Newbie here - just wanted to say hi

His five children were all kind of raised that way, but one by one we all saw the light, including my father, before he passed away.

Republicans are just not what they use to be, and that's an understatement.

Good to see you here.

looks like I finally found my new home

I voted for Bush Sr. - Twice! I voted for Bill Clinton in 1996 and never looked back. I haven't voted for a republican in 20 years, and have no plans to ever again.

I'm a proud liberal Democrat. Allow me to welcome you to DU! Enjoy!

Hi! I'm also new here. I used to live in Virginia where I was happy to see turn blue on 2008. I, unfortunately live in Texas now where my vote has much less meaning.

If I could, I'd love to be back in Virginia so I could vote for Obama again. Not living in a swing state is pretty depressing.

Just an appeal to women voters.

Don't vote for a guy who says his government will decide what your vagina should do or whom you can love or that women should get lesser pay than men.

“When God Created Mothers"

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands.... no way."

It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."

That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded.

One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word."

God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow...."

I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower."

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.

But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure."

Can it think?"

Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.

There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model."

It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear."

What's it for?"

It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride."

You are a genius, " said the angel.

Somberly, God said, "I didn't put it there.”
― Erma Bombeck, When God Created Mothers

but a political science professor, no less. But I'm always very glad to read about someone who eventually 'gets it', whether on politics or religion (but of course, those are often intertwined, especially in this country). And upbringing obviously is only part of it. My surviving brother is a brainwashed fundamentalist, much to my dismay.