Choose your battles. To me, right now, the important thing RE debating Palin detractors here is to refute lies and misrepresentations, such as the "oil windfall profits tax" and "quitter" charges, because if we don't, readers will think we're silent because we have no defense. Argue the ISSUES -- if they gripe about how Palin endorsed McCain and they're Perry supporters ... point out that Perry invited Palin to endorse him in the governor race and at the time, made it clear that he had no intention of running for President; Palin endorsed him under those circumstances. Now, I think it's probable that Palin would have endorsed him even if he'd indicated that he was interested in the presidency, but nonetheless, Palin endorsed him thinking he had every intention of finishing his term because that's what he told his supporters he'd do. That is hardly anti-Perry -- Palin herself gave him a pass -- but it IS of substance.
On the other hand, "debating" folks who insist she's not running? So what if they think she's not running! Responding to folks who insist in general terms that she's this, that, or the other -- general terms? So what! They look like people who are trying to lower morale among Palin supporters, and because they're so obvious, aren't worth the time for response. What substance is there to debate? Responding to folks solely because of a personal attack? I say, do your best to resist the impulse to fire back an opposite, because the entire argument is smoke, steam, vapor.
MEATY stuff is talking about what Palin has done and is doing, what other candidates have done and are doing. Meaty stuff is when some anti-Palin person (whether they're trying to promote their own candidate instead or simply trying to convince people that Palin isn't worthy of support) states a falsehood or a diliberately misleading partial truth.
Choose your battles. Keep your cool. RESIST ANGER.
And above all, remember that there are apparently folks here who pretend to be supporters of candidates other than Palin and who use that as their justification for dissing Palin, but because they are whipping up such strife and personal animosity between, say, Perry suporters and Palin hopefuls, it is certainly a possiblity that they are in fact people whose SOLE MISSION is to sow discontent, divide, and enmity among WE WHO MUST BE ALLIES regardless of who wins the nomination.
So there!!! ;^)
Obviously you are a rabid PDSer ;)
I don’t disagree in general terms, but all substantive posts devolve into PDS because the trolls take them there. There is little point in doing anything other than ignoring or mocking PDS disruptors.
Now the issues themselves, Definitely discuss them with any rational person, I agree 10000%. The problem comes in when the PDSers turn such discussions to flame wars. Sure it’s deliberate. And sure it happens each and every time. I literally remember one thread that made it past 100 posts before beginning to or completely going to hell. Most get nowhere near that.
On the personal attacks. Ignoring them didn’t work for GWB and it won’t work here. If it gets too personal, hit the abuse button and let Mod make the call. A very wise Viking Kitty once told me that. The PDSers make all sorts of fuss over that but if they didn’t go to the gutter, that wouldn’t be needed would it? ;)
Resist anger? ABSOLUTELY. Though it often isn’t easy to do.