Goodbye

[justinsb]

In 1996 I left the Democratic Party, in 2000 I voted for Nader, in 2002 I moved to Canada, in 2004 I voted, against my better judgement, for Kerry to try to help out people here. I joined the activist corps and tried to do what I could to help (I have done what I could on specific issues since I arrived). But, strangely when I posted requests for help on things pertaining to Canada there was little or no response from anyone but Canadians.

The reality is that Americans (and I'll generalize because while it's not universal it's pretty close) are navel gazers, even Democrats don't seem to care much about anyone outside the U.S. (Unless it's US soliders abroad). You claim to, but when push comes to shove it's just not there. If you are a true progressive, my best advice is GET OUT, the Republicans are driving the country toward the edge of a cliff and all the Democrats are offering is to slow down a bit.

Now I'm done, this thread was the final straw

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4762805&mesg_id=4762805

it has convinced me that the Democrats offer no more hope than the Republicans and that there is no hope for the US, and no point in trying to help.

Goodbye.

[QC]

1. "I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. Demille." n/t

[CatWoman]

2. best. post. EVER!!

:rofl:

[QC]

3. Thanks! n/t

[ronnykmarshall]

27. That was excellent!

[Zuni]

67. I love these threads

they warm the cockles of my heart :D

[lonestarnot]

54. What the hell happened?

[lonestarnot]

55. justinb was the only one with the exception of a few others that taught me

how to post fucking pictures and now someone has run him off! WTF?
We need people like Justinb... have read some of the posts with regard to someone's object re Nader and blaming him for election loss and Justinb set the record straight...from what I could see... do you have it in a nutshell?

[autorank]

149. Is justinb the onel behind the whole Nader thing. Holy shit!

This dude is heavy...

[blondeatlast]

81. "I'm still big. It's the boards that got small..."

Best reply to an exit post ever, QC.

:rofl:

[Neshanic]

143. Best response ever.

[rndmprsn]

4. i wonder if he hangs out long enough to read this thread...

adios...didn even know ya, but doesnt matter now huh?

[enigami]

5. Err.....what?

well goodbye.

[Cocoa]

6. we won't have justinsb to kick around anymore

:-(

[Zuni]

70. noooooooooooo

:cry:

[MisterP]

7. we're not all petty--don't go

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FreedomAngel82]

9. I just have one thing to say about that

Hon if the north gave up in the civil war do you think we would have the country we have today? I'm sure it would be much worse.

[jim3775]

10. See ya

If you want to make a difference in Canada go here: http://www.ndp.ca/volunteer

[Jersey Devil]

11. Goodbye/au revior mon ami

Comment dites-vous "grandstanding" en français ?

[Singular73]

12. Some people run, some people stay and fight

Its been the same throughout the ages.

The runners have never won.

[LittleClarkie]

37. Indeed. Alert the fucking thing and move on

What's the malfunction. I don't get it.

[jzodda]

13. Just because some of us are angry at Nader?

Its a natural reaction for me b/c I worked for the Gore campaign, don't take it personally. My angry posts were a little over the top but I was partly kidding in calling him Satan and stuff. I agree with some of what Nader says and he has every right to run for president. My anger is at Bush and it spills over sometimes into anything that I believe has helped him over the years.

Listening to the arrogance of the Freepers when they won by a few hundred contested votes only a few years ago gets me nuts

so sorry if I said nasty things about Nader if thats what made you upset

[meganmonkey]

14. If you are giving up because of a dozen people who find

comfort in scapegoating Nader, you aren't much of a fighter. Just being honest.

There are plenty of people here who know who the real enemies are and who are fighting against them. Many of them are posting on that thread, others don't even bother looking at threads like that anymore.

Peace.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

15. Incredible!! You start getting a small taste of what it's to be in front

and you leave!! I don't think *some* of the Nader supporters are ready for the big time!! You have never been the focus of the media in the way the Demos have and are ready to bail out over this?!?! You're not ready for the *real* fight of smear campaign by the likes of Rove and the rest!! You're not the tough progressives you think you are!!

[LittleClarkie]

22. No shit. Kerrycrats take that and ask for more "Thank you sir"

"May I have another?" Thwack!

[Crazy Guggenheim]

29. LOL. That's what the Deanies and Clarkies were saying!!

[LittleClarkie]

34. Yeah, well you guys were tough too

That's why I likes ya :hug:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

41. Right back at you!

[Beelzebud]

35. Sometimes, you have to be like the drunk guy.

Everytime they knock you down, you have to get up again, even if you don't really want to. :D

[Crazy Guggenheim]

44. And then there's the DLC or someone trying to hold you down so

you'll play nice.

[Jersey Devil]

16. Question: If you left the US in 2002 how did you vote in 2004?

It does not calculate.

[linazelle]

31. He came back and then he left again, silly. n/t

[enigmatic]

43. Absentee Ballot

I came up here to Canada in 2001 and voted via absentee ballot in the 2004 elections the same way.

[Jersey Devil]

47. Absentee ballots are only for those temporarily away from the US

He said "I moved to Canada". That implies a permanent change of residence. Big difference.

[enigmatic]

50. You're wrong

That's how I voted in 2004, and I moved up here in 2001. I volunteered w/ Democrats Abroad in the 2004 Elections:

http://www.democratsabroad.org/

I may disagree w/ the OP in this, but I've talked to him a few times in the past year. He's legit.

[expatriate]

52. No. You're wrong.

As long as one remains an American citizen, one can vote in federal elections via absentee ballot. You have to do it through the embassy in your country of residence.

I am a dual national, American citizen and Australian citizen. I reside permanently in Australia - but this does not mean that I don't have the right to vote in the American presidential elections!

So long as I am a citizen and remain registered to vote, that is my right.

You don't just drop your citizenship when you move elsewhere. In fact, there is an entire procedure you must go through to renounce your American citizenship, if that is your intention. So long as you are in a country that allows dual citizenship, and you state to American authorities that you did not take citizenship of another country with the intent of renouncing or relinquishing your American citizenship, you remain an American citizen.

And American citizens have the right to vote. Wherever they are, wherever they live, so long as they are properly registered.

[BigBearJohn]

17. Farewell. Hope you find what you're looking for.

[stevedeshazer]

18. Hell, that Nader thread was nothing. Shoulda been here in 2001

It's a poilitical discussion board, you have to have thicker skin that that. Personal dramatics don't help, either.

[Mojambo]

19. I hope you find a path that works for you

I agree with much of what you've said.

[mirror wall]

20. You will never win anything thinking like that.

it has convinced me that the Democrats offer no more hope than the Republicans and that there is no hope for the US, and no point in trying to help.

giving up that easily isn't going to change anything.

[LittleClarkie]

21. 'k

Bye.

Let us know when you've got a Prime Minister who's as nutzo as Bush baby, and we'll be right there to help. But for the moment, we've got our own troubles. Thanks for your help, btw.

But the Nader blamers are not in the majority no matter what you say. I know I'm no one. I'm no Nader fan, but a vote for anyone is not a wasted vote. I don't blame Nader for jack, but I am not, nor will I ever be, a supporter of his. He used to be a good man. Used to be. Very sad. But that's it for me.

Sorry about the lack of sympathy, but I have very little patience for the "dramatic exit" posts. I don't care what message board I'm on or what the topic is, they are annoying as shit. Because what you REALLY want is alot of "Oh NO! Don't GO!" Bah.

Welcome to the Democratic Underground Drama Queen -- Dramatic Exit Division aka DU DQ DED

[Name removed]

133. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[meisje]

23. Wa Wa Wa

[OnionPatch]

24. Well, you said

"But, strangely when I posted requests for help on things pertaining to Canada there was little or no response from anyone but Canadians."

then you say our country is pretty much going to hell in a handbasket. Perhaps some of us agree, and working to change the US is the most we can handle right now. I love Canada and have the utmost respect for it, but at this point in time, I have enough to deal with here, pertaining to our own government.

And as for us not caring about anyone but ourselves....sorry, but that's just a blanket generalization. The main reason I work so hard to change the US is because I realize we affect the whole world and the whole world will be better off when we change the US. I'm guessing I'm not the only one on this board that feels this way.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

25. Yes, but your leaving won't make US people less insular.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

26. Get out, eh? Like the people of NOLA?

Just evacuate while you have the chance, eh.

But what if I'm too poor or sick to leave? What if I'm too old to relocate and another country won't take me? What if I have nowhere to go?

HUH?

Then too fucking bad for me, eh? And millions like me. It's our fault for staying.

Jesus fucking Christ.

I'm glad I didn't get to know you any better while you were here.

[incapsulated]

28. So, you vote for Nader and then run away from the consequences?

What did Canada do to deserve such a hero?

Don't let the door hit you, etc.

:hi:

[berni_mccoy]

30. Before you leave... I Can Agree with you and I Can Still Blame Nader

See... I completely understand what you are saying. Bush Sr. fans probably blame Perot for stealing conservative votes and allowing Clinton to win. But the reality was, Bush lost all by himself. I too agree that in a Democracy, anyone should be *allowed* to run (but that doesn't mean they should or would make a good President, present case is the prime example).

Likewise, Gore lost to Bush*. Why? There are *many* places to put blame:

1. Bush ran a strategic campaign
2. Electoral College system (Gore won popular vote)
3. Voter Fraud (FL voter disenfrachisement and tampering by FL officials)
4. Supreme Court overriding the constitution
5. and Yes, Ralph Nader

If you remove just one of those reasons, Gore would have won. And Nader is one of those reasons, plain and simple.

Finally, don't leave, because in a Democracy, just like anyone should be allowed to run, anyone has a right to their opinion. And that's really what you take issue with. You take issue with SOME Democrats blaming Nader and not their own party for losing to Bush. I know Democrats on both sides of the issue. And I certainly have been the victim of posting a position and then getting hammered by others on the site. Don't let it get to you.

Stay and fight FOR Democracy despite the disagreeing voices. That's what it's all about. I have plenty of friends and family who are republicans that I disagree with, but I am still friends with and related to them because, after all, we live in a Democracy and we are all Americans (and Canadians... I even married one) together. Some of my republican friends even don't like Bush and see him for what he is... SOME of them even did not vote for him...

[dad]

128. I don't believe that at all

THERE IS NO WAY the Repubs were going to let Gore win in 2000. That so many Dems on this board don't see that is a mystery to me. Blaming Nader is so stupid it's just friggin retarded. Perhaps you don't remember Jeb's setting the table so that the electors could vote for W even if the votes went through for Gore? Jesus Christ people, wake the f* up and take a look at the Repub group in charge here. They were damn sure going to take FL, and as we know all too well, the D's, including and especially Gore, didn't have the backbone to stop them.

[lonestarnot]

32. NOONONOONONON DON'T LEAVE! I will missssss you!

[CHIMO]

33. Hang In

Takes a while to learn how to be a mouse.

One has to try for awhile.

[hlthe2b]

36. missed these posts, missed the drama, but given how fucked up

you surely see that we are currently in the US, can you not also see why we are so preoccupied to pay attention to Canada's affairs... Most of us look northward and see a country that has its act together. By contrast, the US surely does not. :shrug:

[lonestarnot]

45. We admire Canada and need all the help we can get. Head up ass me for

not seeing your posts until it was too late! Come back!

[ronnykmarshall]

38. Thank you, buh-bye! Thank you, buh-bye!

[UTUSN]

39. NADIR Strikes Again! Dang, No-difference, No-difference, No-difference

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050914/ap_on_go_ot/katrina_washington

"Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government," Bush said at a joint White House news conference with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

"And to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility. I want to know what went right and what went wrong," said Bush.

[SidDithers]

40. So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehn, adieu,

Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu.

Sid

[BiggJawn]

42. Don't let the door smack yer ass on the way out.

" But, strangely when I posted requests for help on things pertaining to Canada there was little or no response from anyone but Canadians."

What kind of Cheez you want to go with that Whine?

Nobody but Cnandiens? On matters pertaining to Canadiens?

Well, wonder why. Sorry, dude, but we've kind of got our hands full down here right now.

Uh, how DID you vote for Kerry in '04 if you deserted the "sinking ship" in '02?

Ass. Don't let the door hitcha where Random Chance splitcha.

Good riddance!

[mike_c]

129. dude, that was a bit harsh, don't you think?

The brother is in some pain, after all.

[nonconformist]

46. What an uber-lame board suicide.

Melodramatic much?

I wasn't aware Canada was being ruled by fascists and dictating world events.

[cry baby]

48. wish you wouldn't leave.

:-(

[derby378]

49. From the previous thread

That they lost because their candidates were terrible, their campaigns were run like 3rd grade lemonade stands and their party doesn't stand for anything but Republican-lite. So, they have to blame Nader, the Libertarians, the Peace and Freedom party - it can't be their party's fault that their party lost, it can't have anything to do with the fact that they gave potential Nader voters no reason to support them. "Those damn Green Party Voters, their votes are ours by right, they're not allowed to make up their own mind, police should monitor them in the voting booth to make sure they fulfill their contractual obligation to support any right wing a**hole we decide to nominate".

You and the people who are saying similar things are absolutely no better, in any way, than Republicans and - no matter who you nominate, this thread has cost the Dems my vote in 08. - Congradulations

justinsb, I'd rather you didn't leave us, because statements like this are one of the much-needed kicks in the ass Democrats like me need every now and then to keep us from degenerating into some back-slapping "ain't we neat?" convention.

I can't catch all the threads on DU due to the sheer volume, but even though I disagree with you over Nader's role in American politics, I can't find any fault with the statement you made above.

Please reconsider. Whatever you choose, Godspeed.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

51. It's been moved to the Lounge!!! Woooooo Hooooooooo!

Thank you moderator!!
:popcorn:

[mac56]

53. Waah.

Sorry, but = waah.

Why is it that some people lose all capacity for rational thought when they perceive that their darling Ralphie is being attacked?

[lonestarnot]

59. Ralph Nader has done more for the American consumer protection than anyone

in history, and I don't think greenparty voters would have voted for a dem under any circumstances anyway, so what's the beef. He didn't cost Dems the election it was a fucking cheat! That's what cost us the election! TWO FUCKING TIMES IN A ROW AND NO FUCKING REVOLUTION! WE DESERVE WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TOLERATE!

[Crazy Guggenheim]

60. So where was Nader in all of this? I didn't see him out in front about

election fraud in Florida or Ohio!!

[lonestarnot]

63. Probably silenced along with us... I didn't see you on TV ... where the

fuck were you? LOL

[mac56]

64. How do you know?!

;-)

[lonestarnot]

72. Well I didn't see crazy guggenheim....or poopenheim... all I could see was

bushitler's ugly cronies on every channel.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

75. Watch the personal attacks!! How quickly you start!! BTW ...........

[lonestarnot]

78. Personal what personal attack? another bushit post.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

65. How do you know I wasn't?

:popcorn:

[lonestarnot]

74. kid running interference here....thinks I'm paying more attention to DU

than him. Have to go pop him some popcorn.:popcorn:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

80. You calling me a kid?

[Name removed]

82. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mac56]

61. I agree with you. I used to admire the man.

How ironic that a man who has has done more for the American consumer protection than anyone in history would help allow the ascent of an Administration that methodically pissed it all away - to feed his ego.

I wonder how he sleeps at night.

[lonestarnot]

66. Think you need to go back and read some of the history of the last

election. Who was the only fighting the good fight after the election? It certainly wasn't Kerry... it was the greens...

[mac56]

68. Bull.

Still, that has nothing to do with Ralphie.

[lonestarnot]

77. Bushit it doesn't!

[Crazy Guggenheim]

69. And the Libertarians. and the Greenies. BTW, damn right it wasn't Kerry!!

[lonestarnot]

83. What the fuck is BTW?

[mac56]

84. BTW = "by the way"

nm

[lonestarnot]

87. oh thought it was butt turned sideWays

[BikeWriter]

91. Fuck Ralph Nader! The rethuglicans supported him for Dog's sake!

[Crazy Guggenheim]

95. Ben Stein gave him some money. Remember, "Republicans are

people too!" Great Ralph!!

[BikeWriter]

116. No shit, Crazy! He was on a fucking ego trip!

[lonestarnot]

96. I don't give a fuck who supported him, he had a right to run! This Afuck

merica

[mac56]

104. Whether or not he had a "right" to run

doesn't matter. We all have a right to do many things. Doesn't mean they help the greater good. And Ralphie's campaigns sure didn't help the greater good. Or have you noticed?

[lonestarnot]

112. You missed the point! He did not cost Kerry the election A CHEAT DID!

[mac56]

114. No, you missed the point.

If he hadn't siphoned off so many votes, the cheat wouldn't have been possible.

[lonestarnot]

117. Bullfucking shit! If they hadn't flipped so many votes to bushitler Kerry

would be president!

[mac56]

119. Dude, are you having a bad night?

nm

[lonestarnot]

121. No... I'm having fun! Why would you think that you could affect MY night?

[BikeWriter]

122. Uh, you're taking up for Nader...

[lonestarnot]

137. Not for him for his right to run in this fucked up thing called imitation

democracy.

[BikeWriter]

120. Nader and his giant assed ego accomplished what?

Hell, many of his former supporters begged him not to run!

[lonestarnot]

123. He brought forth freaking green issues ... that's what he accomplished

[BikeWriter]

124. Yeah, that's why * signed the Kyoto Treaty. Oh that's right, he didn't.

Had Nader minded his own fucking bidness, Gore would have!

[lonestarnot]

136. What does the fucking KYOTO treaty have to do with the election? LOL

[BikeWriter]

139. You're the one brought up green issues.

[lonestarnot]

140. You asked what the fuck Nader accomplished by running, I told you.

[BikeWriter]

144. Yes, and I told you where he fucked the Kyoto Treaty...

Screw this topic, back Nader all you want, he's still an egotistical asshole. Ta ta!

[Crazy Guggenheim]

145. Some of these Nader people are more brainwashed than the

Bushies and they have no better answers!

[BikeWriter]

153. I think you're right, Crazy. It's futile to argue with them....

I'm going to go post some more lame topics. :-)

[Crazy Guggenheim]

155. Good idea .............

[Crazy Guggenheim]

56. You wanna know what it's like to be out front? Comrade Camejo!!

[Cleita]

57. Hey, Justin, I know how you feel.

Especially when you do enter another world, you really start realizing how narcissitic Americans are, but the fact is they are really okay.

They are like the beauty queen who has the adulation of the audience, but who can't see that there is a big wart on her back that everyone else notices.

One of these days when we get our press back, we must surely insist that world news actually covers the world. The attitude comes from ignorance of the ways of other nations.

[Zuni]

58. Yo Holmes, smell you later

:hi:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

62. Why didn't Wynona LaDuke support him in 2004?

[Omphaloskepsis]

71. navel gazers...

They should make a word for folks that do that.

[BikeWriter]

73. You're not gone yet?

:shrug:

[SlavesandBulldozers]

76. fare thee well Canadian.

enjoy the mountains and hockey and syrup.

(I'm a navel gazing American who doesn't care about the outside world, typical really. My favorite part was that you made it out like we were the ones who back down, when youre the one that's leaving. That's classic).

[HEyHEY]

79. There's no mountains in Ontario

if you cared about the outside world, you'd know that.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

92. wow you really put me in my place didn't you.

I feel so fucking ashamed.

[HEyHEY]

97. Well, if I was trying to do that I may feel happy

But seeing as how I was being cheeky and just joking with you for a laugh I guess I don't.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

103. oh you were joking.

sorry.

:toast:

[HEyHEY]

109. Dats coo!

[Gregorian]

85. Damn. You deserve more respect that you are getting.

I totally agree with you. And I suppose everyone else does too. I mean, it's true about what you have said.

I posted just today about how I have listened to a Canadian radio station, and am just floored by the level of information the people outside the US have about us. I belong to a British forum where the members are better informed than most Americans about American politics.

The answer to your plea is pretty simple. And it's not my idea, but one I got from someone who lives outside our borders. American politics affect the world. And not vice versa.

And I'll add another sad bit to it (none of which applies to the people on this forum): We're lazy. And we want to be fed our information. We don't go out of our way to find the truth.

These things are all about to change. In 20 years. Or maybe not. If we valued culture and education, I could guarantee that. But when China is flourishing, and Americans are fighting for a loaf of daily bread, then they'll be looking outside of their little world.

I know these things first hand. I only started to wake up.

Stick around and keep posting. I know I'm going to, even if people want me to leave. And I bet they do. Especially after posts like this.

[HEyHEY]

88. Yeah, he's right

But, sadly, even on DU I've found if you show DUers their reflection they get pissed.

[caty]

86. You are just the kind of

person repubs love. Someone who bails on the side of right when the going gets tough. How can we help another country when we are struggling to help the one we're in? It's not that we don't want to help Canada with their political problems. We don't really know what they are and we are barely keeping our heads above water trying to solve our own problems. So, goodbye. It might better if you just concentrated on Canada's problems. That should keep you busy.

[HEyHEY]

90. psst

"It's not that we don't want to help Canada with their political problems. We don't really know what they are"

I think that's his point

[caty]

126. I'm over whelmed

in our country's problems. I don't really get much info on the news about Canada. It's not that I don't care. I just seem to use all my energy on trying to help get us out of our mess.

[lonestarnot]

98. Do you know justnb?

[caty]

127. I only know

what I read in his post. If there is something I don't know about him--clue me in.:shrug:

[Zuni]

89. nominated

[lonestarnot]

93. That was just stupid! Go ahead insult our Canadian friends by putting

this shit on the front page.... nominate away....

[HEyHEY]

99. Meh, I'm not insulted

It shit we already know

[lonestarnot]

106. Glad to hear it!

[enigmatic]

108. yep

sadly; I've been up here 4 years and it's really opebed my eyes to this kind of stuff.

[CHIMO]

100. OK

No insult.

Just a normal day.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

101. Buck up!! If you think it's a good thread then it should be nominated!

[lonestarnot]

107. Not a good thread! Stupid thread! Leaving now!

Just the thread...bye thread!

[Crazy Guggenheim]

111. Yay!!

:applause: :popcorn:

[lonestarnot]

113. I was just kidding! JOHNNIE'S HOME!

Put 'em up!

[lonestarnot]

118. Can we fucking curse in the lounge? LOL

[autorank]

152. How can they be friends, they've brainwashed justinb. Unforgivable!

And you know what that means now a days:

:nuke:

[smartvoter]

94. If you're around, please consider this:

A friend of mine asked recently how I am so up on so much with so little effort. She was interested in going to the places I frequent. I said DU is the primary source and this is the warning I gave here:

>People are passionate about what they believe and it is almost impossible to take a position without having someone nail you for it one way or another. It is the price of dealing with passionate people.
>You often will want to smack the people at DU for the things they say to you or how they treat you at times, but you have to take it with a grain of salt. It's a political forum and the subject matter is heated.
>DU is, in many ways, a dysfunctional family. There is plenty of infighting and bickering, but the extreme majority of people are good people trying to make a difference, and they come together when it counts.

I understand your frustration. When I first joined DU, I was accused of being a freeper several times simply because of a low post count and positions people didn't always like (though this tended to happen in highly polarizing situations). This is over now, but I get slammed all the time. And I, like everyone, am frustrated at times when I try to get support and action that is ignored. We all do.

But there is no place like DU, and for every person who slams you, there are dozens who support you, even if they don't join in the fight directly to avoid getting bogged down.

Your voice counts. Even when say you things we don't like.

Please keep it here.

[lonestarnot]

102. Thank you smart voter and smart person! Come back justnb

[Crazy Guggenheim]

105. We need three more votes for the Greatest Page!!

[Name removed]

110. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mzmolly]

115. Why that thread? Have you heard what Nader says about Democrats?

:shrug:


I don't see how this place/that thread are indicative of people not caring about the rest of the planet.

[havocmom]

125. Maybe I am too tired, but having trouble wrapping my brain around

"....in 2002 I moved to Canada, in 2004 I voted, against my better judgement, for Kerry ...."


Moved to Canada in 2002 and voted Kerry in 2004. Don't people have to live in the US to vote in the US, unless they are away but not actual residents of a different nation, like military or students studying abroad?

Like I said, maybe I am just too tired tonight, but :wtf: Moved to another country then voted in US 2 years later. Huh?

[enigmatic]

131. No

As I've said in this post above:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=4000659&mesg_id=4000727

[LittleClarkie]

134. Folks who moved abroad don't lose their citizenship

we had tons of expatriots voting in the last election

[buddysmellgood]

130. That's it! I'm leaving too! Nevermind that DU is a place primarily

focused on fixing what's wrong with the United States, thereby helping the world. ALL of my post regarding Kyrgyzstan have gone without the slightest bit of attention.

A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1864; it achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Nation-wide demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of President Askar AKAYEV, who had run the country since 1990. Subsequent presidential elections in July of 2005 were won overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV. Current concerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises, expansion of democracy and political freedoms, interethnic relations, and combating terrorism.

[BikeWriter]

146. WTF? That's unforgivable! I am so disappointed!

:sob:

[swag]

132. AMF!

[confludemocrat]

135. That WAS a trainwreck of a thread w/ usual suspects attacking idealistic

left and saying how much they hate Nader (Kerry lovers needing someone to blame for HIS failings and providing of validation of the "not-a-dimes-worth-of-difference" old (but very often true) saw).

[Mr_Spock]

138. You've made an excellent point - backed up by many others

DU will never get anything done if we scatter our focus on every special interest that each individual DUer has. It seems that many people here can't play on a team i.e., can't make sacrifices for the good of the country, and only care about their own special interests (or countries in some cases). If this is the case then perhaps you should "go" - at least metaphorically. Everybody's opinion is important in this battle, but it is also important that we pull together around issues that will have the greatest impact on our lives here and thusly our influence around the world. We can't help anybody if we are being destroyed from within. So I agree, let's focus on problems at home - let's stare at our own navel instead of squandering our energy in places that won't get our feet under us at home. That is what I got out of this post - not what you intended? Or was it?

[Tigress DEM]

141. Well about the posts to help Canada...

I don't think it's a lack of love or concern for Canada. It's just that most here on the DU see how f***ed up the US is and we are stretching ourselves thin just to keep informed and do what we can.

I think it's less naval gazing and more of being in the middle of a political brush fire and just trying to stay alive and keep fighting.

It's nice that you have the option of coping out, but most of us need to stay even if it means freezing to death this winter while energy companies make record profits or being hauled away as enemy combatants when we march on DC at the end of September.

I hope there is hope, but I can see how you feel the way you do.

Good luck.

[Neshanic]

142. One point. You left the US. Now you point a finger from your "safe" place?

Not much traction on your points, since you pussed out and left.

[autorank]

151. Actually it's a complicated classical alusion...Ulysses taunting Cyclops

...as the ship pulls out of Cyclops' range.



justinb, Admit it, this was all a test. You're not really leaving.

Come on, stick around. This is great stuff.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

147. He's leaving to ............

[autorank]

148. Good luck to you. However, must say, I like the post ... "BRAVO"

Takes all kinds, it's a big tent, people are angry and Bravo was clearly not naval gazing...that's not conducive to passion.

Hope you enjoy where ever you end up but comeback, you're always welcome in the Democratic Party.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

150. *YAWN*

Your hero is a egomaniac who simply revels in the fact he played spoiler for someone, even if it ended up destroying the country by putting in the worst possible candidate this nation has ever seen, and someone he presumably should detest more than anyone in this world. When you wrap your mind around that, your rightous indignation and elitist idealism sounds pretty naive.

[TomInTib]

154. Balance of trade...in 2000 this US expat moved from Candadia

back to the US (for love) and was commuting between Vancouver, BC and Miami (!) while the Supreme Court was deciding who was the president.

As we all know, they chose wrong, but I moved here anyway. Then I moved to California, and Aaah-nold took this state. I am trying hard not to feel personally respondible for this.

The very first election that I voted in in my life was in 2004 - and I not only voted for Kerry, but I was an electoral officer.

Don't quite know how justinsb got to Canada so easily (I would have to re-emmigrate after having lived there for 25 years.) I was hesitant to move back here after having left at the age of 14 - knowing that it was irrecovocable - but I am staying and fighting!

Ms. Tomintib.

[autorank]

156. This is one of the funniest threads ever...thanks justinb. Come again.

...and I RECOMMENDED IT.

People are in rare form tonight. It's a delight.

Just who is this justinb with the power to ignite the creative furies of DU's Lounge...and why do people say good bye here. I did once but it was a very nice message, complimentary to all and not my normal edginess. I realize that in order to suceed in the response race, I need to post something like this, then I'll get some throw weight behind any future histrionics.

Thanks justinb, you're a friendn indeed.

[Miss Chybil]

157. I don't get why, when someone gets frustrated enough to sing a swan

song, everybody just pounces on them like they were never of any worth around here to begin with. What is this, a gang? Man, nothing like diplomacy. It seems like the Bush Crime Family around here, sometimes. I guess, if somebody really did leave after their last post, it wouldn't matter, but something tells me these people might peek back for a little encouragement - a little, "I understand you, man, but here's where we disagree, or agree," or even a, "Sorry to see you go. Diversity is important, blah, blah, blah..." Instead, they get kicked to the curb by a bunch of people who act like pack animals who've gotten a whiff of blood.

I know there have been many times I've felt like this place was nuts. Sometimes, I've gotten angry enough to swear I'll never come back - to myself. I don't sing swan songs out loud, cause you never know... Anyway, I don't get the gang mentality. It just reinforces their need to leave, when maybe, they're just having a bad day and somebody's posted a really trying thread. I guess it doesn't matter, if none of us are real people, just screen names. I'd like to think we're more than that.

[Seabiscuit]

158. I can't believe the number of really ugly responses in this thread.

Sometimes the DU regulars can be such self-righteous asswipes.

[The empressof all]

159. locking

The moderators are of the belief that long goodbyes are often the most painful. So may I say good night on this thread and wish you all sweet dreams