Today I left the Republican party ...

[future_of_the_party]

They mocked democracy and said that free men were weak! I am a man who loves liberty! Look into the eyes of your foe psycho republicans, and know that I will die for my freedoms! The world must never again mistake compassion for weakness! And while I live - it had better not!

I have been mulling the switch for months now. Today I made the switch officially.

There hasn't been any room for a moderate voice, like my own - since Obama has been elected.

The anger on the right since the President has been elected is not like anything Ive seen in my life and its not for me, not in any way.

I hope you all can open your arms and embrace me as a fellow and future democrat. I will be doing everything in my power to help fight this hate and stand on the side of sanity.


When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world— “No. You move.”

Thank you DU!

[GrantDem]

1. Welcome to DU

[Mister Ed]

29. Welcome! I think this essay by DU'er Nance Greggs might speak to you - and to people you know

On edit:

Shoot! I goofed up.
This was meant to be a reply to future_of_the_party's original post, not GrantDem's reply. Anyway, future_of_the_party, I think you might appreciate NanceGregg's essay:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Excerpts:

I don’t care if you’re an (R) or a (D), an Indy or a Green, a Liberal or a Conservative, a left-to-center, right of the aisle, progressive-regressive, Area 51-9/11 conspiracy theorist, astrology-driven Christian, reluctant Zen-Buddhist, Feng Shui adherent with Rococo overtones – or just a regular guy livin’ a regular life – it’s time to get a fuckin’ grip.

I think we’ve got some common ground, regardless of who we are...

There are people out there trying to divide us – and I gotta tell ya, so far they’re doing a damned fine job of it. They’re playing to the stoopid, and the stoopid are responding.

But if you want your country back – back from the bought-and-paid-for politicians who have no qualms about buttering their own bread at your expense, back from the wingnuts who think murdering abortion-providers is the best way to preserve the sanctity of life, back from the newscasters who think you are unable to think and are therefore charged with doing your thinking for you, back from the school boards who determine that a well-rounded education includes not allowing students to hear the President extol the virtues of working hard in school, back from the so-called Christians who insist they’re being persecuted out of existence by people who wish them “Happy Holidays” in December, back from the brink of INSANITY – you might want to look at your fellow citizens who, despite their “Obama 2008” bumperstickers, despite the (D) after their names, despite their support of gay rights or the right to an abortion, despite the differences between their philosophies and yours, just MIGHT have more in common with you than you want to admit, or that you’re being led to believe.

Think about it. That’s all I’m asking. And I’m somehow confident that those of you still capable of thinking for yourselves have already figured this out.

Now let’s stop merely thinking alike and start acting alike – it’s our country. So let’s take it back – together.

[williesgirl]

38. Welcome to the DU family. We fight some, but stand together against the

constant assaults on our Constitution by corporations, the CIA, some in the military, etc etc etc. You'll find lots of differing opinions and, yes, some get flamed pretty hard. But, if you can take it, we'd love to hear your thoughts on everything past, present and future.

So again, welcome.

rec'd

[lsewpershad]

265. Yes welcome

I am a democrat and I love my freedom as well. Now we'll work together to defend our freedom.

[Greyskye]

281. Please see post #95 and the ones following before K&R'ing...

(Sorry GrantDem, I'm replying to your post to get this in a visible spot)

The OP has an evidently tangled history with DU...

[Stephanie]

354. I was about to do the same thing - READ POSTS BY JACKEENS & STARRY MESSENGER BELOW BEFORE REPLYING

I had a feeling about this thread, thanks to Starry Messenger & Jackeens for confirming it.

[Skittles]

2. I'm curious what took you so long

george w bush was A-OK with you? Still, if you're sincere - welcome.

[future_of_the_party]

6. I was asleep but now my eyes are open.

[Cha]

9. It's understandable..everything doesn't

always happen as early as we'd like.

Welcome to DU, future of the party. It's gratifying to know there are people like you who are disgusted so much with the lies and the hate that you would get the hell outta there.

[future_of_the_party]

12. There just isnt room for independent thought in the republican party anymore

[Cha]

15. Oh, we got lots

of that!

[inna]

32. when you're not trying to stifle it. (independent thought within the

Democratic party, that is.)

[boilerbabe]

156. Haha, I hear ya on that one...n/t

[Thornleylv]

96. Welcome!

The fact that you already have a star by your name speaks volumes!

[Thornleylv]

97. Welcome!

The fact that you already have a star by your name speaks volumes!

[mzmolly]

234. I'm more curious about what opened your eyes.

Again, welcome!

[jefferson_dem]

3. Welcome aboard, future_of_the_party!

Nice to have you here.

[SharonRB]

4. Congratulations and welcome to the bright side!

[Diane R]

5. Of course you're welcome here!!! I think you'll enjoy it.

[Ian David]

7. First thing you need to do is buy a shirt.

I'm kidding!

Welcome aboard, and good luck.

You've taken your first step into a larger world

[future_of_the_party]

8. I hate clothes :)

[demosincebirth]

24. I agree, If they want me to advertise for them...let them 'em to me. That goes for any brand.

Why should we pay them to adv for them.

[Cha]

13. He left without his

shirt

[AuntPatsy]

10. welcome I am so tired of all the division being promoted by those on

the far right. I believe some have forgotten in which country they reside....The "United" states..and I firmly believe...divided we will fall, United we shall remain standing...those who wish for this dividing need to be held accountable for attempting to ensure our country fall...they have proven themselves to be enemies and that I find honestly sad at times

[City Lights]

11. Welcome aboard, future_of_the_party!

[calimary]

14. Our arms certainly are open to you! Welcome to DU! Welcome in from the cold!

We HAVE TO fight the hate. And we need every helping hand we can get!

[Critters2]

16. Welcome to DU, Future of the Party!

Nice to have you with us! The coffee's over in that corner. The beer in that one. Bathrooms, back there.

[boilerbabe]

171. Good logistics planning is the best

Is that beagle staring at me???

[BlueJazz]

17. Welcome to the side that deals in Facts..not Fantasy.

[Irishonly]

18. Welcome to DU

[cally]

19. Welcome to our party

I'm glad you saw the hate being espoused since Obama's election. When a party does not condemn hanging Representatives in effigy, bringing guns to a Presidential speech, claiming that our legitimately elected President was born in a different country when he's shown his birth certificate and birth announcement, then it's time to run screaming away from them. You may disagree with many of us and may find some of us crazy, but as a whole our party does not endorse violence, bigotry, or hatred. I hope that we can move our country back to a time where we can have honest debates about issues without the hatred and condoning violence.

[crim son]

20. It's hard not to be a skeptic

though if you have really made the leap, then you are more than welcome here. It takes a brave person to make the switch when neocons are literally calling for the death of those who oppose them; of course this is exactly when a sane person would most want to disassociate him or herself from that crowd and I know an awful lot of once-republicans who don't recognize that party any more.

I hope you find common ground with some here at DU.

[gorfle]

242. I left the Republican party, too.

Last time I went to visit my family I got in a big argument with them over "socialized" health care and the fact that all that is ever on their TV is Fox News.

It's hard to come around to switching sides. I've lost a lot of friends and my family no longer talks to me about politics.

[crim son]

273. My boyfriend once ran for local office as a repug.

He's still a registered R but doesn't vote that way and hasn't in at least nine years. I don't understand why he doesn't switch parties since he is a true-blue liberal on every issue that's ever come up... but he still feels loyalty to the party. Go figure. I'd leave as you did, gorfle.

[havocmom]

21. Welcome to the house of many voices.

If it is diversity of opinions you seek over lock step chorus, you might find this refreshing.

[NRaleighLiberal]

22. Welcome. I look forward to hearing of your continued journey!

It's a pretty messy tent here, though - as you probably expected! (I'd certainly expect nothing less)...

[inna]

23. i like this thread.

nice, sexy pic.

[AwakeAtLast]

25. Welcome to the fold, future_of_the_party!

Have any friends who are in your camp, or are you breaking free of the herd?

[MannyGoldstein]

26. Republicans Should Feel Right At Home In Today's Democratic Party

Today's Democratic Party, at least going by the actions of our elected representatives, espouses traditional Republican values. Obama is about in the same spot of the political spectrum as Reagan, and Obama's a good bit to the right of Nixon.

[Cha]

33. Bullshit, manny. This is what President Obama has done for

us as of July 20, 2009..courtesy of Political Tiger~ PO also just gave a Mission Statement Address to the UN that has a vision of a peaceful world..and the UN just approved a Resolution to rid the world of nukes.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33001551/ns/world_news-unit... /

Political Tiger (1000+ posts) Mon Jul-20-09 06:36 PM
Original message

What your President has accomplished just 6 months into his first term

Signed executive orders to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within a year, ban torture and end the CIA’s secret overseas prisons and define treatment of Detainees.

Reversed restrictions on stem cell research.

Signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Reducing discrimination based on gender, age, religion, or race.

Signed an executive order reversing the ban that prohibits funding to international family planning groups that provide abortions. Gag rule revoked (Mexico City policy).

Creates the White House Council on Women and Girls "to provide a coordinated federal response to the challenges confronted by women and girls and to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact women and families."

Signed a Presidental Memorandum extending federal benefits to same-sex partners of federal workers and announced support for the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009.

Reverses U.S. position on LGBT Issues at the UN: At the "Durban Review Conference," U.S. supports language condemning “all forms of discrimination and all other human rights violations based on sexual orientation.”

Signed executive order requiring federal contractors to offer jobs to current workers when contracts change.

Reversed a Bush order requiring federal contractors to post notice that workers can limit financial support of unions serving as their exclusive bargaining representatives.

Signed executive order preventing federal contractors from being reimbursed for expenses meant to influence workers deciding whether to form a union and engage in collective bargaining.

Created a foreclosure prevention fund for homeowners.

Expanded eligibility for the refinancing portion of the Making Home Affordable plan to help Americans struggling with distressed mortgages refinance at lower interest rates, even if they owe up to 25 percent more than their homes are now worth.

Established a credit card "bill of rights".

Expanded loan programs for small businesses.

Extended and index the 2007 Alternative Minimum Tax patch.

Expanded eligibility for State Children's Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP).

Expanded funding to train primary care providers and public health practitioners.

Created a new White House task force on the problems of middle-class Americans, and installed Vice President Joe Biden as its chairman.

Appoints Vice President Joe Biden to Oversee Stimulus Plan Payouts.

Granted a reprieve to Liberian immigrants facing imminent expulsion.

Directed military leaders to end war in Iraq.

Allowing Caskets to be photographed when the return from Iraq with family approval.

Released nine previously secret internal Justice Department memos and opinions defining the legal limits of government power in combating terrorism.

On Arab TV Network, Obama Urges Dialogue.

Gave a speech in Cairo engaging the Muslim and Arab world.

Bars independent contractors from conducting interrogations of terror suspects.

Granted Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to Cuba.

Ordered the release of nearly a quarter of a million pages of records from the Reagan White House that were kept from the public during a lengthy review by President George W. Bush.

Restored funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) program.

Released presidential records.

Required new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.

Pushed for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factors.

Invites gay families to the Easter Egg Roll as part of the Obama administration's outreach to diverse communities.

Created a White House Office on Urban Policy.

Increased funding for the NEA.

Appointed an assistant to the president for science and technology policy.

Funded a major expansion of AmeriCorps.

Banned lobbyist gifts to executive employees.

Investment in all types of alternative energy.

Enacted tax credit for consumers for plug-in hybrid cars.

Support for high-speed rail.

Provided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codes.

Extended unemployment insurance benefits and temporarily suspend taxes on these benefits.

Created the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers to help auto industry workers transition to new manufacturing opportunities, including jobs in alternative energy.

Stopped raids on medical marijuana dispensers.

Nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States. If confirmed, Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic to ever serve on the Supreme Court.

Appointed more than 60 openly LGBT persons to positions in the executive branch.

Issues Presidential Proclamation for Pride, proclaiming June 2009 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.

Signed a mercury reduction pact with 140 other nations.

Signed the Weapons System Acquisition Reform Act to curb wasteful spending by the Pentagon. Intended to price contracts and budgets lower; may potentially save billions of dollars in defense.

Signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, which serves to protect two million acres of land and creates a new system of land conservation for the Bureau of Land Management.

Phase out government payments to crop producers making more than $500,000 a year and eliminates subsidies for cotton storage to help trim the U.S. budget deficit.

Cut funding for a proposed U.S. nuclear storage facility at Yucca Mountain.

Restored Endangered Species Act Provision requiring U.S. agencies consult with independent federal experts to determine if their actions might harm threatened and endangered species.

Orders The Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration "to protect and restore the health, heritage, natural resources, and social and economic value of the Nation's largest estuarine ecosystem and the natural sustainability of its watershed."

Signed the 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act designating two million additional acres of public wilderness areas the highest level of government protection from logging and other forms of commercial use and development.

Signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act which will expedite the search for cures and treatments for millions of Americans living with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury, stroke, MS, Parkinson's and many other diseases and disorders.

Established The Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record, a new system for updating medical records of servicemen and women both during and after their military careers.

Established the White House Office of Health Reform

Created new and stronger safety standards to safeguard the country's food supply.

and

Got his daughters a new puppy!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[future_of_the_party]

40. I was on of those republicans who voted for Obama secretly

was is the word

Im a democrat now and proudly.

[Betty Karlson]

129. You have done the right thing.

Even so, I remain concerned that the Republican Party, by refusing to offer constructive opposition to Mr Obama, will defect to America even more.

[boilerbabe]

229. They haven't said anything that I would construe as constructive yet! n/t

[Betty Karlson]

359. That's precisely my point.

By refusing to be constructive, they are defecting to America in the worst way possible. Every good administration gets better from principled - and thus constructive - opposition.

All the GOP does is opposing legislation initiatives for the prupose of making Obama look bad. That is to the detriment of all.

May I re-introduce this article of mine? (Sorry about the vanity) It explains my point at greater length.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Betty%20Karls...

[MannyGoldstein]

41. Nixon Founded The EPA, And Watch Your Language Please

The Ledbetter Act and some of the other stuff is good, but many or most would have been done by classical Republicans like Reagan. Just because Obama's not as far right as Bush doesn't mean he's a lefty.

You failed to mention that Obama guaranteed $13 Trillion in bank loans, and did zip as the bankers took the cash and gave themselves princely bonuses. Actually, I'm wrong - he did do something, he invited the bank CEOs to lunch at the White House.

The rest of us got a finger-wagging lecture about personal responsibility. And while the struggling blue-blooded bankers got no-questions-asked cash bailouts, the struggling blue-collared GM got shredded.

He's refused to give basic legal rights to "enemy combatants", and continued warrantless wiretapping and the extralegal "extraordinary rendition" program used by Clinton and Bush for outsourced torture. His DOJ has compared gay marriage to incest.

To top it off, Obama's health care plan is eerily identical to the one Nixon proposed (and Ted Kennedy fought). And Obama insists on keeping taxes on the wealthy far, far below what they were under Nixon or Eisenhower.

Look, Obama is a bajillion times better than Bush - but, on the big issues, he pushes policies that are traditionally Republican.

[amandabeech]

49. He's not Reagan or Nixon. He's Ford.

Reagan was a radical in economics with that "supply side" lunacy. He slashed taxes for the rich and spent money on the military like no tomorrow. He was the first of the Republican budget busters and paved the way for Shrub.

Reagan hated government. His big laugh getter was some joke about how ridiculous it was to say, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.

He hated programs for anyone who was underprivileged. Remember ketchup as a vegetable in school lunches? Reagan would not have approved an expansion of S-Chip. Instead of extending unemployment insurance, he was out there with the newspaper want ads (which were the only source of advertising then) in his hand pointing to all the jobs and saying that the unemployed just didn't want to work.

Of course, he gave the military all the money it asked for and then some. He traded guns for the Iranian hostages, sent the CIA against Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua and got El Salvador going into its reign of right-wing terror.

But he could give a speech from cue cards and had a genial presence on TV.

I couldn't read a newspaper except the sports section for the first two years of his administration.

I hope that Obama gets us out of Iraq and Afghanistan earlier than Nixon got us out of Vietnam, and that our forays into Pakistan don't turn out like Nixon's war in Cambodia and Laos. It would be nice, though, if we have to have two wars going that at least we could have the guns and butter economy of the Nixon years, but it doesn't look like that will happen. Then, of course, I hope that Obama's general level of honesty is better than Nixon's.

Gerry Ford was a status-quo kind of guy who was in office when the Saudis cut off the oil in 1974 and tried to get us out of a nasty recession that lasted from 1974 to 1975 and had lingering effects into 1976. He lost a very close race to Carter because of his handling of the economy and his pardon of Nixon. Later, Ford and Carter became friends and Ford supported many of Carter's humanitarian causes.

I think Obama is nothing if not a status-quo kind of guy. He's done some things around the edges and promised to do some other. However, he's pure status quo on the economy and is looking much more so on the wars and on dealing with the various nefarious activities that took place during the Bush administration with respect to terrorists and the war.

I'm extremely upset with Obama's handling of the economy, and it may prove to be his undoing, but he still has time to be what people thought he was going to be if he'd quit trying to please everyone, especially those with the money and the prestige.

[ima_sinnic]

244. +1 excellent analysis (n/t)

[fudge stripe cookays]

165. Nixon and his buddies...

originally GAVE us HMOs and the fucking mess we're in right now. You know "pay more, get less?" It's on the tapes.

[boilerbabe]

231. Exactly so! n/t

[onlyadream]

82. Wow, thanks for the list!

And "got his daughters a new puppy" - cute.

And to the OP - welcome!!!

[1776Forever]

89. Wow and that was from July 20, 09 - Fantastic! He is a Super Hero!

[Laurab]

256. Thank you, Cha, for posting that.

I couldn't disagree with Manny more.

[Cha]

331. You're welcome..like this

thread needs one more reply. ..but, I had to.

[Dappleganger]

296. +2

[pnwmom]

67. Reagan was against Social Security, against Medicare, and

worked to dismantle public education. Anyone who thinks Obama's positions are similar to Reagan's needs some history lessons.

[Thornleylv]

100. To the right of Nixon!

Raegan was to the left of Nixon so how could Obama be on Nixons right?

[ginnyinWI]

112. you have to be kidding. Reagan?

Reagan was a conservative who tried to dismantle government control of anything he could. He slashed funding of education both as governor of California and then as President. He wanted to shrink government, even though he increased the national debt considerably.

[boilerbabe]

195. I totally agree with you on that one.

Love your blog. Do you have it on Twitter?

The thing is, once upon a time, Republicans actually did some groundbreaking things, even if it was due to pressure from the people. They have lost their compass, and I think the Dems are floundering, too. I think that Obama is more or less stuck with the status quo, which is going to resist change of any kind. It is going to be near-impossible for us to get a revolutionary health care plan, since the insurance industry is so well-entrenched in our society.

My brother mentioned England's health care system and I can only say that they did that after electing a totally new slate of people that were leftward leaning and after being devastated by WW2. Hate to say it, but we will never do the same as England since we have not been subjected to the extremes that they were subjected to. When I was visiting London a few years ago, I met some people that were basically homeless, but were able to get some healthcare. I thought it was great. I hope that we can do the same and much more for everyone that lives here.

I am fortunate enough to still have a decent job in this shit economy. I am pretty well strapped trying to make house payments and keep the cars running, but I would certainly spare a few $ to ensure and insure those of us that aren't as fortunate as I am. Not a prob--just don't like funding wars that are looking to be going nowhere.

Anyways, President Obama has a lot of the usual suspects that are going to do everything they can to undermine him, just as much or more as they did to President Clinton. I think that he is up against some serious opposition no matter what he tries to do, so I am not too judgmental on what he is trying to accomplish as opposed to what actually happens.

I like your outlook and if more people spoke out like you have, we might just make things happen.

[Dappleganger]

295. A giant

FU to this statement. You're the kind of people who should be ignored.

O is in the right place at the right time and he brought a hell of a lot of people with him. If it wasn't for him you'd still be whining about the rethugs having the presidency again, so suck it on that.

[WCGreen]

27. Here Here...

[buff2]

28. WELCOME!

Glad to have you here. Now will you work on others that are on the dark side and change them over too?

[yodermon]

30. Welcome, from the left. However

it still looks as if captain America is still hangin' a little to the right.

[FredStembottom]

31. Welcome aboard, future_of_the_party!

This party is the future!

[onestepforward]

34. Welcome to DU!

You can learn a lot here and have a good laugh too!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

35. My dear future_of_the_party!

As so many have already said: Welcome to DU!

We are very glad to have you aboard...

K&R

(Kick and recommend)

[DrToast]

36. Welcome aboard. Changing your mind is very tough to do

The mind's ability to hold onto old beliefs is staggering. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence that something is wrong, it's often difficult to make a change. Congratulations.

[RepublicanElephant]

37. welcome to the light side of the force!

[LiberalAndProud]

39. Hi, and welcome.

I am sorry that your party has left you. We'll make room over here.

[nevergiveup]

42. I left the Republican Party 41 years ago (1968) and never looked back.

Welcome to DU. You will go nuts here but you will love it.

[rhett o rick]

337. I left the republican party in 1970. Nixon did it for me. nt

[bertman]

43. Welcome.

[grantcart]

44. Come on in and join the chaos - its kind of messy but atleast it is based in reality

[Alcibiades]

45. I was sort of hoping you wouldn't become a Democrat

OK, not you specifically, but folks like you. I have been waiting for the moderate, mainstream Republicans to put down their dogwhistles and say enough is enough to the crazy lunatic fringe that has become the voice of the GOP today. Instead, they egg them on, while decrying the coarseness of public debate. This has left us with no debating partner. Instead, while we talk about policy, they get crazier and crazier. In the aggregate, if all the non-crazy, non-hateful folks leave the Republican Party, the net effect would be to make our party less liberal and leave only lunatics in the GOP And I don't actually like the idea of a GOP that becomes a small fringe party full of angry people who feel like they have no voice, because people like that do stupid things.

But welcome to DU anyway.

[boilerbabe]

228. That's an interesting and well-thought out point you have made n/t

[Arkana]

46. Welcome to the crew, buddy.

Also Captain America is awesome but Iron Man could TOTALLY kick his ass.

[handmade34]

47. sanity is tough to find these days... Welcome!

don't always expect open arms, but maybe a lively discussion I would much prefer that you (and we) fight for each other's freedoms; too many people are all about "me" and "mine" these days

[NBachers]

48. Welcome! We get by with a little help from our friends

And we're glad to count you as one of them, future_of_the_party

We all try with a little help from our friends
And now, you're one of them

[Romulox]

50. I demand that the party immediately begin pandering to the OP!

"They mocked democracy and said that free men were weak! I am a man who loves liberty! Look into the eyes of your foe psycho republicans, and know that I will die for my freedoms!"

Ummm....welcome?

[future_of_the_party]

52. quote

from Captain America

[Romulox]

53. It just sounds like the Republican party left you, not the other way around.

Just sayin'...

[Romulox]

54. The only google hit for this alleged quote is this very thread, btw.

[future_of_the_party]

56. read more marvel

comics

[Froward69]

57. I took my "hard left turn"

in 2005. I once swore to defend our constitution with my life too. Here your patriotism does not get questioned.
one thing that divides the parties harshly is the dispute over weather or not health care is a right or not. here we do what built America. sometimes we have original ideas. most times we borrow Ideas from the rest of the world and make them better. We evolve and are open to everything. The world views health care as a right so do WE.
... be prepared to have your logic questioned. not that you are crazy or that it is flawed. but for greater understanding, communication and to solidify your position/opinion.
you mentioned why you left the gop... this Questioning of logic and tolerance of ideas is what is completely different here than freerepublic or the GOP in general. so it may be a culture shock to you.
otherwise
Welcome friend.

[PatSeg]

110. Hey Fro

Are you saying you used to be a republican?

[Froward69]

140. Why yes

I was raised in a Democratic Family, and rebelled in College. I went independent. Later I registered as a republican to vote against bushjr in primaries. I changed back to independent in 2002. and then registered Democrat in 2006. Been here ever since.

with no plans to go back or waiver.

as here logical thought and discussion are encouraged. whereas on the right goosestepping is required... question anything and you are UNmerican.

[PatSeg]

147. Very interesting

It would appear that you weren't ever a hard-core republican, but more of an independent known to vote republican. Of course, I've known life time, die-hard republicans who finally left the party after the last eight years. Many of them are still stuck in limbo though, which is understandable.

[Froward69]

152. nah never "Hard core"

really I never voted "for" any republican just against. well thinking about it I voted "for" McCain over dubya in 1999. but it was mostly against W.

[PatSeg]

180. You're not alone there

I've heard that from a lot of people. I believe Bill Maher supported McCain when he ran against W as well. It was so nice in this last election to actually vote FOR someone, wasn't it?

[Froward69]

209. Yes it was!

[DFW]

68. That one got to me!

Read more Marvel indeed (Stan Lee is a friend of mine)

[Norrin Radd]

355. I can agree with that. ;-)

[JHB]

227. I tend to go with Spidey's "with great power comes great responsibility"...

...but Cap's had plenty of "words you can live by" over the years too. Never knock "comic book morality"!

[GreenPartyVoter]

51. Welcome to DU!

[DangerousRhythm]

55. I have friends who have been in your position, leaving the Republican Party...

Really, they more or less felt like the party left them and couldn't continue to support what they were seeing and hearing. Anyway, I can empathize... welcome to DU!

[K8-EEE]

58. Hi and welcome! n/t

[Lilyeye]

59. Welcome

[BadGimp]

60. welcome to the dark side

jk

thanks for acting and speaking up...

[NanceGreggs]

61. Welcome home, future_of_the_party ...

... we're a motley crew of in-fighting, not-always reasonable or coherent but highly opinionated bastards who will love you one minute and hate you the next, depending on what you have to say and how you say it.

But that's part of our charm.

Welcome aboard the Good Ship DU, matey!

[chknltl]

62. Eventually the only one's voting for republicans,,,

...will be pre-rigged machines

[BobTheSubgenius]

63. Welcome!

[renate]

64. I especially liked this part of what you said--"never again mistake compassion for weakness"

[Control-Z]

65. Loved your OP!

Welcome to DU. It's going to be a great ride for you. I promise.

[old mark]

66. 2 things:1 Please remember that DU is NOT the Democratic Party -

may be a bit more left than you are used to.
2. How's that Republican Party going - any cake and icecream left?

mark

[Festivito]

76. Funny old mark. Welcome future, you'll need bravery around here.

Repubs let you talk, then took OUR money.

Dems let you talk, then correct your grammar until you say what you mean, which can hurt on both counts.

Be sure to check out links yourself around here before you figure out whom to trust.

Good luck. Welcome.

[Ken Burch]

69. I know the choice may have been painful for you.

It's hard to give up long-term to any group, let alone a party.

But what you found was that you'd been loyal to something that was no longer loyal to you. Realizing that can be painful, and I hope you feel freer now.

I would suggest you think of this as the political equivalent of leaving an abusive relationship.

[impik]

70. Welocme to the light, man. :)

[Anakin Skywalker]

71. Welcome Aboard, Bro!

[Omaha Steve]

72. Welcome to the DU

K&R!

[liberal N proud]

73. Welcome to DU and congratulations on making a tough choice

I realize that changing your political affiliation can be very difficult. There are so many pressures trying to hold one to their party lines.

I hope that the Democratic Part does not disappoint you while you realize that Democrats are not angles but yet they do stand for liberty for all and fight for that which is right.

I hope you are welcome and your contribution is appreciated.


Welcome!

[Sancho]

74. As they say in the South, glad you finally saw the light!

I grew up in a traditional, conservative, military, etc. family...but an A1 draft card during the Vietnam days got my attention. It took me a while to learn what Democrats really meant to our lives. Now if you become a proud union member; your conversion will be complete!

[Hubert Flottz]

75. Turn out delights...

The Party's Over...

As well it should be, after those eight years of disaster called the Bush administration.

[Loki]

77. Welcome to the future of Texas

and welcome to DU. Since you are from the Dallas area, you might want to give Texas Freedom Network a look, http://www.tfn.org/site/PageServer We are trying to keep Texas sane and keep sound science and education in our schools. One person, one vote, one step at a time. One way I found to find local support was to get involved in the Democratic clubs in my area. Here's a website that might help you out in Dallas......http://dallasdemocrats.net/default.aspx . Welcome home brother.

[SlingBlade]

78. Welcome future_of_the_party

There's probably few around here more skeptical than I am when it comes
to post Bush conversions, But I'm willing to give anyone a chance to
show they are actually members of the human race rather than those alien
posers who feed on the misery of those less fortunate than themselves and
sincerely believe that they are Gods gift to the United States of America.

One less of those and I don't care what you call yourself so long as it's not
one of those Vampirific Knuckle Dragging Spit Dripping Paleo Republicans.

In short, Welcome, But watch the naysayers, They'll bum ya out if ya let 'em

[Suji to Seoul]

79. Welcome to the enlightened side

Enjoy your stay.

[mwb970]

80. I hope you will offer more posts about your experience as a republican.

Many of us constantly ask "What is wrong with these people?" You may be in a position to help us understand.

[Skidmore]

81. Welcome.

All hands and voices are needed to move this nation forward.

[SalmonChantedEvening]

83. Welcome to DU

And thank you for this post.

[DireStrike]

84. Welcome! You seem like a cool guy.

I appreciate the dramatic.

I hope one day the republican party stops being crazy and you and I can argue about fiscal policy.

Oh wait, we will definitely argue here. Or someone will argue with you, anyway. Be prepared, we do a lot of it!

[southernyankeebelle]

85. Welcome - It is very sad that a moderate voices of the republican party

has been pushed out. We need a 2 party system. All the republicans have left are the crazies like Bachmann. As much as I didn't like the Nixon administration he was a man that helped the country. He wouldn't be able to be elected today in the republican party. Now that you witched sides maybe you can help some of the democrats that might want to jump ship because of the wackos on the right. Living in the south its hard when you got people who are drinking the kool aide of the right wing. I have a friend who works at WalMart and my friend tells me he can't understand why they would vote for republicans who aren't looking for the financial interest.

[Swagman]

86. hey welcome !..and I'm not even American !

but I can tell you...the world is watching Barak Obama with great hope. He has the hardest job in the world and I have faith in him.

[Locrian]

87. welcome - might I suggest TYT ?

Dont know if you have tuned in to (internet-wise), but TYT is a great source of info. The host is also a former Republican, and doesn't suck up to all Obama is doing either.

http://www.theyoungturks.com /

[nyc 4 Biden]

88. You made the correct choice.

The GOP is full of wanna be tough guys. Real tough guys (and gals) defend the weak and those without a voice.

Attacking immigrants, the poor, minorities is not tough. Smashing the bully in the mouth is. Welcome.

[NinetySix]

90. Don't think being a Democrat requires you to march in lockstep.

The beauty of Democrats is that there's LOTS of room for disagreement. Republicans like to paint Dems as uniformly subscribing to one single, unyeilding point of view. That seems a better description of them, and it worked well for a while, like 25 years or so, but that orthodoxy is an albatross around their necks, and their intolerance and exclusivity are wearing that once Grand Old Party to dust.

Hold your own opinions and defend them vigorously, but understand that here and in the Party, there's always room for dissent. Only heterodoxy is orthodox.

[Donkeykick]

91. Thanks!

But you will see that our own party seems to have trouble working with our President. (Congress; Baucus; Blue Dogs; etc)

[Honeycombe8]

92. Woa! Love your logo pic! And welcome! (I myself am an Independent)

You don't have to be a Democrat to be left of center, if that's what you are. I used to be a Dem., but switched to Indie a few years ago. I still mainly vote Dem., though. And I definitely supported Obama from early on.

You'll find that the Dem. Party is more tolerant of any conservative views you may have, than the Rep. Party is tolerant of any liberal views you may have. Doesn't mean they won't give you hell about them. But you'll be allowed to discuss your views, and some others may even agree with you!

Welcome to the Big Tent!

[FreedomFlower]

260. I like it too

Patriotism isn't owned exclusively by the right.

[robo50]

93. I am so thrilled to have others join ranks with us, and welcome you with

warmth and compassion. You have done the work,getting out of that dark place called today's Republicanism, now, enjoy the sunshine and light!

[The Wizard]

94. Can't say anything bad about the switch

Every time I get near a Republican I feel like I need a shower shortly thereafter.

[Starry Messenger]

95. *cough* deadlyaj *cough*

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...



Can't believe this is on the front page. SMH.

[Jackeens]

119. Uh oh......excellent detecting Starry Messenger!

[Starry Messenger]

123. I alerted with the link.

I'm just sorry I didn't see this last night. I remember what got him granite and seeing him on the front page here makes me cringe.

[Jackeens]

128. The funny thing is...

...a year ago he addressed his "fellow Democrats" on DU...but now he says he's only just left the Republican party.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...



Great work Starry Messenger.

[Vickers]

143. What got him TSed last time?

I remember this guy now, but can't recall the specifics of his departure.

[YOY]

155. What was it?

I was not part of that cookie party.

[Starry Messenger]

190. Here YOY.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

It wasn't done until after the lock, so the message doesn't say that's why he was canned but his account was tombstoned minutes after that thread. I checked.

[YOY]

200. Money says calling someone something effeminate as an insult.

Looks like he pissed off some of the LGBT folks.

[gratefultobelib]

131. What are you talking about?

[Jackeens]

133. ...

future_of_the_party is deadlyaj who was tombstoned a while ago.

http://www.myspace.com/deadlyaj

Don't know what he did - but he does seem to be a genuine Obama supporter.

[ronnykmarshall]

149. Oh dear.

[Starry Messenger]

134. This poster is a zombie.

He was tombstoned in July. He did this last year (claiming to be a new convert to the Democratic Party).

[Divine Discontent]

309. INTERESTING, and I have no probs with anyone who's an active participant on these internets getting

involved, I just expect someone who finally has their eyes opened by the extremist views of their party to fully embrace Democratic core values of gov't controlling runaway corporations, protecting labor and the unions, the environment, being strongly against the nosy hypocrites who tell Gays they can't adopt, let alone marry, who don't stand up for abortion rights (even when you're against abortion!), and all the other principles our party is for - because if he's for these things - then fine - but if any converts are only coming over to the Democratic Party because the Republican leaders are NUTS - well, that isn't enough -

I want to hear this poster espouse those views. I've read a dozen posts here, I'm not going to read all 100+. Maybe he stated this?

[Starry Messenger]

320. I don't believe he actually registered as a Dem.

Call me cynical, but based on his past actions in his last incarnation, I think the whole story is a work of imagination. Please read the subthreads. You will see the record of his "inconsistencies".

[Jackpine Radical]

372. This, the only thing I ever found worth stealing on FR, is for you:

Thanks.

[Starry Messenger]

375. Right-click/save image

Thank you Jackpine Radical.

[Jackeens]

322. Hey Divine Discontent, have a look at post 315.

[future_of_the_party]

157. I did that picture --

Deadlyaj is my OLD roomate - hes a little pic stealing punk been trying to get that pulled down from myspace for months too

[Jackeens]

158. Is your room-mate your twin brother?

From Deadlyaj's MySpace page:



http://www.myspace.com/deadlyaj

Your DU avatar:

[future_of_the_party]

159. no but a single white female kinda person if you know what I mean

my own private stalker

but he turned me onto this site, thanks for the heads up - I already called him

[Jackeens]

160. O........kay!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

163. You forgot this

.

[Jackeens]

168. LOL, thank you Mr Corngood!

[Starry Messenger]

169. The plot thickens!

Ask him about his two tours in Iraq.

[Jackeens]

170. Maybe....

they did one tour each? They look so alike the Army would never have noticed they were spitting duty?

[future_of_the_party]

178. I didnt know my likeness was hijacked

Ive already called him not to happy

seriously if he was canned why would I sign up with the exact same pics etc - kinda silly

[Jackeens]

183. Curiously enough, your 'stalker' deadlyaj was a Captain America fan too....a year ago - link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

And there's this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Dum de dum.

[future_of_the_party]

186. whole other level of creepy - I have a poster of him on my wall

[Jackeens]

189. Yup, creepy alright. And your alter ego...sorry: stalker....has lots of photos of you on MySpace

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=us...

Strange.

[future_of_the_party]

194. already alerted myspace

[Jackeens]

199. Did your room-mate confess when you called him/her?

[future_of_the_party]

202. Yes, he did. Im pretty pissed about it. I also alerted Skinner / DU Moderator of what he did

[Jackeens]

206. So many coincidences - help me out here

Last year deadlyaj, from Texas, signed up to DU and announced that he was a Republican but would be voting for Obama:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...


You, future_of_the_party, from Texas, wrote an almost identical post yesterday.


In several posts (a year ago), deadlyaj showed the image of Obama he had created:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...


You did the same today, claiming you created at election time - but deadlyaj posted it on August 12, 2008.


deadlyaj was tombstoned (I think I know why, but I'm not certain).


He had linked his MySpace page - http://www.myspace.com/deadlyaj - which uses the same photo as you, future_of_the_party, uses.


deadlyaj was a Captain America fan - so are you.

Now you say deadlyaj is your room-mate, is stalking you and is taking credit for that image.


Right. That's that cleared up.

[Jackeens]

219. Whooo hooooo: you changed the name on your MySpace page!! BUT, BUT, BUT!

It was http://www.myspace.com/deadlyaj until 20 minutes ago - deadlyaj being the name of the tombstoned DUer who used the same photo as you.

But you said deadlyaj was your stalker and that you had alerted MySpace.

So now when you click the http://www.myspace.com/deadlyaj link it forwards to http://www.myspace.com/blizzil31337 .... which is exactly the same MySpace page and uses you and deadlyaj's DU photo.

[Starry Messenger]

251. Aw geeze.

What more proof do we need here? DNA? They even use the same "Im" without the apostrophe in posts.

[Jackeens]

252. Have a look at this Starry....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Check a few of the responses, eg:

This is a totally false post. The last 18 year old was killed in August, 2007. We have no troops in southern Iraq (or American contractors for those who tried to give him that out). Everyone who posted here with their condolences were taken for suckers by the OP. He should be banned from DU. I knew this guy was never in Iraq himself because of the terms he used in the OP. I doubt he has ever seen someone from the military let along be a "Captain". What bullshit.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Starry Messenger]

257. Looks like a pattern is emerging here.

He's not very good at this. Apparently he also has another brother who is gay:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

This guy has quite an entourage.

[Jackeens]

261. Hmm

Wonder does he sell all his entourage Obama merchandise once he befriends them?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...



PS He says he was a medic in the Army but elsewhere he said he studied engineering. Not knowing anything about these things....do engineers become Army medics??

[Hissyspit]

262. I don't understand why people keep recommending this and welcoming him.

You two have pretty much established what is going on here.

[Starry Messenger]

269. I'm pretty puzzled.

I've long suspected that people don't read all of the replies in threads, but this is kind of wacky.

[Jackeens]

270. Maybe Thom Hartmann will invite him and deadlyaj on tomorrow to argue over that picture?

And who's the biggest Captain America fan?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Starry Messenger]

272. That would be awesome.

I love sock puppet theatre.

[Soylent Brice]

282. because people see 180+ recs

and read the drivel that capt america here posted, and don't bother to look down.

fucking sad.

[Starry Messenger]

196. That is interesting.

That second link says he is a white guy, but here in the thread below he claims to be African American. Fascinating.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Jackeens]

198. Pure gold Starry Messenger, PURE GOLD!!!!!

[Starry Messenger]

208. Keep at him.

I have to get back to work, sadly. I'm going to miss the fun.

[YOY]

213. Dunno about you but I'm getting a weird sort of "send this to a horror writer" for a new book's plot

kind of feel.

[Jackeens]

215. LOL - but they'd dismiss it as far-fetched (especially considering he was white one minute, and....

...African American the next).


You know that 'uh oh' face:

[YOY]

216. Captain America would not approve!

Now Cap'n 'Murka? He shore wood!

[Jackeens]

221. I'm guessing Captain America would be HUGHLY unimpressed!

[YOY]

224. I do not think that Future has a Future here.

n.t.

[flyarm]

332. Ahh he will just come back as someone new again! remember how many times Bev harris did the

same gig..thanks you all for exposing this!!

How pathetic ...

I remember when Bushbots did the same crap in 2000 and 2001...it really is dispicable, that someone lies about being in the military ..shameful in fact.

Real soldiers went to fight and many did not come home to their families..how sick must one be to lie about military service to this country.

This bum better worry about karma..his number just got closer to the top..of bad crap!

[YOY]

350. Why anyone would want to "infiltrate" us is beyond belief.

I mean we aren't trying to overthrow any goverment. Mostly just a bunch of left wingers and centrists arguing about shit we have no power over and feeling superior to the RW rejects...like that's a feat...

[flyarm]

351. no kidding! eom

[YOY]

212. Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction!!!

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.indiv...

[NOLALady]

297. Bi Racial?

[Jackeens]

299. LOL, that could be it!

[ruggerson]

308. that sounds familiar

by gosh Verna, I think we have another poseur!

[SidDithers]

222. Well done...nt

Sid

[Soylent Brice]

239. i've been waiting all day for this. n/t

[Lisa0825]

306. self delete

I got the answer.

[Orsino]

362. What's the connection?

It's not obvious enough for me.

[Jackeens]

363. ** cough **

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Orsino]

364. Heh. They don't get much clumsier, do they? n/t

[FarLeftFist]

98. GOOD, BECAUSE US ON THE LEFT ARE TRYING TO PROGRESS AMERICA TO A MORE PERFECT SOCIETY

WHILE THOSE ON THE RIGHT SEEM TO THINK AMERICA IS THIS ALMIGHTY PERFECT UNION AND EVERYONE IS OUT TO RUIN IT. YOU WILL FIND US ON THE LEFT STAND FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF GREAT CAUSES WHILE THE RIGHT'S ONLY CAUSE IS TO SAY NO AND NOT DO ANYTHING TO STRIVE FOR A BETTER SOCIETY, JUST A BETTER SELF-INTEREST. NOT TO MENTION THE VERY WORD REPUBLICAN GIVES PEOPLE NOWADAYS IMAGES OF HATRED, RACISM, UN-INTELLIGENCE, CREATIONISM, NO-IDEAS, AND GLENN BECKKK.

[Rex]

210. You are right. Everything you said about Repukes is true.

I thank you for your sincere post and hope to see you shout more truth. You also forgot to mention Repukes are smarmy buttmunchers who eat rotten ass all day to make their breath smell better.

[graywarrior]

99. Hmmmm.

[smoogatz]

104. .

Skepticism noted.

[graywarrior]

107. .

[Jackpine Radical]

101. Welcome.

I made my transit across that gulf from libertarian Republican to liberal about 40 years ago, My eyes were opened by infantry duty in Vietnam. Once the blinders fall off, you will be amazed ans sometimes frightened by the new vistas that open to you. You are clearly a person of ideals; I trust you will find a better expression of those ideals on this side. We too are concerned with freedom, for instance, including freedom from government intrusion. But freedom from the government means little if it leaves you open to have your life choices made for you by a greed-driven corporation. If people are lying to you, it matters little whether the liars are publicly or privately financed. I personally support the Second Amendment, as do many on this board, but it means little to be able to own a gun if your streets are occupied by paramilitary forces with superior armament, as happened in New Orleans. Or, if you intend to hunt with that gun, where do you plan to do so in a world with no wild land held in the commons?

[Stephanie]

352. Read Starry Messenger's post above

Please.

[Jackpine Radical]

371. Duh.

"I once was blind, but now I see."

Thanks.

[Jennicut]

102. Welcome to our crazy but fun board.

Dems/liberals are usually more accepting bunch of people. I think you will find you really like it here and can't stay away.

[Jennicut]

346. Eh, never mind. Read the posts by Starry Messenger and Jackeens.

I really need to start reading the WHOLE thread....right?

[Odin2005]

103. Welcome!

[kjackson227]

105. Welcome!!!

[uponit7771]

106. sup

[Webster Green]

108. A defector from the dark side?

Yeah!

Welcome to DU!

[madmom]

109. Welcome aboard, but word of caution.....

you might want to roll up your sleeves and put your hip waders on because we have a lot of shit to clean up!

[proReality]

111. Welcome

Even if you decide not to write much it's worth coming here just to read the news and enjoy the DUers sense of humor plus the sense of real community.

[beac]

113. Welcome to DU and the Democratic Party!

Glad to have you aboard.

[Peacetrain]

114. Welcome to the DU...

[Peacetrain]

366. Give me back my welcome... For Petes sake..

Nimrod

[flamingdem]

115. You're doing well nt

[tilsammans]

116. Welcome to DU!

(I only wish my GOP friends and family would finally see the light, too. Maybe you could work on them?)

[Turbineguy]

117. Welcome to DU!

You are among kindred spirits.

[laughingliberal]

118. Welcome! And remember Mark Twain

"I'm not a member of any organized political party. I'm a Democrat." Plenty of room for free thought here. A little messy at times but, without a doubt, room for your own thoughts.

[colorado_ufo]

120. Awesome post!

Welcome to DU and welcome to the Democratic Party! You will be a LOT more comfortable here!

[mgc1961]

121. I like the Captain America picture.

[tomp]

122. thanks for moving the democratic party to the right. nt

[polichick]

124. The future is the jingoistic wing of the Democratic Party?? nt

[Democracyinkind]

233. Oh, you just so made my day.

Smartypants, you. Spot on.

As a sign of how awed I am by your comment... I offer you...

MY 1000th POST!

totally dedicated to you now.

[polichick]

245. Well thanks - glad to celebrate the big 1000 with you! nt

[Jackeens]

125. self delete

[Claire Beth]

126. Welcome! I left the republican party several years ago....

and another friend of mine left recently... The republican party has been hijacked by the extreme right-wingers and I find it to be a disgusting party anymore. The old days of sit down and have some reasonable debate are gone. I'm a PROUD democrat.

WELCOME!!!

[goclark]

127. Welcome to DU

Welcome to the DU club

[Vickers]

130. Greetings from another ex-Repuke.

All of the lying about Iran-Contra was my catalyst.

[gratefultobelib]

132. Welcome! And, btw, I googled and found Cap America's quote!

[Berry Cool]

135. Hurray for you

and welcome to DU!..."comrade"

[era veteran]

136. Watergate

I resigned I think in 1975. I had been a YR for several years! They are much more dishonorable now than then. ... Glad you could break on through from the other side!

[Christa]

137. Respect

♫

[NoSheep]

138. Welcome. We are glad you are here. We've all been through a very

frustrating time.

[knixphan]

139. Welcome, Bro!

Big tent! Racism-free! And we have snacks!


*And better talk radio:

http://airamerica.com/listen /

http://ktlk1150.com/main.html

http://www.620kpoj.com/main.html

[Froward69]

144. not to mention

We drink (but not to excess)
we smoke pot (to get high and to heal the sick)

we do not tolerate racists nor persons willing to undermine America for political power.

[Jackeens]

141. ******** Everyone: see post 134 ********

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Cha]

243. I wonder if he's

reformed?

[Jackeens]

246. Maybe!

Dunno, just a bit suspicious about this one having looked through his tombstoned alter ego's posts

As Starry Messenger spotted, he claimed he was white in one post and African American in another

And he was an ex-Marine one minute, and was never in the army the next.

And he says he created that Obama animation around election time - but deadlyaj posted it on DU in March 2008.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...



Who knows! Who'd want to be a Mod?!

[Cha]

248. Yeah, time will tell if

it's meant to be.

[Jackeens]

255. Err....

Okay, my last piece of snooping, honest!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Check the replies.

[dalaigh lllama]

370. re-formed? seems quite likely

like a phoenix rising from its tombstoned ashes.

[asdjrocky]

142. Welcome.

I'll consider you a friend and an ally.

[CadenBlaker]

145. Just moderate, that's my advice.

Stay more moderate, consider all sources, and don't jump to conclusions on anything. Also, use sites like Politifact.com to really know what anyone is doing or saying and if it's true or not. While I'm extremely liberal, I do see both sides of the spectrum getting out of hand and both sides must learn to moderate their "crazy" behavior and call each other out when they see it to keep one another in line.

You were right to bail on the crazy right wing, just don't go so far to the left that you forget your sanity, which should always be somewhere, in the middle, so you can rationalize your issues better.

[ronnykmarshall]

146. Call me shallow ....

But you're too hot to be a republican!

[Vidar]

148. Welcome to DU.

[felinetta]

150. Welcome, but please change other Republican minds. It means more coming from a former Republican.

[dccrossman]

151. Welcome, we're mostly sane

=)

[YOY]

153. Good to have you but make sure you know if you're actually a "moderate"

According to the political compass we have a right wing party and a so fucking far right wing they scare mussolini party.

Basically Democrats are everyone who is not apeshit to the right.

And some of the "far left" are not so "left" as the Republicans would think.

Oh wait...you're a zombie...never mind.

[WV_Biker]

154. Welcome n/t

[benld74]

161. Welcome, and first question: WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?

[2QT2BSTR8]

162. Welcome to the party of the sane!

[boilerbabe]

164. Glad to see you here!

I was the youngest delegate to the Republican convention in 1980. When I heard what people were saying regarding equal rights, abortion, etc. I lost it and jumped up to a microphone and started on a rant and then walked out of the caucus (in Maine). Embarrassed my mom (also a delegate), but never voted Republican after that. But these people that were supposed to represent me and many others did not have a clue to what the constituency really needed and they still don't. They are sadly out of touch.

I am very glad to see that you are turning your efforts, intellect, and energy towards doing the right thing and not the right wing.

[damonm]

166. Been out of Comics for awhile...

But was a Marvel guy when I was. What issue was that Cap quote from?

[valerief]

167. Republicans will take the shirt off your back, as you well know. Welcome. nt

[Lochloosa]

172. You just made the Thom Hartman Show.

Congrats!

He read your post on his show today.

[YOY]

176. See upstream. He's a zombie.

n.t.

[Starry Messenger]

197. Oh no.

[future_of_the_party]

203. No, Im not.

promise.

[PBS Poll-435]

347. Whoa

The diet sparkling iced green tea just came out my nose.

It friggin' hurt.

But at least you aren't voting Republican anymore!

[RepublicanElephant]

173. thom hartmann just read this op on the air! nt

[polichick]

177. As an example of jingoistic bullshit?? nt

[Sebastian Doyle]

174. Thom Hartmann just read this post on his radio show

Welcome to reality

[SeattleGirl]

175. Thom Hartmann just read this on the air!

Nice!

[Mass]

179. Good, as long as you are not one of these voices pulling the party to the right.

We certainly have enough of that these days, and need to pull it toward progressive reforms.

[mullard12ax7]

181. Is there such a thing as moderate torture? Moderate election tampering?

Moderate conspiracy to commit war? Moderate treason in exposing CIA agents? Moderate "trickle down" lies for 30 years?

[Fire1sKid]

182. If you are sincere then Welcome

[Piewhacket]

184. We don't know who you are...

here we don't ask for your credentials.

here we don't ask you to beg forgiveness for being a jackass republican
all your life, for supporting and voting for bigotry,
for seeking to defund and destroy our public school system,
for seeking to crush the pooest among us with regressive taxes and
abusive and humiliating regime of (non)-"charity", while
giving the richest and most fortunate in our society a free pass,

here we don't demand you ask for absolution for supporting lawless
criminality, finantial destruction of our nation for the profit of a few,
for supporting the abomination of torture, or for
standing quietly by or cheering, whichever you did, as the insane took
over the republican party and began spewing, like cowards in the night,
their mindless hate, bigotry, and vitriol against minorities and the
most defenseless of our society.

we don't berate you for these things, or the myriad other things that now
brand the republican party,
for we knew the day would come when many would finally leave that party
and would come to us, seeking shelter after having burned their own house down.

here we do not ask for credentials, require abasement or a loyalty oath.
we give shelter to everyone.
but we do have our view of the world, a progressive view, which it may take
some time for you to understand.

we ask simply that while you are here you respect our house, and those in it.

so here, your past is washed away, and you are born anew..
for here, and from today, you are what you post.

welcome to DU, let us see what you will do with your new life.

[Gabi Hayes]

274. Excellent! inspiring. best post I've read in a long time.

did you just do that on the spot?

[Name removed]

279. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Gabi Hayes]

287. whahhhh?

that's sad, cause I thought the sentiments were very apt

what about you?

curious as to what its other posts look like...just reread it to see if I missed something, and I still like what I see on this post

thx for headsup, I guess.

anyplace I might look to see for myself?

cheers

[lillypaddle]

288. see post 134

and others upstream.

[Gabi Hayes]

300. are you talking about the OP, or the one who welcomed him w/o caveat?

I can't find anything else by the latter on this thread....

[Stephanie]

353. look at posts by Starry Messenger and Jackeens above

[Piewhacket]

302. thank you for the kind remarks.

I've been around awhile. so don't believe everything you read on the board.

That is, except for what I write. which you can believe. I certify it.
To answer your question the post, misspellings and all, was done "on the spot",
as are all my posts. Sometimes that means I must correct them if the error is
severe or the sentiment is badly expressed. No one is perfect.

but you'll note i didn't correct my post.
the sentiments of my post are CORRECT. your instincts are correct.
This is the spirit of how we should accept new people into DU.
Everyone is a baby when they arrive. skinner lets them in, and that's it.
from there on they are presumed innocent (even if they aren't).

OTOH, when a poster makes a cretin out of themselves with a post, then
that's different. then they get a rep and they are no longer "innocent"

take for instance a clueless cretin of less than 300 posts who posts that
my post is a troll and that I am a POS. clearly such a person is a lunatic,
but more, such posters violate forum rule number 3 when they do that, and are
destined to face a complaint, not to mention that their own time here may
prove limited.

such is the way of the world. innocent until proven stupid.
thanks for the kind remarks.

[lillypaddle]

357. My apologies

I had no intention of calling you a troll, and if I posted incorrectly to a remark you made, it was a terrible mistake. My remarks were intended for the OP.

[Piewhacket]

360. accepted. we are square.

you now understand there is no privilege to call any
member of DU a troll or pos, even if it is true.
rule #3 forbids it.

save your name calling for the republi-pukes, they
deserve it, and its actually in the rules:
"thou shalt abuse republicans"

so be careful out there, lillypaddle.

[AllyCat]

185. A hearty welcome to you!

The hate on the right is something I have never seen before either. We didn't like Bush, but I'm not aware that anyone here advocated killing him. Tried for war crimes at the Hague, yes, but killing...no!!

[mmonk]

187. Great! Welcome to the light.

[earth mom]

188. FYI-Obama is center right. Which makes your "conversion" not a big deal.

Btw, what's your position on Abortion, Global Warming, the Wars in the Middle East & Religion?

I bet I can already guess.

[Cha]

247. No, PO is not center right but some people like to

bullshit.

[inna]

333. "some people like to bullshit"

unfortunately, that is true.


Earthmom, however, is clearly NOT a bullshitter, despite all of your pathetic and despicable personal attacks.


wtf, Cha??????????

[earth mom]

374. Thank You Inna!

[inna]

327. EXACTLY. thank you for

the much needed sanity/clarity in this utterly ridiculous thread.

[Fire1sKid]

191. Welcome....

to the party that stands up to the iron foot of deregulation and corporate greed and has a care and passion for those that are less fortunate in this country as well as the world.As Harvey Milk once said,"Its not just about the gays,but the blacks,the chinese,the Us' of this country and the world." We are the party that fights for what is right in this country rather it be natural or political rights,we stand up for the underdog in this nation and the world.If you are truly ready to do this then I welcome you with open arms.

[kentuck]

192. There is hope.

Welcome!

[sui generis]

193. Welcome fellow Dallasite!

There are plenty of immoderate voices on this side too (some of them in my head and from my keyboard on occasion too) but the real difference is conservatives don't change. Republicans conserve everything, including compassion, and are concerned with everything that has nothing to do with them or lives.

So we have poor republicans voting for tax cuts for the rich, rich republicans voting to reduce the cost of government by spending more on privatization, and all republicans telling other people who they can and can't marry and what they can and can't do with their pink parts.

The difference is, we can all be immoderate sometimes, on this side of the river, but we're almost always willing to take another look, to address our foundational ideas, to seek to be more even and more fair, and if fairness is that tree you want to grow, it's a good tree for anyone to be.

Welcome friend!

[immoderate]

289. "...we can all be immoderate sometimes, ..."

I'm immoderate all the time.

--imm

[bkkyosemite]

201. Welcome to DU. You do see it . I have been very fearful of the amount of anger and hate.

Thank you for recognizing and letting us know there are some sane people on that side not wanting what the Republicans are hell bent on doing, inciting violence against our President.

[librechik]

204. blessings on you true freedom lover

lots of diversity here--hope you found a good home!

[madmax]

205. Welcome to DU

[xultar]

207. Hey. Welcome to the team. I will say that I have been really scared about

what I've been seeing my dayum self.

I hope we can get it together for the sake of our country.

[RetroLounge]

211. But you were already TS'd here once...

Why come back?

RL

[Turbineguy]

214. There are others who were TS'd and came back.

I was TS'd on my first thread entitled: "Hannity tells the truth."

The message then had a Hannity quote: "But what do I know, I'm an idiot!"

Luckily for me, my friend pnorman, who got me started with DU, interceded and I was restored to Membership with full pay and no loss of social benefits.

[YOY]

217. Did you call gay DUers effeminate names?

Cos I'm pretty sure that's what this guy did. Then backed it up by saying that's what "Marines" do. I have marine friends. They don't use that language. Perhaps it's only what marines do when trying to hide homoerotic feelings...I do not know.

Also if that Lieberman supporting Mr. Benchley is floating around here in reincarnated format a whole bunch of the Gaming board wants to have a word with him... We got a whole bag of "told you so".

[janx]

225. Nobody knows definitively why he was TSed, so it's

probably better to let Skinner and the admins sort this one out.

[Turbineguy]

240. I haven't called anybody any names.

When I'm here I behave as if I am among friends.

As for the OP being TS'd in a previous DU incarnation, I do not know. If he has, he must have traveled the Road to Damascus since.

[YOY]

241. Check upstream for some crazy fiction then.

Cuz it gets...weird.

[maxpower]

218. Welcome to DU

I hope you stick around for a while. We're not as bad as they say.



Peace,
Max

[democrat0986]

220. K&R welcome to DU

glad to have you in the party.

[Subdivisions]

223. Welcome!. Spread your new feelings to your community. n/t

[MrScorpio]

226. Welcome to DU

I'm enjoying the company already

[RedCloud]

230. Hurl that mighty shield, Captain America!

[bdamomma]

232. Welcome to the Light and Reality!!!!!

[Democracyinkind]

235. Your post really scares me. I caught a wiff of fascist rhetoric there....

Granted, maybe that's because Captain America is a fascist and might not have much to do with you.

[knixphan]

266. Cap evolved quite a bit since his jingoistic days :)

[lillypaddle]

278. You are right on the money

trust your gut. It is right.

[KansDem]

236. Welcome to DU!!! (did you bring your cat?)

Kind of a DU joke...

[rep the dems]

237. Way to take a stand. I can only hope that amidst the crowd of teabaggers,

birthers, town hall screamers, and other conservatives who would generally fall under the category of "lunatics" there are others like you who realize how petty and nonsensical they are making themselves and their party look.

Welcome to DU

[demoborn47]

238. Welcome!!!

There is always plenty of room for the rational thinkers against hate. Step into the light....

[SlingBlade]

249. Hey Guy's, Like I said

Unless future_of_the_party is here spouting Re-Puke talking points I think she deserves a chance.

Hell, Those of us in the Illinois Forum (Rockford) Have been putting up with OBVIOUS Right Wing
stalkers spouting their Kool Aid now for years. They boot 'em off and they simply change screen names
and show up again....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Give 'em a chance, After all, Nobody can stay stupid forever, Right

[lillypaddle]

277. wrong.

[SlingBlade]

321. Wrong ? Wrong What ????

[dcsmart]

250. why is that picture of captain america turning me on....

welcome to DU.....if you really want some fun, check out the labor forum.

[lillypaddle]

276. cause his codpiece

is way bigger than dubyas.

[Divine Discontent]

311. LOL... so funny

I'll do my best to believe this guy isn't only escaping the GOP insanity, but leaving behind their beliefs - because we don't want people fleeing the sinking boat - we want people who believe the core beliefs of our party, and sadly - we've seen too many people who come here for that reason - and they are quickly outed as being closed-minded still and against the poor & working class, and still pro-warfare, anti-Earth, anti-Gay, etc..

and also, a lot of the Repubs online have Capt. America up for avatars and such. I like him (in the comic book sense) but I'm weary of seeing that big codded Captain America being up there on this converts post. LOL


Look out folks, it's the greatest superhero around - CAPTAIN CODPIECE!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

253. The beauty of the Democratic Party is that it is a large enough tent that allows all

political philosophies to be represented.

Welcome aboard!

[Honeycombe8]

254. You've been busted on another thread, Future! Posting pics not yours! nt

[alfredo]

258. Welcome. Never forget the quote by Will Rogers:

"I don't belong to an organized political party - I'm a Democrat."

We seem divided because of all the different opinions and the bickering, but that is our strength. We are not a monolithic organization, we are a coalition of many groups. We all compete to have our agenda made a priority. Messy? Yes, but we have to hear each out, and weigh their ideas, then accept or reject them. (the golden rule) It sometimes means hearing out some crazy shit, but that's OK, they might think our ideas are crazy too.


A pond that has no source of fresh water soon stagnates.

[grahamhgreen]

259. Welcome to DU! Most of us here would be happy with Eisenhower!

[boppers]

263. Unrec'ed... and unmasked. (#134)

[Wetzelbill]

264. I know several people like you

At some point many normal people look at what the Right has become and they realize that, while they may generally agree with Republican or Conservative principles, they just can't be on the same side as people so nutty they can't accept a birth certificate, believe in death panels and think even the slightest reform is socialism etc etc etc. It's gotten way absurd. To be a Republican these days you have to at least be able to condone outright insane ideas and behavior, many good citizens just can't do that.

[ThatsMyBarack]

267. Welcome aboard!

[lillypaddle]

268. How offensive so many on DU are ...

I see so many posts, like some of my own, that number less than 1000, or whatever arbitrary number the folks here deem sufficiently worthy, panned and viewed with suspicion. And along comes "Captain America" ... with a codpiece waaaaay bigger than dubya even imagined, and so many jump immediately on his bandwagon.

Wow. How embarrassing is this? And even after Mr. Captain America is outed, people don't even take note of the comments on this thread, and bid him welcome. Sheesh. Okay, I'm a newbie (according to your "rules") and therefore have no right to be offended, but I am.

How could you not see through this? Thanks to the ones who exposed him ... and too bad for those who didn't bother to see the exposure.

Thom Hartman fucking quoted this! If you aren't embarrassed by the gushing "welcome, we looove you" response to this asshole, something is very wrong here.

Damn. Every SIGN was there ... are we that desperate for "love"???

[Raster]

318. I'm just here for the codpiece.

[ZombieHorde]

271. Welcome to DU.

[Tommy_J]

275. The more the merrier!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

280. This thread is a living testament as to why it's always good to read an ENTIRE thread

before vaulting onto the pyramid.

[Jackeens]

283. Hey Phoebe, he's an old pro at this.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

In this thread from last year he claimed his 18-year-old brother had been killed in Iraq the day before (in earlier threads he only claimed to have a sister). When a few DUers checked the casualties that week no 18-year-olds had died (they were in their 20s). They asked him for clarification, but he never returned to the thread.

As mentioned above, he also claimed to be "white" in one thread, and later said he was "African American".

There's loads more, but nothing as grim as his Iraq story.

And trust me, he is deadlyaj - he was even dumb enough to use deadlyaj's MySpace photo as his new avatar.

Crazy stuff.

[lillypaddle]

Thanks, Jackeens

[ruggerson]

305. Jackeens, don't forget his "gay brother"

maybe that's the same one that died in Iraq.

[Jackeens]

310. Flip, forgot about him! Was he a white African American Spiderman fan too?

[K8-EEE]

314. Oh GAWD! Some people have WAY too much time on their hands.

Thanks Jackeens!

[inna]

325. Jackeens, with all due respect (and i do respect you very much) -

how do you make the connection between the OP and some "deadlyaj" or whatever?

and i admit, i read maybe one quarter of this thread at the very most, and... i'm not planning to read the rest of it, unless i hear back from you.

[Jackeens]

328. Hey Inna

It was Super Sleuth Starry Messenger who first made the connection.

Check this post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

The OP has now switched his MySpace page to private (and removed the photo of himself he was using as his DU avatar)

deadlyaj first posted that Obama picture -

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

but the OP claimed deadlyaj is a former room-mate who hijacked his identity and took credit for the photo - but the OP says he created the picture "right around election time"; deadlyaj first posted it on DU in March 2008.

There's lots more, it's definitely the same guy - more info here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

334. With all due respect, you don't even have to read the thread, you can SCAN the thread

and see that things get interesting at #95 with Starry Messenger's first alert.

Does someone have to re-summarize for you personally when it's all laid out and would take two minutes for you to read on your own?

[inna]

335. i'm at a loss what's with the condescending attitude on your part.

but whatever, never mind.

[Soylent Brice]

284. + a brazillion

[lillypaddle]

290. amen Phoebe.

[nolabear]

285. Oh MAN, is this all fascinating!

I didn't bother to click on this thread for days, and see what I've been missing? It's realy true that on the internet no one knows you're a dog.

Can't wait to see how it plays out.

[bigwillq]

286. Welcome to DU!

[MrMickeysMom]

291. I'd feel better about this if your superhero's package wasn't busting through his super pants

Holey naked testosterone!

[lillypaddle]

292. no shit

W. would kill to have a cod piece this "hefty."

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

293. Welcome

[Dappleganger]

294. I used to vote for republicans, you are welcome here!

I am a registered Independent and will stay that way, but the republican party left ME a long time ago. Over the years I've changed as well.

Don't be so quick to sign onto everything, IMO--do your research and follow your heart. There are a lot of critics here who can get you down if you aren't a 'purist.'
Ignore them and you'll be just fine.

What do I love about this party? They have HEART.

[PBS Poll-435]

298. ...

!

[Jack Rabbit]

301. Welcome, Sir

!!

[Dinger]

303. Self-Delete

Not sure what's going on here.

[Pryderi]

304. Welcome Aboard! I'm a reformed republican as well. I left in

1992.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

307. Welcome to DU and the Democratic party. :)

[Ikonoklast]

312. I see Capt. Murka is back.

Enjoy your stay.

[Divine Discontent]

313. & when you left, you left behind their anti-abortion rights, anti-Gay adoption/marriage, anti-union,

anti-Earth, pro-corporate profits regardless of it hurting the workers, pro-warfare views hopefully also, I am assuming by your coming here. If so, welcome!

[Jackeens]

315. Well....

He's 'pro-life' (but "let the women fight over it"), he's not, eh, hugely enthusiastic about gay marriage, he's "fiscally conservative" ("The Heritage fun and the Cato Institute are great examples of groups pushing fiscal conservatism"), he's for "very limited social entitlements" and regarding Pakistan he wants to "kill the bastards". Other than that he's quite progressive.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Divine Discontent]

338. Well, isn't that special. So, he's a hard conservative "Democrat" now? I want him to know he cannot

be a part of this site, as it's already been discussed LONG ago, if he's not for full equality for Gay people (and all people for that matter). And the 'very limited social entitlements" thing just sends a huge red flag up to me - and the 'let the women fight over it' is not very positive, he should state support for all people to do with their body as they choose.

Great, so yet another jump off the sinking stinking GOP ship, while still holding your anti-progressive views and claim you're a Democrat - sorry, that's not the FUTURE_OF_THE_PARTY, not by any means - and I would gladly accept him stating he's not any of that anymore - people can change, but I don't want anyone here that doesn't share core Democratic viewpoints. They have other sites. Thanks JACKEENS! you rock!

[Jackeens]

342. Not sure what he is, Divine Discontent: I'm guessing a hard conservative Spiderman fan?

You rock back!

[Divine Discontent]

343. thank you!

[JustAnotherGen]

316. Welcome

You should have been here during the primaries! You would have said, "Heck no! I won't go!"

Anyhoo - didn't read through all of the others' responses but I give you a lot of credit for 'coming out of the Republican closet' so openly. I was born Democratic Party and will die Democratic Party - but I was scared of these people for a few years. I lurked, I read.

Then I put on my teflon big girl panties and jumped right in. Helleeeeeeeer!

[YOY]

317. He was here during the primaries.

You really should have read the other posts first.

[JustAnotherGen]

358. Ahhh

But a lot of times - those of us who can't access DU during the day come and look at threads at night. You can spend 15 minutes getting through the tit for tat bickersons crap here.

[Liberty Belle]

319. Welcome! Robert Kennedy once said that 80% of Republicans

are just uneducated Democrats. (No uneducated as in stupid, but merely uninformed about policies and politics) The more people learn about what the Republican Party really stands for (and the dark, hateful side you've reference here is certainly its seamy underbelly) the more they are apt to reject such hatred, bigotry and lack of compassion and join the Democratic Party.

One is the party of powerful corporations and special interests. The other is the party of the people.

Of course there are many who linger in limbo as decline to state or who join a third party, and that is understandable too.

At any rate, welcome to DU.

[pitchforksandtorches]

323. It is not

too late!

Republicanism is a mental illness.

The country will not be safe until every Republican is sedated and under the care of a mental health professional.

[BlooInBloo]

324. Wow. People are *still* falling for this. Is there ANYTHING DUers won't fall for?

[tekisui]

368. There is simultaneously nothing DU won't fall for and nothing

that DU will fall for. We're a big mixed bag of nuts, ya know.

[GrimReefa]

326. Arlen Specter, trend setter

[Colobo]

329. I left the GOP in 2006, and haven't even looked back.

Welcome aboard.

[QC]

330. This site is full of Republicans now, so you'll fit right in!

Or, I should say, you would fit right in, if you were for real.

[ruggerson]

341. +1

[Autumn]

365. Bookmarking for the best reply ever,

[QC]

367. Thanks! n/t

[bullwinkle428]

373. ...

You just made my whole fucking day, QC!!

[happyslug]

336. Some comments on the Traditional divisions within the GOP

Both parties are coalition, some members are not even on talking terms with each other but are in the same coalition. The classic situation was FDR retaining the Southern segregationist while catering to Civil Rights for Blacks, the later to recruit Northern Blacks to the Democratic Party, the Majority of Blacks in the US were Republicans till the 1930s, the chief reason for Stevenson defeat by Eisenhower in 1952 was 1/3 of all blacks voted for the GOP (The last time that occurred).

Now the GOP is made up of the following groups:
1. Northern Rural Voters, these people vote how their ancestor shot in the Civil War (Southern Whites did the same till the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights act). These Northern rural voters vote GOP on the local levels and carry that to the State and National Levels. The problem for the GOP is this group has become less and less enchanted by the GOP. This group want the Government to fix the roads, provide Education, and help society as a whole, objectives that the present GOP has been abandoning since Reagan. Like southern white (who are noted for voting Democratic at local elections, GOP in national elections) Northern Rural Voters have started to vote Democratic on the state and National level while staying GOP for local elections. The Local rural GOP is still staying on traditional GOP role as Government is a necessary evil, but the key it is necessary and as such provides more good then evil.
2. Wall Street/ "Hamiltonians" i.e. follower of Hamilton and his policy that what Government should do is help business. These are at present the strongest group within the GOP for the simple reason they have the most money. Whenever they get control over the GOP you get something like we have today, a Government that does all it can to help the Rich but tells the working class and the poor that they are on they own.
3. The Edmund Burke Conservatives. Edmund Burke was an English politician (Believed to have been a Catholic, but never admitted to be such for that would have prevented him from being a member of the English Parliament when he was a member in the late 1700s). He supported the American Revolution but opposed the French Revolution for the former was a revolt AGAINST change, the later was a Revolt for Change. Burke believe society should NOT change unless it was clear that the change was for the good, change for change sake should be avoided, but change that is needed must be done. These have always been the intellectual back bone of the GOP (In many ways Hamilton was more a follower of Burke then he was a "Hamiltonian" I described above). Burke opposed the French Revolution for it represented a radial break with the past, a break that was to severe to be done quickly and in Burke's view would lead to more problems then solution. The Classic case for the Burkean Conservatives was the 1964 Civil Rights Act, it was just a modest change and a much needed one thus more GOP congressmen voted for it then Democratic Congressmen (Remember a good number of Democratic Congressmen in the 1960s were still Southern Segregationist that opposed to the 1964 Civil Rights Act). After the collapse of the GOP during the Great Depression, but before Nixon opt for his "Southern Strategy" this was the major force within the GOP. It has since been sidelined by the Neo-cons.
4. Southern Conservatives. Both the Democratic party and the GOP had members who were into power for power sake, a strong military but minimal domestic spending (Such Domestic spending, in this groups eyes, did nothing but weaken the ability of employers to exploit their employees). This group, like the wall street barons above, want the ability to exploit anything to make money, even if it means it harms other people, the planet or anyone else. This group oppose Government restrictions as to how they can spend their money, what they can buy and how they dispose of their waste. This group believe that NONE of that is the concern of Government. In the Democratic Party this was the people most for segregation. In the GOP the most opposed to government regulation of the Economy, pollution etc. This differ from the Wall Street Barons only in that they tend to have less money but more people (Thus the Wall Street Baron have done they best to help this group, for it shares much of the same view as Wall Street but at the local level as opposed to Wall Street).
5. The religious Right. Now the Religious right has had a strange history. Prior to the 1950s, it was part of the Democratic Party(and in some parts of the Rural South still is). This group is often used by group #4 to stay in power by group #4 (and Wall Street) telling them that if they vote GOP the GOP will make sure their religious views are not only protected but implemented as much as possible. This groups is pro-choice and Anti Gay Marriage (Through only part of it is truly anti-gay). They would like support for religious education but oppose restrictions on how they spend that money. They believe if a more "Christian" view of the world is adopted by the Government, the world would be a better place. Till the 1960s these were solidly Democratic, mostly do to the Democratic party attitude to help individuals and groups of lower income. In the 1950s, as desegregation became bigger and bigger, these groups were used to justify segregation, various parts of the Bible was used to show segregation was "God's way". Martin Luther King was attacked excessively for as a minister he was not viewed even by whites as in league with the Devil, but he opposed segregation. The real swing occurred with Abortion, for abortion was clearly NOT a racist issue so could be used to to get this group to vote for the GOP who constantly said they would abolish abortion. Many old segregationist joined this revival and swung from opposing desegregation to opposing abortion. Many religious people were able to forgive people for they previous stand on race and accept the attack on abortion. During the Desegregation fight, the Democratic Hold over the Religious Right weakened as the National Democratic Party embraced desegregation. With the abortion issue the GOP saw a chance to move these former Democrats to the GOP by pining abortion onto the Democrats and portraying themselves as Anti-abortion. This worked for over 30 years, but only as long as the GOP could claim it was out of office OR stop by the Democrats do to the Democrats control of at least one branch of the Government. That ended in 2000 when Bush won the Presidency and the GOP retained control of the House and Senate. Furthermore every GOP Supreme Court Nominee since Reagan has been presented as Anti-abortion and pro religious right. The problem was the GOP failed to do anything for the Religious right. Month service was provided, but no national law as to abortion. No National law for financing religious schools, no national program to support the Religious Right. Furthermore the Religious right had a problem with the Iraq war, it was clearly NOT a "Just War" as most christian doctrine have held to be a requirement since the days of Thomas Aquinas, and while some of the religious right was willing to ignore almost all of the above, most of the religious right wanted some show of support for their agenda. The problem was the Right wing Religious agenda involved spending money that did NOT go to Wall Street nor to those people who wanted power for power sake. In many ways this lack of response to the Religious right lead the Religious right to boycott the last two elections. They would NOT vote for a Democrat but would also not vote for a Republican (in many ways the Vote on Same Sex marriage in California was a God send to the GOP, it lead to a turn out of the Religious Right that strengthen the GOP candidates running in California, which some people believe was the plan from day one i.e. Get the Religious right out to vote against Gay Marriage and while they in the booth they will cast their vote for the GOP candidate. Now a lot of blacks came out and voted against Gay Marriage, but most lived in Solidly Democratic districts, the GOP wanted the vote out in the marginal district, where the GOP could lose the seat. In 2008 the religious right was ineffective, with many of its members either voted for Democrats or stayed at home (The Majority voted for the GOP, but NOT in the numbers in the recent past).

AS you can see these are the Five main groups within the GOP. The Rural Farmers are leaving as are the Burkean conservatives. The Religious right is standing on the side line leaving only Wall Street and their allies the Southern Conservative leadership still active within the party. These two groups are NOT big enough for the GOP to win back control of the Government, but neither is willing to make the compromises needed to get the other three groups back in. This happened in 1936, after losing the 1932 election the GOP retreated to its then inner core, Wall Street and its supporters and lost all but two states in 1936. In 1940 the GOP realized it had to broaden its base and nominated an ex-new dealer. In 1944 and 1948 the GOP ran a tough on Crime ex-DA (Dewey), while emphasizing that inner cities were controlled by the Democrats and how corrupt such cities had been since the Civil War (While ignoring the fact that until the 1920s, with the biggest exception of New York City where both parties fought for control of the city, almost every city in the US was GOP controlled. Yes, when the Cities were they most corrupt, the GOP controlled them). These old GOP city bosses were just northern versions of what I called "Southern Conservatives:" i.e. more concern about how they can use government to enrich themselves and their friends then in doing what is good for society).

It took the GOP till 1952 to win back control of the Presidency. While the GOP had regained control of the House in 1946, the passage of the Taft Hartley act and other restrictions on the New Deal acts, convinced enough americans NOT to put them back in till 1994. Eisenhower won with a GOP controlled Senate, but he lost it within two years and the Senate stayed Democratic till Reagan. All during that time period the GOP tried to get people to vote for them but could not for the simple reason no one trusted them when it came to domestic policies (Till 1994). Since 1994 the GOP has shown that it has reverted to what the American People rejected in 1936, till 2008 the GOP kept it hidden but between Hurricane Katrina (and the lack of Government support for the victims), Bush showing how NOT to fight a war, and the downside of the housing bubble has put the GOP in the same view of the American people it had in 1936. I do not know if it is going to change. It should, but it will have to be beaten up some more before it does so. Just like the Democrats were beaten up in the 1920s (and again in the 1990s) for being viewed as being to far to the left. Sometime a party needs to be beaten up to fly right and the GOP needs that to happen to it over the next few years (OR I fear it will disappear and the Democratic Party taking its place on the Right as nature abhors a vacuum and without the GOP the Right will be a power Vacuum pulling the Democratic party to the right, a huge fear of mine for the Country has been going to the left over the last 10-15 years and if the Democratic party goes to far to the right, a new party will have to form to the left, a party that will have a hard time winning any elections).

[PBS Poll-435]

339. That is like *way too much work* for this thread

But I enjoyed reading it.

[Jackeens]

340. You crack me up PBS Poll-435

[PBS Poll-435]

Oh You!

I always love your threads and I think we all saw a different side of you today!

Good work you and Starry!

[ShadowLiberal]

344. That was part of why I left the GOP years ago

I grew up a republican in a republican household, but then when I was in high school (I'm only 23) I started to slowly open my eyes, and think more in depth about issues instead of just over simplifying things like 'I hate taxes so less taxes are good' like I did before. By the time Bush invaded Iraq I started to think of myself as an independent who didn't like Bush.

When the 04' elections were about to begin I could still myself voting for republican, since I was still much more of a fiscal/economic conservative at the time, but then the 04 campaign changed me. Some of the campaign rhetoric the GOP used, like trying to appeal to patriotism to justify any war, and verbally dragging gays through the mud and dirt with their hateful fear mongering, it really just disgusted me and made me think of them as a bunch of idiotic radicals.

Yet if they had a run a better campaign, and tried to win with actual ideas instead of distractions of emotional rhetoric, they could have probably swung my vote over. I mean back then I was still kind of in the middle on abortion, sort of more being pro-life, more of a fiscal and economic conservative. The GOP may have turned out their religious right base to vote by using social issues to motivate and scare them, but they lost my vote for life probably from it.

[Canuckistanian]

345. Busted

[PBS Poll-435]

348. And then the next day...

Apology to all I have hurt(VANITY)
September 28, 2009 | Jonathan

Posted on Monday, September 28, 2009 10:51:28 PM by jdlucas04

I just wanted to apologize to all I have hurt on FreeRepublic.com. I am sorry.





http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2350500/posts

[DangerousRhythm]

356. Whoa, wtf.

Is this really the same guy?

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:jdlucas04/index?tab=... ;brevity=full;options=no-change

I don't even know what to say. If he were for real I'd welcome him like I did above, but this is just getting too weird for me so I take back my welcome! Choice quote: "...Molly Ivins isn’t one to quote. She will never be missed, sorry just don’t miss her."

I see.

[Jamastiene]

349. Just wow.

This is one welcoming party I am glad I missed. Thanks to Starry Messenger for the great work exposing this.

Too bad nobody reads any more or maybe, just maybe, this would not be one of the "Greatest" on DU.

[Orsino]

361. We don't all have to be Democrats.

If we will all work to end the hate, and the tyranny of corporate money, both parties will be better for it.

[dionysus]

369. delete.