General Discussion

LWolf

(46,179 posts)

135. Are you a Democrat?

Reply to Jackpine Radical (Original post)

Sun Jul 28, 2013, 02:51 PM

Jul 2013

I don't think so. Of course, my perception is colored by a couple of decades outside the party, as an independent that never registered with a party, before becoming a "Democrat" in 2000 to protest the selection. So I see the Democratic Party from 2 different lenses, inside and out.

To be honest, I liked the party better when I was an outsider.

At this point in time, from my admittedly different perspective, a Democrat is someone who puts party before principle, and whose narrow concept of "winning" is focused on elections, not issues.

You are not that kind of Democrat. Are there enough "old" Democrats left to retake the party and make it stand for the principles in your list? To make the party meaningful and relevant again?

Reading down your thread, I see a Democrat writing off the left, writing off those unhappy with the direction the party is going, and telling us that the party will be better without us. "Us" being those of us with principles. I see a Democrat relating party membership to loyalty to party, not issues.

I'm not that kind of Democrat. I wonder what the response would be if all the "fringe" wrote their candidates in '14 and apologized for not donating, campaigning, or voting for them, because they'd been told that it would be better for the party if they left.

I see the claim of ten new, faithful partisans for every "fringe" voter purged. I don't believe that's true, unless those new partisans are coming from the right. I guess the Democratic Party can build a position of strength by encompassing the right, but then the relevance of the party is over.

At least as far as I'm concerned.

Am I a Democrat? I'm registered that way. I often vote that way. I don't, though, support in any way the direction the party has taken. I'm not taking any right-hand turns with the party.

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Am I a Democrat? [View all] Jackpine Radical Jul 2013 OP

do you believe in msongs Jul 2013 #1

Oh, yes, yes, those things too, of course. Jackpine Radical Jul 2013 #4

Look up - is there a cloud perpetually following you above your head? George II Jul 2013 #118

That sounds like the democratic wing pscot Jul 2013 #2

That's what I thought a democrat was abelenkpe Jul 2013 #3

Thanks Jackpine. Your heart speaks to mine. Scuba Jul 2013 #5

Paulbot LuvNewcastle Jul 2013 #6

I am not sure ether. zeemike Jul 2013 #7

Yep, still and 'old school' Dem. Lifelong Protester Jul 2013 #8

2009 is the year I became an indie nadinbrzezinski Jul 2013 #9

I heaven05 Jul 2013 #107

what...that I am indie nadinbrzezinski Jul 2013 #108

Democrats believe... Phillyindy Jul 2013 #10

WHAT?? George II Jul 2013 #134

I went through a time when I didn't know either. Now I know I'm just not a democrat anymore. liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #11

I'm unaffiliated also. The Democrats left me about 20 years ago. A Simple Game Jul 2013 #19

I thought the idea of this forum is that we are all DEMOCRATS!!! Pyrzqxgl Jul 2013 #58

Folks can continue voting in the primaries for Working-Class options HumansAndResources Jul 2013 #77

Please read the About section that is at the bottom of every page. A Simple Game Jul 2013 #89

Very true, and those who claim to be independent "Democrats" will never be in a position.... George II Jul 2013 #136

Best kind of Democrat locks Jul 2013 #12

Mostly we ignore DevonRex Jul 2013 #13

Looks a lot like these rights, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. WHEN CRABS ROAR Jul 2013 #14

K&R! blackspade Jul 2013 #15

The current Democratic party mick063 Jul 2013 #16

And if we "took the party back" WHEN CRABS ROAR Jul 2013 #20

Someone on this board told me these long held ideas were failed 60's ideas. Mojorabbit Jul 2013 #50

Don't be sacred mick063 Jul 2013 #51

yeah it is. liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #52

I am more inclined to a new party: A Peoples' 99% Occupation Party Demeter Jul 2013 #91

ok heaven05 Jul 2013 #111

This message was self-deleted by its author silvershadow Jul 2013 #17

K&R. MotherPetrie Jul 2013 #18

"engage in military actions only to protect the integrity and safety of the nation itself" Martin Eden Jul 2013 #21

Thanks Jackpine..... I can't help but thinking this should be a given, but considering the fact midnight Jul 2013 #22

You are. You just don't get to dictate. gulliver Jul 2013 #23

Glad to hear you won't miss my vote. liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #25

I won't. gulliver Jul 2013 #26

have fun insulting people. You're going on ignore. I'm done with you. liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #27

Elaborate on this theory, if you would. What is it that can be done to attract a ten fold increase TheKentuckian Jul 2013 #35

This apparently touches a nerve. gulliver Jul 2013 #57

So there is no such math just another convoluted way to tell liberals to shut their yaps TheKentuckian Jul 2013 #140

By kicking liberals out of the party, you're planning to increase the membership? Doctor_J Jul 2013 #39

Not liberals gulliver Jul 2013 #64

You think there are only 20,000 who are unhappy with the party's performance over the last 6 years? Doctor_J Jul 2013 #116

This particular fair-weather, Me-First liberal Jackpine Radical Jul 2013 #56

No they don't...because the 75 year switch is happening nadinbrzezinski Jul 2013 #61

Not sure why you include yourself... gulliver Jul 2013 #63

The Democratic POLITICIANS are 'scaring away would-be liberals' leftstreet Jul 2013 #67

Not sure? Here is how you responded to the OP. Bluenorthwest Jul 2013 #69

So your vote should count for more than the votes of others who did not do all that stuff? treestar Jul 2013 #99

JPL never said his vote should count more than yours , or anyone elses. Vanje Jul 2013 #121

Everyone who does that treestar Jul 2013 #123

Nonsense. Vanje Jul 2013 #128

That plan worked great in 2010 Mnpaul Jul 2013 #119

Unfortunately, what I am talking about wasn't tried in 2010 gulliver Jul 2013 #133

"Anyone who isn't committed to voting against Repiblicans isn't a liberal?" Mnpaul Jul 2013 #138

They actually believe that they can win by attracting "moderate republicans". Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #62

I won't miss it. Cali_Democrat Jul 2013 #66

Why do you feel entitled to so much more from your vote than I get for mine? treestar Jul 2013 #98

Dishonest! Vanje Jul 2013 #122

They are when they demand that they get all they want. treestar Jul 2013 #125

Nonsense Vanje Jul 2013 #129

So sorry Caretha Jul 2013 #71

You will become extinct. A dinosaur. mick063 Jul 2013 #72

Well said! NorthCarolina Jul 2013 #83

Wow that's pure projection treestar Jul 2013 #100

"We are taking our party back......from you." Vanje Jul 2013 #124

You have no idea what you're talking about. Fearless Jul 2013 #87

Yours is the kind of party I wouldn't want to belong to Demeter Jul 2013 #92

This ^^^^^^ treestar Jul 2013 #96

The Democrats have a platform, Progressive dog Jul 2013 #24

Agreed, I also don't like to vote for or against a candidate on a single issue. Having Thinkingabout Jul 2013 #28

It was certainly a single issue that drove me to become an indepenedent. Race to the Top. liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #29

It might be your big issue at the moment but what will be your issue when your son Thinkingabout Jul 2013 #31

like the democrats are going to help my son in the job market? Give me a break. I already liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #33

Do you think the GOP or libertarian party is trying to change this? Thinkingabout Jul 2013 #37

I will not vote for any politician who supports Race to the Top, defunding education, low liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #38

It would be interesting to see what candidate you will find but sometimrs I have beennproven wrong. Thinkingabout Jul 2013 #44

and the democratic politicians go right along with it. I will not go along with it anymore. liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #48

Have you been paying attention? Doctor_J Jul 2013 #41

where is Congress on restoring voting rights? Why aren't we hearing democratic politicians liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #43

And you think another party is going to do a better job. Thinkingabout Jul 2013 #49

The post to which I responded did not say anything about another party Doctor_J Jul 2013 #131

I was responding to your post "The current DC Dems do almost nothing about any of these issues." Thinkingabout Jul 2013 #132

Word! nt Vanje Jul 2013 #126

Public Education has been broken for a while Progressive dog Jul 2013 #32

luckily our state had the forsesight to write into our state consitution that k-12 education is to liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #34

But then you would understand others don't have that exact priority? treestar Jul 2013 #101

As we have have seen during the Obama years, platforms expire after the election. Doctor_J Jul 2013 #40

Platforms seem to be where they stand their principles Jackpine Radical Jul 2013 #53

The complaint was about not agreeing with what the Democrats Progressive dog Jul 2013 #97

...only to rise from the dead 4 years later. hay rick Jul 2013 #110

One sure fire way to know for sure damnedifIknow Jul 2013 #30

Hey, bet you can walk down the street without an AR-15 also, yep you are a Democrat. Thinkingabout Jul 2013 #36

If fairness is a core conviction mick063 Jul 2013 #42

No problem with any of that, but Jackpine Radical Jul 2013 #54

Even when that Teabagger is my Auntie? Demeter Jul 2013 #95

As the Democratic party rowssteadily to the right it becomes an excellent question LondonReign2 Jul 2013 #45

Wrong question LostOne4Ever Jul 2013 #46

+1 For centering hammer over the nail. eom Festivito Jul 2013 #80

Recent history has shown mick063 Jul 2013 #103

If that is how you feel LostOne4Ever Jul 2013 #113

So we strategically make the choice mick063 Jul 2013 #114

Only a brief time in Power LostOne4Ever Jul 2013 #120

You're a real Democrat. Octafish Jul 2013 #47

Have asked myself that many times over the past Decade. I vote Dem... KoKo Jul 2013 #55

+100. I disagreed slightly in a spot or two, but great post! Skip Intro Jul 2013 #59

You sound like the very antithesis of a Republican. Zorra Jul 2013 #60

Hear, hear! nt Mnemosyne Jul 2013 #65

Are you registered to vote, and do you vote for Democratic candidates? Recursion Jul 2013 #68

I think virtually all Democrats want all those things.. DCBob Jul 2013 #70

We make it happen mick063 Jul 2013 #73

I'm ready. liberal_at_heart Jul 2013 #74

Exactly. I'm not willing to sell my soul and vote for someone just based on the (D). NuclearDem Jul 2013 #75

Correct mick063 Jul 2013 #76

"changing the party is more important than defeating Republicans." -- ABSOLUTELY NO!! DCBob Jul 2013 #82

Hear, hear! mountain grammy Jul 2013 #86

Their control would be unteneable mick063 Jul 2013 #104

"As for me, changing the party is more important than defeating Republicans." Vanje Jul 2013 #127

BINGO! B Calm Jul 2013 #79

Yep treestar Jul 2013 #102

Kicked and Recommended. nt Enthusiast Jul 2013 #78

JR, you have toned down your views. I remember when you were so much more.... Rebellious Republican Jul 2013 #81

Stellar n/t Mira Jul 2013 #84

That describes TNNurse Jul 2013 #85

Of course you're a Democrat, this is what we believe in.. mountain grammy Jul 2013 #88

Not me. CrispyQ Jul 2013 #90

These Are Not The Goals Of The DLC Democrats That Control The Party - Hence You May Not Be A Democrat cantbeserious Jul 2013 #93

Only you can decide if you are going to support a party treestar Jul 2013 #94

beautiful heaven05 Jul 2013 #105

Great Op!!!! mstinamotorcity2 Jul 2013 #106

Not really. More like a Green, or Working Family type... TreasonousBastard Jul 2013 #109

My plan. hay rick Jul 2013 #112

Are you registered to vote as a Democrat? another_liberal Jul 2013 #115

If that's a Democrat, I'm a Democrat too. gtar100 Jul 2013 #117

I believe in all that too get the red out Jul 2013 #130

Are you a Democrat? LWolf Jul 2013 #135

since 1988... ileus Jul 2013 #137

Bookmarking for future reference Mosaic Jul 2013 #139