New Progressive / Democrat (New Here!)

[JMMendez1989]

Hey everyone. I new here and I'm kind of entering new territory. I just became a Progressive Democrat after the election of Barack Obama. Now it wasn't easy. I regret election night, I was sitting there ticked off and almost in tears because he won. But I have been doing A LOT of political research and I have found myself questioning everything I believed in.

I found that the Democrat Party was split into two when it started, the northern Democrats (progressives) and the southern (conservatives). I also found that Republicans were liberal! In the 1890's, according to my research, the Democrat working division, aka the more liberal side took over the party. Then, from 1890's to 1960's both parties were the exact same, with differences here and there and different social values.

As a Republican I didn't understand how Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Nixon were all liberals. It was very interesting. Well I found out that even Calvin Coolidge wasn't as conservative as today's Republican Party! Apparently Reagan changed the political map and Democrats became progressive, and Republicans became conservative. I also found that starting with Reagan's tax cuts. Our National Debt had been going nuts! But Clinton raised taxes on the rich and the economy expanded!

Well it was very hard to hear. I grew up idolizing Reagan, so it was so hard to accept. Now I'm probably much more independent then most members here because I'm a little bias due to my Republican history when it comes to Reagan. But I see Reagan in three ways now. Good for the short term. Bad for the long term. And when you put aside your political ideology, he probably was more or less a good guy that wanted to help the nation, but misguided. He was a FDR fan even as a Republican you know.

So I continue to do research to this day and I continue to be shock by so many things. American history can be very confusing. I'm finding when Progressives are in power, the United States does better. When Conservatives are in, either it goes to hell, or it goes stale.

Well I just wanted to tell my small story. I'm not as liberal as many of you guys, but I'm with you and President Obama. I just wanted to let you know. I would also appreciate feedback from former Conservatives / Republicans as well. Thanks and God Bless :)

[Warpy]

1. It's a journey, not a destination

and that first step off the cliff is the hardest one.

Keep on reading and you'll do fine.

[LiberalAndProud]

2. Hi JM. Welcome to DU.

If you are sincere, and you have recently had a political awakening, congratulations. You've come to the right place. I appreciate that you're open-minded enough to reassess. You are correct. In recent years, the Republican party as abandoned her base. Sorry about that. Really.

I'll warn you to tread lightly for a while, because you will be viewed with suspicion and distrust for two reasons. 1) You are new, and 2) You come here from the dark side.

Good luck.

[JMMendez1989]

3. thanks

yea i figured that through my previous forum expirences in video game sites and other hobbies of mine. i dont mind. i kind of like this political reawkening. i rather know the truth than be lied to.

[tavalon]

15. Well, you are going to have to stay vigilant and keep digging

They like lying to you and they aren't planning on stopping any time soon.

[Subdivisions]

4. I'll add a third bit of advice to LiberalAndProud's points:

Don't EVER call this the Democrat Party again. It is the "Democratic Party" and has been since it's inception. Otherwise, welcome to DU. And heed LiberalAndProud's advice.

[Aristus]

8. I second that. I'm a former Republican, too. Cast my last vote for a -R- in 1992.

But nothing will get a post of yours alerted faster than repeated use of "The Democrat Party" and related variations. It's the Democratic Party, and welcome to it. That one little syllable at the end is only too tough if you're a Republican.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. My dear JMMendez1989!

Welcome to DU!

Keep your mind open, and as the other poster said, this is a journey, not a destination..

We care about other people, and I think that's the major difference between us and Republicans. Of course, it's more complicated than that...

You may well be attacked for your former Republican status. Try not to take offense. Personal attacks are not allowed, so if you feel personally attacked, hit the "alert button" in the lower left corner of every post.

Then back away and let the moderators handle it.

And have fun!

When you've had enough political stuff, come on over to the Lounge and relax!

We do picture threads, I have poetry and lots of other silly things happen there...

Welcome!

:hi:

[tavalon]

16. I wish I would remember to head by the lounge more often

They are nicer there. I mean we are nicer there.

[johnnie]

6. Welcome

I just want to say that you shouldn't be turned off if you see a lot of heated discussion on here. Progressives are different than most conservatives because we don't just go along with what we are told to think by our party leaders and what the talking heads are saying on the "news".

Sometimes you will think this place is crazy, but trust me, you will see what happens here when the shit hits the fan or a DUer needs our help.

[rwheeler31]

7. Thank you for doing your homework?

History is fascinating.

[Critters2]

9. Welcome, and I applaud your openness to change, and your research.

I'd suggest you look into the "Southern Strategy", and the way it facilitated the South becoming Republican, and African Americans abandoning the party of Lincoln. It's the reason my parents left the GOP. They were disgusted by it.

Anyway, glad to have you with us! Welcome to DU! :hi:

[voc]

10. You will be fine here. Welcome.

Watch out for the "baptism by insinuation group".
It is done on every board. Tedious but necessary.

[tavalon]

17. I've never heard that term

and yet, I know exactly what you're talking about.

[onestepforward]

11. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[ConsAreLiars]

12. Give yourself the gift of reading Zinn's

"A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present." It's our history, not theirs, not the one we've been told.

It's at book stores: http://www.amazon.com/Peoples-History-United-States-Present/dp/0060937319

And it's also online: http://www.historyisaweapon.com/zinnapeopleshistory.html if that format works better for you.

And there's even a comic book version.

You have some wonderfully eye-opening experiences ahead. Enjoy and thrive.

[tavalon]

18. Bookmarked!

Thank you. I didn't think to look online for that and yet, why wouldn't it be?

[Selatius]

13. Keep going down the rabbit hole. You owe it to yourself. Look up Eugene V. Debs if you haven't

Eugene V. Debs was a hero of the workers, and I consider him a personal hero, along with Martin Luther King, Jr., and Gandhi.

[tavalon]

14. This is why the current iteration of the Republican party is doomed

Too many people have access to the internet now. The internet is full of information. Thus, the Party of No is doomed. But, I'm unsure if the same can't be said of Democrats. It feels like there is a tectonic shift happening on the political front.

Welcome aboard. Let's see where this ship takes us, shall we?

[HughBeaumont]

19. Welcome . . . and a few books to look up -

Tear Down This Myth: How the Reagan Legacy Has Distorted Our Politics and Haunts Our Future (Hardcover) by Will Bunch. Ignore the Freeper reviews. Great read on just how freaking overrated and vastly damaging Reagan's . . . "legacy" was.

http://www.amazon.com/Tear-Down-This-Myth-Distorted/dp/141659762X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253785450&sr=8-1

The Bush Junta: A Field Guide to Corruption in Government (Paperback) Not much heard of, but a graphic novel format by several cartoonists and artists on every member of the Bush cabal and just how evil they are.

http://www.amazon.com/Bush-Junta-Field-Corruption-Government/dp/1560976128/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253785557&sr=1-1

Addicted to War: Why the U.S. Can't Kick Militarism. Where your tax money's going, why the military gets so much of our cash despite being bordered by allies and trading partners, an unglossed history of how modern American warfare is destroying this country and who's most guilty of wasting that tax booty.

http://www.amazon.com/Addicted-War-U-S-Cant-Militarism/dp/1904859011/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253785640&sr=1-1

Family of Secrets by Russ Baker. The Bush "Dynasty" and it's eternal toxicity.

http://www.amazon.com/Family-Secrets-Dynasty-Powerful-Influence/dp/1596915579/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253785822&sr=1-1

I once voted for Bush the First. Then I read, got outside my little bubble of a life and realized what they tried to sell me was not anything I wanted to buy. After two Ross Perot votes (which I still stand by; as Clinton was a decent president but did a lot of stupid things on the labor end that I cringe at to this day), I've been voting Democratic without fail since 2000.

[knixphan]

20. Welcome to DU!

You're probably more liberal than ya know! :)

http://www.thomhartmann.com/

[Festivito]

21. Welcome to the fray. And, thanks for doing your homework.

So, what do you think about those who were paid to lie to you, and did, and still do?

Good luck.

[mzmolly]

22. Welcome. You'll probably be a happier person not having to reconcile

the confusing "values" of the Republican Party. :hi: