After 20 years as a registered Independent, I just registered Dem.

[KnaveRupe]

Since I turned 18, I've avoided declaring myself as a member of a Party because I didn't believe in the two-party system. I've never missed a general election, I simply chose not to identify solely with one Party or the other. I've always known that at heart I'm not a Republican, but there have been a lot of Democrats that I wasn't comfortable supporting over the years. So I registered, and remained, Independent.

Although I've always been on the liberal side of moderate, for the past 20 years, I've deliberately tried to find a Republican to vote for in each election, whether it be at the Local, County, State or Federal level. I've voted for Arlen Specter many times, and I voted for Tom Ridge as my Congressman and as my Governor. I NEVER voted for any hard-right Santorum types, but PA has always had moderate Republicans that I could grit my teeth and vote for. Hell, most of the time I would throw a vote at some Republican judge who was running for retention unopposed, in order to fulfill the goofy rules I had set myself - to keep myself "pure" as an independent in my own mind.

No more.

There is no longer a single member of the Republican Party for whom I could, in good conscience, vote. No republican has the guts to stand up to the criminalization of their own party, so they are all utterly worthless in my eyes. Furthermore, I am now aware of the damage that has been caused by the Lieberman-esque DLC DINOs and their "Vichy" style collaboration with the Republicans in power. I have therefore decided that the only way I can effect change is to participate in shaping the Democratic party into an actual, living, breathing opposition party, and helping to ensure that when we DO regain control, that it will not be corporatist Republican-lite dems we hand the reins to.

I would urge any other Independents, Greens, or even Moderate Republicans to do likewise. Once the country is out of immediate peril, we can go back to trying to build viable third-party campaigns, or whatever else we want to do. But for right now, the Democratic Party, with all its warts and flaws and shortcomings and limitations and conflicts and squabbles and imperfections is the only vehicle that is able to save our country. The Greens and the Libertarians, and whatever other parties might try and get traction are just too small. There is no way they can stop the Republican-Corporatist machinery. It's the Democrats, or nothing, folks. But the Dems will only do it if WE FORCE THEM TO DO SO.

So I apologize to all the long-time Dems for being so late to the party. Instead of distancing myself from your party as it Liebermanized itself, I should have joined and added my efforts to those of you trying to prevent that. I am so sorry that I didn't sooner. But I'm here now - and ready to fight. Let's do this.

[FreedomAngel82]

1. Congrats!

I'm not registered with any part and I'm just too lazy now to change. Heh. :blush:

[revree]

2. AWESOME!!!

We need you, and others, to come on board ready to fight. Your post made my day!!!

[Book Lover]

3. In your state, is there an

Independent Party, or is declaring yourself independent equivalent to what in my state is called Decline to State?

[KnaveRupe]

15. Pennsylvania - Independent = "No party affiliation"

We also have closed primaries, which means that independents only get to vote in the General elections - I've never voted in a primary in my life.

Of course, in Presidential elections, there hasn't been a primary election which wasn't already decided long before it got to PA in, well, forever.

[Stephanie]

4. "the criminalization of their own party"

that sums it up perfectly

[Talismom]

5. Welcome! Now get to work! n/t

[wicket]

6. Glad to hear it!

:thumbsup:

[NanceGreggs]

7. Welcome to the PARTY!!!

:party: :toast:

[wryter2000]

8. Great post

Welcome to the party!

My husband was an independent for almost the entire 26 years I knew him. After watching BushCo in action, he switched to Democrat. He died a Democrat, and I still have his registration magneted to the refrigerator.

[rucky]

9. Welcome to the Party....I was just leaving.

Not that I won't vote Dem, it's insane not to right now. But I've requested to be taken off the DNC rolls because I want to send a message that they are losing their base with their recent misfires. They don't seem to respond to letters and phone calls, but maybe a sharp drop in the rolls will wake them up. It's kind of like when the AARP sold out their members by supporting the Medicare cuts. Their members didn't quit being retired, or quit being on Medicare - they just dropped their AARP membership.

Plus, I kinda like keeping people guessing by saying I'm an independent...it makes for an entirely different debate if they can't pigeonhole you (no matter whom you're talking to). I still say what I feel, but people pretend to listen more - probably because they're trying to win me over.

[aquart]

11. Well, if they won't allow us primary fights.....

I can see your position.

Here in New York, we have heavy primary fights. But I suspect I'm stuck with Schumer and Clinton forever because the party won't allow challenges there.

I'm not real happy with party leadership right now. Not leaving. But not happy.

[rucky]

14. I happen to be in Ohio.

Which makes my gesture even less symbolic, because we don't declare political party when we register.

[KnaveRupe]

18. Totally get where you're coming from.

I had planned to go register yesterday, but I was so pissed over the Paul Hackett thing that I nearly changed my mind. After a day of thinking about it, it occurred to me that there is a slim chance to bolster the Democratic Party into the force it needs to be from within. There is NO chace to bolster it from without. Democrats need to shore up the foundation of the party at the precinct level - Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid aren't likely to interfere with that.

[rucky]

19. Good point.

If I could find the time/opportunity to work at a precinct level, I'd definately reconsider my strategy.

[mnhtnbb]

23. Hubby and I both

are fed up with the DLC Dems. Look what they've done to Hackett!
All of Bill's, Hillary's, and any other Dem solicitations have been going in our trash. We will support individual candidates--but as far as supporting the Dem party--well, to get our support the Dems would have to start standing FOR something. And they don't. Not any more. So we both switched our registrations to Unaffiliated.

[JohnstownDEM]

25. Yep, and I hate to say it...

...I really do hate to say it, but we are not going to win the majority in either house of Congress or the presidency with Howard Dean calling the party shots. We, the party faithful, believe in our message, believe what we are doing, and believe it's worth fighting for. However, the simple truth is, Dean, as right as he is on alot of things, does not project a good image of our party to the nation. I believe the nation is sick of partisan politics, and doesn't care what side of the aisle it's on. This year's elections, I predict will usher in alot of "just right of left of center" politicians. I have noticed a general dislike of Hillary on these forums, and in my perception, it seems to be because she's shifting towards the center to gain momentum for a white house run. You are exactly right, she is moving towards "left of center" and she's smart for doing it. Don't discount the likes of the Clinton political masterminds. If you think that Hillary spells a nightmare for the country and party because she's not liberal enough, it's going to be a whole lot worse. What you're going to see in '08 is likely a staunch conservative against a "i'm doing a good job of hiding my liberalism" candidate. The question that the party faithful needs to find their peace with by 2008 is: Do I want a moderate liberal to have a great chance at president, or do I want a "leans so far left, can't stand up anymore" candidate to get demolished in the election?

Simply said, saying a candidate isn't liberal enough is bad news, as it's out of step with mainstream America. The republicans are right on one thing: Americans want a traditional America, just not their traditions. Americans want a president who is going to fight for American tradition: Truth, Justice and the American way.

[IronLionZion]

30. Repubs will always say they're "too liberal"

and DU will always say they're "not liberal enough". "Liberal" is not even a quantifiable value.

I'll stand with someone who has the courage to stand FOR something. Enough of this wishy-washy, opportunistic focus-grouped positions. The answer, my friend, is not blowing in the wind. It's standing firmly on the platform.

[bvar22]

59. Then don't stand for a "label". Stand for issues.

THIS is the CENTER, not just the Democratic Party, but the CENTER of America.


In recent polls by the Pew Research Group, the Opinion Research Corporation, the Wall Street Journal, and CBS News, the American majority has made clear how it feels. Look at how the majority feels about some of the issues that you'd think would be gospel to a REAL Democratic party:

1. 65 percent say the government should guarantee health insurance for everyone -- even if it means raising taxes.

2. 86 percent favor raising the minimum wage (including 79 percent of selfdescribed "social conservatives").

3. 60 percent favor repealing either all of Bush's tax cuts or at least those cuts that went to the rich.

4. 66 percent would reduce the deficit not by cutting domestic spending but by reducing Pentagon spending or raising taxes.

5. 77 percent believe the country should do "whatever it takes" to protect the environment.

6. 87 percent think big oil corporations are gouging consumers, and 80 percent (including 76 percent of Republicans) would support a windfall profits tax on the oil giants if the revenues went for more research on alternative fuels.

7. 69 percent agree that corporate offshoring of jobs is bad for the U.S. economy (78 percent of "disaffected" voters think this), and only 22% believe offshoring is good because "it keeps costs down."

Where IS the "Democratic Party"?

[JohnstownDEM]

72. I do stand for issues

However, the opposition will try to make everyone see labels. We have to be prepared to show both issues and label proudly and without hesitation. We can't do that with Howard Dean. He might be right on 90% of everything he says, but people see one thing: A sore loser who screams at the top of his lungs about what the other party is doing. We need to stop talking about the other party, what they did wrong, what they abused, etc. We need to start talking about our own party. We have to be ready. This year, if the democrats gain only a few seats in the house and senate, the republicans are going to come after us twice as hard, and relentlessly come '08. If we lose more seats, then we become completely powerless and near extinct, and you know what that means: Cuts in non-defense programs, force fed religion for all, and more war than we can shake a stick at.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

33. The only thing wrong with Dean

Is the way the Media spins what he says.

Howard Dean speaks for me more than any other Dem I've heard.

[fudge stripe cookays]

47. I'm with you, Rucky.

I was so UNBELIEVABLY pissed about Hackett I've gotten to the point where I really don't give a shit anymore.

The next time any Democratic fundraisers call this house, they're going to get an earful along with a refusal.

What the HELL were they thinking? I seriously believe he could have helped us turn the tide. Now, we're just as fucked as we ever were.

Thanks, assholes.
fsc

[connecticut yankee]

65. I did just that yesterday

I received a phone call from someone at the DNC and really gave him a piece of my mind. I told him exactly what I think of the spineless wimps who call themselves Democrats. He said that there's little they can do with a Republican majority in Congress and that's why we have to elect more Democrats. I reminded him of the failed filibuster on Alito and slammed down the phone!

[cascadiance]

68. I think a lot of us must have been doing the same thing!

I got a fundraising call from the DNC on Sunday and said pretty much the same thing you did (about the *failure* they had wih Alito fillibuster and the bankruptcy bill, etc.) and how a priority that the DNC should be publicly having is to get rid of this DLC cancer that is in their party now, and that without that priority I would be instead giving my money to organizations that do look to get rid of the DLC and not the DNC. I said that I really like Howard Dean, and like the poster of this thread, joined the Democratic Party earlier in 2005 after being an independent when Howard Dean took over the DNC and donated money then too, but I need to see him able to push harder on this issue (which I do feel he's being held back from doing at this point).

To work well within a society and do great things, you first need to insure that your own health is taken care of to the point that you can function effectively within that society. If not, you will will fail. The same is to be said for the Democratic Party. We need to fix its health first and SOON, or we won't be able to give this country what it needs in terms of opposition to this one party rule that's been plaguing us for years now.

A lot of our phone calls were being taped. If a lot of them answered the phone the way you and I did and were played back to Dean, etc. I wasn't surprised that just a day or two later, BOTH moveon.org and Dean's old DFA organization (now managed by his brother) both are sending out mails appealing to those Dems who want to get rid of the DINOs from our party. In an ideal situation, we wouldn't need special interests ourselves to get rid of the special interest influence over our party, but sometimes I think you need to fight fire with fire. That's why you need to donate STRONGLY to these other organizations in these efforts. Donate STRONGLY to Ned Lamont's campaign in Connecticut. Donate STRONGLY to Mark Wilson's campaign to topple Cantrell in Washington. It's time to stop being the battered spouse in denial now!

I've been considering leaving the party too, but I won't just yet at least until after the June primary here in California, where we are also going to be electing a replacement for Duke Cunningham too. The primaries and how the Dems manage these primaries (and make sure that those who represent PEOPLE and not CORPORATE special interests are who they are pushing) will determine if I stay a Democrat for November.

[Voltaire99]

63. Very well said. I'm out, too.

Somewhere there may be a Democratic candidate who isn't Hillaryized, isn't Kerryized. In fact, I know of a few: Maxine Waters, Cynthia McKinney, Russ Feingold, maybe as many as ten others. Through their actions, they lend shards of nobility to a fallen enterprise.

If a Dem candidate as good as any of them surfaces, I'll support him or her.

But I want the DNC and especially the corrupt DLC to hear it loud and clear, so I'm going to shout here, people, as Martin once shouted, as I hope you will shout:

AIN'T GONNA STUDY WAR NO MORE. Ain't gonna study war NO MORE.

Allow me to explain the calculus of a disaffected, ex-Democrat-across-the-board voter. It's pretty simple.

You run pro-war or wishy-washy DLC-style candidates? Forget me. I want you to lose.

You field someone who says we shouldn't be in Iraq but have to stay there anyway, for any of a dozen sophist's reasons? Shove off, child of Bush.

You want me to vote against my conscience and against all reason, just because somewhere along the line I properly identified with a long-ago incarnation of the Democratic Party, despite what it has morphed into?

Not happening. Look me up when you've dumped the corporate right wing leadership.

You want money?

Please call. I enjoy telling those at the phone banks, at length and unsparingly, what's wrong with today's overly-compromised, unprincipled party. I encourage every one else to do the same! No audience is ever as captive as the caller who thinks he might get money out of you; political begging tunes the ears.

[swwallace81]

66. Its the Cynthia McKinneys that keep us from

winning national elections. The greatest day of my political life was the day that both Cynthia and Bob Barr got bounced from their primaries here in Ga. Both were very extreme. Cynthia has managed to get re-elected but only after a severe makeover. If you want to vote Green, go ahead, but don't come back and complain about a republican president.

[MADem]

10. It's never too late, and welcome aboard!

You'll be an asset, with your wider view of things, and you could be a real help to our candidates running locally in your area, with your perspective and background.

[applegrove]

12. Thank You. Thank You. We need everyone. Big Tent! And hey -

Lieberman's votes on 95% of things is all dem. Even progressive. So don't give up on him. He just hears the PM or Iran say Israel should be annihilated and it resonates deeper within than it does with you. And he is an American. So he has the right to be a hawk on the middle east.

And you have the right to hate him for that.

But you can all get together and vote for fair taxes, health care, environment, fair distribution of wealth, programs for those in need, affirmative action, pro choice, and everything else the two of you agree on.

The power of going the party way is that you will get power by Nov 2006. And the truth will begin again. So will governance.

[cascadiance]

69. Liebermann may be *allowed* to vote "progressive" on many of these issues

... by his corporate handlers (where they don't really count), just like the Republican leadership allows its members in more borderline areas to vote more with their opposition at times where it doesn't hurt them, but when the chips are down, the Republicans all vote in a block for their party, and these DINO Democrats like Liebermann join them. It doesn't matter what Liebermann did the rest of the time. It's when the critical votes come up where he can make a difference that counts. The Alito fillibuster was where these DINOs hurt the Democratic Party. They weren't just trying to "get votes". They were trying to guarantee their gravy train from their corporate special interests.

The Republicans called in their chips on moderate members like Congressman Jim Leach and Tom Campbell, who both supported Clinton's impeachment when "it counts", but allow them to vote for many other issues when their vote doesn't count. We should make clear to those like Landrieu and Liebermann that their allegiance is to the PEOPLE and the Democratic Party, not the DLC and the corporate special interests that is telling them to vote the other way in critical situations. We don't need the latter type of politician. They don't help us when we need them, and are only voting with us when it doesn't hurt the other side and doesn't really help us that much.

[BuyingThyme]

13. :hi:

:hi:

[Kurovski]

16. A great message to all those who would flee the Democratic Party.

Don't.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. recommended.

[Katherine Brengle]

17. Welcome to the party...

I am a registered Democrat, but I also take issue with the DLC and every other DINO. I think most DUers do.

[progdonkey]

20. Welcome!

:grouphug:

[bliss_eternal]

21. Welcome--we're happy to have you!

:grouphug: :hi:

[MrBenchley]

22. Welcome to the party....

[centristo]

24. I'm not a registered Dem either

for the same reasons you mention, but your words are very moving. I will be reconsidering my position.

[ClintonTyree]

26. I was a registered Independent until the Reagan years.........

that no good son of a bitch transformed me into, what I now consider, a raging Lefty.

So, I know how you feel. Welcome :hi: , welcome :hi: , KnaveRupe. Now let's go out there and kick some GOP butt!

[DarkTirade]

27. I'm a registered independant too...

but until the party cleans itself out of the criminals and religious whackos, there is no way I could ever support them. I've always felt that way though. :)

[rateyes]

28. Woooohoooooo!

Welcome to the party! We need you.

[longship]

29. Welcome to the Party.

Some DUers are pissed off at the Dems because of the few DINOs who are undermining the process. These DINOs are indeed a problem. But the solution is *not* to leave the party but to make the party better.

The brutal fact is that we cannot change the Democratic Party by leaving it. We can only change it by working within the structure. Another brutal fact is that third party candidacies always split the vote and give the party on the other side of the aisle more victories.

The one and only strategy to overcoming the Repugs is to build a Democratic Party which is responsive to its constituencies and stands united against the nazi idiots running this country.

Contact your county Democratic Party chairperson and find out how you can participate. Tell him or her that you want to become a precinct committeeperson. Become part of the process and you'll can influence change. Go to the county convention and caucuses. Run for district delegate and go the district convention. Run for state delegate and go to the state convention. That's how you make a difference, not by leaving the party.

Democrats need you. Stay with it, just like the original poster has already found out.

[jwirr]

31. We welcome you both as a DUer and a Dem. We

need thoughtful, honest, caring Americans. Hopefully more will move in this direction.

[Lost-in-FL]

32. I am in the same boat... Alright! Who else?

I have always been an independent predominantly voting democratic. Often times I did votes Republican but "NO MO!!!" I am changing my status to Democrat just for the same reasons you mentioned.

[KansDem]

34. I was an Independent for 20 years...

First registered Republican in 1972 then immediately switched to Indy and remained so for 20 years (even voted for John Anderson in 1980). But switched to Dem in 1992 so I could vote for Paul Tsongas in the primary. Stayed a Dem ever since!

We're kicking here!:dem:

[BlueIris]

35. Now this is MY kind of post! WELCOME!

:-)

[Old and In the Way]

36. The easiest votes to steal are Independents and Republicans

The Republican Syndicate would rather not see people changing their affiliation to the opposition Party. It makes their efforts to rig elections that much more difficult.

[Turn CO Blue]

37. Awesome post. You're on the Home Page. n/t

[MsMagnificent]

38. Welcome, KnaveRupe!

The Democratic Party is far from perfect, and truthfully in the worst shape I believe it has ever been in -- yet it is light years better than that greedy, corrupt, criminial group known as 'Republicans'.

I, personally, have always been a member of the Democratic Party because they stand for certain things I believe with all my heart:

*People before Profits
*Protection of the environment (We can use improvement there too, but at least the Democrats are more active and concerned than the Republicans)
*Each person treated with equal rights and fairness, irregardless of their race, color, creed, sexual preference, etc.; INCLUDING their fertility status. I may not agree with some aspects, some not at all, but my own bias' should not in any way determine their inalienable Rights as equal citizens of the United States.
*Taking care of the Sick, Poor, Incapacitated and Disadvantaged. We need to help where help is needed without regard to the total accumulated cost, especially in such a wealthy country. And the lack of basic Health Care for each and every citizen in such a 'blessed' and 'advanced' country is nothing less than a mortal sin. Yet I do agree with the majority of changes made to our Welfare System -- the Democrats should have been on top of that. However we must also realize and DEAL with the fact we have spawned an entire generation of people who have never worked and are, because of this, uniquely disabled TO keep a full time job -- not because they do not WANT to, because it is so foreign to them and out of their frame of reference, lifestyle and reality.
*I don't really care about taxes. I have never complained about paying them, no matter how high, they are a fact of life. And if they go to the welfare of my fellow citizens, I am downright glad to pay them. I also do not agree with faith-based government hand-outs -- we cut general government programs for all only to give to small, localized and extremely specialized interests?! Preposterous! Religions have always done perfectly fine before we started enriching their coffers through our taxes too. And what religions? Will the Buddhists receive equal grants compared to Christian faiths?
...and who exactly shall these different religions help? Those only with the 'right' belief system or religion? Or those in need to have to literally pay for any help by having to, against their will and/or beliefs, acquiesce to those selectively dispensing such help?
Why? If our fellow citizens need help, they should be given it; those are the only parameters.
*Large government vs. Small government? Lemme tell ya -- Republicans have, by a long mile, put Democrats to shame in terms of Large, Intrusive and Invasive Government.
*And talk about SPENDING??!! Oh! My! God!

I don't want to go on with an entire diatribe, but these are the reasons I have always been a Democrat; as imperfect as we are.

I DO want to ask you a question however.
You mentioned in your post

"but PA has always had moderate Republicans that I could grit my teeth and vote for"

I was just wondering why you did indeed cast such votes even though you had 'to grit your teeth'?
It is not my intention nor will I offer any argument or even any opinion whatsoever, I was just wondering why people would vote that way when they truly didn't agree with or believe in those candidates... that is something I've never been able to figure out and have always been curious about...

I thank you kindly in advance. :)

[KnaveRupe]

61. Good question.

My reasons for choosing to be an Independent rather than a Democrat are complicated (having to do mainly with an inherent distrust of the 2-party system.) Also, when I was younger, I had more of a Libertarian bent, although I was always MUCH more Libertarian on social issues than economic issues (and I've now come to pretty much reject economic libertarianism completely).

At any rate, as a "maverick working against the 2-party system" (funny the aggrandized self-images we conjur when young, no?) I vowed that I would never pull the party lever in any election - I would always find at least one candidate to split my ticket.

That's the reasoning behind it - flawed as it was.

[degreesofgray]

39. If I've voted for a Republican

it's been by accident only (a judge perhaps, or county dog catcher). I cannot vote for anyone, no matter how sane they may appear to be, who is affiliated with a party that endorses and supports the presidency and policies of GWB.

[mzmolly]

40. Marvelous post.

Welcome and thank you!

[WilliamPitt]

41. You're bucking the trend

Seems like everyone else on this board is leaving the party.

Welcome aboard.

[katinmn]

67. That was my first thought.

[Raffi Ella]

42. Ah!Now THIS is what I'm talkin' about!

The Party is what WE make it and it's not gonna help if we jump ship when times are tough!

I'm rather new to politics myself.I've always been a Democrat but never really involved enough to understand what is really going on.That changed during the '04 Presidential election.I am now fully aware of what is at stake and am ready, willing and able to fight for the Party.SO!Yeah!Let's do this thing.

Welcome to The Party!:toast: :kick:

[yorkiemommie1]

43. welcome, welcome!

:hi:

[HockeyMom]

44. We are on the same page and I will be joining you

I registered as an Independent in 1968. The first election I could vote in I voted for George McGovern. In going back all these years, the only Republicans I have ever voted for were, Gerald Ford, and ONCE for George Pataki (learned my lesson with that one). I might have considered voting for McCain, but in view of his ass kissing of Bush, absolutely not. I have since learned even McCain is NO MODERATE.

I have asked myself recently why in the world am I an Independent? DECADES ago, it may have made sense, but it no longer true. The fact is that in today's world there is no such thing anymore as a MODERATE Republican. I have lived long enough to see what they were like 30 years ago (so called Rockefeller Republicans) and what they are like now; war mongers, money hungry, Bible toting hypocrites, or spineless wimps to the preceding bunch. None of these groups represent ME.

I am planning to move this Spring to another district and I will, also, register as a Democrat. I guess my two 20 something daughters were able to read it better than their old Mom.

[proud patriot]

45. I re-registered Dem for the 2004 primary

I have decided to remain a Democrat ...

While I truly 100% agree with the green party
platform , My Country needs me to be a Democrat
right now . :patriot:

The only thing that is a drag is that it is easier
to get through to Cspan as an independent ...

[snowbear]

49. How does one "re-register" anyhoo?

Do you mean you were an Independent? Or..

Sorry, I;m just not sure what "re-registering" means.

[proud patriot]

58. Well when I turned 18 I registered Democrat

Then in 96 I registered green .

When Howard Dean came on the scene for the first time in a long
time I felt that I was a Democrat and I re-registered Dem.

A lot of my greenness comes from my parents who are further to the left
than I am .

[nradisic]

46. Yes!

Welcome. We need the help....another new Democrat!

[Rainscents]

48. AWESOME post!

Thanks for spilling the beans! :toast:

[left of center]

50. KnaveRupe, do you live in a city or what could be called

an inner suburb?

I'm just curious, because people of this demographic are getting turned off by the Republican party's behavior in recent years.

The real question is whether this will offset the continued consolidation of power on the part of Republicans in outlying suburbs and rural areas. There is hope though, as seen in the recent Virginia governor race. Democrat Tim Kaine ultimately beat the Republican by winning wide margins in the cities and winning their inner suburbs.

[KnaveRupe]

60. Lived my whole life in a small city - Erie, PA.

Like most rust belt cities, the city itself has an overwhelming Democratic voter registration edge with more Republicanism in the suburbs. We only have one talk station, however, which is all conservatalk - and the Democratic voters aren't exactly what you would call "super progressive" - more old time union from when we still had a manufacturing base. And as industry has fled, and as younger workers can't find decent-paying Union jobs, that hard-core Democratic base is getting old and dying off.

I currently live in a suburban/rural area outside the city, but I'm an inner-city dweller at heart.

And for what it's worth, there were a lot more Kerry signs near where I live than * signs.

[Redstone]

51. Well, damn, you'e convinced me. After 34 years as an independent,

I'll register Dem, too.

(If only so I can vote against Lieberman in the primaries.)

Redstone

[left of center]

52. Oops, just answered my question by reading

your profile.

I also forgot to welcome you to the party!

Though I must confess to thinking as of late to change my registration from Democrat to Independent. Here in NC an Independent can vote in either, but not both, party primaries per election cycle. I'm thinking it might be a way to prevent some real crazies getting nominated for the Republican Party.

[ourbluenation]

53. welcome friend...glad to have you on board. Let me lay some T. Paine on ya

An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot.

I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

These are times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

We have it in our power to begin the world over again.

Thomas Paine

[stray cat]

54. I registered as a dem in 2004 but have always been an independent

the republicans became too radical and too pro-wealth and business.

[SammyWinstonJack]

55. Good on you!

We welcome you with open arms! Fight for the right too be heard!

[johnnyrocket]

56. Yep, that's me, TIME TO TAKE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BACK!!!

One person at a time...hit them with masses of sane, practical people, we need to overwhelm the idiot single-issue voters...and make them IRRELEVANT forever!

[TomInTib]

57. Chuck Hagel...a repub that I really respect....

even though I don't agree on each and every issue. I'd pick him over Liberman any day of the week (not that this will be a choice before us). Check out the NYT magazine article on Hagel from the Sunday magazine. This is why I am still independent and willing to vote "a la carte", although I almost always go Dem.

We received the most inane questionnaire from Howard Dean and the Dem Party on issues the other day. I am not sure what information that they were trying to gain, but it was so lacking in nuance and analysis that it turned into a "multiple-Sophie's choice".

The Dems are in a pickle. We lack leadership and passion and vision and a proper platform. We have become reactionary, but have failed to match the repub ruthlessness to take advantage more scandals and appalling mismanagement than we ever could have dreamed of.

Where is the outrage? Where is the plan?

I'm afraid that I know where. Karl has more people on both sides of the aisle by the balls than J. Edgar ever did, and he is willing to go as far as it takes. What made George Voinovich cry when Bolton was nominated for US ambassador the the UN?

Scary times...scary times....

[KnaveRupe]

62. The Chuck Hagel who ran the voting machine company?

No offense, but the only Republican I could repect at this moment would be one who, like Jeffords of Vermont, rejects what their party has become and leaves it.

There's a meme being put out there by one of my favorite lefty bloggers - driftglass.blogspot.com - that pretty much sums up my feelings 100%.

"...in the Age of Dubya, you can either be a Good American, or a Good Republican, but you can no longer be both."

[TomInTib]

76. My girlfriend wrote that. She's Canadian and doesn't hold...

Repubs totally at fault on the voting machines. After all, the Dems went sissie and just rolled over on the subject.

[Stockholm]

64. Great thread

K&R!

[JohnstownDEM]

71. I'll consider '06 a huge success...

...if we can get rid of Santorum.

[lostnfound]

70. Congrats. Many of us who worry about 'Republican-lite'...

have figured out that the way out of this mess is not a third party, but rather to work to retake the reins in our own.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

73. Thanks for clearing up...

...a long held belief that Independent's are fence sitters who wait to see what grass LOOKS greener. I believe your comments confirm this. I do not mean to be nasty at all. It is just that I know a few Libertarians and they can never tell me why they want to remain in a party that is so friggin' wishy washy. Some Libertarians are really far to the right with a couple of moderate views, the others don't really know what they want except that, they do not want to form an alliance with any one party. None of the Libertarians that I have known are "moderate" - they just seem to fall into the categories I mentioned.

I believe your post to be brilliantly thought out and should be posted on every political blog you can post it on.

I have been a Democrat my whole life. At 49 I am still a far to the left dem who is really quite pissed off at our own party. But because of the reasons you cited I know I can not turn my back on the fragile political horizon.

I hope we can make the changes that are needed before this ship sinks.

:yourock:

[Che_Nuevara]

75. Liberatarian does not mean Independent OR Moderate

I think you're confusing liberatarianism (a very real political philosophy) with independents. Independents are simply people who do not belong to a political party (except in states where there is an official Independent Party affiliation, which I think is simply silly, but whatever, not the point here).

Liberatarians are "liberals" by the old definition, which tends to be in line with the economic (but not social) goals of the current-day Republican Party. Most liberatarians vote Republican. A few vote Democrat and fight viciously with "conservative liberatarians". (It's a question of economic vs. social, really.) In some states, there is an official Liberatarian Party, but I'm not aware of any Liberatarian Party candidate ever being elected to national office (correct me if I'm wrong, please).


ON EDIT: (typo)

[Che_Nuevara]

74. I'm currently living in Germany (on an academic exchange),

but I retain American citizenship and vote in American elections, of course.

I'm of the opinion (perhaps significantly influenced by my knowledge of German politics) that we do need a third party ... and a fourth, and a fifth, and a sixth ...

I have the good luck of being a resident of New Jersey, which has open primaries. This allows me to vote in primaries without registering party, which pleases me. And I have voted for Republicans -- I voted for a Republican sheriff for Middletown (my hometown) in 2004 right next to my big ol' "|x| John Kerry" vote.

What concerns me about "Republican light" is that it is strictly a two-party phenomenon. In Germany they use a "coalition" system: there are two major parties, two affiliate parties, and a handful of smaller parties, all of which receive seats in the Bundestag every year. The SPD (a bit left of our Democrats) and the CDU (slightly left of our Republicans, but with way less corruption) do agree on some issues that the Grünen (our Green Party) or Linken (socialists) and the FDP (liberatarians) disagree on, but not many. And when they do agree, they have a legitimate agreement.

The two major parties usually have 30-35% of the vote (this year it's less, with the affiliate parties having more). But they don't need to rub each others' backs to get things done, because they form coalitions with the affiliate parties. And once the people get tired of a coalition, it gets ousted in the next election.

[KnaveRupe]

77. Yeah, I'd like to see us have a more parliamentary-type system.

Unfortunately, that would involve major amending of the US constitution. I am very leery of any tampering with the Constitution given the current political situation in the US.

Instant Runoff Voting, on the other hand, would work well. But, again, that's a whole different discussion.

[yellowcanine]

78. Better late than Nader. Welcome aboard.

[Susan43]

79. WELCOME!

Now that you have signed up I hope you get involved. If we want the party to change, we have to have a hand in it. And we can't change anything from the outside. So, I am delighted to welcome you into the party.