As of the recent SOPA episode, I am no longer a Democrat.

[LetTimmySmoke]

My issue positions remain as they were yesterday. But I'm now an a full fledged Independent. Fuck Congress. Fuck Chris Dodd.

[Ecumenist]

1. Okay. Whatever.

[ellisonz]

51. +1

[AtomicKitten]

55. +1

[TheWraith]

2. Then you'll be leaving DU, I take it?

Good luck with that.

[LetTimmySmoke]

5. That depends. Can an Independent post here?

[Skip Intro]

11. I think so. Like-minded Indies could on DU2. nt

[center rising]

39. I'm an independent and I post here.

Welcome aboard the independent train!!!! Leaving both parties behind on track 29.

[frylock]

40. i'm so very sorry, but unless you're prepared to sign the loyalty oath..

you will no longer be welcomed here. it doesn't matter that you will most likely continue to vote for dems, your inability to embrace every piece of shit legislation put forth and supported by democrats will forever taint your soul.

[a kennedy]

73. You should go to Left Underground....you might like it there.

http://www.leftunderground.com/content/

[FourScore]

46. Bernie Sander's is an independent.

He is adored here on DU (and rightfully so!)

[Art_from_Ark]

59. Bernie Sanders caucuses with the Democrats

If he caucused with the Republicans, he would probably not be adored here.

[cherokeeprogressive]

84. It would seem that, metaphorically speaking, Timmy also caucuses with Democrats...

As evidenced by his presence here.

[SmellyFeet]

79. That's a pretty stupid comment considering you've been here so long.

[Richardo]

3. Oh well

[jberryhill]

4. Don't forget to write

Where a politician falls on the spectrum of interests involved in SOPA is not a partisan thing.

Some of it is benign ignorance of how the Internet works and what people do with it.

[LetTimmySmoke]

13. I expect a political party that's supposed to stand for civil liberties..

...to actually follow through on their words. Having a large party contingent in both houses supporting SOPA/PIPA as well an ex-senator-lobbyist to boot, combined with total silence from the party itself speaks volumes about the current Democratic party. This is combined with continued cheer-leading for the War on Drugs, the Patriot Act, and now Indefinite Detention.

Both parties are corrupt to the bone.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

18. The silence in response to the police brutalizing OWS protestors also speaks volumes.

[LetTimmySmoke]

23. Ahh yes. Forgot about that one.

[jberryhill]

44. Write them down somewhere handy, so you won't forget

Post-it notes are good.

Tattoos are another option.

[sabrina 1]

43. Don't forget the money.

Everyone always says 'follow the money' and for the first time I did that when I saw that this bill was going forward. I wanted to see for myself. And there has never been a clearer picture of how money actually does talk than this episode showed.

Yes, it was ignorance of the internet on the part of many of them. But they ignored their constituents, did not listen to them. Take a look sometime at who is receiving the most money from the Movie/Music Industry and then compare that to the way they were voting. It was like exhibit #1 on OWS main reason for being, the horrible, poisonous effect that Corporate Money has on our government.

[jberryhill]

45. It seems that they have listened

Nobody is going to give up on the idea of legitimate rights protections, nor should they. It's back to the drawing board for this one, and I believe they know who they need to get into the loop before springing another half baked idea in this area.

[sabrina 1]

47. They did not listen until it became apparent that they were losing the bills sponsors because of

enormous pressure from all over the spectrum. Just two days ago, despite the huge opposition from the Democratic base, Harry Reid was unmoved. It was not until the Republicans, apparently they pay more attention to their base, began to withdraw their support.

They have not cancelled the bill, they were forced under pressure to put it on the back burner. But no one is fooled that the wealthy Music/Movie Industries will let them leave it there.

[sendero]

63. It's ALL ABOUT MONEY.

...and at this point only the terminally thick can't see that when it comes to selling influence the Dems are now right there with the Reps.

[jberryhill]

64. Not if they can't turn it into votes

In the absence of engaged citizens, of course it's about money.

Most people never actually contact them about anything, and this was a rare exception

[sendero]

66. Congress...

.... depends on the abject ignorance of the populace to give them cover.

Unfortunately, the internet itself is going to make it hard for them to pass this one as if they didn't understand the opposition.

But as we saw with the TARP vote, which had calls/email/letters over 90% against, if they want to they will pass anything no matter what the voters want.

I'm not sure "they" are willing to go to the mat for this bill, I think there is at least a good chance that some of the more odious provisions will be toned down. But I am pretty sure something will get passed, attached to "must do" legislation, quietly.

[jberryhill]

67. It all depends on what that "something" is

If they can find a way to go after illegal stuff in a reasonable way that doesn't inadvertently break the Internet, then fine.

This was swatting flies with a sledge hammer.

[99Forever]

69. Pure unmitigated nonsense.

MANY of us have "contacted them" on issue after issue, only to completely ignored, in favor of taking "campaign contributions" (payola) from vested interests. Who precisely is it, you think you are kidding?

[jberryhill]

74. It's amazing you can say that

...with what happened on SOPA right in front of your face.

How about you explain it to me then?

[99Forever]

75. I can easily name a half dozen other issues...

... that "happened right in front of my face" that didn't fare quite so well. But you'll come up with the typical excuses, so I won't bother. Bye.

[jberryhill]

76. Nobody wins 'em all

Some people handle it better than others.

[Ruby the Liberal]

6. And you will be missed.

Happy trails.

[DevonRex]

7. Isn't that special. Nt

[tawadi]

8. OK

[ThoughtCriminal]

9. Do you know where you Representative and Senators stand on this?

Would you vote for a Republican just because they were opposed to it?

[LetTimmySmoke]

16. I called both Feinstein and Boxer.

Boxer I left a message. Feinstein I got dropped. Neither Senator walked back their support of PIPA. Feinstein tried to kill Prop 19 in 2010 so I'm not really surprised at her stance.

[Autumn]

10. You are probably still a Democrat, but a Democrat who supports

the Democratic Platform, not all of the Democratic politicians.

[think]

17. Diplomacy and thoughtfulness. Nice :) nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

68. +1

[Luminous Animal]

12. If you protest SOPA when the majority of Dems support it, that's a banning...

If you protest indefinite detention for not only U.S citizens but GITMO prisoners, that's a banning...

If you protest the Federal raids on medical marijuana, that's a banning...

If you protest assassination of U.S. citizens, that's a banning...

If you protest TGWAT (The Global War Against Terror), that's a banning...

If you protest drone attacks, that's banning...

[Ruby the Liberal]

19. Examples of each?

Please and thank you.

[Luminous Animal]

56. New DU terms of service...

For presidential contests, election season begins when both major-party nominees become clear. For non-presidential contests, election season begins on Labor Day. Everyone here on DU needs to work together to elect more Democrats and fewer Republicans to all levels of American government. If you are bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for our candidates during election season, we'll assume yo

u are rooting for the other side.

[joshcryer]

29. No it isn't.

I'm against SOPA, indefinite detention, unfair raids on medical marijuana (I'm against cartels and tax evaders, so if they get them I'm not going to complain), against targeted killing (and therefore assassination of U.S. citizens), against TGWAT, and drone attacks (the last three are really the same thing).

I haven't been banned and do not expect to be, as these are values that many many DUers share.

[ellisonz]

53. This poster is no longer with us. n/t

[Luminous Animal]

54. Terms of service...

For presidential contests, election season begins when both major-party nominees become clear. For non-presidential contests, election season begins on Labor Day. Everyone here on DU needs to work together to elect more Democrats and fewer Republicans to all levels of American government. If you are bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for our candidates during election season, we'll assume you are rooting for the other side.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=termsofservice

[leeroysphitz]

70. Yep...

[Nye Bevan]

14. You didn't leave Dodd. Dodd left you,

to cash in as a lobbyist.

[Ruby the Liberal]

15. Annnnnd, can we have the envelope please?

I was on the jury for this gem.

Smoke 'em if ya got 'em, Timmy.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ALERTER'S COMMENTS:

Trolling and Democrat-bashing.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri Jan 20, 2012, 07:53 PM, and the Jury voted 3-3 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: The post itself is fine as long as he leaves and doesn't come back.

Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT and said: Well, neither is Chris Dodd, but he doesn't post here.

Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given

Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given

Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: What does this have to do with Diet Dr. Pepper tasting more like regular Dr. Pepper? I don't care how people self identify.

Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Disclosure: #2 voting to hide

[jberryhill]

24. It's an understandable sentiment

What polcymakers don't get about the Internet would fill volumes.

I've had to help explain what a domain name is to a panel of federal appeals court judges, to district court judges, arbitrators and so on. Brilliant guys all, but, wow, it ain't easy.

[Ruby the Liberal]

28. No question, and you are an extraordinarily smart guy

(or you have me totally snowed).

So lemme axes ya - have you ever stomped your feet, twisted in your knickers and in an emotional outburst, changed political party affiliation because the "smartest guys in the room" couldn't understand the simplest of concepts as you were trying to explain it?

[jberryhill]

30. No, it just makes me work harder

You have to stop and appreciate the change you've been able to make, no matter how small. If you stopped to worry at how much there needs to be, you'd never even win the small victories along the way.

[Ruby the Liberal]

32. ^This^

......But Timmy? You do whatever you think is best....

[tawadi]

25. rofl

Saw that one coming.

[SidDithers]

20. You were a Democrat?...

Edit: I'd always thought you were an Independent.

Sid

[LetTimmySmoke]

21. Leave it alone because most of you believe the right things...

...and when that's the case you can't be afraid of free expression on this board.

[trumad]

22. Been here 11 years

and these posts are a dime a dozen..

Blah blah blah...

[spanone]

26. hey , it didn't pass. didn't get a vote because harry reid shelved it.

whatever

[leftofcool]

34. Yes, for now

but Dodd continues to threaten other Democratic Senators and Congress Critters on behalf of the MPAA.

[joshcryer]

27. Haven't been a Dem since Dean.

My Dem Reps, who I voted for, are 50/50 on this. Udall is 100% against it but Bennett still "supports it" under a different rule (he's against the blacklist part, in any event). I think Bennett will back off as more pressure mounts.

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

31. "despite"

I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists,

[ronnie624]

49. He said that about NDAA, not SOPA. n/t

[Thaddeus Kosciuszko]

72. A single word, explains all others.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

33. Does that also mean you're leaving DU? Bye! Have a nice life!

[denbot]

35. You know where the door is..

Send a post card now and then.

[fujiyama]

36. I can't blame ya

Fuck Leahy as well. In fact, I'm astonished how absolutely useless Dem Senators have become. Carl Levin is another person I used to respect. Not after garbage like NDAA. You expect shitty legislation from the republicans.

All these ass holes are nothing more than cheap whores. I'll still vote for Obama, but it's more so because a Newt/Mitt/Rick presidency simply makes my skin crawl!

[cliffordu]

37. Bummer.

[The Straight Story]

38. I've been registered an independent since 1983 (nt)

[frylock]

41. proud member of the decline to state party here

[Tx4obama]

42. Well bless your litttle ol' heart ...

[EC]

48. Based on a retired Senator

you're upset with the Dems? That's real commitment.


The Ass is retired and working as a lobbyist.

[frylock]

80. dems currently in office support this shit legislation

[quinnox]

50. Just to be clear, you are not required to be a Democrat

to join DU or take part in discussion. A lot of replies in this thread seemed to be under the mistaken impression that this is so, but a quick reading of the site rules will show nowhere does it say one must be a Democrat to either join DU or post at DU.

Just wanted to correct that, when I saw replies such as "so you are going to leave DU" and other similar replies, those posts gave a totally false impression that needed to be corrected.

[Union Scribe]

62. +1

I actually went and re-read the TOS to make sure, because people seemed so certain with their goodbyes, lol.

[pinboy3niner]

52. Then with all the ofenses of human beings, you surely are renouncing being a human being, too

[Tx4obama]

57. Guess you missed that our Democratic president does NOT support SOPA/PIPA.

Leaving the party over 'one' issue is a bit over-the-top wouldn't ya say?

[ZM90]

58. Yep and I commend President Obama for standing up for internet freedom against our own party and

Hollywood lobbyists. That takes a lot of guts indeed but, our President has them . Besides from my understanding President Obama is tech savvy and actually understands how the internet works.

[hobbit709]

60. I vote Democrat by default.

There is no viable socialist option. In those races where no Democrat is on the ballot, I have voted Green, Libertarian or whatever just as an opposition vote to the R on the ballot.

Just don't expect me to be a 150% cheerleader for most D's.

[SmellyFeet]

78. +1.

[HughBeaumont]

61. Countrywide Chris DODD is the bar?

That turncoat's been dead to me for years now. Money talks and integrity runs the ten-k.

Although I am incredibly pissed off at the amount of non-backing-off supposed Democrats backing these corporate overreaching pieces of shit; including, to my utter astonishment, Al Franken and Sherrod Brown.

[lonestarnot]

65. hmmmmmf.

[Charlemagne]

71. Why ask him to leave just because he is frustrated with the Democrats?

There are several posts above that tell/assume the OP is going to leave DU or must leave DU. I personally think there is some flawed logic behind that.

He (im assuming you are a guy) says he is upset because so many "Democrats" initially supported the SOPA/PIPA legislation. As such, he is upset that the supposed liberal party is acting like right-wing reactionaries; passing draconian legislation and all that.

He clearly wants progressive legislation and policies. He isnt seeing it. So he is identifying as independent because he cant remain a member of a party that has, by many accounts, abandoned so many core principles. He is still liberal but he feels the democrats in congress, by and large, are not. His disassociation is a protest.

He says he is becoming 'independent' and many of us assume that means he will vote for both democrats and republicans. Some people posted the DU terms that said in as much "you are either for us or against us." That is all well and good, but...

Lets be honest here. He is an independent because the democrats are acting like republicans. Now, do we really think he is going to vote for republicans when he left a party in the first place because they acted like republicans?

He still is going to support progressive/liberal candidates. In the US two-party system that means Democrats. Please dont ask him to leave. He is frustrated that the Dems have waltzed to the right. Who isnt? We shouldnt purge people because they expect our Democratic Party members in congress to live up to a nominal standard.

[frylock]

81. anything short of 110% support just won't cut it..

look at the people mocking timmy rather than trying to understand why he and so many others are frustrated with the democrats. it's the level of arrogance that is in full effect in this thread that is helping to drive people away.

i decided long ago that i could not in good conscience vote for obama again. when i fill out my ballot and vote third party, i'll be thinking about every one those assholes that mock folks, and continue to dismiss important issues with such arrogance.

[SmellyFeet]

77. Welcome. I left about a year ago.

Feels great.

[Politicub]

83. Lol- and you're here now?

What brought you back?

[Politicub]

82. Well you go, girl!

Kitty has claws!

[A Simple Game]

85. I have been unaffiliated for years and years. DU is first and foremost a site

for liberals. Being a Democrat appears to be secondary. See the About link at the bottom of the page.

Of course with so many right wing posters lately, being liberal also seems to be an option.