raise your hand if you're a registered Democrat

[grasswire]

It seems that the "bomb-throwers" on DU this week who are attacking our Congressional leadership run away from the discussion when asked about their actual party affiliation or their vote in 2000.

And so it might be useful to see whether the attackers are willing to admit to being registered Democrats, or whether they are merely more of the same old crowd who drove us off a cliff in 2000.

Are you a registered Democrat? Say so here.

I am, and I am exceedingly proud to be one.

[wildhorses]

1. ~

:patriot:

[rhiannon55]

2. Yep! Lifelong Democrat here!

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. Here!

:patriot:

[ulysses]

4. *raises hand*

Well, Georgia doesn't register by party, but yes, I am a Democrat.

[flaminbats]

169. same here..

people don't realize this, but Georgia voters have an advantage. this allows Democrats to vote in the Republican primaries and Republicans to vote in our primaries.

but I am an active member of the Democrats on the county level, and love meeting with them regularly.

[UrbScotty]

179. Same in Michigan (nt)

[ulysses]

198. I'm not big on open primaries, actually.

It lost us Cynthia McKinney in 2002 when I was living in GA 4.

[BlueIris]

5. Hand.

[emilyg]

6. Raising both hands.

Always. Proud of it.

[grasswire]

10. hooray!

I'm proud that you're proud!

[SoxFan]

7. K&R

:kick:

[ElizabethDC]

8. Absolutely! n/t

:patriot:

[endarkenment]

9. So why would the "bomb throwers" answer honestly?

Seems to me that you are just asking for a fight here. I vote Democratic and have since '72. I do not register Democratic except on primary day, and then I unregister.

[grasswire]

12. the fight is going on elsewhere on DU

I'm merely trying to raise the spirits of real Dems here. Shhh.

[endarkenment]

30. No you are not. You are looking for a fight.

You basically have said that everyone criticising our Blessed Democratic Congressional Leadership is not a 'real Democrat'. Screw that shit. As usual our leaders are spineless gutless arrogant idiots, and my belief that this is true does not make me less of a loyal Democrat than you.

[uppityperson]

39. Thank you for that.

I didn't know I could register or that registering would make me democraticer than thou. If I register, does this mean I cannot criticize Democrats or the Democratic party, that I must just go along? And this would make me more or less loyal?

[wyldwolf]

32. I've always said...

... the "bomb throwers" either aren't Dems or just think they are but have a mistaken notion of what the party has always been about. Both, however, see the party as the most viable way to advance their agenda.

[endarkenment]

34. Oddly enough I consider all of that true of you.

project much?

[wyldwolf]

43. unfortunately for you, then, you fall into the second category

... from the "progressive" movement that blended into the party after opposing Harry Truman in 1948... to the anti-war apoliticos who latched onto McGovern in '72 and then were absorbed in... to the "johnny come latelys" who got involved via the Howard Dean campaign. All saw an opportunity to remake a party in their image. All failed.

The one thing that has remained constant in the Democratic party since Woodrow Wilson is centrism. From Wilson's creation of liberal internationalism, to FDR saving capitalism by suppressing leftist movements, to Truman defeating Henry Wallace's "progressive" campaign, to JFK beating back a draft Stephenson movement, and so on.

The Democratic party has always been to the right of what "progressives" believe it should be. And since that is so, "progressives" certainly cannot be the true face of the Democratic party.

[RaleighNCDUer]

47. And you need to face the reality that the Democratic Party is the

default progressive party - we have a two-party system that has been, for decades, a choice between the right and the center-right. Where are the progressives supposed to go to exercise their franchise?
To the Republicans?

We are an integral part of the Democratic Party and we will be heard.

BTW, how can there be a center if there is no left? The way to find the center is to have a strong, active left, and find compromise between the left and right. Compromise between the right and the center and you get...right.

[ulysses]

49. what amuses me

is the constant carrot/stick routine, which can be summed up by saying, "I don't know why we even put up with you wild-eyed commies, but you'd better not vote for anyone else".

[grasswire]

52. Go ahead

Vote for someone else. Both Gore and Kerry won without the help of the bomb throwers, apparently.

[ulysses]

56. finally, I actually got a straight answer on that question.

Cool, thanks. Can I quote you?

[wyldwolf]

61. well, you always threaten to not vote for candidates... might as well keep your word.

[ulysses]

91. "always"? cite, please.

[wyldwolf]

96. no. "always SEEM." See? My impression of those folks who say they'll never vote for "___________"

[ulysses]

99. I'm referencing your subject line in #61.

[wyldwolf]

101. and I'm clarifying it. Now, about that "constant carrot/stick routine?"

[ulysses]

103. first you said I'd quoted you inaccurately. now you're "clarifying"?

Please. :rofl:

[wyldwolf]

105. true. I had to clarify. Now, about that "constant carrot/stick routine" you are avoiding?

:rofl:

[ulysses]

107. allow me to clarify, then.

What amuses me is the carrot/stick routine that the unity enforcement squad at DU seems to constantly deploy.

[wyldwolf]

110. well, since you've admitted it is merely your perception, I understand.

[ulysses]

111. where did I admit that?

[wyldwolf]

112. you said, "seems to constantly deploy." Get it? "Seems" denotes your perception of the matter.

[ulysses]

114. as in your "always seem to threaten"?

How's your perception these days? Y'all seem to be having a hard time coming up with links to back up your statements.

[wyldwolf]

116. yeah. When I clarified, did I not say it was my "impression?"

I think you're having a hard time finding zingers today. For someone who pays close attention to subject lines, you must have missed that one.

[ulysses]

117. let's look at how you used "impression"

no. "always SEEM." See? My impression of those folks who say they'll never vote for "___________"

That's not the same thing as saying that you have the impression that someone threatens to not vote for a candidate.

Nice rhetorical trick though, if someone isn't paying attention.

[wyldwolf]

119. No matter how you try to spin it, one's "impression" is their "perception."

You're teacher. You know what a synonym is:

http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/perception

[ulysses]

121. right, but what's your perception *of* in this case?

Take two example sentences.

"My impression is that you're not being entirely honest here."
"My impression of people who are not rhetorically honest is poor."

See the difference?

[wyldwolf]

122. I understand that you want there to be a difference, but there isn't

Of course, it is perfectly acceptable for you to have the perception there is a difference, and to have the impression that I said or meant something I didn't.

[ulysses]

124. LOL

A remarkably DLCish statement. Never admit to making a hard and fast statement. Anyway, I suspect others see what I do here.

I'm out - gotta pick up the kid and go to dinner.

[wyldwolf]

126. LOL

A remarkably "progressive" statement. Always try to spin the words.

[OHdem10]

205. Liberal Democrat

Have voted Democratic Party Since JFK

Except. Regan 1st Term.

Found the Light. Did not vote 2ond Term.

Proud Liberal.

[grasswire]

63. sure

"An anonymous Democrat told anti-Democrats on a Democratic message board to go ahead and vote for a third party."

Live it up, pal. Whee!

[cui bono]

125. You don't talk like someone who's not looking for a fight.

Just sayin'...

[wyldwolf]

60. oh, it's kinda like the carrot/stick routine of...

"If you don't do what we want you to do, we're not going to vote because you're all a bunch of dinos."

[wyldwolf]

94. "constant carrot/stick routine?" cite, please.

[ulysses]

95. LOL! I was wondering what your dodge would be this time.

:thumbsup:

[wyldwolf]

97. LOL! There's been no dodge. Are you referring to the incomplete quote of mine you used?

[wyldwolf]

106. "constant carrot/stick routine?" cite, please.

[wyldwolf]

55. nope. History doesn't back that up

And you need to face the reality that the Democratic Party is the default progressive party

No, since Wilson's day, we have traditionally been to the left of the Republican party. But we've never been a "progressive" party as defined by the progressive movements of the 30s and 40s and the "progressive" movement of the late 90s to present.

we have a two-party system that has been, for decades, a choice between the right and the center-right.

That is where "progressive" truthiness comes in. For decades, our two party system has been a choice between liberal and conservative.

Where are the progressives supposed to go to exercise their franchise? To the Republicans?

well, to have a franchise, you must be the owner of something. The progressive movement, in any incarnation, has never owned the Democratic party nor has it been it's major voting block. But keeping with the big tent tradition of the party, progressive movements can and have made their voices heard. It's only when they begin claiming that they're the only "true Democrats" that their ground becomes shakey.

The history of "progressives" in the Democratic party is rather like a group of people who start coming to a restaurant years after it opened and begin complaining about the way it is run. Some start their own restuarants but find they can't compete. The others soon start believing they're the true owners of the eatery until election time roles around and the restuarant deed once again shows who runs the joint.

[cui bono]

129. I don't accept all of your arguments...

Yes, the Dems are the default progressive party, meaning that they are the only viable party for whom progressives could vote and to which progressives could belong. You don't really think progressives would go Republican do you? You assumed the statement meant that the Dem party is progressive. We all know it's not, it's center. But it used to be more liberal/progressive. It has been pushed to the center over time.

And no, our choice is not between liberal and conservative. Many Dems in office are not partiuclarly liberal. A lot of them are corporatist. The DLC Dems are mostly not that liberal. Our choice is between conservative and not quite liberal.

[wyldwolf]

138. the Dem party is probably more liberal now than it has ever been.

our choice is not between liberal and conservative.

Yes it is.

Many Dems in office are not partiuclarly liberal.

According to who's standards?

The DLC Dems are mostly not that liberal.

Again, according to who's standards? They're patterned after the Truman/Kennedy liberal of the cold war era.

Our choice is between conservative and not quite liberal.

Your choice is between conservative and those who don't pass the progressive purity tests.

[endarkenment]

145. uh *cough* bullshit *cough* nt.

[wyldwolf]

160. uh *cough* naive *cough*

[endarkenment]

184. Here is just one example.

" Before his death in 1945, Franklin Roosevelt came out in favor of universal health care and in November, 1945, Harry Truman asked the Congress to enact a national insurance program "to assure the right to adequate medical care and protection from the economic fears of sickness.""

http://cthealth.server101.com/why_doesn't.htm

Today the Democratic party, far more liberal according to you, still cannot get its leaders and 'major' candidates to support national health insurance.

[wyldwolf]

185. you're mistaken

Today the Democratic party, far more liberal according to you, still cannot get its leaders and 'major' candidates to support national health insurance.

All the major candidates and party leadership supports universal healthcare.

But we could compare, issue by issue, the party's stance today to that of decades past all day. Gun control, for example, became a hallmark of the Dem party by the mid 60s.

In 1945 President Harry Truman praised the NRA in a letter to C.B. Lister, NRA Sec.-Treas.

By 1968, LBJ was trying to pass comprehensive gun laws, setting a pattern that has continued to this day.

[endarkenment]

186. "All the major candidates and party leadership supports universal healthcare"

No. Not one of the officially annointed major candidates supports national health insurance: single payer universal health care, as proposed by Harry Truman in 1948, as proposed many times by Edward Kennedy. Instead they are mired in complicated Hillary-care systems that funnel billions of dollars into the hands of private insurance companies rather than into actually providing healthcare services.

Nice corporatist framing though, marching right along with the confusoid 'universal healthcare' when it is in fact mandated private insurance.

[wyldwolf]

187. It's a matter of implementation and, of course, interpretation

Proposing an idea is far simpler that presenting a detailed, workable plan. But your interpretation is that proposing a fully government funded healthcare plan is more liberal than actually working out the details and creating something that will actually work.

Nice socialist framing though. And obviously one issue is all you got.

How 'bout civil rights? FDR sold out civil rights activists to appease southern segregationists and put Japanese-Americans in concentration camps. Gay rights, gun control, and especially abortion rights would have been completely off the table to Dems of the 40s/50s/ and even the 60s.

Dems of old? FAR more likely to increase military spending.

[Solon]

207. Just because a plan is detailed doesn't mean its workable...

That's the flaw of all the Romneyisk plans that are being proposed by the Big 3. One of the biggest problems, in this case, is that the plans are completely untested, single payer, on the other hand, has, in one form or another, been not only tested, but used, successfully, in most industrialized nations, for up to 40 years. Why we can't come up with similar plans, I have no idea, but it seems rather silly to try these "experiments" rather than just use something that already works.

There are advantages to single payer versus the plans proposed by the big 3. First is funding, rolled up with all the rest of the FICA taxes that we already pay, the total cost would be spread to all tax paying citizens and legal residents, and therefore individual cost would probably only increase FICA taxes by a few percentage points, even less if we reduce the budget in another area of Government(Pentagon).

The next is cost savings, under Single-Payer, there would be ONE, and exactly one, bureaucracy that dispenses funding. This organization would be non-profit, publicly funded, and accountable to Congress. This is yet another contrast compared to other plans in that it doesn't preserve the multiple, and redundant, bureaucracies of insurance companies. In addition, you may actually see savings with a simplified system, create one federal agency to deal with all funding for all necessary medical care and you can eliminate at least 2 other agencies that deal with the same issues. Extend the power of this agency, I'll call it Medicare for right now, so that it can negotiate prices with drug and medical suppliers and services, and you can reduce cost even more.

Actually, this is quite simple, its a reformation of Medicare, and is mostly composed of small changes, first, eliminate the restrictions for coverage under Medicare, allow Medicare to negotiate prices, and extend its coverage for medical services to include all necessary medical procedures and services for quality of life. In this case, this wouldn't really change anything that dramatic, and yet, it would be a single payer system.

[wyldwolf]

209. but it certainly is more workable than saying you're for uhc with no plan at all

I would take any plan being offered up (Clinton-Obama-Edwards) over just the bold proclamation by someone that they are for Universal Healthcare but had no plan behind it.

[Solon]

210. What about the Conyers-Kucinich plan?

Its an actual bill, after all, and while, right now, it would never last beyond Bush's desk, at least after 2008 I would hope no Democratic president would veto it.

Link to bill here:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.676:

[wyldwolf]

212. yep. It's worth 100% more than someone just saying they're for UHC but has no specifics.

[Solon]

213. What I fear is the fact that some of these plans may ruin real health care reform...

especially if they end up leading to runaway costs or outright meltdown due to lack of funding, or becoming ineffective. The last thing we need is to try some "experiment" that has a good chance of failing, and then giving up and saying "we tried".

[wyldwolf]

216. ..but it's better than someone who claims to be for it but does nothing

[endarkenment]

104. The two party system is de facto institutionalized.

And that is the only reason why the progressive wing puts up with the crap from your heros, the corrupt corporatist toadies who form the Democratic Wing of the Institutional Party of the Corporatist Reformation, otherwise known as the War Party.

The McGovern Fraser reforms opened up the primary process to popular votes and scared the shit out of the toady wing. They managed to regain control by controlling the funding, but as Dean and then Lamont showed, that system of control is breaking down. The popular discontent with the vile Republicans and the timid corrupt compromised Toady Democrats will eventually upend the duopoly. That upending will come from us, the progressive wing of our party. We are not going anywhere. We are not going to shut up. We are raising more money than the corporate creeps. Get used to us.

[wyldwolf]

109. "the only reason why the progressive wing puts up with the crap from your heros"

... because if you didn't, you'd comprise a third party closely resembling the 2% Nader got in 2000.


The McGovern Fraser reforms opened up the primary process to popular votes and scared the shit out of the toady wing.

Actually the Reform Commission opened the door for Democrats to have to appease every little special interest group. Leading to huge electoral losses by McGovern, Carter, Mondale, and Dukakis. Fortunately Clinton broke that cycle and that routine.

We've been used to you since the mid 30s.

[endarkenment]

144. "appease every little special interest group"

That is the corporatist framing for 'the base'. Prior to the reform your hero-creeps just got to choose who would run. Later on they figured out how to control the funding such that they got back control from the 'special interest groups' - i.e. 'the people'. It remains to be seen if the popular funding mechanisms dean established will alter the terrain.

[wyldwolf]

161. sorry, That has been the the mark of the party since the 70s

Yes, Virginia, everything ISN'T about corporatism. But you can count on people to envoke the mythical "base."

No ... special interest groups. Or as some would rather it be called, one issue groups.

[John Q. Citizen]

15. I'm thinking about following your course of action. I considered switching to

independent, but I want to be able to vote for Kucinich (or Gore, should he run) in the primary.

[endarkenment]

27. Depends on your state.

My state of NH explicitly allows poll-site party registration on primary day and de-register on the way out. It is easy and convenient.

[MuseRider]

36. In my state the Democratic Party

will allow you to vote in their primary even if you are not registered Dem. You have to be careful because they give you a bunch of stuff and ask you to sign and if you do they register you as a Dem so watch out or you will end up right back on the polls as a Dem. Check your state rules.

I am proudly unaffiliated, fed up to here with the two party (ha) system. I left after Alito and have never been sorry.

[John Q. Citizen]

11. I'm a life long registered Democratic party member who is quickly growing disillusioned

with the pro- illegal occupation votes coming from my party.

I feel if they want to vote with bush, perhaps they should change their registrations to reflect their core values....

[stimbox]

14. I'm a life long registered Democratic party member who is quickly growing disillusioned too

Well said John Q.

[Nimrod2005]

13. Present, and very proud...!

[saracat]

16. I am PROUD to be a lifelong Democrat!

[supernova]

17. Life-long Democrat!

:D

[Lerkfish]

18. I am, but I find your request odd

and unnecessary, since its self-reporting, and anyone can lie.

[noamnety]

19. No clue

I sent a donation in 2004 for the first time. Then I started getting stuff in the mail acting like I was a member. ? I don't remember doing a membership form exactly, but I dunno, maybe that's what it was.

I've donated to other groups (local community ones) since then, but no political ones.

So ... I am thinking of myself as an independent at the moment, but I don't know if they agree. :D

[TransitJohn]

20. here

although over my adult voting life, I've flipped from independent to dem like 4 times.

[wakeme2008]

21. Maybe, I was last I check but this is the Repug

voter purge Florida I love in

[welshTerrier2]

22. yes, i am ... for now ... n/t

[liberal renegade]

23. Indeed I am

and damn proud of it. However,I'm a little disappointed in those who represent us.

[Raven]

24. I voted Repub once: McCain v. Bush in the primary...

then, of course, I switched back. I've otherwise always voted for democrats.

[NavyDavy]

25. i are democrat

;-)

[Cameron27]

26. I'm a registered Democrat and proud of it.

[LaurenG]

28. Here!

:thumbsup: :hi:

[muffin1]

29. VERY proud

to say YES! :hi:
When I was on vacation earlier this year, my stupid Republican boss set my computer reminder to flash "Liberal" every single day. It's still set up that way...makes me smile every time I see it!:)

[HereSince1628]

31. Me, me, me! And I do think the Congressional leadership SUCKS

Being a Democrat, I find NOTHING wrong with holding the leadership accountable to the base.

And there is NOTHING wrong with having an opinion that the leadership is off-track.

And there is NOTHING wrong with having a dislike for the positions of one or more organized or unorganized constituencies within the party.

This is the DEMOCRATIC Party and as a party it has always believed in the Bill of Rights in principle and in practice.

[ulysses]

33. bomb-thrower! bomb-thrower!

:D

[HereSince1628]

37. What can I say? If the concussion fits, wear it!

Winning elections means NOTHING if it doesn't translate into consequences that represent the people's will.

[ulysses]

40. "if the concussion fits" :D

:thumbsup:

[wyldwolf]

35. third generation Democrat here

[MaineDem]

38. Yes, proudly! From the day I first registered to vote.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

[MonkeyFunk]

41. always have been

always will be.

[NYCGirl]

42. Always have been! NT

[moonlady0623]

44. For over 30 years

[Joe_VB]

45. YEP! Both Hands Up....

Registered Democrat- 1978 to Death.

My Prez election scorecard.

1980- Carter
1984- Mondale
1988- Dukakis
1992- Clinton
1996- Clinton
2000- Gore
2004- Kerry

[jojo54]

46. Present and accounted for!

I even broke up with a boyfriend when I was 18 because I realized he was a repuke.

[grasswire]

48. smart girl, you (eom)

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

50. Of course. n/t

[jenmito]

51. Newly Registered Dem. here!

:hi:

[Mabus]

53. Registered as a Democrat when I turned 18

and have been registered as one ever since.

[n2doc]

54. I am

Sometimes not very proud of the current party, but will vote for any and all Democrats in the General election.

[Staph]

57. Been registered since I turned 18.

In 1972, thanks to the late, great West Virginia Senator Jennings Randolph for sponsoring the constitutional amendment giving 18-year-olds the right to vote. I heard him say many times that the proudest political moment of his life was giving the right to vote to those old enough to fight and die for their country. He also said many times that the greatest political disappointment of his life was the small number of those 18- to 21-year-olds who did not vote.

[Indyobama]

58. I vote Democrat

But you can't be a registered Democrat or Republican in Indiana. Which could be a good or bad thing, depending on the situation. If the democrats want a republican out of office they can vote in primary for another republican. By that same token a republicans can vote a democrat out of office by voting for another democrat in the primary. Basically making a unpopular incumbent having to run two races in one year.

[UrbScotty]

180. Same in Michigan (nt)

[ccpup]

59. yep, lifelong Democrat

and plan on staying that way.

[Blue_In_AK]

62. Here.

[Zodiak]

64. I am a registered Democrat

and a regular donor the DNC...proud of both things.

...and I think this OP is Democratic McCarthyism. Go have your witch-hunt somewhere else.

Criticizing our representatives is normal for a democracy. Sewing discord by targeting members of the community to which you belong is not. Get it?

[grasswire]

66. Pot, kettle

And who is sewing (sic) discord? And who is targeting members of the community?

Lord almighty. Democratic McCarthyism. If there is such a thing, it is owned by the left wing of the party.

Funny thing is, until this week I considered myself part of that left wing. That was before I watched people who call themselves progressives try to destroy the party again.

[Zodiak]

71. I am not sewing discord but if you wish

we can get into "I know you are but what am I" arguments all day, but such tactics are not my norm.

You are placing party loyalty before principle and calling out other DUers as "bombthrowers" against the Dmocratic leadership as if the leadership were part of this community. They are not, but the members you discuss are, and they are rightfully mad at the moment.

But rather than address the issues at hand (new free trade deal, Iraq war funding, impeachment, etc. which are the reasons for the criticism), you want to dredge up the spectre of Nader and weild membership to the party as the sole determinant of the right to be heard on this board.

That is why I call it Democratic McCarthyism. You are weilding party loyalty as a bludgeon to beat your opponents over the head in a debate (away from the actual debate, I might add). You attack the messenger and not the message.

So rally your loyalists around your banner, but know that not everyone who carries the card or votes like a good little Democrat agrees with this pissing all over the tent.

here, read this and tell me if the "bombthrowers" don't have a point.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/a-new-poll-suggests-that-_b_50888.html

[grasswire]

76. let's see now....

Let's look at the credentials of the author of that opinion piece:

"RJ Eskow is a writer, business person, and songwriter/musician. He has worked as a consultant in public policy, technology, and finance, domestically and in over 20 foreign countries. He also held senior-level positions at several major insurance carriers and has served as CEO of two companies. He is experienced in finance, strategic planning, marketing, data analysis, and IT. He specializes in health and medical issues, and has also worked in film and music. . . As a performer, he has been signed to RCEG Records and his new album will be released in 2007. He's grateful he has rock music to fall back on if this business thing doesn't work out."

Sounds like an expert in presidential politics to me! (Snort) Fully qualified to make the following pronouncement: "If Congressional leaders and leading Presidential candidates don't change their strategy, 2008 could turn into a surprise blowout ... for the Republican Party."

Got anything else?

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

77. DU permits constructive criticism of Dems, not

wholesale 'bomb throwing'. It can be a fine line, but so many posts seem to be just that: bomb throwing. And DU doesn't permit advocating third-party. Again, I've seen a lot of posts/threads that go right up to the edge. And a few that go over.

I'm frustrated & pissed that the dems seemed to cave on the war funding bill & am hoping they've got some double super secret plan waiting, but I'm not about to stay home, vote third party or vote repug.

[grasswire]

79. thank you

My position exactly. I will never, ever, ever allow Karl Rove to use me to frame the Democratic Party as weak.

[Lerkfish]

83. refusing to see weakness or areas that need improving is not position of strength

completely sticking your head in the sand is myopic and counterproductive.

[grasswire]

89. refusing to see the difference between....

....criticizing one's party and wanting to split that party is blind.

[Lerkfish]

100. labeling criticism as unpatriotic to the party is mccarthyism

further, as I stated above, a "loyalty" thread is meaningless because it relies on self-reporting. I'm a registered democrat, but anyone could claim that falsely.

so, again, the only purpose of this thread is to ask "are you now, or have you ever been a communist", in a different way.

[grasswire]

133. good straw man there

Pffffft. Same old, same old.

Interestingly enough, I don't see any of those most stridently harping on the "failed weak Dems" meme claiming to be registered Dems. The silence is telling.

[endarkenment]

134. Check your glasses.

And it is not a straw man. All across your little attack on us as disloyal disrupters and not real democrats are posts from registered democrats who oppose the corrupt misleadership in Washington. Your blindness is telling.

[Lerkfish]

136. not sure you even understand the definition of straw man, but regardless

claiming silence is proof of your outrageous assertion is fallacious.

your assertion is that anyone who considers dem leadership to be "failed weak" is ipso facto not a registered dem is quite frankly wrong. And for proof, I am a registered democrat since I was able to vote for Jimmy Carter, and I view the current leadership as frustratingly weak and failed. I will continue to support and vote for democrats, but I can also say I'm not happy with their caving in to the dictator tot at the same time.

There's a difference between tacit observation and a "meme".

for the record, I am and have stated often how proud I am of certain dems, conyers, waxman, feingold, kerry, dean, among others. I consider them on aggregate strong and principled. But there are others who took the mandate accorded them by the voters and pissed it away. Am I not allowed to point that out? If so, then this is no longer a party but a cult. This country already has one cult in one party, it cannot survive a cult in both parties.

[Lerkfish]

82. zodiak ironfist speaks for me with this post.

thanks.

[murbley40]

65. I am proud to be a democrat.

[jonnyblitz]

67. these loyalty threads crack me up.

everybody knows a registered DEM would NEVER criticize the party! :sarcasm:

oh yeah and I AM a registered DEM. it's the only way I can vote against Lieberman in the primaries in CT when the opportunity arises.

[knitter4democracy]

68. Yup. County, State, and National. Hubby, too.

:hi:

[roguevalley]

69. lifelong

[Forkboy]

70. As of a few months ago I'm no longer registered as a Democrat.

Officially "Unenrolled" in Mass.

[grasswire]

72. so you come here for community?

Or what? Seriously and respectfully, I'd like to know. Does someone need to develop an Internet site where ex-Democrats can gather?

[Forkboy]

74. Because I was going through cancer treatment and didn't mail the card back within 10 days.

Anything else?

[Lerkfish]

137. how are you doin? Cancer survivor here.

best thoughts out to you.

[Forkboy]

143. Pretty good.

I was given radiation last week and was supposed to go for a scan today,but they called early this morning to say the machine failed it's quality control test.Real comforting lol.

Anyways,we're giving it a go again tomorrow.Then we'll go from there.I had a spot show up on my lung on a pre-surgery x-ray,but the surgeon said not to worry about it...then the oncologist said he wanted to do another scan of it.I get the feeling he's just being careful,and we all know a doctor's job is to make sure you never leave their offices without something to worry about. :)

Thanks for the kind wishes,and I'm glad you made it through yours!

[Lerkfish]

146. hang in there!

:)

I had my surgeries in 1985, and had all my lymph nodes removed (not a fun surgery), but it provided the firebreak that stopped it.
I had a somewhat wacky friend who told me to visualize a green rain forest before surgery to heal faster. I did, what the heck, and the doctor was amazed at how fast I healed.

go figure. Maybe you should try it.

[Forkboy]

151. I have to work on the visualization thing because this is all I came up with...

:D

[Lerkfish]

163. LOL! hey, whatever works!

:)

[ulysses]

204. .

:rofl:

[progressoid]

73. Democrat, then Independent, now Democrat again.

[peace frog]

75. Right here, dude

Registered Democrat since I was old enough to vote.

[RaleighNCDUer]

78. I am, and have been since 1972

but I'm not so damn proud of it.

Churchill once said that the Americans can be counted on to do the right thing, after having exhausted all other options.

That's pretty much how I see my party - unlike the republicans, Democrats can be counted on to do the right thing, but it takes ungodly effort to get us there. There's always been a core of RW dems that fight any progressive initiatives, all of which wind up passing 30 years later. From Sufferege to civil rights to women's rights to gay rights. It's easy today to boast about our civil rights stance, but 40 or 50 years ago it was Democrats who were fighting to preserve Jim Crow. The republican engendered Taft/Hartley act which undercut the power of organized labor could not have passed without the support of 'centrist' Democrats.

The 'bomb-throwers' have been proved to be right, time after time, and the conservative/centrist democrats have been proved to be wrong, time after time. I'm proud to be a bomb-thrower. Thirty years from now, after we've gotten our single-payer universal health care (damn socialist idea!) I'll be proud to have supported it when the congressional democrats did not.

[mikelgb]

80. I currently am

I re-registered for the 2004 primaries to vote for Dennis Kucinich

[Lebam in LA]

81. Yep

and proud of it

[Recursion]

84. DC Resident; don't register in protest of our colonial status

But I was a registered Democrat when I lived in VA

[AtomicKitten]

85. Since age 18 -

And proud to be one, having stood tall when I wrote as a staunch Democrat for a Green paper, standing tall today at DU when confronted with the same 'ol smug assaults about "voting the shirt" from those that perhaps will never grasp the brilliance of working together cohesively for a better tomorrow, impatient and annoyed with the nonstop ankle-biting of Democrats, and with one eye on the slippery GOP looking forward to taking back the White House finally after these long-ass years along with a veto-proof majority in Congress to start the hard work of repairing the mess the Rs have made.

[Stinky The Clown]

86. Stinky the Clown - - - - Democratum Registratum

And damned proud to say so.

My party's not perfect, but its the best choice by far.

[grasswire]

87. stinky Dems are even better!

:hi:

[bonito]

88. Independent, voting dem not DLC . n/t

[tbyg52]

90. Of course I am

And I vote in every election, too.

Edited to add:

Oh, is this about bashing the current Dems (or at least a lot of them)? If so, count me among the bashers (at least with regard to some things).

I was sickened by watching them roll over regarding timelines. That bill should have been either resubmitted over and over again or allowed to die after Bush vetoed it. If the troops weren't funded, it would have been *his* fault. Actually, I don't even want timelines, I was just willing to settle. I want us out of Iraq yesterday and I want Cheney and Bush impeached. I know! They should have sent him a bill that funded withdrawal *only*.

Maybe it's not politically possible (I'm not a politician, just an angry and scared citizen), but it's what I want.

I also want corporate money out of elections. I am not a DLC Democrat, and I loathe Carville.

[libodem]

92. From the womb

and the spawn.

[nealmhughes]

93. Since I was 18 years old. Wow! 28 years!

[DeepModem Mom]

98. Hand high!

[Zandor]

102. K & R for the Democratic Party! n/t

[primative1]

108. Not a "new" democrat ..

I am registered as a democrat, not a "new" democrat.
If "new" democrats continue to reign I will assume the party left me and seek where my party went.

[madrigal315]

113. Not yet...

But as soon as I can, I will! And I'll be at least a third-generation dem, too.

[goodhue]

115. In MN, we don't register by party affiliation

I'm a registered voter and I'm a democrat, but they are separate matters.

[JoePhilly]

118. Dem .. voting STRAIGHT DEM /nt

[Ishoutandscream2]

120. Wolf, is that you?

Okay, my hand is raised.

[mcar]

123. Yep, multi-generational Dem here

[silverweb]

127. Here!

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

128. Yep and have been a registered Democrat since

1972.

[Clovis Sangrail]

130. decline to state

as of last week
was registered Democrat prior to that

You may see those who are upset with the Democratic "leadership" as part of the same crowd who "drove us off a cliff"... but I think many of us see ourselves as Democrats who have been "tossed under the bus".

[cui bono]

131. Do you want to see my papers too Herr Commandant?

:eyes:

What difference does that make? Being "papered" or "licensed" or "registered" doesn't create your beliefs or give credibility to your arguments. You are what you are based on your beliefs, not on your pedigree.

[riona]

132. Yes

:kick:

[DFW]

135. Absolutely

When I first registered, I was in college in Pennsylvania in 1971,
and registered there, as I was indeed living there at the time.

In Pennsylvania (at least back then), you could only vote in
the primary of a party if you were registered as a member of
that party. I've been a Democrat every since, even though the
very first vote I ever cast was in the Philadelphia mayoralty
election between their incredibly corrupt buffon of a police
commissioner, Frank Rizzo, and Thatcher Longstreth, who was an
incredibly decent guy. I don't know if Longstreth stayed a
Republican, but soon after being elected mayor of Philydelphia,
Rizzo switched to the Republican party. He started building
a $400,000 house (in 1973!!) on his $40,000 (or whatever it was
then) salary until the papers caught it, and he was forced to
admit that there was no way he could finance such a house
legitimately (no wonder he switched to the Republican Party).
This was back when the MSM reported Republican crimes. Many of
you will not remember that.

Rizzo went down to DC a couple of times to hang with Nixon, but
even Nixon couldn't stand him, and he soon faded into nothingness,
which is pretty much where he belonged.

[brentspeak]

139. Registered Democrat, and proud of it

[Kool Kitty]

140. Proud registered dem here.

Always have been, and probably always will be.

[NMDemDist2]

141. registered, active in my local party *and* a poll worker

:hi:

[Vinca]

142. I am, but I reserve the right to be pissed at other Democrats

when the need arises. We're not sheep after all.

[pscot]

147. I've been voting Democratic for 40 years

but I doubt I'll have that put on my gravestone. The business with the Iraq funding is, unfortunately pretty typical. The party was for Viet Nam before it was against it. It gave Ronald Reagan every dime he ever asked for to carry out his bloody crusades in Central America, plus trillions for unnecessary cold war arms spending. And this despite having an overwhelming majority in the House. Are the Democrats better than the Repuublicans? Sure. But that's kind of like saying , Well, at least we're not cannibals. Just because you don't eat missionaries, that doesn't make you a christian.

[McCamy Taylor]

148. Life long, yellow dog, give $$$ I can hardly afford, and Congress sucks a rat's ass!

I am not going to vote 3rd party or anything, but I will alter which candidates I support based upon their policies.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

149. I'm not a Democrat, and never will be.

I may join the Labour party at some point, but at the moment I don't really have the stomach for it. Possibly if Gordon Brown does well over the next few years.

[NastyRiffraff]

150. Dem and proud!

Third generation here. I've voted for a Republican ONCE (Connie Morella in MD). I won't say I never ever will again, but I certainly wouldn't vote for any Republican out there now.

[FrenchieCat]

152. Present!

[Blue_Roses]

153. ...

:hi: Proud Democrat all my life:)

[Vadem]

154. Here I am!!!!....

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Babel_17]

155. Since 1980 (nt)

[cleveramerican]

156. un-enrolled here

I like to mess with the republican primaries occasionally so I maintain un-enrolled status. I've voted for every Democratic nominee for president since 1972.

I am from Massachusetts where the democratic primaries can be a fore gone conclusion.

[Forkboy]

172. That's the beauty of being here.

We can vote for the worst Repub and the best Democrat. :)

[illinoisprogressive]

157. me. Since 84.

[Morgana LaFey]

158. Yep.

Bet you weren't expecting that, were you?

[Grandrose]

159. A Yellow Dog Democrat .....

and proud of it! First vote l964 and was upset because I was to young to vote for President Kennedy!:patriot: :kick:

[MH1]

162. My hand is raised.

Registered and active. Although not a straight ticket voter in the past, it's become increasingly hard to even consider voting for a non-Democrat.

[nadinbrzezinski]

164. I am an indie, after the credit card debacle

and voted for Gore...

I will no doubt vote dem, but you know what? I am not a yellow dog, not even a blue dog, and locally, if a GREEN runs, I will give them the time of day

By the way... I've noticed teh ammount of folks IMPRESSED by Ron Paul (Knowing a tad about his domestic policy I get the same hives as I get with Gravel), but teh country is READY for a third party...

The ground is plowed

And if anybody is intelligent about it, local races, even congressional races, but presidential, not yet

[salin]

165. Yep. Since I could vote

I have been a registered dem. Have volunteered on dem campaigns, and have worked election polls as the dem clerk at the precinct.

[Bravo Zulu]

166. yes indeedy

I assumed this was a message board for Democrats, I guess you can vote for Democrats without being registered, but no matter what problems the Democrats have they are our only hope to stop the repuke criminals, what happens when we all split up into different factions we end with nitwits like bu$hjr ruining our country, so we need to bury our differences and join together for the good of the citizens of the world and destroy the repuke party.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

167. I'm not a member of any organized political party.

I'm a Democrat. ... Will Rogers

Yes, registered, local party member, state convention delegate, Jeff/Jack yearly attendee (going this weekend), DU member, 4th. of July parade dem float organizer and candy thrower-outer, petition signer, letter writer, phone caller, poll worker, rally poster carrier, election phone solicitor and AAR listener.

Question me again and I'll pop an IMPEACH bumper sticker on your forehead. I've got plenty of them and I pass them around freely. :)

[UrbScotty]

181. LOL - best response in the thread!

;-)

[barbtries]

168. i am

but i may change if things don't change and soon. they should be impeaching the bush administration. they should be bringing the criminals up on charges. and so on ad infinitum. i am a lifelong democrat but not feeling so very proud of my party just now.

[Marrah_G]

170. Absolutely

[Colobo]

171. Since a couple of months ago!

[machka]

173. *raises hand*

...and have been since I was first eligible to vote in 1988. :)

[David__77]

174. I'm a registered Democrat.

...

[Lugnut]

175. Yup

I've been a registered Democrat since I turned 21 in 1966. Way back then you had to be 21 to vote.

[LittleClarkie]

176. Dues paying Democrat right here

You don't have to register in Wisconsin. But I am a paying member of the party, soon to be first time delegate at the state convention at the end of June.

[UrbScotty]

177. While not a *registered* Dem per se (they don't ask that on Michigan voter reg forms)...

...I am a member of the Michigan Democratic Party, as well as the IUsabella and Kent County Democratic Parties.

Oh, and I'm a precinct delegate.

[grasswire]

178. thanks to all of you Dems who posted here

I found it very heartening to be in such good company! Thank you, thank you.

[CitizenLeft]

182. I know you didn't ask me...

...cuz I'm not throwing bombs :P but *raises hand* Couldn't wait to register as a Democrat when I was 18, voted for Jimmy Carter and every dem nom since, and always will. The Democratic party is not perfect, never will be perfect - though it's certainly a goal, and should always be - but any Republican is not, and never will be, a viable alternative. Period. EVER. :)

[auburngrad82]

183. That would be me

Since 1978, the first year I was old enough to vote.

[HamdenRice]

188. Affirmative nt

[Edweird]

189. Here.

And I am still angry about the actions of our leadership.

[The_Progressive]

190. I vote Democratic but I am a Progessive

My first vote was cast for George McGovern. When I was growing up the democratic party was the party of the working man. Not so much now. I am in favor of the workers.

[RebelOne]

191. Card-carrying Democrat my entire voting life.

In fact, the first time I ever voted was for John F. Kennedy.

[lojasmo]

192. Yup. I am.

[MasonJar]

193. Yellow dog democrat here.

[ordinaryaveragegirl]

206. Proud Dem Since 1994...

:kick:

Registered to vote on my 18th birthday in Jan. 1994, in sub-zero weather!

[leftofthedial]

194. I am a registered Democrat

I have voted in every election since 1978 and have never once voted for anyone other than a Democrat.

And I am disgusted with the current "democrats" in Congress. A handful of them are actual Democrats. The rest are either corporatist shills or motivated solely by their own lust to stay in office. They have no discernible principles. At every turn, they have enabled and promoted and even sponsored the neoconservative agenda that is destroying this country. They are worse than pathetic.

[Jokerman]

195. I've never been registered as a Democrat.

Or Republican, or Independent for that matter.

You don't declare a party when you register in Indiana.

I am however, a dues paying member of more than one Democratic club, does that count?

[sakabatou]

196. *raises hand*

2006 elections were my first.

[Daphne08]

197. I have been a registered Democrat all my life! n/t

[MsMagnificent]

199. Lifelong registered Democrat

And proud of it.

[Tippy]

200. Proud to be a registered " YELLOW DOG DEMOCRAT"

For 43 years and counting......

[williesgirl]

201. Proud to say "yes" and I vote in EVERY election. recommended

[Sapere aude]

202. I have been a registerd Democrat for over 40 years.

[Sparkly]

203. Yes! And never voted for anybody who wasn't. nt

[rep the dems]

208. I'm not a registered anything yet, but by this time next year I expect

to be a registered Democrat.

[JackCo]

211. Both hands up nt

[onenote]

214. Don't register party affiliation in my state

But I've always voted Democratic and identify myself to anyone who asks as a Democrat.

[Alamom]

215. 36 years. ( registered 1970) 1st Presidential Election, 1972 .(eom)

[tammywammy]

217. I'm not

I don't have to be registered in a specific party in order to vote in the primaries. :)

[Geek_Girl]

218. I am and I've never voted for any one in a different political party

I've always voted a straight democratic ticket. But I am seriously looking at all party's this election. The war is the number one issue for me and any candidate that I feel will most likely get us out of Iraq will get my vote.