8 years ago today (December 12, 2000) there was a coup in the United States.

[ColbertWatcher]

Do you remember where you were when you first heard that your voice didn't matter?

Thank you to DUer kath for reminding me!

[Shiver]

1. Probably getting high

I smoked a lot of weed back then... :smoke:

[ColbertWatcher]

2. I remember looking at the TV in complete shock.

The whole family was.

[Shiver]

3. I was still in my freshman year of high school then.

It took me about a year before I started really getting into politics. I already knew I didn't like Bush, but I naively thought he'd be nothing but a one-term, placeholder president.

I should have realized that in this day and age, there is no such thing anymore.

[Z_I_Peevey]

32. My then-son-in-law walked in my front door and asked me

why I looked so stricken. I told him what was going on. His words back in that long-age age when we thought the rule of law had meaning: "But, but, they can't do that!"

Well they did it, and they got away with it too.

[reggie the dog]

21. me too

while driving home from school I think, I heard it on ther radio, got angry and put on some kind of heavy metal.

[Shiver]

51. I don't remember where I was exactly

I think I was in my friend's basement, watching the news and listening to Skinny Puppy and seeing if it synced up (not with Too Dark Park, unfortunately, although VIVIsectVI came surprisingly close). Also had some Dominoes.

[onehandle]

4. Confirming our reservations for DC.

Instead of going to see Gore sworn in we ended up in the freezing rain, screaming at smirk's darkened limo as it sped by us at 30 mph for the safety of the White House and a carefully selected crowd.

[ColbertWatcher]

10. "screaming at smirk's darkened limo" Good for you! n/t

[NikolaC]

5. I Was Heartbroken, Angry and having Contractions

My son was born the next day and, a few hours later, I watched Gore concede. I thought that things were going to be bad under Bu$h, but NEVER could I imagine in my worst nightmares how bad it would be. As it is, our generation and my son's generation seem to be royally screwed by this rat fuck and his cold, selfish, sociopathic crew.

[ColbertWatcher]

11. Your son was born the next day?

I think that's a good sign.

It's like he's the first one born of the generation that will fight every last GOP idea, policy, etc.

Good sign.

[Connie_Corleone]

6. I think I was at work. I wasn't into politics then.

I thought Bush was an idiot but I didn't think he could be any worse than his daddy. I figured he would be a one-term president.

Good God was I wrong!!

This blubbering, idiotic chimp has caused so much death and destruction. It's just mind blowing.

I'm gonna have a t-shirt made that says "I survived the Bush Presidency".

[ColbertWatcher]

12. "I'm gonna have a t-shirt made ..."

If you do, post it on DU, I'm sure everyone will buy one!

[Mira]

20. Thank you for the idea Connie. I will make some immediately, and give them for Christmas.

THANK YOU !

edited for spelling - I got so excited

[Mira]

22. HOw about like this ?

[Kaleko]

47. Someone absolutely has to get these made! I'll buy two of those immediately,

one short- and one long sleeved.

Love the little Obama sunrise circle on one side. It's like a badge of honor.

[live love laugh]

50. That will sell. I want a bumper sticker. nt

[Mira]

52. OK - if you're serious write to me. Don't have time right now to make it up but

visualize the white words on a black background and the Obama sun at the end.
I have had a few folks want it to read pResidency, which is OK with me, too.

[live love laugh]

63. I like "pResidency". Just let me know when it's available by message here at DU. nt

[Mira]

64. I have them ready, take a look.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=213&topic_id=5387&mesg_id=5387

I liked linking the symbols to the message, but if you don't like that tell me and I print it for you without them.
All I need is an email and an address

[Nedsdag]

66. Beautiful shirt.

It's too bad my dear old dad didn't live to wear that shirt.

[Lint Head]

7. Bush killed everything else while he was in the process of killing

the republican party.
:dem:

[ColbertWatcher]

15. The ultimate in scorched earth. His grandfather would be so proud. n/t

[road2000]

8. Vividly.

I was at work in Hamilton, Ohio, refreshing cnn.com every few seconds.

[ensho]

9. glued to the TV in total shock at watching a coup while most

americans were going about not even knowing what was going on.

my personal life was put on hold as I put all my thoughts on saving our country.

(I ended a decades long work in process project. its interesting how in a blink of an eye your life can change.)

[ColbertWatcher]

23. Looks like you might be able to get back to that project! n/t

[EFerrari]

13. My desk was in the livingroom and we watched all those weeks

pretty much around the clock.

[JuniperLea]

14. Sitting at my desk at work...

I yelled, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" and several people came running. I told them what the deal was and went and cried in the ladies room for a while. I figured we were all screwed... I hate being right when it's something as bad as this.

[jhain]

16. I remember PRECISELY

having attended my son's graduation in North Carolina we were spending a week on the outer banks.rental house on the beach.....HUGE TV.it was utterly devastating..........

[BadGimp]

17. I remember a deep sense of resignatrion driven by an sense of enevitability

I caved I'm ashamed to say.

[ColbertWatcher]

24. I have to say I felt something similar. n/t

[Froward69]

18. I have a vague memory

of hearing the news... I do remember talking to the police b/c I was screaming in the park... they let me alone... and simply said for me to get it out of my system and go home... As it would only be FOUR years.

[yowzayowzayowza]

19. Monitoring Salon Table Talk Florida recount threads. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

25. How did it go over on that board? n/t

[yowzayowzayowza]

35. The equal protection perversion went over...

like a lead balloon. A lotta research was done in those threads. They were archived for quite a while.

[kath]

57. You used to hang out at TT??

I used to spend a lot of time there back then, even though I didn't post a whole lot. Met up with some other TTers at VoterMarch in DC in May 2001. What was your name over there? (pm me if you like)

[grasswire]

60. another Table Talker here

There are some others, too.

[yowzayowzayowza]

62. Didn't post much atall.

Principally lurking. My user ID was yowza something or other.

[CreekDog]

26. In Philadelphia. Let's just say my 30th birthday did not end well

:eyes:

[Borgnine]

27. Well... happy 38th!

[CreekDog]

29. Aww thanks!

:pals:

[tomp]

28. sitting in my bedroom, watching the reading of the sc ruling.

i went crazy for several years after that.

[zulchzulu]

30. I knew at that point that we were fucked for at least 4 years

Little did I know how wring I was... it's going to be generations before we get out of the multiple messes Bush and his cabal created.

[ColbertWatcher]

33. I agree this fix will take more than just years.

It's going to be something a parent passes to his/her kids.

[Cha]

31. OMGosh! That's right~

And, today I was talking about it to a Jr in High School who works after school at our co-op.

'Splaining a bit of history to her when she asked how our country could have elected bush in there twice. A bloodless coup with the help of the extreme 5 and the corporate media.

It's priceless to be reminded of these things to get a grip on how fortunate we are now:patriot::bounce::patriot:

[ColbertWatcher]

34. Yeah. n/t

[Diclotican]

36. ColbertWatcher

ColbertWatcher

Well, as an foreigner I am not allowed to vote in the US.. But I was going to sleep, with the strong believe that mr Gore was the next president, and that mr Bush was just that, a blimp without the chance in hell to be the president of United States of America.. I still have the full trust about the US then..

Next day I woke up, to the news that mr Bush was the next president - and was locking at TV in disbelief.. I mean, mindblowed and shocked.. And hope it was something wrong.. But after the "election show" in Florida in the end it was mr Bush who get the power.. And I scary as hell, even that I did believe that he could not be _that_ bad..

Now many of us know better.. He was far worse than everyone believed, and have almost ruined your amazing country. It would take decades to clean up all the mess, and it would take a long time for us on the outside of the US to trust US as we once did.. At least i was trusting US as our bigger brother and friend.. Today I am not sure about the big brother thing.. And less sure about the friend thing too.. Maybe over time it could be better.. Hopefully..

And I have to say, I was VERRY HAPPY when the next president was elected - and democrat by the way:). But I have to say, the election of mr Obama was a suprice for me.. But it was a nice suprise then. Both a democrat - and a black person. Nice:) (hopefully that is not wrong in any direction to call a man black?)

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[ColbertWatcher]

40. Americans agree with your assessment.

We too are happy that we can finally put George W. Bush behind us and move forward and be friends again with the rest of the world.

[Diclotican]

54. ColbertWatcher

ColbertWatcher

For the most part I do believe our world is relived that mr Bush can't harm us anymore - even that he have one month to go.. I count the day with fear of something totally out of the blue.. This type of people is capable of everything, and I mean everything and then some more.

On the other hand you as american have to take the stand, and get them arrested, tried and if possible convicted for their many crimes. You can't possible let them go away, and live as they never existed.. If you do, they would came back, more dangerous, and more evil than ever... In 1945 the US, the russians, the British and the french arrested 21 of the highest ranking leaders in the 3 reich. They was arrested, and then tried as war criminals.. 12 of them was guilty as charged and hanged for their crimes.. Many of the others, who was not hanged, was putting into prison for many many year.. Albert Speed, the mutation minister for he armed forces god 20 year, and in a neck of time stop short of been one of the 12 been hangd... Many of the other was set free, because of health ground.. Hitlers second in Command, Rudolf Hess got life, and died in a high age in 1988, but still as an prisoner, and totally mad I guess...

THE US have to prove for themselves,and for the rest of the world, that them self could arrest, tried and if possible even convicted for the many crimes they have been doing the last 8 year.. If US was to make that happened, I believe your road to friendship with the rest of the world would be more easy. And at the look at it, it doesn't Locke nice for a show down with the war criminals.. Even that the documation of what this regime have been doing in many nations is more and more staggering.. The US have to grow up, and face what is true. Their government have been war criminals, and should be put where their belong, in an prison.. The Neo Cons are like the Nazis of 1930s. They to wanted world domination, specially by war.. The nazis was in many cases rude and less advanced than the neo cons of the 21 century, but the fact is that they are very similar.. They both want control over where the production of oil and gas are. And they both want world domination as a fact.. And that is something who have to stop after january 20. The next day, Obama should make the country ready for some criminal "wash up" and purge every corner of the US administration, governance, Congress and Senate, and to save every document, every computer and so on, to save the criminal behavior of the outgoing Administration.. When all the document who can be saved is making their way to the cort, they should be arrested, and face criminal charges.. And a trial if the evidence was there...

If you don't we on the outside can not trust US fully.. If you do not get YOUR act together, and clean the house, both symbolic and literally then the next president, or the next president could do the same thing.. Or in the future a far worse President than Bush can make your Republic into a Dictatorship.. THe current administration was willing to make it, but dear not to take the final straw when it came to dictatorship.. But you have no guaranty, that a future president would not go the whole road .. You have to face the criminals,and put them where they belong.. If you don't..... We on the outside can't fully trust you, even that we want..
It is little up yo YOU to give proof that this type of criminal behavior are not tolerated, in the US..


Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[ColbertWatcher]

56. "It is little up yo YOU ..."

"... to give proof that this type of criminal behavior are not tolerated, in the US."

Yes, you are correct and sadly, we know.

I just hope enough of us are motivated (through, shame or pride or a sense of justice) to restore our reputation in the world.

Thank you for your post; you have written much to think about.

[Diclotican]

65. ColbertWatcher

ColbertWatcher

We on the outside is just waiting to se how you, in the US want to step up to get this criminals where they belong.. And more to the point, if you doesn't do this, who should we ever truly trust US anymore. If you really let this time of crocks, bandits and thief's of the hock, then You would give a free pass to everyone else...

I know the US could, if they dear to dive into all the shit who have been coming the last 8 year could show the world that you do have a sense of Justice, and that this type of behavior from americans are not tolerated anymore.. It is maybe best for everyone american that you do it too. So everyone american, even they who like mr Bush should wake up to the reality of what happened on mr Bush watch..

If I could help I would be more than thankfully for it, hopefully US can go together with the rest of the world, to make a solid legal case against this thugs who have ruined your country, your amazing wonderfully country who I still have good feelings for.. Even 8 year with the worst President I ever had experienced in my 32 old life.. He is far worst than Reagan, who at least had the sense of talking to his enemies Gorbatsjev.. I still remember in 1986 when Gorbatsjev og Reagan was talking at Reykjavik.. Even that I was _not_ a old boy at that time... Today we have a president who are at least criminal stupid... If he is not criminal in the "law" meaning of it, then nobody are it.. He should get a truthfully mental check, then we might understand more why he act as he does. And we should work hard to secure most of the documents, both electronic and physical so your Justice system can work it out after 20 of January next year.. For the most part electronic document can be saved, if you do not blow up a hard rive.. And I would be very sure that the government of the US, or some of it branches in NSA or CIA or Pentagon do have the systems capable of doing it.. In fort Meade you have some computers who are the best in the world.. Who can cut the larges, encryption with brute force.. Then they can find the electronic documents hidden in some computers...

Diclotican

Sorry my bad english, not my native language

[wroberts189]

37. It was when the patriot act appeared out of nowhere and passed n/t

[tilsammans]

38. I blocked it out of my mind, but . . .

I. Am. Still. Not. Over. It.

:nuke:

[ColbertWatcher]

42. We still have a ways to go to get rid of the GOP as far as I'm concerned.

Until we get rid of the American Taliban from our schools and the Federalist Society from our courts, the GOP will linger, like that smell in Jerry's car on that one episode of Seinfeld.

[firedupdem]

39. I was working a contract position at panasonic in southfield michigan

and those fuckers were making jokes and calling democrats whiners...I was only there a few weeks..hated it and quit.

[Swamp Rat]

41. Never forget 12-12-2000!

[ColbertWatcher]

43. Damn right, Swamp! n/t

[Swamp Rat]

44. Lite-Byte Bandit gets REALLY ANGRY when people forget!

[ColbertWatcher]

46. He should have his own TV show! n/t

[bluestateguy]

45. Fittingly, there was a blackout in my neighborhood that night

There was an ice storm, and the power was out all night. It was cold, windy and miserable.

Just like the next 8 years.

[Hekate]

48. I was in absolute shock that a coup d'etat could happen in MY country. MY country. MINE.

WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS! I wanted to scream then. And again when we were told to "go shopping". And again when the USA PATRIOT Act passed without anyone reading it. The "global gag order" was reinstated on * very first day in office; I was entering an on-ramp to US 101 when I heard the news. I damn near ran off the road. Blow after blow from the Bush juggernaut to everything I hold dear about my country.

I didn't have DU until the fall of 2002. A friend (DUer MaRadix) referred me here when I told her I felt like I was losing my mind because half our town was marching in the streets to stop the invasion of Iraq and not only did our local tv station not report it, but for all I could gather from the MSM, we were the only ones in the country protesting and I knew that couldn't be true.

When Bush entered the White House I was writing my PhD dissertation. I was distraught that I couldn't devote time to opposing him, except for posting articles to my email list. I finally had to tell myself that if I did not finish my dissertation the world would neither know nor care, but I would and it would be a loss to me my whole life. I had to promise myself that I could and would enter community activism as soon as it was done. So I finished it in the spring of 2002.

Now 5 1/2 years later I am confronting the fact that my personal plans were derailed and I probably can't go back to them.

There are thousands more like me -- some in far, far worse shape than I. DUer Symbolman put everything he had into fighting Bush, literally everything, and yesterday his house that he could neither pay for nor sell nor even raffle off was sold at auction.

Bush and his cronies will have a lot to answer for when they stand at the Crossroads of Hell.

I used to sign my emails to my list: "We shall live to see better days." And by God we have.

Hekate

[Efilroft Sul]

49. I was at my beautiful girlfriend's house.

My parents and her parents met for the first time. And while we were having coffee, tea, and snacks after dinner, an ice storm hit. Both sets of parents couldn't go home, so we were all stuck at my girlfriend's house overnight. Less than 18 months later, I married that babe, and that was the only good result of that night.

[Z_I_Peevey]

53. There was a photo of the ballot boxes being carted away

by cops...I remember Marty Heldt commenting on it. Now I can't seem to find it. I wonder if it is down the memory hole.

[kath]

58. Marty Heldt! I remember him. Are you an old TableTalker, too?

I wonder what ever happened to Marty -- didn't he do a lot of research into Bush's AWOL?

[grasswire]

61. he is the Iowa farmer who got the FOIA files on Bush's ...

...National Guard service. God bless him. He and we other Table Talkers tried so goddam hard to break that story in the national press. There was a blackout. Marty is a hero for putting himself out in front on that.

[BuelahWitch]

55. I was sitting in the Minneapolis airport waiting for a flight to Pittsburgh

I was taking my mother's remains home to be buried with her mother in New Wilmington, PA. All I could think of was that she knew this was coming and didn't want to hang around for another Bush pResidency (she died Decemeber 5).

[kath]

59. IIRC, it was announced at around 10 o'clock at night.

(so I'm surprised that so many here say that they were at work...)
I was at home - probably on Salon's TableTalk White House board. I screamed and cried - my kids (8 and 10 at the time) couldn't understand why I was so upset. I couldn't believe that it was happening in our country. I wore a black armband to work for a couple of days.

I also remember where I was 3 days before (a Saturday) when I heard on the radio that the Supreme Court STOPPED THE COUNTING OF VOTES - I was utterly shocked and outraged.