What are your Campaign 2004 firsts?

[dirtyduck]

First time I donated to a political campaign
First time I volunteered for a political campaign
First time I belonged to DU for a political campaign
First time I went to a mass rally for a candidate

[TexasSissy]

1. Here they are

1. First time I donated to a political campaign
2. First time I joined DU or any political forum or group
3. First time I went to a political meeting or rally
4. First time I cared this frickin' much about an election!
5. First time I put a presidential sign in my yard
6. First time I actually HATED the opponent (and his followers)

[dirtyduck]

3. oh yeah, forgot about the yard sign... good list.

[DrZeeLit]

5. Further...

1. First time I donated to a political campaign before primaries.
2. First time I donated to a political group: MoveOn
3. First time I wrote pesonal letters by hand to voters (for Dean)
4. First time I joined DU or any political forum or group
5. First time I went to a political meeting or rally
6. First time I talked to my family about politics in a serious way
7. First time I put a presidential sign in my yard
8. First time I actually HATED the opponent (and wory about his followers)
9. First time I marched in a city where there was a convention (Boston!)
10. First time I feel a sense of PATRIOTISM (in a long long time)

[TexasSissy]

38. Oh, yeah...the family thing. Ditto on that one, too.

[drumwolf]

2. here's mine

First time donating money to a political campaign
First time volunteering time to a political campaign
First time participating in an Internet political forum (i.e. this one)
First time going to a rally (well, a small one, inside Democratic HQ)

[liberal N proud]

4. Several

Volunteered,Canvassing, Poll worker, Precinct Captain
Closely follow and investigate issues
Research the facts.
Inform friends and family of said issues (email issue alerts)
Joined DU
Never felt so strongly about political issues as in this election.

[rndmprsn]

6. firsts

first time i donated $
first time i volunteered, canvassed and generally sweated
first time i blogged
first time i went a campaign rally
first time i convinced undecideds to vote
first time i convinced people to vote against their party
first time i joined DU
first time i wrote letters to the editors
first time i protested against RW media
first time i proudly wore campaign shirts and buttons
first time i took part in polls
first time i argued to the point of not talking to certain neighbors
first time i hated a politican and party
first time i shed tears of sadness and joy

[The White Tree]

7. First Time I voted

in a presidential election.

Sad but true, I've had a somewhat wayward life and have moved many times. I always lived in strong democratic states so I never felt the urgency. Shame on me. Never again.

Other firsts.

First time I donated to a political campaign.
First time I lobbied friends and family so much to vote for one candidate.
First time I have prayed and hoped and been on pins and needles and scared and happy and teary eyed all at the same time.

and sadly

First election since I got married that I will not be at home with my wife as my company is sending me to Alabama on Tuesday.

[Demonaut]

8. donations, bumper stickers...uuugh!

[LiberalEsto]

9. First time I donated more than $50 to a candidate

First time both my daughters are over 18 and registered voters

First time either is voting in a presidential election

First time my older daughter has taken a semester off from college to work on a political campaign

First time she's traveled to a swing state (Florida) to work on a campaign.

First time she's gone door-to-door raising money for the DNC

First time my husband has gone canvassing in swing states

First time he has been a precinct co-chair

First time I picked up and distributed campaign signs in my area

First time my younger daughter donated ($50!) to a campaign

First time my kids put political bumper stickers on their cars

First time I'm driving people to vote

First time I've seen our county Democratic Party so organized, united, focused, determined and filled with energy.

First time I've ever seen usually-apolitical friends volunteering, voting, really angry

First time I've ever seen people so frightened about the potential outcome and its possible impact on their lives.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. First time I went door to door canvassing. First time I voted by email

in a Caucus.First time I donated to a candidate. First time I went to a rally. First time I changed my husband's mind about politics! :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. First time I ever voted for Kerry.

[SCDem]

12. 9 Firsts that I know of

First time I got engaged and the local county level
First time I wrote a LTTE
First time I donated to a campaign (actually started with Dean)
First time I went to the county primary as a delegate
First time I went to state primary as a delegate
First time I tried to become a delegate to the DNCC
First time I was a delegate to the DNCC
First time I went to a National Convention
First time I knew who every person was (from most local, to county coroner, to state house, senate etc) on the ballot before I voted

[Lavender Brown]

13. First donation, first time voting non-absentee

[A Brand New World]

14. First Times for Me

1. First time donating money to a campaign
2. First time donating money to a PAC (MoveON)
3. First time with a sign in my yard
4. First time with a bumper sticker
5. First time going to 3 different rallies (went and saw Clinton in 96 only once)
6. First time being this devoted to a political website (DU & Bartcop)
7. First time I've ever hated a politician as much as I hate *

Wanted to make some phone calls but I'm a real chicken and would cry if someone was mean to me. I know, I know but we all have to take baby steps.

[funkybutt]

15. First time everything

donated to a political campaign
volunteered for a political campaign
belonged to DU for a political campaign
went to a mass rally for a candidate

voter registration
phone banking
canvassing
flyering
sign waving
being a precinct captain

[Rambis]

16. 1st time poll watcher

It won't be the last! I look forward to "The Schism" in the pug party post election-

[selmo7]

17. Same firsts for me

Ditto for me

First time I donated to a political campaign
First time I volunteered for a political campaign
First time I canvassed and phoned voters
First time I belonged to DU for a political campaign
First time I went to a mass rally for a candidate (yesterday -Manchester, NH!)

[GiovanniC]

18. Firsts...

First time I got involved in a political campaign
First time I donated to a political campaign
First time I donated to a PAC
First time I watched all the debates
First time I got involved with a primary candidacy (Wes Clark)
First time I watched political conventions
First time I put a presidential campaign bumper sticker on my car
First time I argued with my father about politics
First time I belonged to DU for a presidential campaign
First time I felt this much was at stake

[AldebTX]

19. My First.

My biggest first was it was the first time I have donated to a campaign multiple times.

Basically saved up and gave everything I could afford.

I DO NOT want 4 more years

Its also the first time in my life that my parents and I are voting for the same candidate. I never knew how nice it can be when there are no political arguments on the home front.

[selmo7]

20. A first for Dr. John Mack too

http://www.johnemackinstitute.org/center/center_news.asp?id=227

Scroll down to "Letter written by Dr. Mack a week ago"

"We do now, and
the growing ranks of volunteers (many, like me, have never done
this before, which, by the way, was a powerful talking point)
will be able to take advantage of this potential."

[geekgrrl]

21. Many!!

First time at a campaign rally (seeing Kerry here in Madison)
First time owning any campaign buttons and wearing them every day
First time voting for a democratic candidate
First time watching the Democratic National Convetion
First time watching all the debates
First time crying when watching a candidate speak (Kerry, or course)
First time going door to door canvassing
First time calling voters to get out the vote
First time writing in my (mostly political) blog

this has been SO MUCH FUN

[MileHiStealth]

22. First time I'm voting and I'm 42, Chimpy kicked my apathy to the curb

[GreenPartyVoter]

23. Well, second time I've voted for a Dem for prez.

[Thegonagle]

24. I'm new here, but I'm as passionate as any long-timer here about 2004

I've always voted democratic--my first time was in 1994 when I was 19; however, this is the first time I've really made a solid effort to truly understand the issues that will face me and my fellow gen-xers now and in the future, particularly the impact of the national debt and its effect on the taxes I will pay throughout my life.

First time I've really tried to follow the money trail starting with the taxes I pay--federal, state, and local taxes on sales, payroll, income, property, usage, gas, and others.

First time donating to a campaign. (Howard Dean)

First time attending a political rally. (John Kerry)

First time I've ever put any type bumper sticker on my car. (I've got two now--one Kerry-Edwards and one anti-W, showing a W with a red slash through it.)

First time I've posted to DU. Thank you, DU. :)

[Bad Thoughts]

25. First time voting for a major party candidate for Pres.

You can read a summary of my activism here.

[Johnny 99]

26. First time volunteering on a campaign

Though not for Kerry, because that's pretty much pointless in Indiana.

[Rambis]

27. This picture from Oregon

[Neecy]

28. first time I've met the candidates

I've lived in California for the last 25 years, and usually our national candidates just breeze through for fundraisers. I worked for Dukakis in '88 and Clinton in '92, but felt pretty disconnected from the campaign.

I moved to the midwest late last year, and during the Missouri primaries I went to rallies for both Kerry and Edwards, and got to say hello and shake their hands. I loved it when Kerry picked Edwards, because I've gotten to shake the hand of the future president *and* VP!

The MO campaign is also much more intense than anything I experienced in CA, which was a given for the Dems anyway. I've loved the experience of volunteering this year.

[BamaBecky]

29. my firsts (16)

First Time I donated to a political party.
First Time I ever entered a "chat room" political or otherwise.
First Time I put a yard sign up (and it was torn down last night)
First Time I put a bumper sticker on my car.
First Time I ever talked to friends about the election.
First Time I ever alienated family after political discussions.
First Time I ever snail mailed articles to Republicans.
First Time I ever took a day off to watch the election results.
First Time I ever wrote a letter to the editor and got it published!
First Time I ever felt like my country needed my patriotism.
First Time I ever helped people get registured to vote.
Third or fourth time I've posted on DU (on JK/JE since August)
First Time I ever studied Foreign Policy.
First Time I ever bought so many "political" books.
First Time I ever researched prior to an election (started with PNAC)
First Time I have ever been addicted to my computer.
First Time I have ever planned an "election night" dinner and party.
Shoot I don't know where to stop this.......Ha!

[Toucano]

33. That's a great list

Welcome to DU!

[BamaBecky]

36. Thank You

Thank You!

[newyawker99]

51. Hi BamaBecky!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[cmf]

30. It's the first time I've knocked on doors for a candidate

Good times!

[rockymountaindem]

31. First time I registered voters and donated money!

[Toucano]

32. First time I donated to a political candidate

First time I knocked on a door for a candidate.
First time I put a yard sign up for a candidate.
First time I made phone calls for a candidate.
First time I put a bumpersticker on my car.
First time I ever walked in a parade for a candidate.

I'd been to a mass rally for Clinton in 1992, but this year I've been to six such rallies. That's probably going to be a record I'll not beat in the future.

[quaoar]

34. Hmmm

First time I donated more than a small amount
First time I donated to out-of-state congressional candidates

[demokatgurrl]

35. First time I maxed out in donations during primary, and

first time I donated to Senate candidates outside my own state.

[Glenda]

37. donations, yardsigns, Crawford endorsement

First time I donated - first Howard Dean, then John Kerry
First time I called local Dem Chairperson for yard signs
First time I ordered yard signs and bumper stickers from the internet
First time I printed off endorsement from Crawford paper and gave it to a few people in a swing state.

[Homerr]

39. Firsts......

First time I was elected to a position (I'm a Democratic Precinct Commitee Officer).
First time I voted for a Democrat for President (Reform previous 2 times).
First time I voted absentee.
First time I gave money to a campaign (Kerry!).
First time I participated in a mass demonstration (against Iraq war).
First time I joined a political organization.
First time I put a political bumper sticker on my car.
First time I joined a political forum.
First time I gave money to a political forum (DU!).
First time I door-belled.
First time I put up political signs at my house.
First time I went to a caucus.
First time I was a delegate (Kerry!).
First time I'm taking a day off work for politics (Nov. 2).
First time I'll stand on an overpass to get out the vote (Nov. 2).

[meow2u3]

40. First time I mobliized neighbors to GOTV

First time I will bring people to the polls with me.

[A Brand New World]

41. Oh yeah! I forgot two things!!

First time I've shaken the hand of the next Vice President!!
First time I've gotten the autograph of the next President!!

[democratreformed]

42. I'm working the polls tomorrow!

In my GOTV phone banking Friday night, one of my calls was to a guy who is in charge of that here. He had to check with someone else to make sure it was okay since I haven't attended training. He called about an hour ago and said I had been okayed!

Other firsts: donations, blogging, attendance at rallys, yard signs, T-shirts, bumperstickers, flew to New Hampshire and went canvassing for Wes Clark, phone banking, etc. etc.

[Clinton Crusader]

43. First time I belonged to DU for a political campaign because

I didnt know it existed before July. Seriously!

And I didnt attend any rallies cause there were NONE here.

[Technowitch]

44. Donating thousands of dollars to Democratic party candidates

Prior to this year, I'd never given even a tax form check-off dollar to any campaign or election.

This year, my spouse and I have donated money, in amounts both large and small, to candidates all over this country.

[flobee1kenobi]

46. my list

first time being told I wasn't allowed to hear what the president of our country had to say

first time I've worked to thwart a corporations influence over an election

first time meeting John Glenn

first time losing my voice from debating ignorant republicans all night(and winning)

not to mention the donations, working at HQ, rallies ect.....

[Dulcinea]

45. First time I...

First time I put a political bumper sticker on my car

First time I put a political sign in my yard

First time I voted early (GA resident, proudly voted for Kerry last Monday!)

First time I gave money to a political campaign

First time I nagged friends & family about voting

First time I joined a political forum

First time I was a parent during an election, thus considering what kind of world my daughters will be facing if we allow Boy George another 4 years!

[gollygee]

47. First time I've given money

Second time I've done any volunteering, but the first time (Dukakis) I didn't do much

[sr_pacifica]

48. First time I participated in a GOTV for a presidential candidate n/t

[chyjo]

49. First time I will weep when I hear the results

tears of joy for a Kerry victory.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

50. Several firsts:

First time putting on a bumpersticker.
First time putting signs up on the lawn.
First time donating.
First time wearing political buttons.
I've also been re-inspired after a long layoff to write LTTEs.

[newyawker99]

52. Hi Gidney N Cloyd!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[requiem99]

53. First time I VOTED.

[InvisibleTouch]

54. Same as yours, except the last.

Been to a couple of rallies previous to this, otherwise all your "firsts" are the same as mine.