Are You A Democrat?

[Mark E. Smith]

I know this is Democratic Underground and all, but it also seems apparent to me that many here are
kind of on the fence about the party we are all supposedly supporting here.

Where do you stand?

[Sherman A1]

1. What did Will Rogers say?

I belong to no organized political party --- I am a Democrat. Or something like that...

[oberliner]

4. Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock. nt

[PresidentWar]

15. I have an on-again-off-again relationship

with the Democratic Party. You might say we're almost like codependent lovers.

We hate each others habits, but when we have to circle the wagons, we'd take a bullet for each other. She squeezes the toothpaste from the middle of the tube, but I still cant imagine a morning without her. She flips when I leave my socks in the sink, but everytime I go to pack my bags for good, she stops me and makes a candlelight dinner.

I lambast her offerings for elected positions - and then attend teach ins to try and get her numbers up. She supports wars and abets some of the most authoritarian shit I've seen in my life time....and right as I'm ready to go totally Red, she stands up to the neonazis and reminds me why I was once unflinching at her side.

We fight, but we can't split forever. Everytime we separate I tell her that I'm doing it for her own good, so that she'll grow and change into a better mate. She patiently waits for me to wear out my fury, and leaves the back door open so the neighbors don't have to see me come slinking back in, pride in tatters.

I suppose it will always be this way.

[rosesaylavee]

2. Those who are not sure why they are here

should check out rule #2:

2. Who We Are: Democratic Underground is an online community for Democrats and other progressives. Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office. Democratic Underground is not affiliated with the Democratic Party, and comments posted here are not representative of the Democratic Party or its candidates.

7. More Information: For a detailed explanation of how we enforce these rules, please click here http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules_detai...

[LaurenG]

3. Wow

I guess someone has to do it, I'm just glad I wasn't given the job of overseeing opinions. :sarcasm:

There is nothing to be afraid of, really! People have all sorts of opinions and I'm pretty sure we all know why we're here.:eyes:

[Sherman A1]

5. Yes, that seems to be a popular thing

I have run into the "opinion police", several times lately...

[rosesaylavee]

6. Are you objecting to the

rules or my posting of #2? Not sure what has made you angry.

[Sherman A1]

7. Not angry at all - just amused

[rosesaylavee]

8. Happy to hear that.

[LWolf]

10. Some of rule #2 generally tends to be overlooked,

occasionally leading some DUers to attempt to show others the cyber-door.

2. Who We Are: Democratic Underground is an online community for Democrats and other progressives. Members are expected to be generally supportive of progressive ideals, and to support Democratic candidates for political office. Democratic Underground is not affiliated with the Democratic Party, and comments posted here are not representative of the Democratic Party or its candidates.

I'm the DUer in the bolded part; as for the rest, I am a registered Democrat and I support PROGRESSIVE Democratic candidates who have positions and strong records on progressive ideals.

[rosesaylavee]

11. I agree.

There are many posts I've seen since early spring of this year that seem to want to divert focus from progressive or democratic issues. With the midterms coming up, we need to stay on target if we want to take back Congress.

edit for spelling

[sandnsea]

20. I disagree

The part of the rule that is most often overlooked is the part you overlooked - support Democratic candidates for political office - and I'm not surprised. The rule doesn't say only support the Democrats you want and dump on the rest, that would be a very Liebermanish thing to do.

[OzarkDem]

21. Agree, support all Dem candidates

Go to the Green Underground if you want to bash Dems and support Green (GOP) candidates.

[LWolf]

23. I didn't overlook it;

it's right there in the complete quote. It's certainly true that I put issues before party. I've never wanted to be a member of an exclusive club who made all the rules for me. When it comes to my politics, it's all about issues. When it comes to party politics, it's the party's job to earn my vote; I don't owe votes to any particular organization. I am a registered Democrat because I see the Democratic Party as the political organization most likely to take on the issues, and I completely support party efforts to do that when I see it happening.

It isn't "Liebermanish" to say that issues will always come before party with me. It's consistent with my personal and political history. I've never taken any pledge to give over my vote to what an organization thinks is best, rather than what I think is best. I never will.

Regardless, I'm still a registered Democrat, and I support any efforts the party makes on issues of concern to me. I support any Democratic candidates who have acceptable positions and records on those issues. That's my responsibility as a thinking voter: not to give over my vote like a blank check, but to hold those on the receiving end accountable.

[sandnsea]

25. Not relevant to this board or the rule

"support Democratic candidates for political office" That's the rules of the board. You don't want to do that in your private life, that's your choice. As it pertains to this board, the rule is when it's election time, support the D on the ballot, period. If it applies to Lieberman, it applies to the Greens and anybody else too. Don't like it, create your own forum.

[LWolf]

27. That's pretty accurate.

There is no DU rule that says I have to support any particular Democratic candidate in my private life. I have to support Democratic candidates when, or if, I discuss them on this board
Should I not privately support a Democratic candidate in any particular race, I am not in violation of the rule at DU unless I actively speak against the Democrat, or in favor of a non-democrat, while posting on this board. That hasn't happened, and it won't happen.

There's nothing "Liebermanish" about it. I do consider the "Liebermanish" comment a personal attack.

If you think it is a worthwhile use of your time, you are welcome to follow me around the board to see if I ever "dump on" any specific candidate who has officially declared for any specific race. Or search to your heart's content for any post of mine suggesting that any DUer ought to vote for a non-Democrat. Good luck with that. :popcorn:

Meanwhile, I'll chalk this conversation up to another of those where one DUer attempts to decide whether another "belongs." :eyes:

[sandnsea]

28. So what's your beef

You're making up problems where none exist if you agree that this is a board for supporting Democrats for election. You're the one that went all haywire when somebody posted the rule, I don't know why anybody would unless they objected to following the rule. It appears to be your problem so you can chalk it up anyway you want to I guess.

[LWolf]

30. Is it possible

that you read a different tone into my post?

I started to say that I don't have a "beef," and then realized that's not quite true.

I have an irritation, which led me to post the rule again. There are fairly frequent posts demanding party loyalty and suggesting that this is a board for the Democratic Party, and anyone who doesn't toe the party line ought to leave. I find that to be inaccurate according to the rule as well as discourteous.

[sandnsea]

31. Only as it pertains to 3rd party candidates

And the rule is pretty clear on that, although by your own post you choose to ignore that reality. If folks don't want to support the Dem candidate on the ballot, they either need to go elsewhere or shut up, according to the rules. I don't expect it to be tolerated for Lieberman supporters, and what's good for the goose and all of that. You can take it as any kind of insult you want, but bashing, oh I mean constructively criticizing, the Democrat on the ballot is no different than Lieberman bashing Lamont. It's a pretty easy thing to understand.

[LWolf]

42. I don't think I ever referred to 3rd party candidates in any context. n/t

[sandnsea]

44. So you support the Democratic candidates then I guess

Which leads me back to wonderng what your beef is.

[Debs]

41. I know exactly why I am here

I love this place. It says Democrats and OTHER PROGRESSIVES. I am most definitely an 'other progressive'. I vote Democratic about 95% of the time, and the other five percent, well lets just say I would as soon cut off my right hand as vote for a Republican. I certainly take a backseat to NO ONE in the area of supporting progressive ideals. I sometimes feel like the poster who says he has the relationship of a codependent lover with the Democratic party. They piss me off at times. I have lately felt like they need a lot more backbone but there is no QUESTION the GOP is the bad seed. I have never seen a republican I could vote for to catch dogs in my hometown.

[lpbk2713]

9. I registered as a Dem over 40 years ago.

I have never voted other than Dem for President or Governor.


I think by now I can say I'm a Democrat.



:kick:

[frebrd]

12. I've been a Democrat for 48 years...

(since I became old enough to vote) and have voted exclusively Democratic for all that time.

I chose the first answer, but if the Party gets any farther to the right I think I'll have to identify as a Socialist.

[NJ Democrats]

13. I'm a Dem

though not officially (as in not registered cause I'm too young.)

[Imagevision]

14. Clinton blew getting OBL as badly as Bush in Tora-Bora

[AtomicKitten]

16. GOP talking point

simplistic and not true

http://mediamatters.org/items/200407230005

[OzarkDem]

22. Interesting

Our high-post count GOP'ers are coming out these days.

[ourbluenation]

24. I had the same thought....post count is high, but sumthin aint right.

[Toots]

19. Did Clinton declare to the nation that either "We will bring him to justic

or we will bring justice to him"? Clinton was hamstrung by the GOP which defied him at every turn. No way would Congress have allowed Clinton to launch an invasion of Afghanistan to capture Bin Laden. They raised holy hell when a few missles were launched. To compare the two is intellectually dishonest..

[Greyhound]

26. This is very unusual for me to say (as it is in defense of Bill Clinton),

but that is utter bullshit. The corporate misinformation you are repeating is simply a bald-faced lie.

http://www.snopes.com/rumors/clinton.htm

[Mark E. Smith]

29. Certainly is.

Odd to see that nasty whopper resonating here.

[Doremus]

34. I'm surprised that someone with 1000+ posts isn't aware that's a lie.

What other GOP spin have you assimilated?

[PresidentWar]

43. How long did it take Rove to get that to you by email?

[Phoonzang]

17. I chose the second answer...

While the Democratic Party doesn't advocate some of the issues and causes I'm interested in, I agree with all of the issues put forth in the party's platform. At least I think I do. There may be some issue that I dissagree with the Dems on, but I can't think of one right now.

While I'd like there to be a party whose platform completely covers my interests (it would probably be something like the "Technologist Party"), there just aren't any viable alternatives. Also we don't have a parlimentary system so third parties most often do nothing but siphon votes from one of the two main parties.

[Toots]

18. I am a Registered Independent

I would not vote just because there is a D after a person's name. I would never vote for Zell Miller for instance...I am extremely Liberal and will usually vote in that vein.. Most democrats fall in that catagory...:-)

[Totally Committed]

32. Not only am I a Democrat, I am a PROUD LIBERAL Democrat...

I don't run from the label. So, yes... for now I am a Democrat. I will ALWAYS be a LIBERAL.

TC

[PresidentWar]

37. I wish there were more of those.

[El Fuego]

33. I am a registered Democrat. I always vote a straight Democratic ticket.

That makes me a Democrat. But it doesn't mean I am going to automatically fall into lockstep on every issue.

[KKKarl is an idiot]

35. The democratic

party sometimes get me mad. With the whole Lieberman issue. Some senators supporting him from the democratic party. Reid allowing him to keep his democratic party duties. Hilary supporting the war. They are the best thing going for the country but I hope one day there will come along a party that is totally progressive & does not bow to politics & always look for the good of the country.

[rhombus]

36. Voted for second choice

I'm growing increasingly disillusioned by the spinelessness of the Democratic Party.

[obreaslan]

38. Other: I guess I am an I.I.N.O.

Independent In Name Only. :)

I am not registered as having any party affiliation, but I have never voted any way other than Democratic.

I have commitment issues. Don't ask. :eyes:

[newspeak]

39. vote primarily democratic, never repuke

however, I will not lockstep to vote for someone who is way, way corrupt-I don't care what party they're representing!!!! Over the years we have had a couple of local politicians that did not deserve to run on the Democratic ticket.

[rep the dems]

40. Not registered yet, but yes I am without a doubt a democrat.

I have said before on DU that many other young people insist on not classifying themselves as democratic, but I feel that if you support the ideas of the party, you shouldn't let a few jerks within that party turn you away from it. By the way, how can anybody on DU say that our party is no different from the GOP?