The Loyal Opposition

There's a very popular website for leftists called the Democratic Underground.

I just thought it would be instructive to view this thread of discussion they're having, including all the replies of rousing agreement and elaboration. Some excerpts:

To the citizens of Dirtsville USA: Quit grieving for NYC...
Since tomorrow is the anniversary of the "excuse" the cowboy uses to attack anybody he wants to. You never liked New Yorkers. You hated New Yorkers remember. If you really cared about the victims of 9/11 you would vote for John Kerry because that's the only thing they want you to do....
So take your flags, your prayers, your rodeos and your country music and stick it. You're waging war because you want too, because you like it and you're not fooling anybody. You're only happy when you have an enemy, if it wasn't 9/11 it would be something else. Like "libruls". At least have the decency to admit that.

These elites consider themselves oh so superiour to the rubes in flyover dirtsville country; and oh so more intellectual and cultured and educated.

I also wish to point out their discussion policy, which is straight out of Animal Farm...or worse:

WHO IS WELCOME ON DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND, AND WHO IS NOT
We welcome Democrats of all stripes, along with other progressives who will work with us to achieve our shared goals.
This is a "big tent" message board. We welcome a wide range of progressive opinion. You will likely encounter many points of view here that you disagree with.
We ban conservative disruptors who are opposed to the broad goals of this website. If you think overall that George W. Bush is doing a swell job, or if you wish to see Republicans win, or if you are generally supportive of conservative ideals, please do not register to post, as you will likely be banned.

In other words, it is nothing but a giant echo chamber, enforced with an iron fist. Certain points of view are dismissed out of hand. Anything but complete conformity is banned outright. That's no way to further the cause of honest inquiry, now, is it?

I guess some "big tents" are bigger than others.