!!!Welcome to DU, newbies!!! Pull up a seat and introduce yourself

[prolesunited]

I noticed that we have an influx of new faces here (most of them NOT trolls), so I thought it was time to roll out the welcome wagon again.

So, if you're new, why not tell us a little bit about yourself, how you found DU and what issues are important to you. If you're a former lurker who recently started posting, we would like to get to know you as well.

I know we can always count on DUers to make those who have recently joined our community feel welcome.

So, welcome. Glad to have you here. :hi:

[wryter2000]

1. Welcome, newbies

We always love new members. :hi:

[Gothic Sponge]

2. Hi, I'm Gothic Sponge!

I like to take long walks on the beach and stare at shiny objects......Wait a minute i'm not a newbie!


;)

[AngryAmish]

3. My name is AngryAmish and I'm an alcoholic

opps, wrong forum.

[Blue-Jay]

4. Hi, I'm new here and I think we're making ourselves look bad.

Yes indeed-y, I'm a life-ling liberal and I think that it reflects poorly on us to gripe so much about our fearless saviour dumb president. Yeah. That's the ticket!

[prolesunited]

8. Bad, Blue-Jay!

:spank:

[Blue-Jay]

12. Yes. That was bad.

I misspelled "life-long". Of course, if I were clever, I'd say that I did it on purpose to add to the veracity of my satirical post. I probably just fat-fingered it.

[prolesunited]

18. Actually, I did think you did it on purpose

BTW, what are you doing inviting people to Chicago gatherings? Seems to me you still live in Ohio. :P

[Blue-Jay]

20. Hey. I visit sometimes....

:spank: Back atcha

[prolesunited]

22. Hey, why don't you just move here?

:D

[Athletic Grrl]

44. Hey!

Get a room. :loveya:

[Blue-Jay]

64. Will do!

w00t! :D

[mongo]

5. long time lurker - recent poster

Hi there everyone!

A little about me - My wife and I run a lingerie and erotic boutique in Zanesville, OH. Before that I was a computer systems/analyst for 18 years.

I consider myself mostly a centrist democrat. I am very liberal on social issues.

Of course that shot they gave me at the secretary of states office when I formed my corporation gives me some conservative positions too. But I don't see the Republicans following those positions - such as a balanced budget, and less government intrusion in our lives.

My issues?
Gay marriage or civil unions for all.
Continued access to sexually oriented materials for adults.
Drug law reform - and states rights to make drug laws as they see fit.
Affordable health care for all.
Getting out of a war we had no business waging in the first place.
Repeal the patriot act.

I really like DU. A lot of intelligent conversation here.

[Misunderestimator]

7. Welcome to DU..... sounds like a respectable list of issues.

:hi:

[ps1074]

9. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[johnnie]

14. Hi Mongo

Welcome to DU :hi:

[Blue-Jay]

17. Yes, but can you punch out a horse?

:hi:

[prolesunited]

21. Actually, I don't mind real Republicans

although I don't agree with them on most things, but the fascists have taken over the party. If you want balanced budgets and less government, you have to vote for centrist Dems like Clinton.

Ohio is a key state this time around. Are you doing anything to make sure it goes to Kerry?

[mongo]

30. I have an anti-bush poster in my foyer

With Ashcroft destroying some porn. I also have a stack of voter registration forms for folks to take with them.

Lots of 18-21yolds come through the store. I have talked a few into registering to vote.

I'd do more with the local Dems but I work 50-70 hours/week - and I am shy outside of the parameters of work.

The last time I voted for any Republican was Reagan in 1980 (I was 18 and stupid)

[bigwillq]

96. What's up Mongo?!

Welcome to DU!!
I agree with you on alot of those issues.

Your profession sounds really interesting.

Hope that you stick around!

[eyesroll]

24. Hi, Mongo!

Welcome to DU! :toast:

I like your sig. Is that your official business logo or something you whipped up for places like this?

[mongo]

31. That sig is for personal use

I really need to revamp it and make it smaller. Feeling a bit guilty about bandwidth.

Here's one of the stores graphics:


http://www.yourprivatedesires.com

[Kukesa]

49. Be Sure to Check out the Ohio Forum, Mongo.

We need all the Buckeyes we can get to win this battleground state.

Welcome to DU! You'll love it here.

[theivoryqueen]

101. yo mungo - good position post

and nice to meetcha

[Kitka]

6. An honest to goodness new person….

Just delurked today…. I’ll introduce myself

Hi all, I am a 28 year old married mother of 2 living in the Chicago area. I’m in a mixed marriage with a libertarian, but I’m bringing him around! He will be voting Democrat this year.

I work as a paralegal and for the local Democratic party. I fall quite far over on the progressive side of the political spectrum, but obviously relate more to Democrats in the current political atmosphere in the U.S. As I live in a horribly conservative area, the Democratic party is very weak and I’m working to infuse it with life. I’m active on a campaign for the Democratic candidate for the county State’s Attorney's office right now and volunteering to help with the campaign of the future Senator Obama as well.

I don’t remember how I found DU, but I’ve been reading the forums off and on for quite a few months. I’ve been an active member at a couple other open debate forums for years, but I’m frankly getting weary of defending my positions against ignorance - so I thought I’d seek refuge in a community of more like-minded individuals.

Anyway, that’s a bit about myself. I look forward to getting to know the community better.

K

[Blue-Jay]

10. Welcome, Kitka!

:hi:

Good work bringing the hubby around. Maybe you guys can come to the next Chicago meet-up.

[ps1074]

11. Welcome to DU

Nice avatar. I love it :)

:hi:

[XNASA]

13. Welcome Fellow Chicagoan.

I'm guessing you must live out in DuPage, huh?

Shouldn't be too long and we'll be having a Chicago DU Gathering. We have one every 6 months or so.

Cheers!!

[Kitka]

19. It’s worse.

Will County. LOL.
Thanks for the welcome.

[johnnie]

15. Hello Kitka

Thanks for "delurking" and welcome :hi:

[prolesunited]

16. Welcome to DU!

Glad you decided to de-lurk. I'm in the Chicago area as well. Which suburban area do you call home (You don't have to name a town, just a vicinity, if you wouldn't mind.)

Obama is a great candidate. What do you think of the whole sex scandal?

Illinois certainly has had a resurgence in the Democratic Party in the past few years with all the GOP scandals. I'm sure it will take awhile to get its legs back. Glad you're in there helping to make a difference.

Nice to meet you! :hi:

[Kitka]

23. I have mixed feelings

about Jack Ryan. Going to sex clubs is not an issue to me, not even a blip on my radar. And I withhold judgment on his treatment of his wife as I don’t know how true his ex wife’s account is and how much of the story is divorce fighting. However, it’s been terribly exciting to watch someone so arrogant take a fall.

In any event, I’m somewhat saddened he has dropped out, as we were whomping him so soundly in the polls. But I doubt the Republicans can mount any real comeback anyway, and I’m quite confident in our chances.

I’m from the heart of Will County, almost too far South to be “Chicago area” but it’s just easier to describe it that way. I’m glad to meet you as well!

[eyesroll]

25. Welcome, Kitka!

I'm a 28-year old former Lake County resident, myself. I now live in the Milwaukee area (in conservative Waukesha County, so I know the feeling). I'm married, but not intermarried -- my husband is a Dem too (and he posts here, but I think I'm not supposed to say who he is, even though many people know anyway).

:toast:

[jukes]

82. kitka

hi! you're doing good work!


:hi:

[bigwillq]

97. Hi Kitka!

Welcome to DU!!!!

I'm glad to have you here!

[theivoryqueen]

104. yesss! good to have you here. Especially someone working for Obama

fighting the good fight.

[SoCalDem]

112. Welcome...(My favorite-ist ever kitty was named Kitka)

You are among friends here... Debating halfwits is not a fun thing to do, Glad you found us:hi:

[proud patriot]

26. Welcome Unerground . How did You new DUers find DU ?

:toast:

[prolesunited]

27. I always wonder that myself

Kinda cool to have this portal on the Net that people can stumble into.

Surely there are more newbies. Don't be shy.

[theivoryqueen]

106. allright - I admit it. New. yes. Happy. Yes.

Glad I found this "place"...yes.

[Angelus]

28. Hey...I'm new here too!

:D :silly:

[JohnKleeb]

33. just because you have 20 million names doesnt make you new

I hear Derek is offering you plms though ;).

[Angelus]

34. 20 million?

Pssht. I only had 4...and I got two of them tombstoned. :D

[JohnKleeb]

36. oh I thought you were just paranoid

its called hyperbole fool :).

[Gothmog]

29. Only sort of a newbie

I have been posting for a month or two already and so am not really a newbie. I am 47, father of three and am an attorney. I am a life long democrat. My wife and I are very proud about how active and politically aware our children are. My son is 18 and is headed to college next year. My son is looking forward to voting in his first election this year and has been following politics very very closely. My middle child will be too young to vote this year and very knowledgeable about politics. Both of my oldest children are very strong Democrats and strongly dislike the Bush administration. The youngest is not that interested in politics yet. My wife is also an attorney and a CPA and is a life long democrat (her dad was a delegate to the Texas Democratic Convention).

I am more of a Clinton Democrat in that I believe strongly in a fiscal responsibility and hate Bush's deficit spending/tax cuts for the rich. The reduction of taxes on corporate dividends is just plain bad policy and fiscally irresponsible.
I also feel strongly about
(a) civil liberties and the Patriotic Act
(b) the US violation of the treaties including the Geneva Convention by the treatment of the detainees in Cuba
(c) freedom of choice and reproductive rights
(d) judicial partisanship (I really hate the yahoos Bush has been appointing to the bench)
(e) environmental issues
(f) the gutting of investor/shareholder rights (much of the blame for the corporate scandals can be traced back to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996).
(g) gay rights (it is wrong to amend the constitution to provide for discrimination).
(h) gun control (I do not believe that the Second Amendment provides for individual right to bear arms).

I have enjoyed DU and enjoyed the forums. Thank you for making me feel at home.

[mongo]

35. Wow

I didn't expect to see this today:

(f) the gutting of investor/shareholder rights (much of the blame for the corporate scandals can be traced back to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996).

Welcome to DU! I look forward to your posts. What area of law do you practice?

[Gothmog]

45. Corporate

I am a corporate securities attorney

[eyesroll]

43. A belated welcome to you, Gothmog!

:toast:


Edit: stray characters

[prolesunited]

56. You have an impressive amount of posts

racked up already. Congratulations to you and your wife on raising such plugged in kids. We'll need them to carry the torch.

Nice to meet you. :hi:

[bigwillq]

98. Great issues to be strong about

Welcome to DU!!

I'm glad your kids are that interested in politics.

You have taught them well!!

[sus]

32. hi. my name is bob.

[prolesunited]

37. Hi, bob!

:hi:

Funny, you don't look like a bob. ;-)

[sus]

38. hi! thanks! i'm in disguise.

[jukes]

83. bob THIS

sus!





(kidding. :pals: )

[sus]

90. you're just jealous cuz you can't spell your name backwards!!

[Cats Against Frist]

39. Finally, a place where egghead glasses and espresso are understood

Hi. I am new. My name is Crystal, and I was led to DU, after my umpteenth time getting busted for trolling Free Republic -- they called me a DU troll, and I had no idea what it meant -- so I thought I'd come over and check it out.

I'm 29, and I live in Iowa right now, though I am formerly from Seattle, and before that, Illinois. I am in the "Heartland" studying poetry at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. I have a son and a boyfriend who plays the french horn -- (we got a lot of mileage out of calling it the "freedom" horn) -- and I've been a life-long liberal, or at least since I was nine. I was raised in a Dem household with union parents -- one of which (my father) has defected to the Dark Side thanks to country radio and the rhetoric of his hick friends.

I guess my very most important issue is the travesty of religion being combined with GOP irresponsible capitalism, and the fact that they're leading some of these (very delusional, but very zealous) people by the nose into their spider web of suck and blow. I call it the "GOP Civil Church of Mammon and the Fake Jesus."

If you hear me flaming religion -- know that it is mainly Christian conservatives that I have the problem with, and not religion or the words of Christ (which are all questionable, anyway) himself.

I am pretty much "left," but I've been having some ideas about "radical compromise," of the libertarian bent, lately -- as a way to make people as free as possible. Conceding to some real conservative (read: not GOP) values is preferable to the fascist grip of the current administration and its henchpeople.

That's about it. Always feel free to say hi or message if you feel something is askew...

[eyesroll]

41. Welcome, Crystal!

:toast:

I'm not much into espresso, but I dig the egghead glasses. (What can I say? Nerds rule!)

Whereabouts in Illinois did you live? I grew up in Lake County, but I'm in Wisconsin now.

[Cats Against Frist]

52. Soooothern Illinois

I grew up in Greenville -- about 40 mi. up I-70 from St. Louis. Thanks for welcoming me. People have been really nice here.

[proud patriot]

61. Welcome

love the user name :D

[Cats Against Frist]

70. Who will speak for the tortured cats? :)

[GOPisEvil]

87. Hey! Southern IL!! I have family all over that area.

Belleville, O'Fallon, Carbondale...used to fish at Carlyle Lake.

Welcome to DU - love the name! :hi:

[fishnfla]

59. Ooooooh!!!! Iowa's writer workshop!!

Very impressive! Alot of quality writers have been there. I am impressed!

Welcome to this place, CAF

[Cats Against Frist]

69. Thanks

It's really no huge deal. Everyone there is just starting out. I'm DEFINITELY not famous, and never will be -- I'm in the poetry program, not fiction.

It's fun though. It gives me a lot of free time to post crap on message boards... (when I should be writing, of course).

[jukes]

85. post

in iambic pentameter, then. practice for you, fun read for us!

[jukes]

84. Hi, CAF!

i've caught some of your posts; loved them. you'll like it here, free-thinker!


:hi:

[bigwillq]

99. Welcome to DU Crystal!

Glad to have you here!


Way to go Troll!!!!!

[Connie_Corleone]

40. Hi!

I'm 32 years old from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Been lurking for 2 years. I was NEVER politically active. until Bush was selected into office. I used to just vote for the least of two evils and that was it. Now, I'm a political junkie! I'm exposing the Bush cabal to everyone I know.

:hi:

[eyesroll]

42. Hi, Connie!

Welcome! :toast:
My dad's in the same situation, but he's 57. He'd never become active, but in recent years (and due in no small part to me complaining about the Bush Administration every time I talked to him), he's joined up with his local Democratic party, and is working on two campaigns, and going to Meetups.

[Blue-Jay]

46. Well met, Connie!

Welcome from a neighbor!

[Kukesa]

48. Good work, CC.

Welcome to DU and don't forget to check out the Ohio forum; several Cinci folks there. We need all the Buckeyes we can get to win this state!

[prolesunited]

57. Glad you've decided to post

Interesting how many political activists Bush has created. I guess many had been lulled into complacency. When Kerry gets in, we can't do that again. We need to keep pressing our agenda.

Do all you can to GOTV in Ohio. We need that state in our column.

Welcome! :hi:

[proud patriot]

62. Right On Connie

Welcome to the posting world :hi:

[jukes]

86. Hi. CC

love that nick!



:hi:

[bigwillq]

100. Welcome to DU!!!

I like the last name of your screen name!

IS it really your real last name?

Tell if you want to share if not I'll respect your privacy!!

Have fun here, it's a great place!

[RebelYell]

47. I'm fairly new too

Hello to everyone.

I'm 48 from northwest Ohio, laid off office manager, manufacturing business died. I'm working part time for a non profit until I find something better.

My husband isn't interested in politics whatsoever, so I try to find sites to read the latest news. My "friends" in real life are Republican, so I feel very alone.

I enjoy the time I spend here reading your posts. Thanks!

[Kukesa]

50. Hi RebelYell -- I'm from Southwest Ohio.

Be sure to check out the Ohio forum; we Buckeyes need to work hard to win Battleground Ohio.

All my "friends" are Repukes, too -- except for the ones here in DU.

Welcome!

[RebelYell]

53. Thanks, Kukesa.....

I'll do that.

[eyesroll]

51. Welcome, RebelYell!

:hi:

Chimpeach! I hadn't heard that one before. I'll have to use it in conversation sometime.

[RebelYell]

54. Eyesroll

LOL, good one, I find myself rolling my eyes more than I'd like to. I don't remember where I originally saw "Chimpeach", but I admit that I stole it.

I forgot to add on my initial post that I'm afraid.....very afraid....we have a President that says God talks to him. Shouldn't he be on medication?

I had a great time Sunday after F911 passing out bumper stickers in the theater parking lot- "George W. Bush for Ex-President 2004". Everyone was happy to have one.

[prolesunited]

58. Finding DU means you never have to be alone again.

:-)

Considering politics is directly affecting your family, perhaps he'll take an interest. I hope you can at least get him to vote for Kerry. We need all the votes we can get in Ohio.

Glad you could join us! :hi:

[RebelYell]

65. Not to worry....

....Hubby votes stricly Dem....he's Union. And I'd cut him off if he didn't. (kiddin)

I can't express how nice it is to not feel like a misfit and/or outcast here.

[proud patriot]

63. hugs to you RebelYell Welcome Underground

:hug:

[RebelYell]

66. Thanks again........

....I needed a hug today!

[TOhioLiberal]

88. Hey RebelYell...

...I'm from Northwest Ohio too. Welcome!

[RebelYell]

91. Thanks, trekkerlass.......

:hi:

[bigwillq]

102. Welcome to DU!!

Have fun here, it's great to chat about all issues politics as well as having some fun in the lounge.

[AwakeAtLast]

55. Welcome to all of you!!!

Glad you are here!!!!

:hi:

Edit for spelling. It's been a long day.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

60. Welcome newbies!

:loveya:

Welcome to DU, :hi: !

[Padraig18]

67. Welcome to DU, newbies!

Please keep your hands inside the trolley at all times, when it is in motion. Your tour guide can direct you to the 'facilities', and complimetary beverages will be served on all tours. Please, do not feed the trolls.

Thank you.

;)

[Samoflange]

68. Just joined last night...

I've been lurking here for about two years, and I finally got off my butt and registered.

I arrived at DU from Bartcop's page, whom I stumbled upon one night in 2001, after a fitful night of angrily cussing the BFEE and seeking solace on the internet...

Interestingly enough, although I've always been rather liberal and progressive-minded, I never gave a damn about national politics until just before September 11th. Now, nobody can get me to shut up...

I'm an Air Force veteran, with 5 years' experience patrolling the no fly zones over Iraq in the mid to late 90's; it was always fun pointing out to my military colleagues that I was a "communist leftist liberal America hater" that voluntarily flew on an unarmed aircraft over hostile territory to defend their right to be an ideological idiot....

My main issues are increasing public awareness, fighting for universal social equality, and promoting progressive idealism tempered by realistic expectations of what humanity can do.
Thanks to everybody on DU for making me realize I'm not the only one that wants to make a difference for the better!
(Especially here in Oklahoma!!!)

[prolesunited]

71. Welcome out of lurkdom!

Glad to have you join us. I think I went from Salon.com, where I was hanging out prior to the selection to Bartcop to here.

The posters at Salon were speculating on how soon we would invade Iraq. I thought they had their tinfoil hats on too tight. Unfortunately, they were all too prescient.

As you know, we have a number of vets here. You are not alone in fighting for the issues you listed.

Glad you registered, keep on posting, and NEVER shut up!

:hi:

[Kukesa]

73. Good to Have YOU Here.

I lurked before I registered, too; congrats on taking the plunge.

Welcome!

P.S. I live in an Air Force town, too.

[Cuban_Liberal]

72. Hi, new folks!

Welcome to DU! Happy posting!

:hi:

[Young Liberal]

74. I also joined last night...

I just turned 19 today and thought I would reward myself by registering. I have already felt welcomed by the wondeful people here at DU. I live in Minnesota but will go back to Iowa for my sophomore year at college.

I found DU after starting college and realizing the true potential of young voters in this election. I lurked here for several months and finally got up the courage to post late last night.

For a little more background, I volunteered for John Kerry's campaign during the Iowa caucuses, met the man twice (he even spoke at my school) and also met Dean and Kucinich as well. Needless to say, it is great to have a first-hand experience of who will become the next President.

Look forward to many great times here at DU. Thanks!

[prolesunited]

78. Happy Birthday!

Glad you decided to register and begin posting. I lurked for awhile before I posted. What topics did you finally decide to post on?

That's cool that you were so involved during the caucuses. What a fabulous opportunity to take advantage of.

Keep posting. Lot's of great times to be had here and plenty of posters about your age and in college.

[bigwillq]

103. Welcome Young Liberal

And Happy Birthday! That' cool that you met Dean, Kerry and DK.

I'm a huge Dean fan and now very much support Kerry in his quest for the White House.

If we all stand tall together we will kick that Shrub from office!

[notmyprezbitch]

75. Hi, from Idaho

Just joined. Can't wait to get involved in good conversation.

Go Kerry!

[marlakay]

76. Spreading the message

Hi. I have been reading the boards for awhile but busy moving this month and didn't have time to post. I had to wait to see M/M's movie until monday afternoon matinee and for a monday at the largest screen it was almost full. What hit me the most was before the show there was all kinds of noise of people talking and I had 7 loud boys about 17 or 18 in back of me. As soon as the show started all was quiet for the entire show with the exception of a few laughs and claps, other than that you could hear a pin drop. Never heard that in a theatre.

I just moved from a very Republican town to a very liberal one. my husband was tired of commuting. During my almost 4 years there I learned the best method to talk to republicans is to make friends with them at my health club or work and just put in a few statements here and there. Just leave them thinking about it.

With the religious it is easier for me because I use to be like them going to church all the time and voting as my church (suggested!!) For the last 18 years or so I think for myself and encourage other christians not to vote based just on one issue or on what they are very highly encouraged by their church to do.

During our two garage sales we had, my husband and I both wore shirts Run Against Bush & Vote for a new line up 2004. We were able to speak to alot of people. My husband has a locker at work and has it filled with political comics that make you think and he says people read it all the time and ask questions. I talk to everyone from the postman to the grocery clerk and I find people want change in this country. When we flew up to Washington for my daughters graduation we wore our shirts and talked to people from lots of different states.

If all of us don't just sit back like we use to, we can make a difference. I have always voted but NEVER got really involved like this and I am 47. I like reading this site because people talk about real issues and are serious about it and not just playing around. You don't have to join a group or go door to door to make a difference. :hi:

[arbusto_baboso]

77. Been posting about 2 weeks, lurking a month before that..

Found out about this place from moveon.org, actually.

As to me? I'm a 38 yo wm, a vet of Operation Just Cause (oh the irony! That was Bush Sr.'s little adventura in panama) and Desert Storm.

I find myself growing more and more liberal as I get older. Could be due to being soured on the right-wing brand of organized religion, the pinhead conservatives within my own family, and the refusal to compromise or even admit the POSSIBILITY of being wrong on the part of most conservatives.

Of course, there are some personal issues in my life that could be causing this, too.

Oh, yeah, and btw, I'm sick and fucking tired of the Repugs acting as if they are the only ones who know anything about Defense and Foreign Policy!! They're the ones who've fucked it all up beyond recognition!

[tigereye]

79. welcome to you new folks

know you will like it here. I know I do. :hi:

[SoCalDem]

113. "Operation...Just 'cuz" (he wanted to kill some poor folks)

Welcome to DU....all you "up-threaders"...You'll love it here :hi:

[LiberalTechie1337]

80. John Clark

I am 19 years old and live in Plainfield, IN

I have been lurking around for a few weeks, and finally decided to join up. I came here as talk about F9/11 started hitting the airways, and I am willing to do whatever it takes to keep Bush from a second term of terror.

[andino]

81. Hello.

I am fairly new here so I guess I can give a little.

My name is Andy and I was born in Huntsville Alabama. I'm 31 and 5 years ago I moved to Norman Oklahoma to go to OU. I graduated with a MIS degree last month. I fell in love at the end of my freshman year and got married 2 years ago in April. My wife, Tara, is in her third year as a pediatric resident at Oklahoma Children's Hospital. We have a son that is 20 months named Martin.

My dad raised me as a southern democrat. And being from north Alabama I know what poor people are and what they need. It seems to me that republicans just don't care or don't know what being poor is all about. Its hard as hell to break out of it and giving the rich tons of money isn't how you do it. I was lucky, my parents and grandparents told me early on that the only way to break the cycle is to get my education. And I did.

Anyway, I am a huge Pittsburgh Penguins fan and occasionally we get into a few heated political discussions. I was getting pissed because most of the posters on there are hard core right wing nut jobs. Anyway, one of them posted a "Top Ten Conservative Idiots" article and I was hooked. I have to admit that I didn't really come to the message boards for a few months because I really wasn't too political and thought that my views would be slammed. I'm not what you'd call a hard core leftie :).

I believe that abortion is bad but I wouldn't tell anyone else what to think or do about it.
I have guns and like to shoot (target practice mostly) and fish (catch and release).
I think that the war in Afghanistan is a worthwhile cause but think that Iraq is a total f&*^ up.
I believe that a flat tax would be easier than all these fucked up tax codes that have loopholes a mile wide for rich people. That way we can tax lifestyles rather than tax the poor peoples income.
I feel that America has to do something about immigration. I think that we should close off the Mexican boarder for security reasons. Then we should ask the Mexican people here to at least register for citizenship just like every other immigrant does. That is the only fair way to do it.
I believe that the government has a right to us as citizens to not spend more than they make. If this means that we don't get that new F-99 Jet Fighter for $200 billion a plane then so be it. We will just have to find a better way.

I do agree with the democratic ideology about a few things as well.


I believe that the US military is way over funded. I would LOVE to see the military and the education funding switched. :) Boy, that would piss of the republicans.

I think that everyone has the right as Americans to do what they want. Gay Marriage, Abortion, Free Speech, Free Expression, Ability to protest WITHOUT getting a permit from the city (I think that this is unconstitutional), you know, all the things that the republicans don't want us to do.

I feel that the government has lied to us all. I believe that George Bush is only the stupid figure head to one of the most heinous atrocities that any administration has ever perpetuated on the world. I don't see how anyone could actually think that this guy thought up all of this BS crap he has been telling us on his own. He is just a name and a puppet that tosses in a few ideas here and there. His administration and daddy(who still gets CIA briefs) run him. The thing that pisses me off the most is that not only did they go to war with a country that had nothing to do with terrorism, they went on lie after lie. Then once we figured out that they were full of shit they changed their reasoning for the war. They used us and treated us like morons. For a long time I thought that I was the only one who felt this way. I was one of the 20%ers that originally thought that the Iraq war was TOTAL BS from the get-go.

I do think that Bush has ruined our reputation around the world. I feel that he has been unfair in his fiscal policies. I believe that he is not smart enough to be in the White House. And lastly I believe that he got his presidency by ill gotten means.


Wow, this post is way too long. Anyway, it's nice to be here and you guys are a lot nicer than I originally thought. I look forward to posting here a lot more in the near future.

[TOhioLiberal]

89. andino...

...Welcome to DU. I'm glad you've decided to start posting. I agree with you on many of your positions, and look forward to talking with you in the future. Again, welcome! :toast:

[prolesunited]

93. Your post was fabulous!

Didn't it feel great to get all that off of your chest? We're not all hard-core leftists and based on your views you'll fit right in.

I am curious, though. Why did you think we wouldn't be nice? How or why did your opinion change?

[andino]

95. I started reading a few of those

Howard Dean threads right after he lost and there was a lot of, how can I put this nicely, sore losers. If I remember right, like 1/2 of the people that posted on one of those threads got banned. I'm not saying that they didn't deserve it, because in my opinion a few did. I just kept out of it.

[theivoryqueen]

105. wow - um - love the "buddy christ" and welcome

dogma jokes aside - seems like you fit right in!

[andino]

107. Thanks.

And I love the Buddy Christ. He is the kind of God that I believes exists. All about being your friend and not about persecuting you and having you pressure others. Kinda like a beer buddy with an important dad. :)

[underpants]

92. Hiiiiiiiiii! EeeeeeveryBoooooooooooDY!

[Ivan Zero]

94. It's de-lightful, it's de-lovely, it's de-lurking ...

Another de-lurker here after buzzing around the hive.

I'm in Carson City, Nevada - the state that's an alleged bright spot in the economic "recovery", and the state that will yank it's 5 electoral votes away from Mr. "Sound Science" in November. Let him put the nookular repository under his ranch if it's so safe.

Seems the older I get (closing in on 40), the harder left I drift. I turned 21 on the inside of the military beast, and spent my young adulthood being seduced by the siren song of craven capitalism - the two ways of life being extolled in Bush's America - and those experiences have propelled me steadily toward my current life of simple pleasures and progressive consciousness.

My biggest issue right now, besides dethroning George II, is coaxing people out of their cars more often, or entirely, if possible. Foot power, pedal power, etc. It's several issues wrapped into one: it helps the environment, makes folks less isolated from each other, makes them healthier, saves them a lot of money (both in their own budgets and on the taxes needed to keep the oil flowing), discourages sprawl, encourages mass transit ... on and on ...

Anyway, glad to be finally actively participating in the forums.

[Bjornsdotter]

108. Hi....Nice to Meet everyone!

Hi,

I've been lurking for a long time before I joined DU.

I'm a Mom of two teen-age kids...both very liberal...I've raised them well<G>. I've live in the Northern Chicago area, very, very Bush territory, so it's a bit lonely here.

I would consider myself to be very liberal, I grew up in Chicago and spent a good deal of time in Sweden; as a result I've been told I'm too radical by many people. LOL....I don't think so.

This forum has truly been my salvation; to know that there are others out there who can see through all of the bullshit.

Cheers,
Kim :toast:


edit....verbs are good, I should use them more often

[antigone382]

109. This will be my first time voting for a president!

I hope it counts. My name is Eva and I'm 20. I moved in with my mom a few months ago after my freeper father hit me during an argument. I refuse to ever let a man hit me twice. Anyway, I first heard about DU when I was riding in the car with him, listening to Neal Boortz. Isn't that fabulous?

After I moved, I started checking this place out. I haven't had a chance to post a whole lot because my mom registered about the same time as me and she's been hogging the net ever since :) (she's buddyhollysghost).

A few things I'm passionate about:

ERA: I really believe in the new movement to bring it back.
Gay rights: how exactly does homosexual marriage ruin heterosexual marriage???
Abortion: I can't see myself ever doing it, but every woman has a right to choose, and RWers need to realize that pregnancy is ALWAYS a major health risk, especially when prenatal care is absent for a lot of women
Flag Desecration: my pet issue since high school. I would never burn the flag unless they made it illegal to burn the flag, which they're apparently trying to do now.
Preemptive War: definitely un-American and a practice that needs to be "nipped in the bud"
Separation of Church and State: Don't take away people's rights to express their faith, but take away the government's ability to do it for them.
Legalization of Marijuana: for that matter, legalization of all victim-less crimes. I don't smoke marijuana--hell, I won't even take more than the recommended dosage of Tylenol in a four-hour period. But I don't see how it affects me if other people do.

Since we share a computer, my mom will be posting using my name in a minute.

[antigone382]

110. Using My Princess' Login

She's afraid I'll keep posting once I log back in!

I won't tell you my age, but my username buddyhollysghost has a clue. I have my Princess to thank for showing me this site. She got sick of hearing me vent to no one.

I have five beautiful sons and one sweet daughter. Needless to say, the idea of a draft has my heart in a dither. I have been a Democrat since I was a baby, having witnessed the assasinations of John, Bobby and Martin; Watergate, and VietNam. I learned to loathe Republicans at an early age.

My first political act was attending the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta in 76. I cast my first vote for Carter and I'm proud to have helped send him to the White House . His book 'A Government as Good as It's People" ( a collection of speeches) has had a profound impact on my idea of what our leaders should be all about.

I was married to freeper daddy when Reagan came to power and needless to say, that whole family hated me for calling Reagan the Anti-Christ. At the time I worked in a childrens hospital, with kids suffering from AIDS, etc. More loathing for Republicans ensued...

I voted for Clinton, mourned the witch hunt Starr pursued and cried when Bush got the SCOTUS to help him in his coup. I hate Zell Miller and you might find one of my earlier posts to find out why cuz I can't talk about it now.

One of my oldest was just discharged from the service after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. What has sent me over the edge ( slighlty more than the hijacking of Jesus by the NeoCons) is that Colin Powell lied to me. I supported the decision to invade Afghanistan, but I had my doubts about Iraq. Still, my son believed in the cause then and I had to support him. Now I am so angry at the lies and the betrayal I could (and do) scream about it. And no one can tell a mother of a kid serving not to be frightened and worried constantly. NO ONE.

I was raised Episcopalian but have lost my faith. I realize after reading some posts here that i'm not alone, so maybe it's just that Repukes have whored religion to such a degree that belief becomes impossible. SO, my issues are:

The War in Iraq. Hate it. And will march my ass to the White House if it gets any more of my kids. I believe in defending your country, not corporate greed.

War on Drugs: I have PTSD. Domestic combat related. Needless to say, I have found a substance that works to calm me, take away nightmares, give me an appetite - all with no side effects. But the current administration has no mercy on people like me. And I have no mercy for their lust-for-power driven "WAR"

Prison system and justice system. i could go on for hours, but do the research and you'll know why.

Minimum Wage. I'd love to see the Repukes in the White House live on what they expect the little guy to make. Abject greed is one of the human traits I abhor the most. Don't mind capitalism, but I beleive that any corp or business that reaps the benefits of American consumers - and that expects Americans to support their business - should give back to help this nation. Anything less is just pure stupidity and wanton gluttony.

The Constitution: Greatest Document ever composed. I can't understand how the NeoCons hate this country so much they want to destroy it. I actually might get to put that PTSD to good use if they finally do (Boom!)

I have worked in many fields- from health care to publishing to organic farming. I was a liberal talk host in Atlanta for a while, and actually board-oped for Boortz and Malloy. I got a lot of hate mail and death threats, but I also received many letters supporting me. I am about to re-enter college and hope to be playing my guitar and singing soon at a pub near you. .

I have been so despondent lately, but DU has helped my mental health enormously. Thank you. i love you all, even if I disagree with you sometimes. I have strong opinions, but I think (*) I can back most of them up with experience.
BTW, our location is not exactly truthful, but when you're trying to escape eveil ex's you have to fudge a bit. Forgive us.

[snorkie]

111. Another lurker from the shadows...

Howdy folks,
I've been lurking for quite some time now, mostly late at night. I'd like to post more, but I'm a bit too slow to keep up with everyone!!! And I am so shy in real life, that I even have trouble online sometimes. :scared: ..kinda sad!

Found DU through Salon and made it my news home during the build up to war. Love the site and the fact that everyone links to the stories, you can get caught up with what's important in a hurry here.
I've always been quite liberal, very liberal socially. But unfortunately for me I live in NW Pennsylvania. About as red an area as you could find. I've always been politically aware, but never politically active. It seems pretty useless in this area...This area is so redneck and backwards, that during a Juneteenth celebration (celebrating the area's role in the Underground Railroad) Someone burned a cross with a raccoon nailed to it the morning of the main festivities....

The issues I care deeply about are personal freedoms, I support a woman's right to choose and I am vehemently against prosecuting victimless crimes. I also live on the edge of a National Forest, so the environment is a critical issue for me. I am currently underemployed in mental health, and I think our education system should be a major priority and should be funded as such. Finally, I think I believe strongly in the exact of opposite of our current administration on everything of note and I would like to see John Ashcroft be attacked by 100 angry monkeys.
With respect,
Jeff

[NoodleBoy]

114. hey hey hey...

I've gotten alot of hello's around here, it's pretty nice.

I don't remember when I found DU, but I remember at first liking the idea of the boards. I checked them out a few time, but wasn't big on participation.

After awhile, I activated an account here, being tired of the inane rantings on some other boards I still take a part in. Damn, but those are hilarious.

The best descriptor for my politics is social democrat, even though I don't like labels, blah blah blah, insert stereotypical comments about labels here.

I won't use your time to talk about how I feel on certain things... except for these two things. First, O'Republicans, so called, because, like Bill O'Reilly, they say they don't completely conform to any party, but in reality, they would probably never, EVER vote outside the Republican party. I've found alot of these guys, and it's funny to hear them say that, then squirm this way and that defending anything bad a Republican has done, all the while bashing Clinton and, of course, the liberal media.

The other thing is marijuana legalization... I've heard some guys (former addicts, guys who've never done the stuff, guys who will never do the stuff-- I've never done it myself, but that's the stereotype people associate me with) say that it should be legalized, and the effects of pot are relatively harmless and it's a victimless crime. I watched my best friend's family be destroyed by pot. Victims? Five-- his mom; his dad; his two sisters, and himself. Damage done? Seperation, divorce, custody battles, distance, and almost sending my best friend down that road too. We already have one popular substance that can fuck you up legally-- we don't need two.

[wildeyed]

115. Hi all!!!

This will probably be shorter than I would like, but I stay at home w/2 kids, 1 and 3, and they will probably distract me pretty quickly.

This site was a gradual addiction. I found DU through an email that was forwarded to me. The email contained the illegal pic of the flag covered caskets returning from Iraq plus a link to a thread on this site. I had been vaguely discontented with the news I was getting from mainstream sources so I starting hitting the Latest Breaking News section of this site more and more often. Once I started lurking in the Lounge, I know it was time to get a login name and donate.

I have tons of issues that are important to me including homelessness, a women's right to choose and health care. But what really got me active is my extreme fear of the current administration and the direction they are leading the country, straight into the darkness. I have issues with a president who lies to start wars and who accuses dissenters of being un-American. I think we are at a crossroads and the direction we chose will define life in this country for the next generation.

I am active in voter registration. It is simple, enjoyable work and it gets me out of the house and talking to grown ups. When my kids ask, mommy, did you do anything to defeat George W. Bush? I want to be able to say that, yes I did.