Welcom newbies! Check in and talk to us

[TayTay]

We love newbies! (Makes us feel like we are growing and interesting and stuff.) So, check in (no pressure) and let us know how you found us and what attracted you to post here. (Were you lurkers?)

I am TayTay and have been here since Nov. This was most first exposure to an interactive online Kerry forum. (There are many here who have a lot more experience in this than I do. They went online for the primaries and have been 'fighting the good fight' much longer online than I have.)

I am from Massachusetts (North Shore) and now live within spitting distance of New Hampshire. Other than that, I am quite dull, but they let me stay around the place anyeay. (LOL!)

So, how's by you?

[sandrakae]

1. I am a newbie.

Hi am sandrakae. I am a huge John Kerry supporter from Pennsylvania. I have been a supporter since the 90’s when he came back from Vietnam on the trip with John McCain to check on missing MIA’s. I saw him on the news and he spoke with such Passion about that trip and he was so tall and Presidential looking. I said to my dad, “ I hope he runs for President someday.” I worked on his campaign. I was devastated at the outcome of the election and cried for three days. I snapped out of it. That is when I started to get more involved in changing this country. I want very much for him to run again. I am currently planning on helping Bob Casey defeat Rick Santorum. I started getting hooked on Democrat websites after the election and each site lead me to another site. I found Democratic underground a few weeks ago. It is great to see that there is a huge group of people that feel the same way I do.

[whometense]

2. What a great story!!

Thanks for sharing it. And yes, we do all feel the same way about him. When things get crazy out there it's nice to have this group to talk to.

Welcome!!

[jillan]

3. Hi Sandrakae!

We are so happy to have a newbie!
We all love Kerry here.
And hope that he runs again for President.
I was devasted too by the loss, and watched his concession speech at work, surrounded by people that were cheering. It was torture. I too cried for days. And still get weepy now and then as I watch things getting worse, and know how Kerry warned us.

I live in the Phoenix area. I have always loved politics, and but only got really involved with this election. I supported Kerry from the minute he said that we need a regime change at home, months before the democratic primary.

I'm so glad you are working to get Santorium out. I can't stand that guy.

:hi: :hug:

[fedupinBushcountry]

4. Welcome Aboard !!!

Great story. Mine I wish was more interesting. I found him through researching all the candidates. Once I went to JohnKerry.com in 4/03 there was no turning back. He has our backs and I will always have his. A native New Yorker here but now living in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

:hi: :toast:

[beachmom]

5. Welcome, Sandrakae!

Apart from the fact that we all love Kerry here, I feel like we can have nice, lively debates without it getting ugly because we all respect each other. It's great to get new blood!

I'm from Va. Beach, too, feeling isolated being so blue in a sea of red, that I went to the internet for refuge. Hopefully, the tide is turning for '06! I voted enthusiastically for Kerry in Nov., but my admiration for him has deepened since then, an odd phenomenon I never thought would have happened. I guess when you see someone lose what they wanted most, and then see how they bounce back so quickly fighting more so than ever for us, admiration can morph into affection . . .

[MH1]

16. Hi sandrakae!

I'm in PA too, and looking forward to the '06 elections also, once we get past the municipals next month - we are hoping to make some changes at the local level this time around!

Probably like you, I despise Santorum to a depth which is only exceeded by my despisement of the * administration. How did Pennsylvanians ever send that yahoo to DC? I think Casey will destroy him next year. I intend to help make that happen.

So, have you visited the Pennsylvania state forum here at DU?

As for JK, I really only started learning about him for the 2004 election. I envy you folks who have had a longer "relationship" with him! And I really appreciate all the good stuff I learn from the Kerry veterans here.

So welcome to the group. It is great to welcome new members, to know there are more sane people on this planet that appreciate and support JK.

:party: :toast:

[globalvillage]

18. Welcome sandrakae.

From another Pennsylvanian. Good to have you here.
This is for you.

[politicasista]

28. Welcome all newbies

:bounce: :hi:

[kttmmom]

6. Thanks for the invite

Ok, I'll take the bait. It just took me about 45 minutes to figure out how to sign up(God forbid I should read the FAQs). Since the JK campaign introduced me to blogging and this is the only forum I read other than the Late Breaking News, I figured this is the best place to "come out" and make my first post. I've been a JK fan since he ran in 84 - I was in BU Law at the time and did my first overt mainstream political act by holding a Mondale/Ferraro sign outside a polling place in Allston that year. I of course was thrilled when JK (finally) ran for Prez last year. I was in between jobs in October '04, and spent the month following the "official" Johnkerry.com blog and even posted a few times as par4kerry -- almost died like everyone else when they pulled the plug on the blog after Edwards' statement late election night. I still haven't recovered from the loss (I just tell my kids and friends that there are some things you never get over, nor should you). i went to 2 JK rallies in PA - one in Allentown and the Clinton/Philly rally. Got to shake JK's hand in Allentown. Loved the close-up handshake photo on last night's picture thread - I was thrilled that not only did I get to shake his hand, but that I got the wedding ring, Livestrong, watch hand! I started lurking on DU, the JK "unofficial blog" and few other places after the election. I just found this forum a few weeks ago and you guys had me cracking up immediately -- i thought I was the only middle aged, married working mom who obsessed over JK photos! Now, enough about me -- back to JK.

[jillan]

7. Welcome!!! Yeah!

I am so happy to have you here with us:hug:
And your first post. I lurked around here for awhile too before I joined. I stayed with the Kerry forum after it changed, until I had enough. And made the change over here. And this group was the number one reason I joined.

I have to confess, I am getting a little jealous of how all of you are grouped in the same part of the country! I think I need to put a sign on my car that says "If you still support John Kerry, please join DU!".

So you have a collection of Kerry photos?
Well, it's the weekend. And weekends always mean Kerry photo threads:9

[ginnyinWI]

11. welcome, kttmmom!

yeah you've come to the right place,alright! Welcome home! ;)

[MH1]

17. Welcome, kttmmom!

:hi:

I was at the Clinton/Philly rally too - took the day off from work to volunteer. (Maybe you came through my gate?) It was my first and only time (so far) to see JK speak in person, and I came away hugely impressed, and sure that he was going to be elected by a good margin. My reaction in the evening of Nov 2 and morning of Nov 3 was disbelief and amazement at the stupidity and/or gullibility of my country.

It took me a while to find DU after the election..now I am addicted! This is a great group of people in the Kerry forum. It's always entertaining and informative, and the pic threads are great for decompression - not just the JK pics but certain of our members', um, comments, too. ;-)

[globalvillage]

20. Welcome kttmmom.

So glad you're here.
I've seen some great pictures from the Kerry/Clinton rally. The energy must have been incredible there. I've never been able to get close enough for a handshake, but I'm making it a goal for '08.


:hi:

[Island Blue]

8. Welcome Kttmmom & Sandrakae!

:hi: You've both wandered into a great place filled with lots of people knowledgeable about all things Kerry. (Well almost all things - for some stuff we just have to use our imaginations :evilgrin: )

I have been hanging out here since late May, and the folks in this group amaze me daily. I'm certainly not one of the wonkier folks here (by any stretch of the imagination) but I enjoy reading, learning and commenting from time to time, and I'm always game for a photo thread. (I'm way too visually oriented for my own good.)

I live on the coast of North Carolina. Yes, another long suffering red stater. I actually started lurking on DU just after the election, but didn't join until later. It has really helped me to hold on to my sanity just a bit more than I would have otherwise.

Again, glad to have you both on board! (Now Sandrakae, if I could just quit reading your name Sandrake I'll be okay.)

[TayTay]

9. And a huge welcome to Luftmensch067

who logged in on the Birthday card post.

What is that? Well, certain wise and wonderful people on this group decided that it would be nice if we had a birthday card signed by those of us in this group delivered to Mr. K for his 62nd B-day on (or before) Dec 11th. Piranha in Houston (Love Blue Houston, by the way, I know it went for Kerry) designed TWO cards and sent them to me. I sent one to someone in MA and it's intended to go to East Coast folks. (Of whom we have many.) The other went to Sandnsea in Oregon and was intended for our West Coast contingent.

The cards are out there circulating and gathering sigs. They should be ready for delivery before Thanksgiving. If we find that we have more people who want to sign than we have time left in which to get the card to them by US post, fear not. I have a plan. E-mail your electronic sig to me and it will be cut and pasted in. (And I have scans of the card so you can get these and see what you are 'signing.') The more the merrier, so go see the Birthday card threads (or start your own query) and it might just wind up on your doorstep.

And thanks for letting us know you are there. Having new people come in is a sign that we are doing something right! (That's always heartening.)

[TayTay]

10. Informal rules we have here. (Sort of, maybe, I guess they are.)

Rule 1: We love pic threads. Pic threads are the universal answer to all of life's little problems. Had a rough day in GD? Start a pic thread. Notice it's someone's birthday who has something to do with Mr. Kerry, add a pic to a thread. (It's your birthday? Cool, here's a pic thread.) I seriously don't think this group would have over 45,000 posts without the tradition of pic threads. It's a signature thing for us. We love them and can't get enough of them. (All time fav pic thread for me were those jaw dropping Texas pics from April. OMG! I have never seen Sen. Kerry look more, ahm, appealing as a politician. OMG! :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: )
http://www.ethosphotography.com/kerry/

Rule 2: We don't have many rules, they are really too hard to remember. Ahm, wonky people have to lighten up sometimes, cuz all wonk and no play makes (TayTay) ah, someone a dull Dem. AHm, be nice to others, after all , they may be right (and I could, sometimes, occasionally, be wrong.)

Any other rules that people have discerned in here? I can't think of many because we are all so damned compatible.

[Mass]

13. Thanks for the pictures.

I did not know these ones. Nothing better than pictures of Kerry's to feel better.O8)

[TayTay]

15. Those are in a place all their own,

I wrote to the photographer and asked his permission to post these online. He agreed. I further suggested that he be Kerry's official photographer as he captures, ah, aspects of the Senator that I ah, really like. (Have you ever seen pics like these in all the years the Globe has been photgraphing Kerry? I haven't.)

[wisteria]

12. Welcome everyone! So happy to have you here with us. n/t

[Mass]

14. Welcome all. Great to have new people here.

[sandnsea]

19. More Kerrycrats to brighten the day!

Thanks TayTay, for always remembering the little kindnesses that keep this group going. Welcome everybody, this is the best place on the internet, well, next to johnkerry.com of course. :)

[emulatorloo]

21. Welcome to all! Newbies and Oldies alike. . . .

:hi: :bounce: :hi:

[TayTay]

22. You know, I think we now have more folks from the Keystone

State than the Bay State in here.

I just want to say, that I love Pennsylvanian and I stand in solidarity with them with the urge to get rid of Santorum. (I hate him. He slimed my people. He slimed my Senators. He is pond-scum.)

Go PA! (The cloing project is nearly finsihed GV. Naarly.)

[globalvillage]

23. I can hardly wait.

A friend at work gave me a 'No Santorum' button the other day. His ugly mug with a slash through it. I'll see if she has another and send it to you if you like.
I think there's also one with his name and a slash through it. In case you think the face is just too hideous. I think the USPS may have rules against putting hazardous materials in the mail, but I can give it a shot.
Let me know.

[TayTay]

24. Only if other Pensylvanians don't want it.

The race is in your state. (I have to get anti-Mitt buttons. That race is in my state and that bastard is going down. The thought of him running for President is enough to make me ill. We already have a perfectly good candidate for President and he actually likes his home state. And is sane. And doesn't call other Senators out as helping to create a moral climate in which child abuse can occur. You know, Santorum is not my favorite guy. And he pisses off THK in a major way.)

Thanks! If no other person from the Great State of PA wants it, I will mostly happily take it.

[TayTay]

25. Wow! That's 4 newbies in a week.

We are on a roll. Let's party. We must have a new pic thread devoted to our newbies sisters. (I think they are all women. There's a big friggin shock.)

I will wait until Friday, as it is traditional.

If only Vektor would compose a haiku in honor of our new sisters.

[Blaukraut]

26. not a newbie

but I just wanted to check in and let you know I'm still around and still supportive! The JK group is such a wonderful place to come to after GD and GDP to read positive comments and news about John Kerry for a change. :hi:

[politicasista]

27. Hello

:hi: