebster]

6. RichM

.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

8. I voted Timoire, but what about Mairead?

She was more active a few months ago I guess...

[JohnKleeb]

12. Mairead is back and I voted for tiniore too

[blm]

132. Tin here, too....and

I wanted to hit everyone else and so many others who deserve spots. Tinoire just makes me want to cry her sincerity, integrity and intellect are so powerful.
Solly Mack, DuctapeFatwa and Sophree get me there, too.

Those who make me laugh, those who make me think harder and those who cool my hot head are all special. And I don't even have to mention who you all are. You know.

[rucky]

11. Kentuck

n/t

[kentuck]

Thanks! I always like to read NNNOLHI and khephra....

There are so many excellent posters we could never give everyone their due.

[mzmolly]

17. I agree on N and K.... and U Kentuck

:toast:

[kentuck]

20. and eloriel, SoCalDem, and Q ?,

I could come up with dozens! :)

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

111. Q and Eloriel

Q is great, always very thought-provoking and usually right-on. Eloriel has some very well researched (and now historic) DU threads.

[AP]

52. Me too, except one thing working against them is that they post so much...

...or at least start a lot of threads. To read everything they post is to read just about everything, not that they aren't the author of plenty of fine posts.

What I'm getting at is when you see long threads and you want to get to the crux of the matter, who do you count on to represent their side of the argument with presicion and honesty? There are a few people here who fit that bill. However, if there were thirty slots, I'd add N and K to the list definitely.

[mzmolly]

Luminious X, W4rma, TLM, Eloriel, and many many more ...

;)

[returnable]

14. Tom Rinaldo

[AP]

18. Who?

I'm going to have to start looking out for some of these people.

[OKNancy]

63. Oh He's VERY good

He writes really, really well.

[mzmolly]

15. Quaker Bill....

one more.

[Terwilliger]

19. I like your stuff AP

(generally) :hi:

I also like MSchreader

[AP]

28. Why thanks. But this is not a vanity thread!

If someone wants to guage my appeal, it won't be in this thread.

[Terwilliger]

33. add MSchreader too

[kentuck]

39. Oh yeah! MSchreader, Terwillinger, and Armstead....

Everybody has to read Armstead. He is so logical. :)

[Terwilliger]

40. thanks, but don't read me

i'm a gang-greenie

[kentuck]

43. I don't care....

I still read your stuff. :)

[kentuck]

48. And what about radfringe and proudpatriot !

Hey, there are so many good ones.

[theorist]

22. WilliamPitt

I hope he continues to post here, i.e. that the Franken lunch doesn't go to his head. :)

[kentuck]

30. I think Pitt keeps the quality of discussion up...

Most of the time... :)

These are his roots.

[mzmolly]

32. Moooooooooost of the time, though I can think of a recent thread when????

:freak: :P

[mzmolly]

25. w13rd0....and Terwillliger though he pi$$es me off.

couple more ;)

[seaglass]

26. AP, you have without a doubt, the best pictures on this site!

I wish I could have voted for two.

[Melinda]

27. Eloriel, nothingshocksmeanymore, kephra, matcom, WaltStarr

BullGooseLooney, so many, many others I am leaving out (I love Ms Waterman's meeting room threads) and I adore JohnKleeb. An elitist and exclusionary thread... I was helpless to resist.

[mzmolly]

29. Killbotfactory!!!

:toast: I keep thinkin of em. ;)

[killbotfactory]

42. Thank you!

:toast:

[mzmolly]

31. Kudos to Slinkerwink too..

:thumbsup:

[xxqqqzme]

34. after reading all the

screen names suggested in the later posts - many of whom R also my favorites - mayB the poll should B who U ignore! or have U done that one?

[blm]

35. I don't belong on that list, AP.

I am one of the worst writers on the board, clumsy and awkward. All I have is my earnestness, but sadly, no writing talent.

There are others far more worthy, in fact, about a few thousand. ;)

[AP]

37. blm, I don't know about others here, but I find myself clicking on

your posts when I need to know the crux of the issues debated in the threads in which you engage.

You're honest, passionate, and you seem to care about the facts. That's the stuff that makes DU great.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

99. yeah, blm, you're great

I find you quite educational!

[scarletwoman]

36. RichM, Tinoire, Eloriel, Desertrose, TathitiNut, Noiretblu, Armstead,

Ulysses, Pocho, Jackpine Radical, Demotex, TheMagistrate, Arendt, PlaidAdder -- these are at least SOME of my all-time must-read posters, I'm sure there's some others I may be forgetting.

I haven't been around much for a few months, so I don't really know any of the newer posters, or how many of my old faves are still active. The ones I've named are the ones who have always impressed me the most consistently, over the almost 3 years of being on DU.

That said, I kinda hate to see some sort of weird little popularity contest thing going on -- even if that isn't your intent.

sw

[AP]

44. I'd just like DU to get a feel for what works across the entire spectrum..

...of opinons here at DU.

It's not a popularity contest. It's just rewarding quality posting with deserved recognition.

[scarletwoman]

57. I understand, I just think it's a bit tricky...

Like the short-lived post rating feature, it's just not easy to be fair, imho.

There ARE some incredibly AWESOME minds on DU! I love and respect so MANY people here!

sw

[Malva Zebrina]

86. Amen

and we are all, after all, human beings. I like Plaid Adder and Ophimoi--and lots of others, but I cringe at the notion of a popularity contest in progress here. I actually have one of the most popular on my ignore list! What each of us brings to the table may not always be the most intellectual or the most acute and aware analysis of any particular political event --nevertheless, I enjoy reading all the posts from everyone because I get the feeling of the big tent, of inclusiveness and the notion of a population that is vigorous because of it's variety and inclusiveness--we are all, after all, only human beings.

[Dudley_DUright]

114. Finally someone mentions PlaidAdder!

I second her nomination.

[lapislzi]

38. I'm a huge Plaid Adder and Ductapefatwa fan...

[scarletwoman]

41. Yeah -- Ductapefatwa, DEFINITELY!

I know there's MORE deserving mention, I just can't think of everyone's name.

Add another vote for MSchreader too!

sw

[CivilRightsNow]

46. I agree on...

Ducktapefatwa and Plaid. I also like msmcghee, Will Pitt (of course) and The Magistrate.

[calimary]

45. One always seems to find one's way to Will Pitt...

And there are many many more. Forgive me for not appropriately honoring them!

[KaraokeKarlton]

47. dsc...he is always trying to take the moral high road

and I'm surprised no one has mentioned him. Will Pitt is a given and Bev Harris has been a very important contributor to DU. I voted for Eloriel simply because you can just tell that she puts her heart into what she posts. I enjoy Dr. Funkenstein's posts too but he annoys the bejesus out of me at the same time. :D

[AP]

50. I've had dsc on and off ignore so many times 'cause he drives me crazy

but when he's off ignore, I almost always read what he's saying.

I'm surprised that more people didn't pick him.

[killbotfactory]

49. I voted for dsc

Mainly because I usually stick to Dean threads and he's always there with good and thoughtful counterpoints to the anti-Dean hit squads.

But I like all the pro-Dean gang, really. A great bunch of people.

And I like anybody who supports someone else, but keeps the dean-bashing to a minimum, avoids lame attacks, and keeps it positive.

[AP]

56. but you have to admit that some people whose opinions you don't share

are very honest, passionate, diligent, knowledgeable defenders of their positions.

It's certainly not the case that one group of people here have cornered the market on truth.

We are debating HONEST differences of opinion here, and some people are extremely good at doing that.

[killbotfactory]

78. I do admit that

For the record, I usually enjoy Dr. Funkenstien and william pitt, among others. I just tend to stick to Dean threads so that's who I know.

[neuvocat]

51. disregard

I just saw the answer to my question.

[Pax Hayden]

54. Who is William Rivers Pitt?

And why does his name sound vaguely familiar?

[Droopy]

60. He's a writer

He's written a couple of books and has his own web site. You may have heard about him from truthout.org.

[La_Serpiente]

61. He is a writer and a journalist.

[OKNancy]

55. Salin

I'm not voting but several on your list are good. However for thoughtful, well written posts, you can't beat Salin. She has an extra advantage because she has yet to chose a candidate, so she is very fair in her critic.

I try never to miss her posts and because she doesn't post that much anymore, I know that when she does, she has taken the time to think about it.

[kentuck]

59. Yes. Salin and OKnancy....

Both excellent!

[scarletwoman]

65. Yes, Salin too! (n/t)

[Andy_Stephenson]

67. Salin

:yourock:

[AP]

70. I'm still a little salty about salin.

I'll get over it.

I love Salin -- favorite poster at one point. Not today. I'll be back to normal tomorrow.

I also LOVE noiretblue. I just might squeeze her in up there in a minute or two.

[KaraokeKarlton]

89. In all fairness AP

you did have it coming. I don't think there's many of us here who aren't guilty of getting frustrated and fed up with the supporters of opponents who work our last nerve, but you can't deny that you were very naughty earlier today. You aren't the only one who ever has been, and I'm the last one who could claim being above reproach. Salin was spot on today. I also give you props for this thread because it is setting forth at least a temporary precedent for good will, and Lord knows we could all use a little more of that around here lately.

[AP]

93. Well, I didn't think it was fair, and I defended myself in that thread...

...and that's not what this thread is about.

[KaraokeKarlton]

95. I know

but I didn't want to kick them up again to say that because I would rather kick this positive one. Know what I mean, jelly bean?

[AP]

98. Shouldn't have brought it up myself but I couldn't resist "salty/salin"...

...joke.

[KaraokeKarlton]

100. True

but for what it's worth, this thread makes up for it all, at least in my opinion.

[chimpymustgo]

116. Hey, I missed it! How 'bout a link?

nt

[KaraokeKarlton]

123. No way

Jose'! Don't do it AP, don't post any of the links here! Send them in a PM instead.

:D

[salin]

131. here ya go (kinda)

and
http://store3.yimg.com/I/asuperbuy_1766_24961394
:7

By the way... Peace AP... :hippie:

[Rick Myers]

62. Kef...

There are SO MANY great people here at DU, but kef is my hero!!!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

64. Bunch of people

Armstead, NSMA, Will Pitt, Khephra, Tinoire, Noiretblu, Salin, and a host of others.

[scarletwoman]

69. YOU, Lydia! I ALWAYS check your posts!

(I KNEW I was forgetting some important people!)

sw

[no name no slogan]

120. Lydia Leftcoast, Tinoire, DesertRose, MuseRider, AP, dpbrown, many more

I wish I had time to write them all out, but I'd forget half of them anyway :p. Let's just say too many to mention, of all supporters and backgrounds. If you've posted something I've replied to (good and/or bad), you're on MY list!

:toast:

[bushisanidiot]

66. I Don't Really Look At User's ID's Much.

sorry. I just read the posts and respond to the one's I want to respond to.

[drfemoe]

101. I look at them .but . yeah

If I'm going to read a thread, I try to read all (or at least most) of the posts. Since DU gets 16,000 posts per day, there's no way to read every one. ;) Is there?

I do like Billy_Pilgrim and ProlesUnited (if I spelled correctly).

[Kolesar]

68. I don't want anybody to think I am "slithering up to them"

so I shall not say. There is one candidate here that I pay attention to for strategic reasons, though.

[guajira]

71. Everyone Already Mentioned, Many Others, and IndianaGreen

Even if the "green" means he is one!!!

There are so many great posters here it seems unfair to single out a few and compare them to each other!

DU is my oasis in the desert of Central Florida Repukes!!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

76. FYI

Indiana Green is a "she."

[peekaloo]

72. Octafish, PeteNYC, RBHam,blm,salin,Indiana Green

thebigidea for supersized mind expansion!

[thebigidea]

80. would you like potato planks with that order?

[peekaloo]

84. extra crusty please!

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

109. IndianaGreen is great, so is Octafish

I always expect to learn something from them.

[nostamj]

73. nodding in agreement on most but

where's TruthIsAll and prolesunited?

[Catherine Vincent]

74. I enjoy all posters (except Freepers) but here's a few that stand out:

Cat Woman
Will Pitt
Terrwilliger (sp?)
John Kleeb
Matcom
Magic Rat
Skinner

Not necessarily in that order.

[buddhamama]

75. i'd add salin,ulysses, David Zephyr , IrateCitizen and Armstead

to your list of possible candidates

[kentuck]

81. Definitely ulysses, DavidZephyr, and IrateCitizen.....

Is one of them a famous person? :)

[mzmolly]

83. And you Buddhamama!

:toast: Many great posters here.

[Padraig18]

77. Slinkertwink, ulysses and MuseRider!

Great posters, all three. :)

[mzmolly]

82. Padraig18, another fave !!!

:toast:

[Padraig18]

85. Thank you!

:hi::hug::toast:

[mzmolly]

79. C Webster...

:toast:

[CivilRightsNow]

91. C Webster is tres cool.

But then again, Im a bit biased cause he's one of the few that I think have their eyes open on one key issue.

[kentuck]

87. how about kskiska, Starpass, and Magic Rat !

Like I said......

[JohnKleeb]

88. What am I chop liver

:evilgrin:
I am kidding, my grammar sucks so much, I bet its like youre like what the hell is he talking about.

[rucky]

121. chopliver got tombstoned weeks ago

n/t

[JohnKleeb]

125. really now you tell me

:)
I am suprized that a lot of people like what my friend tiniore has to say, I shouldnt be because she is a smart woman but I didnt know that she had a lot of respect, but shes earned it thats for sure., she has great personal insight as a veteran, Kucinich supporter, progressive, Catholic and what not. She of course is someone I consider a friend too.

[Character Assassin]

The Magistrate, Boner the Space Weasel, and Nederland.

[kentuck]

92. Definitely the Magistrate!

The class of DU!

[Character Assassin]

94. Hey! What about Boner the Space Weasel?

[chiburb]

90. Plaid Adder, Maha, NSMA, Iverglas, Davsand, and too many...

More to list. I apologize if I didn't mention you, but most of you have been covered above.
Thanks to all of you...

[seaglass]

102. A-Schwarznegger is hysterical.

Always try to read his posts:-)

[A-Schwarzenegger]

136. I am calm as a kookumber.

Thanxs and I will certainly be looking for your posts
from now on!?!

[Paragon]

103. Me

Genius is always unappreciated in its time.

[eissa]

133. LOL!

I know how you feel :-)

[Cocoa]

104. can't spell the name, but it starts with "opi"

Hawaiian, I think...

Very original thoughts, and a creative style in expressing them. Not sure if a lot of his threads get a lot of responses, but I always click on them and am never disappointed. :-)

[kentuck]

108. Yes, opihimoimoi...

A classic!

(edited for spelling of name)

[Terwilliger]

110. that's opihimoimoi

:-)

[kentuck]

113. Sorry about that!

He knew I was talking about him... :)

[Cocoa]

118. thanks!

I consider myself a good speller, but opihimoimoi is a challenge. :-)

[Skittles]

105. Tom Paine and my beloved oneighty

never a bad read

[AP]

106. I just want to reveal one other intention I had with this post

I just wanted to point out that even if you're a partisan, you are (or at least, you should be) responding to what other people are saying. So you're obviously going to be reading certain people's posts, and you should be engaging with the most intelligent, most representative examples of the other sides argument.

So, if you're just listing off a bunch of people who share your opinion as your favority posters, you're being a little bit disingenuous. Who really comes here because they want to shout in an echo chamber?

We're all here because we want' to bounce ideas and arguments off other informed people.

And who would stay here very long if they weren't finding interesting debates in which to engage?

So there are obviously people out there who we respect at least in the sense that we consider them to represent their ideas and their perspective with some sort of skill.

I just wanted to give a shout out to those people, to encourage them to keep doing things the way they've been doing them. I think that's the best thing for the debate.

[drfemoe]

126. I'm a little uncomfortable with this thread

and became more so after you posted this:

So, if you're just listing off a bunch of people who share your opinion as your favority posters, you're being a little bit disingenuous.

I read posters giving kudos to Tinoire all the time. If you appreciate someone's posts, how about telling them one-on-one?

I also read some who explained the reason their daily dem posts didn't conform to the rules is because they didn't bother to read the first post .. from Skinner!! I think that says a lot. Sure, most of us want a two way dialog, not an echo chamber. But if you don't bother to read what other posters are writing, how can *you* (not "you") offer a reasoned response? Struck me as ironic and instructive.

I'm rather new here and not familiar with all the names you mention.
If it were reversed (as someone suggested), and you/we posted names of people we "ignore", that wouldn't be right.

I posted my opinion further up. I just wonder about your intentions for posting this. ... I am newish. so if this is a DU 'tradition', please excuse my sophomoric POV.

[AP]

139. Because it's kind of like the Oscars. If you want to encourage people to

do good things, sometimes you have to pat each other on the back for doing good things.

The idea is that people will acknowledge to someon whose opinon they don't share that they actually appreciate HOW they debate.

Hopefully it will encourage people to debate on that level.

I don't agree with dsc, but there are many dsc posts I read which make me appreciate HOW dsc debates. I suspect there might come a day when I'm on the opposite side of the debate as all but one or two of the people listed above, but I'll say right now that I'm totally appreciative of HOW many of them debate.

[jumptheshadow]

107. There are just too many

Why name people? Part of the appeal of this site is the diverse chorus of eloquent voices. Over time one even gains a certain affection for the folks who have flamed you, or made blind accusations without knowing you, or whose views you don't ever share.

[eissa]

112. They're all great

I've learned so much here on DU because of ALL the posters. Just a few favorites: Eloriel, Will Pitt, slinkerwink and Luminous X.

[ulysses]

117. no one's said SOteric?

I hardly ever see kcr post any more, but they just had a new baby. Also, a shout to two posters with whom I often disagree but for whom I have a lot of respect, dsc and w4rma.

Beyond that, I hesitate to even try, because I know I'll forget someone. salin, buddhamama, Lydia Leftcoast, nsma, IrateCitizen, Armstead, Ter, Iverson, davsand, geniph, Plaid Adder, noiretblu, Forkboy, KG, youngred, Jack Rabbit...

[buddhamama]

124. i was thinking SOteric

i always read her posts
she doesn't venture out of the Lounge much.

[indigo32]

119. I appreciate many of them

Eloriel, NSMA, Plaid Adder, theBigIdea, Tinoire, and to throw a new name in the mix
I appreciate Bearfartinthewoods perspective.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

122. HEyHEY, Minstrel Boy, Hand, Random Koolzip, Dolo Amber, Iverglas

Professor GAC, TrogL, Swede, Tommy Douglas, Velma D.

[PurityOfEssence]

127. Gosh, thanks; I'm voting for Shocky

She's a hoot. (Nothingshocksmeanymore)

Where'd ya get that fabulous John Edwards picture? That should be front and center; women will swoon and all working folk will love it. I have small kids, so I'm in the zone at the moment.

RichM should be in there, too, as others have pointed out; he's been able to pay out threads that last for days and get into truly meaty discussion.

Thanks, guys.

[chimpymustgo]

137. Purity, you're my favorite poster at DU. Here's the link to Edwards' pics

Great photos. The News and Observer also has a full-time reporter on Edwards, so plenty of news there. Everyone, enjoy:


http://www.newsobserver.com/edwards/story/2675825p-2480929c.html

[kentuck]

128. Did someone say CatWoman ?

Hey, can't leave her out. :)

[Schmendrick54]

129. All of the above, except ....

when they disagree with me.
</joke>

Regards,
Schmendrick
(who nominates this reply for the "Most Fiendishly Clever Subject Which Lured Everyone Here to See Who He Would Diss")

[KaraokeKarlton]

130. Underpants!

I can't recall the style of his posts, but I laugh my butt off everytime I see his yellow stained skivvies avatar walking across the page!

[AntiCoup2K4]

134. Guess I should call up the mad scientist and thank him for the......

....invisibility pills. They're working great.

[JanMichael]

138. You too? I'm on the goddamned radio every week and NO mention??

I'm beside myself with misplaced anxiety over this abomination of a thread...

[xray s]

135. Crewleader and HawkerHurricaine

HH for his perspective of things from inside the military, and Crewleader for being one of the kindest, nicest posters around here.

[Moderator]

140. I am locking this thread.

As well intentioned as it may be, this is just a form of a popularity contest. Inevitably when some people see that they are not included their feelings get hurt.

No one person is better than another and the idea is that we all have equal status here and that is the way it should be.


Thank you for understanding.

DU Moderator