I USED TO BE A REPUBLICAN. THEN I BECAME AN AMERICAN...

[banana republican]

BUT IT WAS BEFORE MOST OF YOU WERE BORN. ABOUT THE TIME JFK WAS ELECTED.

[Maat]

1. Ha!

When JFK was elected ... hmmm ... 1960 .. I was 2.

[tnlefty]

7. I was still gestating,

but I'm trying to make up for that.

[Maat]

25. HeeHee (n/t).

[upi402]

30. America became liberal after JFK due to backlash from conservatives

behaving as they were free to exercises money power.
It's happening again, but I doubt America can regroup as it did when the world was bigger and we had resources instead of massive debt.

Republicans are traitors, and the media is their tool.
:patriot:

[Maat]

35. Exactly (n/t)!

[BlueCaliDem]

2. I used to be a Republican too...

...and then my eyes opened around the time Clinton ran, and won his second term (pre Diebold, ES&S, and Sequoia days).

Maybe even a little before that, but I was living in Europe then, and didn't vote.

I did, however, see and hear the difference of opinion of the Europeans towards the United States when Reagan, then Bush41, and then Clinton were presidents.

It's always been clear, that Europeans LOVE Clinton, and when he was president IN SPITE of Republican spin and smears, Europeans truly did love Clinton the way the former generation of Europeans loved JFK (LOTS of European streets and boulevards are named after John F. Kennedy in Europe).

When I returned to the United States in January '96, and saw the immense changes for the better here since '86, it solidified for me that the Democrats are much, MUCH better at governing than Republicans, and became a Democrat.

[tsuki]

9. And people wonder why we have to visit European news sites

to find out what is happening in the rest of the world.

[EST]

13. Hell, we have to visit Al Jazeera or BBC

To find out what's happening right here in the CCCP--I mean the USA.

[BlueCaliDem]

24. If only to get a "fresh look" and perspective...

...and to truly appreciate this beautiful, wonderful, fabulous King of Countries--the good ol' U.S.of A!

It helps us to appreciate this wonderful country more with all it's trials and tribulations; all the good and all the bad; all it's diversity and opportunity.

Europeans truly do love the United States (they're jealous too, but that's because they admire our country so), and during the Clinton era, the United States was the shining STAR of STARS of the world; best country in the world; the smartest, most powerful country in the world; most compassionate; the Knight in Shining Armor in then, Yugoslavia...and I've never been more proud of my homeland, and of being American, than when I lived in Europe.

[FreedomAngel82]

21. Yes

I remember a long time ago I used to want to be a republican even though I believe deep down in my soul I've always been a liberal democrat. I've grown a lot with my views and beliefs and thanks to people like JFK, FDR, Clinton and yes even Michael Moore have helped me to "come out" as a liberal. :) Now I'm a proud one!

[BlueCaliDem]

26. I love Michael Moore, although I don't always agree with him, but...

...I admire his "cojones" because he's courageous enough to stand up for the country he so loves, and speak out against the abuses, and he's infuriated, and angry that America under Dubya's dictatorship rule is heading down the wrong, wrong way when it could be MORE with all our wealth, power, smarts, and--CLEAR--role as leader of the free world--a world that longs to follow us IF our leaders in government would only make the effort.

I too, am a proud liberal democrat! :hi:

[upi402]

31. right on. i agree that the world sees mcuh that we aren't seeing on tv

:toast:

[EST]

3. Well, granpa, does that mean another ten years and

you'll probably get it right? :toast: :hi:

hehee-I was 12

[banana republican]

14. Actually I was only 11 years old during the 1960 elections

but I remember them very well.

Most of it was about JFK's being a Catholic and "taking orders" from the Pope.

Total BS then; Total BS now

[EST]

19. Yeah, how well I remember...

The area I grew up in, in West Virginia, was pretty anti-catholic. Didn't even know one until I started junior high school.

I only beat you by a year-- May 4, 1948. During the Korean conflict, my sisters (a little older than I) used to frighten me by making me hide, when there was a plane flying over, until they could tell me whether it was an "enemy" plane or not.

[TahitiNut]

20. When I was 9 years old, I was part of the "I Like Ike" team ....

... in the playground 'King Of The Hill' games. I was seventeen when JFK was elected - and cheered him all the way. I voted for LBJ in my first Presidential election. Then, having been drafted and on orders to Viet Nam, I voted for Nixon after Bobby was assassinated and Humphrey got the Democratic nomination instead of McCarthy.

[banana republican]

22. I have never met anyone who voted for Nixon

except me in the second term(ouch ouch) my father spanking me.....

[ninkasi]

27. My long lost sibling!

I was also 17 when JFK was elected, and my first vote for president was for LBJ. Since I'm a woman, I didn't have to worry about being drafted. I still voted for Humphrey, because something about Nixon creeped me out. Not as bad as Bush creeps me out, though, not nearly.

[TahitiNut]

29. Nobody has ever creeped me out as much as Bush.

I detested Poppy Puke ... his rhetoric of elitism and classism exacerbated divisions in this country like nobody before him. Starting off with an open mind at the beginning of 2000, I rapidly discovered that Junior was an abomination in everything he did.

[PDJane]

4. I was alive..........

And becoming aware. I've voted progressive since I started to vote.

[HockeyMom]

5. I was 10 at the time

It was the first election I paid attention to. My parents, Democrats, let me stay up late to watch the coverage on election night. I went into school the next day talking about electoral votes, etc, etc. My friends thought I was MAD.

Blame JFK for hooking me on politics.

[DemonFighterLives]

10. You were Mad?

:rofl:
You gave up marbles too early for them.

[ClassWarrior]

6. That subject line would make a great sticker!

You can have your own made and pass 'em out to your friends. B-)

stickerjunkie.com

NGU.

[banana republican]

16. Feel free to make stickers

You can get the Avery labels for bumper stickers at most office supply stores.... or make your own

[DemonFighterLives]

8. I was born American er I mean Democrat

I was one when he was elected but 4 when he was shot. My memory is scarred forever.
Damn "them"!
:dem:

[banana republican]

12. GLAD TO MEET YOU "BORN AGAIN AMERICAN"

WELL SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET A GOOD MONIKER.....

[EST]

11. I remember listening to the election returns,

IIRC, in 1956 and my mother telling me I'd better pay close attention, since it would be another four years before we'd get a chance to do that again. I still believed in Santa Claus, at that point.

[shance]

15. I get what you're saying BR***

I used to be a Republican through the Bush I election of 1988, then I looked around at the world and became a Democrat. Now, I, like you, would consider myself an American. I vote more Democratic these days, however I search for honesty and courage in all of our candidates. It's a difficult process in a world where money has become the prize, not to mention, our God and in a capitalistic society, our class and our survival.

I now vote for those who show those qualities of honesty and courage, which are difficult to find in a civilization that thrives on illusion and fantasy, versus commitment to doing what is right. I will vote for them no matter how much they are an underdog, no matter how much they are outfinanced, because that is what I was brought up to do.

Those are the qualities that will save this country. No way around it.

[Rainscents]

17. I don't know what it's like to be republican since I never been one.

[banana republican]

18. Actually I wonder about that myself....

My mother was republican

I don't know what my father was since he seldom discussed it.

I do remember him going to a speach at the college where he worked ( blue collar not a teacher) where Gus Hall was speaking. He let me come with him but only after he had secreted himself and me in an upper balcony where he had the keys. Since he was the President of the Local Union I have allways wondered if he was a Dem or more liberal than that.

I do however remember him meeting with Scoop Jackson on labor issues.

[Rainscents]

28. Sounds like your Dad was Dem!

[Doohickie]

23. Lucky me!

I was born with a Democratic pedigree. My dad was a Democratic town councilman and a delegate to the 68 convention. My mom served as the office manager in my cousin's recent (and successful) bid to win election as a Democratic county legislator. I was one of the few in my Texas neighborhood with Kerry signs in the front yard last year. When one was stolen, two replaced it, then three, until I had a herd of them in my yard. And a bumper stick on the car to boot. The derision of the Repugs didn't bother me because finding other closet Dems that came out to me because I was open about it was the best reward. And there are more Dems, even in Texas, than people realize.

[troubleinwinter]

32. I've never been a republican, but voted for one in the 70s: Pete McCloskey

A republican former congressman:


"....an architect of the Endangered Species Act"

"McCloskey gained international attention for making the first House of Representatives speech calling for the impeachment of President Richard Nixon for obstruction of justice"

He served in the U.S. Congress House of Representatives from 1967 to 1983. He ran on an antiwar platform for the Republican nomination for President in 1972 but was defeated by incumbent President Richard Nixon."

"In 2004, McCloskey broke with party ranks to endorse John Kerry in his bid to unseat George W. Bush as President of the United States."

Some older DUers may remember the April 19 through April 23, 1971 protest organized by Viet Nam Veterans Against the War, where Kery testified to congress. It was thrilling when McCloskey, the republican, walked out of the capitol and joined the anti war protest, then spoke to the crowd.


"The march reformed and continued to the Capitol, with Congressman Pete McCloskey joining the procession enroute. McCloskey, and fellow Representatives Bella Abzug, Donald Edwards, Shirley Chisholm, Edmund Muskie and Ogden Reid addressed the large crowd in a show of support."

<snip>

"John Kerry, as VVAW spokesman, testified against the war for 2 hours in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before a packed room of observers and media. "

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:CcFkiM8ilmsJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_Veterans_Against_the_War+pete+mccloskey+viet+nam&hl=en

McCloskey lives in northern California and speaks about his strong concern about the state of the global environment and about our nation's "backsliding" in the struggle to protect it.

[troubleinwinter]

33. Wish we had one of these republicans today:

"McCloskey (R) gained international attention for making the first House of Representatives speech calling for the impeachment of President Richard Nixon for obstruction of justice"

[Uncle Joe]

34. I was messing in my diaper about then. n/t