Welcome, newbies. Introduce yourself on this thread, won't you?

[Phillycat]

We always get a lot of new posters after a big event like the debate last night. I thought I'd give you a space to introduce yourself and tell us about you. Welcome to DU! :toast:

[grannie4peace]

1. let's get it rolling :):):)

[Sukie]

42. Another newbie appreciative of the warm welcome here!

I am basically a late in life get involved in the politics of my country democrat. I am embarrassed that the single event in my life that forced me to get involved was my son being sent to Iraq as a reservist. I pointedly told my husband and friends when bush won in 2000 that he would take us into another war and I hate that I was right. I am beyond myself in anger with those that voted for him a second time and kept us hostage to this man and his administration. And I am furious now that people don't see that McCain is the same, if not worse.

[Uben]

2. I'm a nudie

Oh, I read that wrong!

[Phillycat]

3. ...

:spank:

[qanda]

4. I saw a couple of new posters last night with some very good posts

Hope they're still around today. Welcome :hi:

[five_horizons]

5. Hello... I've been here for a couple of weeks

I'm a lifelong Democrat. My dad was a union coal miner in West Virginia, and even now at age 65 and retired he still votes Democrat. As you might expect, his beliefs influenced me tremendously growing up.

My mom on the other hand is a hardcore fundie. Sweetest lady you would ever want to meet. Very loving, a wonderful mother and grandmother... but horribly out of touch with politics and what's important in the world today.

What's funny is, I'm sort of in the same situation my dad was in. I am married to a Repub, although she's not nearly the religious nut my mom is. Political debates are off limits in my house, because it always turns ugly. I just think it's funny that in both mine and my parents' houses the man is the Dem and the woman is the Repub. Usually it's the other way around when you have a split household.

I have four wonderful kids... two of which I'm sure I have molded into future Democrats, much to the chagrin of my wife. :D

I am completely addicted to this board. I am so glad I found a place where I can read the opinions of folks who feel the same way I do. Here in conservative southwest Florida, progressive voices are hard to come by.

[maseman]

6. Welcome aboard!

It is like crack...but without the crack pipe around here.

[Phillycat]

7. Welcome, five_horizons!

Glad you found a place on the internet that can be your home away from home! :toast:

You might, as a union supporter, be interested in the "Best Video of this Election" thread floating around, if you haven't seen it already. Very stirring stuff!

[five_horizons]

10. Oh yeah, I've seen it

Trumka used to be president of the United Mine Workers, as I recall. So I am very familiar with him. That video was amazing.

[Hepburn]

9. Hi, Five!

Welcome to the DU....:hi:

[Lugnut]

16. Hi there five_horizons!

:hi:

My husband is a current UMWA member and a lifelong hardcore Democrat. My dad was as well. Most miners I know understand which political party is consistently on their side.

[FatDave]

19. Welcome five_horizons

And congratulations on being able to make an across-the-aisle marriage work. I'm not sure if I could do it. My wife was pretty apolitical when we met, but I've helped shape her into a raging gay-marriage-in-every-bilingual-abortion-clinic liberal. Well, Bush did his share too.

[five_horizons]

47. Yeah, we've managed to make it work somehow

We just don't talk about it.

Every now and then it gets testy though, like yesterday... I was watching the youtube video of the SNL skit with the "sarcastic voice over guy" voicing the McCain commercials. My 14 year old son was watching over my shoulder and laughing right along.

Then later at the dinner table Palin appeared on the TV in the living room, and my son blurted out "She has soooooo muuuuch experience" in a perfect imitation of the sarcastic voice over guy. My wife just glared at me.
:rofl:

[eridani]

67. I run into Leaning Democratic and Leaning Republican in the same household when I canvass

--every now and then, anyway. I figure that the sex must be incendiary.

[dgibby]

26. HI! Please thank your dad for Me!

A lot of people in my family worked on the C&O (nowCSX)railroad, hauling those coal cars out of WVa. Your dad helped keep food on my sister's table and send her kids to school.:hi:

[five_horizons]

48. Will do!

I have a bunch of cousins and uncles who worked for CSX too. Heck, it seems like everyone who still lives up there has something to do with the coal mines.

[barack the house]

78. Place small ads in local papers for this site the more the merrier. Especially if folks live in MN.

[jakem]

8. newbees, welcome!

[VIC in MO]

11. Thanks for the welcome!

I've been lurking and reading for a long time - since back in 2003 or 4.

Just thought I'd pop my head up and let you know that MO is gonna come through for Obama/Biden. It WILL happen!

[myrna minx]

14. Yes We Can! Welcome.

:hi:

[livetohike]

21. Welcome to DU!

:hi: and go Missouri!!!!

[gratefultobelib]

29. Hey VIC--working my tail off here in KC to make it happen!!

[southpaw]

30. Welcome!!!

We need those MO votes!

[Hepburn]

39. Hi, VIC and welcome to the DU! n/t

[crossroads]

60. Welcome to DU Vic! So glad to have you here...

Yes, it will!
CR

[protect our future]

63. Hi VIC, I'm from MO and I agree -- Obama/Biden will win here! nt

[Renew Deal]

12. Hello, I'm new. I'm here for the free yams.

Turns out it's free gams.

[grammysandie]

13. I'm an oldie but newbie

I was a member here back in 2003-2004 but gave up politics for the sake of my mental health after the 2004 election. My old username doesn't work anymore, so I'm a newbie again.

I was blogging back then, too, as the Daily Dystopian. I live in Oklahoma City, where I feel like a tiny blue fish in a red, red sea. I have two beautiful little granddaughters, the youngest born just last Sunday. I'm introverted and socially inept.

Anything else you want to know, just ask.

[myrna minx]

15. Welcome back.

:hi:

[FatDave]

18. Introverted and socially inept is my favorite kind of people.

But so hard to meet... :D

[lady raven]

52. Hello from a fellow Okie!

I was born in OKC. It IS awfully red around here. I hope that one day that will be turned around.

[crazy_vanilla]

55. Wow, just like you

I became so depressed after 2004 elections, that I gave up politics forever. Or so I thought. Soon after Nov. '04 I stopped posting on DU. I lost my DU login info. This September, I thought I would dare to hope again, so I came back to DU. I've been happy here. I can unload a lot of the frustration I feel with the Republican agenda.

I am originally from blue WA state (where even my 85 year-old grandmother is a Democrat). We currently live in this bastion of red, TX. I am a band mom, a teacher, and an avid reader. Thankfully, my husband is also a Democrat. He now works with a bunch of rednecks who think that when Obama wins the Presidency, he will take all their guns away. We frequently share funny fundie stories of the day when we get home at night.

What I like about DU is that you can find intelligent conversation here, as well as have some fun bashing Republicans.

[grammysandie]

58. A customer at my husband's store told him today

that if Obama wins, he's gonna lock up all the churches.

[kath]

66. HI! We have some things in common -

after the 2004 election I feared for my mental health as well - I took up knitting (referred to by some knit-blogger as "valium on a stick") in order to keep at least semi-sane and avoid popping a blood vessel.
I also live in the OKC area - not raised here though, and come from a multi-generation liberal background (both grandfathers were union organizers and dad was head of his university faculty union for a while), and it's been tough. I cried and kicked up a fuss when hubby said we were moving to OK because of his job (which was probably a singificant factor in the shitty-ness of our marriage. He at least is a good liberal, though)
I'm intorverted too, and not great in social situations where I'm dealing with new people.

Has there ever been a DU Okie meetup? It would be fun, introvertedness aside - the "tiny blue fish in a red, red sea" thing really does suck.

[MN Treehugger]

17. Thanks for the warm welcome

I've been skulking around here since 2004 but just registered and started posting this year (albeit rarely). As the name suggests, I'm in Minnesota but I was born and raised in Michigan. My father is retired from GM and had a huge influence on my political mindset growing up. Some of my first and fondest memories are of canvassing neighborhoods at about 4 or 5 years of age with Dad for Jimmy Carter. Headquarters always had the best sandwiches.

My mother was also a union member and was involved a very messy year-long strike at Jet Electronics in Grand Rapids, Michigan back in the day. That strike was very hard on our family and really initiated me at a young age as to the ugly business of union busting.

I myself am an AFSCME member and have been involved in 2 strikes as well in my career. So I guess you could say the union ties run deep. I'm not a registered Democrat but I'm a godless, commie, treehugging librul (well, according to my fundie sister) so I think I'm in good company here. :) Fortunately she's the only one in the family that engages in Chimpthink - my husband is also true blue.

I also enjoy long walks off short docks and the unparalleled thrill of popping extra large bubble wrap. Any other questions, feel free to ask away!

[livetohike]

20. Welcome to DU!

fellow treehugger :hi:

[Hellataz]

22. Hi new but getting the hang of it, ..i hope.

This forum format is a bit confusing and "busy" at time for me, but the more i visit the better i am able to navigate through it. I tend to be more of a topic started then replier. I have a lot of strong, passionate views and lots of rants especially about this joke of a GOP ticket, like the last one we had wasn't bad enough. I'm glad to be here I just hope i can keep up, thing move so quickly here.

[deadparrot]

38. I'm sure you'll pick it up in no time!

We're glad to have you here! :hi:

[eridani]

68. The topic forums are more focused

Also, you don't get threads archived in just a couple of days, so there's time for more extended discussion.

[gabby garcia]

23. I'm nubile

does that count?

O8)
gg

[HERVEPA]

24. You betcha' (nt)

[EstimatedProphet]

25. I'm EstimatedProphet, and I'm an alcoholic

Oops! Wrong thread, sorry!

[Kajsa]

84. -----

:spank: :rofl:

[anneboleyn]

27. I am new -- I joined a few weeks ago and before that I would read posts

My husband and I live in Indiana because we teach here (I have posted about Indiana going blue this year, possibly). We are in our thirties and we are academics. We live near Indianapolis. Two elderly male siamese cats live in our house and they protest very loudly when they are not fed exactly on time (to the minute!) every day.

Some members of our (extended) family are staunch democrats, while others are lifelong republicans. This year it looks like everyone who is voting is voting for Obama, even if he/she voted republican before.

Thanks for the welcome!

[deadparrot]

36. Welcome, anneboleyn!

:hi:

[Jackeens]

28. I think I'm still a newbie!

Any way, I love this forum with a passion....as I rambled on about the other night. I made a big mistake last night, though - I gave an honest opinion and said I thought Palin started the debate well (ie she had her script memorized), although anyone with half a brain could see Joe came good and showed her up for what she is: a moron. So, I got abused by a regular, I PM'ed him to ask him why he was abusing me, he replied and said lots of people were "watching" me, that I was a troll and, basically, wasn't welcome on DU. Jeez. If I'm a Republican why have I created an Obama channel on YouTube, with over 20 pro-Obama and anti-McCain/Palin videos with almost 150,000 views, many of which DUers have been kind enough to say they enjoyed? It was a kind of depressing experience to be on the receiving end of such bile when, with all my heart, I want Barack Obama elected. Sorry for going on - I'll get abuse for this too! - but it was all a bit upsetting. But keep up the great work, this is an awe-inspiring forum.

[gratefultobelib]

32. Oh my goodness. Pay no attention to whoever that was! Your post the other

night regarding Obama was BEAUTIFUL. It made me cry. And for what it's worth, I thought Palin started off strong myself. I thought "Uh-oh, this is not going to be the massacre everyone was expecting."

[Jackeens]

44. Thank you SO much, and....

...sorry for going on about, it was just so nasty it left me kind of deflated. But I'm up again - OBAMA 08!!!

[annabanana]

37. "lots of people watching"?

DU don't really roll like that.. The only "people" with juice are the mods & administrators, and they are not intolerant, as a whole.

Sometimes a thick skin is required here.

[Jackeens]

45. I accept that...

...and it's been confirmed, no one is watching me! You're right, I need a thicker skin, working hard on developing one! Thanks.

[beac]

69. I learned just the other night that some posters here

seem to troll around looking for people to harass. They went after me about something not even related to politics but PET SAFETY, if you can believe it.

Luckily, they are quite few and far between. Most people here are lovely. :)

[crazy_vanilla]

56. I am so sorry Jackeens

Will a hug help? :hug:

This is a free country and you have a valid opinion, so never be afraid to share it. The person who was abusing you is doing a disservice to Obama and the Democratic ticket. If we as Democrats are not accepting and supportive of each other, then who will be?

[stillcool]

81. Aren't you the poster with the babies?

[MnAttorney]

31. Long time Lurker, First Time Poster

[gratefultobelib]

33. Minnesota is looking good! I just donated to the Franken campaign again--what are his chances?

[FreeState]

34. Welcome :) n/t

[Hepburn]

40. Hi and welcome...I am a retired Calif Atty! n/t

[jefferson_dem]

64. Welcome aboard, MnAttorney.

Nice avatar.

Here's to our mutual appreciation for one of MN's favorite sons. :toast:

[beac]

70. Perfect place for a first post!

Welcome! :hi:

[Adelante]

35. Welcome newbies

:)

[liberalMOmama]

41. I've been reading here for a while

but just started posting about a week or two ago. I'm volunteering for the Obama campaign and am a stay at home mom with three kids. I'm a football, baseball and soccer mom. Oh and also a PTO mom so I'm hoping for a Cabinet position of some sort. I've personally turned my neighborhood blue by obtaining a yard sign for everyone who wanted one. It's very cool to see all the Obama signs this year because 4 years ago there were barely ANY Kerry signs. I think we are up to 16 signs now compared to 6 McCain signs but keep in mind that this isn't a real yard sign sort of neighborhood.

My biggest triumph to date is personally converting a PUMA to Obama. He even attended a debate party at an Obama office with me last night! Happy to be here!

[beac]

72. Good work!

Especially on the PUMA-to-Obama! You should be appointed Secretary of Miracles for that one. ;)


Welcome! :hi:

[LSK]

43. well some 5 years ago, I was a Deaniac looking for a good website to post at

:D

[amber_86]

46. Hello new been here for few weeks now

Glad I found this great website love it, well I think mother loves it more then me. This would be my second time to vote for the next president.

[MamaDem]

49. Sorta new, I guess...my long-winded intro....

FL dem working the campaign for the first time. I'm that interesting target group - white, working, educated (oops, I guess that's why Palin power doesn't work on me!), Christian, Florida mom. Obama has been my candidate since I studied his 2004 speech in my communications senior seminar class in 2005. I recall coming home to my husband and telling him I had read the greatest speech of my generation and this candidate was going to change the Democratic party. I am LOVING the thrill of watching Obama live up to what I saw so long ago and I am forever grateful to my professor who had us watch his speech over and over again, and analyze the nuance and depth of his message. I highly recommend that we not only watch his delivery but read the text of Obama's speeches, his 2004 and his current acceptance speech - the man is brilliant.

I also want to say how much I have enjoyed seeing the discussion on this site. It's really invigorating and stimulating - this is a group of really SMART people and that gives me such hope - not a bunch of "joe six-packs" (I HATE that term!)

I also have to say that as a Untied Methodist, I really am so happy to support a candidate that I really think lives up to the principles upon which I try to live my life - I'm certainly not perfect - nor are most religions, but his focus on community and helping his fellow man, he walked the talk before he HAD the talk.

Anyway, thank you for this site and the welcome. I love it!

[kevinds13]

50. Fairly new

I've been lurking here since high school (5 years ago), mostly reading the Top 10 Conservative Idiots List. I did canvassing for John Kerry in 2004 with my mom in the Kansas City area. Now I'm down in Springfield, MO phone banking, canvassing, and registering people to vote for Barack while I'm here for college.

Being leftist was never really a decision for me, because that would be saying choosing the wrong way to live life was actually an option. Liberal, Democratic philosophies are simply common sense.

I'm looking forward to making friends with you guys and working together to get us the Senate, the House, the Courts, and history: Barack leading everything.

Doesn't that sound good?

:toast:

[protect our future]

65. Hi kevinds, how nice to see another fellow Missourian here!

Thank you so much for your work in Springfield, and previously for John Kerry.

If you get a chance, please post something in the Missouri forum here and let us know how things are going in Springfield. And if you run into any problems that seem insurmountable, the Obama Truth Squad is active in Missouri and will help any way they can. Just let them know by posting in any thread in the Missouri forum.

We're gonna turn MO blue!

[JimWis]

51. Hi all. I am somewhat new here -

Joined last month - found the web site by accident, read the posts for a week and thought, wow, I really want to be part of this place. Been a Democrat all my life, and have just in the last few years realized more what that really means, which affirmed it for me. I am a widower, a veteran, and recently semi-retired, which has given me more time to do things like watch C-Span and follow the political process. The presidential races have always been important to me, but nothing like this year. I have never seen a candidate as great as Obama, and have never wanted anyone to win so bad. I have been fed up for the last 8 years. I have been especially angry in the last 4 years, still trying to figure out how in the hell this country could re-elect Bush. Or as I like to say, President Cheney and his puppet Bush. And, as many of you, I am not real sure that he did really win. I have also been able to keep up on all that is happening and have learned so much, all because of this place. So thank you all for that. I just keep on learning. Oh - and I getting addicted this DU.

[Raine]

53. WELCOME to all the newbies

glad you're here!!! :hi: :bounce:

[mscuedawg]

54. If still being under 1000 posts is a newbie...here I be!

I love this place...:loveya:

Welcome to all the fellow newbies... :hug:

[crazy_vanilla]

57. welcome to you too, mscuedawg

:hug: :hi:

[mscuedawg]

59. Thanks much!

:hi:

[Witchy_Dem]

61. Newbie Poster - Old Lurker

I'm getting better about posting.

We live in Alaska. We lived in Anchorage until 2000 and moved to Baltimore. Now we're back in Alaska. Wasilla no less. Like I said in the lounge I started getting all sorts of emails and phone calls from family and friends when Palin got nominated like I was some sort of expert. I'm not.


*waves HI*

[beac]

73. But, but you can SEE Sarah from your house!!! HOW can you NOT be an expert???

And thanks for helping protect us all from scary Rearing Head of Putin thing, too. ;)


But seriously-- Welcome, welcome! :hi:

[NHDEMFORLIFE]

62. Longtime lurker, newbie poster

Have lived in NH for all of my 50 years, went to UNH, now live in Nashua.
My political claim to fame: At the age of 18 I ran for state rep in Exeter. Now, the NH legislature is the second largest legislative body in the world, and in 1976 the town of Exeter (population then about 12,000) had five reps. I finished ninth out of 10, but it was a strong ninth.

[PatSeg]

71. What a great idea!

Welcome to all the newbies!

[PBS Poll-435]

74. Hey Jane! I am a newby.

I am but 25-30 years on this earth. It has been around much longer. Much, much longer.

I was new to DU about 4 years ago this November, so I guess, in the grand scheme of things, I am a newby.

:P

[voteearlyvoteoften]

75. Democrats are cool

I feel right at home here. The passion...the humor, all good. The important threads are getting through and the silly ones are so much fun. Keep up the good fight! We are Democrats...intelligent and fun.

[lamp_shade]

76. kick

[amr3997]

77. Life-long democrat here.........

Hello DU! I've been lurking for the past few weeks and I just wanted to say this is a great place and I'm glad to be here! I've been donating to the Obama campaign and registering voters for the past few months here in Florida and I'm really hoping for a shocker on Nov 4th!

[Northofyou]

79. Been lurking for a while

I am Canadian and very excited by this election. Hope everything goes according to the polls. I must admit, this election is surreal, better than any soap opera I ever seen. I am secretly wishing for a McCain implosion of some sort. G'OBMAMA!

[TwoBears]

80. Newbie Here

I've been lurking for quite some time and just recently decided to join. I grew up in a democratic household but I married the opposition. Took me some time, but finally turned him into a democrat when Clinton came on the scene.

I always end up reading here before I turn in for the night just to get my spirit uplifted. It helps to realize that there is sanity out there in cyberspace.

[Azlady]

82. Another Newbie -

From Arizona, wishing I was back home. Took an IT job here, sure it would last... got laid off AGAIN... working the IT industry. Fearful of living out of cardboard box here soon. I wish we could just hold the elections today, get Obama in office NOW instead of January. I'm so glad I found DU. Thanks for being here for all of us.

Wondering when the heck I get PM options! Have some friends on the board that I would love to communicate with!

Joy

[BlooInBloo]

83. Hi nubbins! Don't mind me - I'm an asshole to *everyone*!

:P

[Kajsa]

85. Welcome to all the newbies!

Thanks, Janesez!

This is a great idea.
:)

[juldav]

86. Finally - after many years of lurking

Found DU many years ago and actually registered in 2007, which I didn't remember until I tried to register again this morning. Being a newbie, thought this would be an opportune time to post on this thread and thank you all for helping me keep my sanity during this election process. I am a DU addict and I admit it. Live in liberal MA. so I don't have the frustrations many of you have with being in a red state. All of my immediate family are independents, all voting for Obama, extended family has a few republicans, but they are far outnumbered by the rest of us.

[Kajsa]

87. Welcome, Juldav!

Check out the various forums here to get a good idea
what DU is about.

Welcome, again.

:hi: :pals:

[nannycee]

88. Thank you for the welcome!

I'm glad to be here. I've actually been reading for a long time but just decided to post. I've been a life-long Democrat and proud of it! I have had a bad ankle and just had surgery yesterday so I try to help by making phone calls. :) I guess that says something when, the day after outpatient surgery, you wake up and go to DU first. :)

Thanks again! Looking forward to reading more!

[Johnny2X2X]

89. Intro

I'm a lifelong Democrat who loves my country. I've donated time and money to the local effort in West Michigan so when McCain pulled out this week from my state it felt like a win.

I have some of the same core beliefs that most of the Country, Republican and Democrat, share:

I am pro-choice
I believe in gun ownership, but that there should be some gun control
I believe there should be some type of single payer health care for all Americans.
I believe we should have a foreign policy focused on diplomacy.
I believe we live in a Liberal Democracy and that this country was founded upon Liberal principles.

[Phillycat]

90. Welcome to all of you!

What a great response on this thread. I love to hear the stories about how people ended up in this corner of the internets. :D

Keep 'em coming! :hi:

[Vlapper]

91. I am a first time poster, long time lurker

I have been lurking here, I first visited in 2004 and lurked here and I kind of fizzled out after we lost the election, but I've been coming on here as a lurker since last year again. I hope everyone likes me.

[occe]

92. I met Biden at an Iowa rally in 2004

And took a picture with him, little did I know I met the next VP of the United States ;) I wont post alot, but I like these forums :)

[b2b55]

93. Hi, I'm new to posting here, but have lurked for a few months

I live in Florida. I've been totally frustrated since 2000.

[ZoltarSpeaks]

94. Thanks from a longtime lurker in Minnesota

Greetings from Minnesota, the land of Paul Wellstone, Al Franken, the Coen brothers, and Leo Kottke. Let me also take a moment to apologize on behalf of my state for bringing you Michelle Bachmann, Norm Coleman, and Tim Pawlenty's original Bridge to Nowhere (after it fell down).

We're feeling pretty Blue around here these days, in the good sense.

I have been a registered but non-posting DU lurker since 2004 (under a different name, which was foolishly the same as my eBay ID). I have wanted to re-register under a more appropriate user name and come out for some time, but I didn't think troll-hunting season before this election was a good time to take my first walk in the woods.

I appreciate the welcoming post as a safe venue to my first reply. I hope I can contribute as I learn.

[always_saturday]

95. Commie from NoVA checking in

...this morning I did a poll of all the yards in my Fairfax County subdivision - and I counted SEVEN signs for Obama and ONE for McBush.

[deoxyribonuclease]

96. Greetings

I've been an independent since the first election I was old enough to vote in (2000), but I've almost always sided with the Democratic Party on many issues. We need to put a STOP to the ignorance, divisiveness, and utter stupidity of uninformed, uneducated Republicans and reclaim our nation!

Barack Obama has displayed incredible tact and skill in running his campaign, and he has showed that he understands the causes of what plagues the US, not only the symptoms.