Boy I used to love being a Democrat...

[SaveElmer]

Always felt like I had a connection with fellow Democrats...on the same side fighting the right wing...

Over the last year however, I find myself arguing more and more with fellow Dems than with Republicans...both online and here where I live...I've never been the most liberal of Democrats, but am certainly not a conservative by any means...but increasingly I have begun to feel no longer welcome in the party...

And so while there is no chance I will either join or support the Republican Party, or allow my vote to aid them in their drive to regain power...I have decided to become an independent.... have severed formal ties with my local party...and resigned as precinct captain...

I am certain I will be voting Democratic 98% of the time, I haven't changed my views...I just don't feel like folks want me in the party anymore...

If Obama is the nominee I will certainly vote for him and work to get him elected...but in the future will no longer restrict my field of view to Democratic candidates if their views are more in line with mine...

And I know the rules here...if I ever do decide to support a non-Democrat I won't campaign for them here...

[SoFlaJet]

1. Yea I sort of can relate

I've been called so many names by Hillary supporters that I have to double check to see if I somehow was redirected over to Free Republic

[Adelante]

2. I hear you, Elmer

I certainly have days like that.

[ronnykmarshall]

3. I feel ya Elmer.

But I keep telling myself that DU does represent the Democratic Party.

[Hydra]

4. On the other side of the fence

I've been told repeatedly that my views are "looney left" and not welcome, and that they would be happy for me to leave the party.

Do I have to join the anarchists to find some lefties that don't think the "centerists" don't have the answers???

[NC_Nurse]

5. I understand how you feel.

I'm about ready to give up too.

[cali]

6. Oh man, I'm sorry Elmer

All I can tell you is I'm disgusted with a lot of the sanctimonious people who identify as progressives and think nothing of trashing others in the most personal way those who don't line up 100% with their beliefs.

And the treatment of Senator Clinton here has been nothing short of shameful. Really shameful.

[SaveElmer]

7. Thanks...if it was just here it wouldn't be a problem...

I'm seeing the same thing in the real world too...

Easier to step back so I don't allow my resentment to cloud my judgment when deciding who to support...

[ronnykmarshall]

9. Tuesday night will be horrible

I don't expect Hillary to win and I expect my ignore list to climb.

[AX10]

32. I feel the same way right now.

[ProSense]

8. It'll be over soon. n/t

[mtnsnake]

10. I have all the respect in the world for you, Elmer. You're one of the sharpest posters ever

to grace this forum, so whatever you decide to do is fine by me, chum. Good luck and never give up! :thumbsup:

[SaveElmer]

49. Wow...thanks man...

Right back at ya...no worries I'll be around...

[MrMickeysMom]

11. Well, good for you!

I've felt the exact same way, though I've not changed my party from Democratic. I have to tell you that I'm being sincere... I've been astonished about the direction the DLC and MSM have pushed THEIR horses in the race, THEIR version of viable candidates, not the one progressive candidate I have found most represent my point of view.

So, you were for Mrs. Clinton and I was for Mr. Kucinich. We are no less part of this frustrating "machine in motion". If that makes you change as an Independent, then, do it!

Having said this, please note: we are going to loose many, many potential voters who will be voting in the general election of 2008, so while you're at it, please consider the thing I did today.

Contact your county elections division, get a street list of the voters where you are and ask or beg for a shit load of VOTER REGISTRATIONS. I don't CARE how the non-voters decide to register, I'm more concerned about the numbers of potential registrants who, by the time the primaries reach THEIR states, won't feel they HAVE a choice and will NOT BOTHER.

This is a bigger problem than either Hillary or Dennis, SaveElmer.

[JackORoses]

12. all this because you don't get your Queen? that's pathetic

[cali]

25. Is that what he said? No.

You're a real peach, Jack.

[JackORoses]

42. so you think the timing of this has nothing to do with Hillary's travails?

You know it does.
I appreciate your attempts to defend Hillarites from undo criticism on occasion,
but you don't have to play the Devil's Advocate in every instance.

[auburngrad82]

53. I'm pretty sick of all the dems attacking each other

Your post is a prime example and it was uncalled for. And I'm not a Hilary supporter. She's about fourth on my list.

[Meshuga]

13. The party is very diverse

It's silly to leave the party only because there are other Democrats who disagree with you. You are a liberal and you vote for Democratic candidates 98% of the time. Like it or not you are a Democrat. :-)

If you cannot identify with any Democratic candidates then you should consider switching. But the online bullshit should not discourage you. DU, for example, which is a great forum and very diverse, is not the mainstream of the Democratic party, then it should not be a factor in your decision of leaving the party.

[SaveElmer]

17. Well like I said...it isn't restricted to online stuff...

If it was I wouldn't care so much...It's in the real world too...constant bickering and accusations from folks I thought I was on the same side with...to the point where some suggest I should leave the party because I am not sufficiently liberal...and I live in a red state which makes it ironic...

Will I be a de facto Democrat in terms of my voting patterns...absolutely...I don't see that changing...

But I will no longer be working for the party as a whole...I will restrict my efforts to individual candidates...who will no doubt be Democrats most of the time...but I no longer am going to feel bound to work for them every time...

[Meshuga]

19. Fair enough n/t

[fadedrose]

14. I hate being a Democrat:

because we can't seem to get in power and am tired of being a loser.

we still don't have national health care when Harry Truman first proposed it.

the party leaders are not in harmony with each other.

because I'm too poor to be a Republican.

[AlCzervik]

20. so if you had more cash you'd be a republican?

ewwww.

[fadedrose]

24. You mean it ain't mandatory? (nm)

[JVS]

15. Maybe if your candidate hadn't coddled the Republicans so much over the last 7 years, you'd...

identify better with other Democrats.

[desi]

16. I'm sorry to hear that Elmer.

No matter how bad things get here I will die a Proud Democrat like my father and mother before me. I simply will not let the "real Democrats" or the "true Progressives" chase me away from MY Democratic Party. We fought the wars of the sixties and we won. We survived Nixon, Reagan and both Bushes to turn around now and surrender to those who are now attempting to render us inconsequential. Fuck that. Please reconsider, this is a fight that must be fought.

[Born_A_Truman]

18. I won't switch

It's too bad but there are probably many people who feel the same way. I won't give up being a Democrat but it has been a real eye opening experience to read here during this primary season. Wow! Maybe I just have amnesia from 2004 but was it this ferocious?

The constant insults turn me off. I like a spirited debate and passion for a candidate but some people take it too far.

And, yes, before someone brings it up: I do have a low post count but I've been here since 2004 reading. Just don't post much and it shouldn't be a surprise why.

Good luck and hang in there.

[AX10]

21. I too find myself arguing with Democrats more than Repugs.

Not just online, but in person too.
I have always identified with the Democratic party even though I am a registered independent.
It is the rarest of occasions that I have NOT backed a Democrat.

I am no left winger my any means even though a few of my views may seem that way.
I believe in the mixed market. I am not a so called "free marketer" as the right wing calls it, but I am very adverse to hard line left wing socialism. Even though I have been leaning on the side of the "free market", I realize that there has to be balance. The time for that balance has come. Capitalists have gotten out of hand. I still find myself to the right of John Edwards but must give him great respect that he is willing to take on the powerful interests.
I am pro-second amendment. I don't believe that NAFTA is fundamentally bad, but it should be re-written to take out the extremes that are in it. However, I don't believe in "free trade" with everyone as the playing field is highly unbalanced.

There are some other views that I don't share with the party, but I never felt unwelcome because of them until now. The GOP would never accept me because I am not pure at ALL. I still side with the Democrats on the big issues that define the right/left scale of American politics.

I don't believe in abortion but do believe that Roe v. Wade should stay 100% intact.
I believe that gay people should have the right to wed.
I am pro-public education and pro-public university.
I am against censorship.
I generally don't support military action unless needed only in extreme cases.
I believe the rich are highly undertaxed. I would support higher taxes on them than when Clinton was in office (in order to pay for infrastructure upgrades and health insurance).

I will never discuss some of my views around here because
I would have a very large ignore list.

I see that you support Hillary. I do too now since Biden and Dodd are out.
Obama is FAR from my first choice and too many around here can't accept that. Too bad. I have the right to support whom I want.

I too will be campaigning for non-Democrats in the future. If I agree with them more than I agree with the Democrat running, then I will support the non-Democrat. I will not campaign here because that does violate the rules.

One thing is for sure, I will NEVER be a Republican. :puke:

[jgraz]

22. Pretty weak, Elmer

One caucus loss and you throw in the towel. I wonder how many other Hillarites will be jumping ship. :thumbsdown:

[Ninga]

23. Politics is not for the faint of heart. My heros, McGovern, Humphrey, RFK, jr., Howard Dean, never

made it to the WH.

You either have the values of a Democrat or you don't.....

The heat in the kitchen this primary season has been blistering....typical for Democrats.

[SaveElmer]

26. I'm not abandoning politics...

I am simply reorienting the way I come at it...

It is no longer useful...or desirable to work formally through the Democratic Party...for me...

[fadedrose]

27. Dean is still doing good work

It's only because of him that I contribute to the DNC monthly,not very much, just a token amount because I admire him so.

[ElizabethDC]

28. It is rough, SaveElmer, and I feel for you

most Democrats that I know in real life are great - to me, it's the sourness on places like DU that gets to me. And lately, for a lot of reasons, I feel sad for my party and my country, and I feel increasingly pushed away from both of those things.

But, SaveElmer, please hang in there! Yours is an important voice. I think our party needs people like you - the Democratic Party is home to a wide array of people who hold a vast range of opinions, and that's one of the reasons I like it!

[Occam Bandage]

29. Leave DU for a while. It will help. This can be a nasty place dedicated to nasty infighting,

and it can skew your perspective. If you find yourself more angry at Dems than at Pubs, take a breather. Step away from DU and the far-left blogosphere, and relax. It ain't that important.

[FlyingSquirrel]

30. Remember Will Rogers...

"I'm not a member of an organized party. I'm a Democrat."

;-)

Still... a lot of the rancor is truly uncalled-for.

[Hieronymus]

31. Well, it's those of you who aren't "the most Liberal" who ...

support the status quo.

[Zueda]

33. It's a primary....

I'm sure you'll get over it.

[Armstead]

34. Welcome to the club, from the other side...I'm not sure Big Tents are possible anymore

Sorry if you feel like the Democratic Party is a less welcoming place.

But I am acquainted with the feeling...from the other side of the fence.

As an unreconstructed liberal/progressive, I long ago felt like the party had left me and tacked to the right.

Although in the scheme of things, I'm a moderate leftie, I long ago got tired being characterized as "the far left" and seeing the issues I care about being totally ignored.

I think there's a lot of Republicans who are also feeling the same way, either perceiving their party as having become too liberal or too right wing.

I think the only answer is either more parties, or for the two parties to realign themselves along a true spectrum of center to left (D) and center to right (R). Were that to happen, moderates would decide which side of the spectrum they feel most aligned with.

[oasis]

35. America and Democrats will finally be ready for Hillary in 2012 after 4 years of Pres. Huckabee.

But if I was her, I would tell them all to take a hike.

[Quixote1818]

36. Thats what a lot of people said 4 years ago when their candidate lost

Well, my candidate probably lost to but I am not going to wine about it. This is campaign season and emotions run high but then we have a candidate and everyone unites behind them and we all work together and it's awesome!

You see the best and worst of people on DU but you have to just be patent and the best part of DU will show up before you know it.

[PassingFair]

37. "I've never been the most liberal of Democrats"

And now you're thinking of turning "independent" now that you've realized
that your raison d'etre, your "guy" does NOT have the MANDATE you've grown
to expect and demand from everyone here?

Get real.

:nopity:

Lieberman fans used to pull the same shtick.

Hillary is OK.

She is not ORDAINED by archangels.

May the best PROGRESSIVE win!

[SaveElmer]

38. Have we ever met? Or talked?

I don't believe I said a word about Hillary...nor have I ever believed or said she was inevitable of other such nonsense...

My guy didn't win in 2004 either...

Has nothing to do with it....

And I am not thinking of going independent..I have already done it...

[PassingFair]

41. Am I blind?

Can I not read your posts?

:eyes:

[BenDavid]

39. If Obama is the nominee I will take a look, if Bloomberg decides

to run I will take a look see......

It's possible if obama is the nominee that he could win and be a good president,but right now he's a question mark with a laid-back style and a a big ass smile.I wish Obama could do something to signal that he can slay the Slime Dragon.He's wrong if he thinks the GOP and the RNC will play fair.

The Bible says, "To everything, there is a season." Is this the season for a question mark with a laid-back style and a big ass smile?


Obama to me is nothing more then a man with a one page resume, and not qualified or experienced to become the next president.

[AX10]

43. I agree with you.

"To everything, there is a season."
"Is this the season for a question mark with a laid-back style and a big ass smile?"

Answer: NO!

[SaveElmer]

45. The other way around with me...

No disrespect...but if it is Edwards as the nominee...I will take a hard look at Bloomberg if he runs...

[AX10]

46. I would gladly vote for Edwards dispite some disagreement.

He is tough and he wants to fight the GOP. Hillary wants to do the same thing.
Obama wants to play nice with the enemy. He is a fool. His followers are fools for believing that we can play nice with Grover Norquist and the Heritage Foundation as well as right wing hate radio.

[AX10]

48. It would be hard for me to vote for Obama because he is an...

empty shirt. I cannot support someone who wants to play tea party with the right wing who's only goal has been to wipe all of us off the Earth for the past forty years. At the same time he has assaulted the party that he belongs to. Who the HELL is Obama to think that this party is his property? :wtf:
His supporters around here who constantly froth at the mouth as the "so called" demise of Hillary make it even harder.

"Hope" is not good enough during these challenging times.

[Joe the Revelator]

40. Man, talk about sour grapes...

;)

[Egnever]

44. people dont accept my ravings and outright lies

so I am taking my ball and going home.

WEEEE

[Sparkly]

47. Well, that's the best news I've heard all day.

[enough already]

50. I'm glad you said it

Saved me the trouble.

[onehandle]

51. DU is certainly making me wary of "Democrats" online. nt

[ellisonz]

52. If it helps...

...I've been against impeachment since day 1 of the 110th Congress. That's caught me hella flack sometimes here. DU does not represent the vast majority of the party. I'm left, but I'm not that left. Fuck Nader and Down With Chavez.

[SteppingRazor]

54. My advice: After the election, take a much-needed vacation.

Then get back in the trenches!

I understand your frustration, but regardless of which Dem. gets the presidential nod, I think they've got a great chance in the general, and I think we'll make huge gains in both houses. It may not seem like it now, but we all want (more or less) the same thing.