I plan to become unaffiliated after this election in 2016 but always oppose Republicans.

[mmonk]

I'm doing it for matters of conscience. The Democratic Party has been my party for quite awhile. I would note, however, to be unaffiliated in my state means I can still vote in Democratic Party primaries. I will still vote for Democrats over Republicans. But I feel strange in a party who fought for the values I have always had until they decided to change. I didn't and that is an important point. It's not a rejection, just a rejection of corporatism which in good conscience, I can't support due to both legal and economic damages to my country as I see it. Should the Party return to the ideals that attracted me (my ideal was Bobby Kennedy at the time), I'll gladly go back to Democrat from unaffiliated. Thanks for bearing with me. If you can convince me otherwise. give it your best shot. I'm listening. And please let me stay here. Peace to you.

[liberal_at_heart]

1. The Kennedys were great weren't they? Now there was a family who had money but still understood

what civil service was.

[delrem]

36. The Kennedys were OK.

They got us through the times.
But I ask you, what does Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis matter?

[MannyGoldstein]

2. Let's take back our party

It's ours. It's the Third Way bandits who should be leaving, not us.

[portlander23]

3. Blasphemy!

I'm sure that's blasphemous, but I don't think a party affiliation needs to cling to someone like an identity. Coming together for common goals and ideals should be the thing, not the team or a label. I think this election might test if the Democratic party can stand for grand things or not.

[sabrina 1]

4. If Bernie wins this election, the party will begin to return to being the party of the people

not the Corporations.

But we have to make sure he also gets a Congress that holds the same values, we will need to support Progressives who are running, many without the money they need since the current leadership we have won't support Progressives over Third Way candidates. Which is why they lost us the House and Senate.

Because you are not the only one who feels the way you do. That is why Sanders is doing so well.

So maybe you won't have to leave the party. I hope not!

[Stryst]

9. But will they?

What about all the Democrat Senators who need millions of dollars to get elected? Or at the State level, the Governor of Pennsylvania spent $54 MILLION to get elected. Unless we find a way to get money almost entirely out of politics, those at the top will still be sprinkling influence down on whomever pleases them the most.

[rufus dog]

5. I would kindly suggest you stay

I almost went independent under Clinton, problem is we are somewhat stuck with a two party system so the fight needs to occur within the party.

[SoapBox]

6. Oh I so understand!

I think I can do that in CA...and in the end, may do the same.

On that note...I got a survey from the DNC in the mail today...tossed it. DWS isn't listening anyway.

[McCamy Taylor]

7. Sorry to see you go. But I'm sticking with the party of unions.

Unless the unions form a new party, I will be a Democrat until the day I die and beyond.

[byronius]

8. +1

[djean111]

10. All workers will be thrown under the bus with these new corporate "trade" agreements.

My dad was always a Democrat. And was always a shop steward, at Sun Ship. And worked his ass off for the local ward. I can remember seeing JFK speak, in Chester, PA - my dad was so proud and so excited.

He would be disgusted by today's Democratic party. I am. Here in Florida, we can see more of Debbie DINO's antics. And the New Democrat Coalition, before they scrubbed up their website for this election, was very proud of eschewing that tired old ideology thing and working closely with the GOP. To achieve Third Way aims.

And, as a woman, I am disgusted with the "muscular" foreign policy thing. Whose boots will be on the ground? Not Chelsea's boots, that's for sure.

Depending on what happens with the primaries, I think my days of being a Democrat may well be over. Any party that thinks fracking and war and corporate trade agreements are okay is not a party I can be a part of. This feeling started with seeing Rick Warren give the convocation. That big umbrella is starting to just shelter a dump.

[ChiciB1]

28. I Too Live In FL, Feel YOUR PAIN! n/t

[davidpdx]

30. Will be?

I think they already are already being thrown under the bus. The trade deals will be the nail of the union's coffin. Those that support corporate candidates like Clinton can't at the same time say they support unions because she will take the support of the unions and then turn around and screw them. It's a fucking oxymoron.

[djean111]

34. Yes, you are right. of course. The equivalent of poor people voting GOP.

Against their own interests. I assume that some of the endorsements are given out of fear and caution, not enthusiasm.

[delrem]

37. oh yes. and aren't they just so fucking in your face about it.

queen hillary. more hell on earth.

[YabaDabaNoDinoNo]

15. Few Democrats actually support unions any more, case in point look in a Democrats driveway

and if they are not driving a UNION built Automobile they don't support Unions and Labor, period.

I am willing to even bet that less then half maybe even less then a third of the people on DU own a UNION built automobile.

[Fawke Em]

23. I do!

Ford Mustang, built in Dearborn, MI (they are now made in Flat Rock, MI). Studies show the Mustang is one of the top 10 "most-American-built" cars on the road.

UAW Local 387

[jeff47]

21. Yes, the party that brought us NAFTA is totally the party of unions. (nt)

[ChiciB1]

26. My Husband Was A Union Member... But

every time I check into DU it seems another union is getting on board with Hillary. This is a difficult choice for me, very difficult! I've worked very, very hard for the party I once thought represented me AND UNIONS. Just not seeing it.

I know what I HAVE to do if Hillary is the nominee, but I don't feel good about it at all. Attack me, denigrate me... WHATEVER! You have a right to voice your views at this point in time, but I simply don't know where my party has gone.

WHY DON'T THEY FIGHT BACK??? Why is DWS ALLOWED to make ALL the decisions? My heart is so torn and broken.
JMO, and doubt it means jack squat to many people anymore. So be it, I'll have to find a way to deal with it in my own way, but I thought we fought Oligarchy in the past and won. But WE DIDN'T!

[delrem]

39. On the better side: this is what we can expect when we have a billion $ candidate.

The billion dollars comes with a lot more dollars than that!

So our billion dollar candidate can buy up everything.

Isn't that wonderful?

[Hortensis]

11. Call yourself whatever you like, Mmonk, since you'll be voting.

I understand completely and have often wished to renounce my affiliation.

FWIW, though, to finally opt out now after the party has been corrupted by money and just as Democrat voters are starting to hike up their undershorts and dust off their liberal and progressive principles may be a little out of synch with history.

Our nation is moving left again, many of us dragged kicking and screaming, but it's happening. If I'd left I'd be wondering if it was time yet to rejoin the Democratic Party and grab one of the ropes.

As for our corrupted "representatives," every election is a chance for revolution. We can toss a bunch of these cretins out and make the others afraid to cross us.

I'd like to see us demand comprehensive campaign finance reform of all candidates. Or else. Not Hillary's milktoast tinkering but the real thing: "Not a damn dime" could be its founding principle. It's definitely time to start thinking about a new tax structure, the kind the Democratic Party (OUR folks!) instituted in 1933 to turn the bloated money class of those days upside down and give it a good shaking.

In any case, today's GOP will be fighting reform with all it's got, and most of the independents floating around will eventually engage on one side of the battle or another anyway.

[Fawke Em]

24. Not trying to be a grammar queen, but I've seen this three

times on the board and just need to correct it.

It's not "milktoast," it's "milquetoast."

It comes from a cartoon character named Casper Milquetoast who was too timid to protect himself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspar_Milquetoast

Milk toast IS actually a food, but when we refer to someone having timid policies or someone who takes a back seat to a more aggressive opponent, the term is "milquetoast."

Sorry to play English teacher this morning.

[Hortensis]

25. I actually like grammar queenishness (or would it be "queenism?"), Fawke Em.

Thanks for the correction. I wondered briefly about the long spelling, but ol' Casper was long out of mind and I was just imagining that squishy, substanceless pap.

[Ichingcarpenter]

38. Grammar Nazi hunters

[Hortensis]

41. Arn't you funny!

[YabaDabaNoDinoNo]

12. Bernie is the only reason I am currently still a party member and like you a long time member, 30+

years and never been a member of any other party either.

I decided when Bernie entered the race if he is not the party nomoniee then goodbye Democratic Party, I can no longer be a member of a organization that does not reflect my values.

If the majority of the members want Hillary that is their choice they will just have 2 less voters, partner has made the same vow, and long time Democrats in their ranks, which I am sure will please many here to no end because well that is what they want.

3 Democratic Corporatists in a row equals 3 strikes in my book, I will not hold my nose to vote ever again.

Let the chips fall where they may, want my vote, reflect my values.

I still have not decided how I am going to register maybe independent but then again I could join the green party, they could use the help at the polls IDK yet. The only thing I do know is I will continue to vote in every election.

[brooklynite]

13. So it's someone ELSE's job to change the Party...

...well, I hope you enjoyed your stay. I'll keep working from the inside.

[YabaDabaNoDinoNo]

14. Interesting reply, please explain how you are going to make change from the inside when the candidate

you support IS part of the problem?

[in_cog_ni_to]

19. BOOM!

[RiverLover]

20. or poster child of the problem. /nt

[davidpdx]

31. I'll give you the answer

The person you replied to IS an insider and part of the problem is people like that are willing to continue to pump money into to candidates with a corportist agenda.

[YabaDabaNoDinoNo]

35. Ahhh yes, The enemy within, got it

[NCTraveler]

16. Spent a lot of my life registered NPA.

Today I am proud to be registered as a democrat. For women and minorities they are the only significant party to support. I'm very proud to have them count me in their numbers.

[SheilaT]

17. What matters most is if in your state you can vote in the prinmaries as unaffiliated.

I spent the first twenty or so years of my voting life as an unaffiliated or independent voter. Eventually I understood that being able to vote in the primary mattered. And I also cared a lot about my party affiliation. So I proudly registered as a Democrat, and have remained that ever since.

You do what works for you.

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. The DNC/Third Way/DLC needs visual aids!

They NEED TO ACTUALLY SEE their numbers dwindling. When they see a Majority of people calling themselves INDEPENDENTS, not Democrats, then they'll wake the hell up.

I'm with you. After what I've witnessed from DWS, the DNC, Third Way and DU "moderates" this election cycle, I want no part of it. Stick a fork in it - I'm DONE.

[Autumn]

22. I did that after over 40 years a registered Democrat, but when Bernie announced I switched back.

After Bernie I will go back to Unaffiliated.

[DanTex]

27. When did the Democratic Party supposedly support the values which you had?

[Doctor_J]

29. The latest thrust by the hillarians is to trash FDR and lbj

After voting democratic for almost forty years, I don't want anything to do with that particular sect.

[davidpdx]

32. Careful there

When one (unnamed) DUer comes back off of vacation (pronoun omitted) will harass you about loyalty oaths.

[airplaneman]

33. I want my party back too.

I believe it is possible for a movement to take hold in short order and make huge changes.
It can be either good or bad. The fact that we have both Trump and Sanders tells me we may be close to some major change. Voting will be the peaceful way to change or we may have a revolution where many will die. I have never seen a republican that I have great respect for (maybe Eisenhower - before my time). I got excited about Occupy as I thought this might be it. Never say never. I will be watching Sanders carefully and hope he will either be it or help promote the start of a big change in the order of things in the direction I want to see. If Trump wins I will fear that a bad movement has won instead. I long for an FDR type movement. Even if it looks like we are loosing I will try harder on the state and local level for the real change. Hang in there mmonk. I know how you feel. I would like it if you stay.
-Airplane

[delrem]

40. I wouldn't stand by a party that wouldn't stand by me. n/t