Just registered as a Democrat today....

[Iktomiwicasa]

I have been a non-partisan independent for many years, for the simple reason that neither party has a very good record of truly addressing native issues, though I do align with Democrats. However, there is a Democrat candidate locked in a tight race who I wish to have the nomination. S. Dakota is a closed primary, so I registered in order to vote for Barack Obama.

[Araxen]

1. Welcome! =)

[AtomicKitten]

2. Wonderful and welcome!

[livetohike]

3. Welcome to the party

:thumbsup:

[YOY]

4. Welcome

Now if you haven't realized it here are two things to know:

-There is no "liberal media" in America...no matter how Rush or his idiot listeners spin it.
-Reganomics never worked and will never work.

[Iktomiwicasa]

6. LMAO

In case you are implying that I had republican leanings, you couldn't be more wrong.

[YOY]

10. Like I said...in case you hadn't figured it out yet...

Then again noticing you've picked a Native American avatar. That leads me to suspect that you may be of native descent yourself and one of our own here has said "Show me a Republican Native American and I'll show you someone who makes a Log Cabin Republican look like a genius."

[Iktomiwicasa]

20. "native descent"???

I AM native. Fullblood Oglala Lakota, from a traditional family. I speak my native tongue fluently, and english is actually my second language.

[YOY]

22. Well rock on and "Hau kola!"

Becaues you never know who you're talking to in the net! ;-)

and we do have a group that specifically discusses Native American Issues: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=312

[Iktomiwicasa]

23. Not much traffic over on that forum

And it does no good to simply preach to the choir.

[cbayer]

5. Welcome. I hope you stay with us all the way no matter who is the nominee. nt.

[Iktomiwicasa]

9. For the record

My first loyalty is to my people, and not an American political party.

[cbayer]

11. And I wish for you to represent your people well here.

[Renew Deal]

7. Welcome!!!!

:patriot: :hi:

[rug]

8. Do you think he's better for indigenous rights?

Do you think he'll pardon Peltier?

[Iktomiwicasa]

15. Yeah, I do

think he's better with indigenous rights. Hillary plays lip service, but doesn't do anything. Obama has said that our tribal leaders will have direct access to the President,something we should have had 200 years ago...you know, nation to nation....

As for Peltier, I don't know what he will do, but I'll NEVER forgive Bill for throwing him under the bus.

[TexasObserver]

12. Great!!

Let's hope Hillary will have her Little Bighorn Custer moment there.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

13. Thank you

for helping your candidate.

[Eurobabe]

14. Excellent, welcome!

Good choice. :applause:

[Hieronymus]

16. Cool, but it's the DemocratIC Party.

[Iktomiwicasa]

25. yeah yeah

:)

[Hieronymus]

35. "Democrat Party" is only used by Republicans, as a put down. You should...

know that.

[Iktomiwicasa]

36. Uhhhh

pardon me, but nowhere did I use the term "Democrat Party".

[frazzled]

17. I hope you become active in the party so that you can influence it.

I'm always interested in why people want to be independents. I understand the dissatisfaction with both parties... but there is a more effective way, I feel. That is to become active in one of the parties in order to change it from the inside. It sounds like a long-shot, but it's the only way I have ever been able to see to effect real change.

I became a founding member of a group called Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts when I lived there for this reason: trying to bring more progressive values, issues, and candidates to the state Democratic party. We actually were making some inroads in local and state issues.

This is why I also disagree when some here call caucuses "undemocratic." I don't think simply casting a vote is the most democratic form of government. Participating in government is very important, and caucuses, aside from being candidate selectors, are party-building functions that get people involved in party activities: from issues to getting conscripted to go to country and state conventions. From there, you kind of get sucked in: and that is the way you can begin to have influence on a political party.

Good luck in your South Dakota primary (from a former neighbor who lived in Minnesota for 15 years).

[XemaSab]

18. Excellent!

Welcome aboard! :hi:

[Vinca]

19. WHOO HOO!

:party: :toast: Welcome to the party.

[BringBigDogBack]

21. Welcome!

[goodhue]

24. great news

[Scurrilous]

26. Good news!

:thumbsup:

[adabfree]

27. I was an independent too..until

Feb 5th primary in NJ. On that day, I chose to be a Dem, just so I could vote for Obama.

[K Gardner]

30. And welcome to you, too !! This is wonderful :-)

[K Gardner]

28. Welcome and welcome ! Glad to have you aboard :-)

[Barack_America]

29. Congrats! Many Independents will be taking the "Closed Primary Plunge"....

this year. I did that myself a few years ago!

:hi:

[Alcibiades]

31. Thanks

I hope this very strategic choice will be one taken by other independents.

[Tarheel_Dem]

32. terrifc news, and I certainly hope your new registration will begin

a trend in S. Dakota. :hi:

[mzmolly]

33. I agree with you about the neglect of Native America. I hope that we'll see

a future change in this regard?

Welcome to - the party! :hi:

[sazemisery]

34. Welcome, Iktomiwicasa.

:hi: