Welcome to all of our new DU friends!

[Leftist Agitator]

Someone more astute and prescient than I noticed the other day that there has been a large influx of new folks here at Democratic Underground.

I too have noticed that phenomenon, and unlike eras past, the new people seem to be committed Democrats who are fired up and ready to get Barack Obama elected to the Presidency of the United States. Usually, the neophytes are poorly-disguised Freepers. Not this time!

Welcome, new DU'ers!

:hi:

We are an exceedingly diverse community of dedicated individuals who share a common goal: Getting Democrats elected to office!

So, again, welcome to all of the new people! I hope you'll enjoy our company!

:toast:

[camio]

1. I'm one of the surge -

Thank you for the welcome -
I joined just last night; I think I have reached my tipping point.
I'm nineteen years old, and only started getting deeply into politics about three years ago.

My grandmother told me I was too angry, and it was unfocused anger - well my friend, I have found something to be truly angry about: the way this country has been handled.
The extent to which the republicans have lied to their flock just appalls me. I nearly detached a retina, watching Palin's disgraceful speech.

I'm a new yorker, I'm mad, and I want to get active.

Thank you again for the welcome.

[liberal renegade]

2. welcome.

now all we need is 20 or 30 million more just like you.

[bkkyosemite]

5. Thank you for the welcome. It is appreciated. I'm an Indy but lean Dem ..GOBAMA

[intheflow]

24. There are actually quite a few Independents on here.

I was when I joined but I changed to Dem this year because I think we need hard numbers to back up the vote so they can't claim all the independents decided at the last second to vote Republican, which is how they explained the last stolen presidential election.

Anyway, we welcome all progressives, no matter how they're registered. God knows the entire left has to unite for this election or else the country might be done for. So... welcome! :hi:

[magellan]

38. Welcome, fellow Indy!

From a progressive Indy. :hi:

[Hepburn]

3. Nice to meet ya! Welcome aboard.

Hope other newbies check in, too!

:hi:

[Kind of Blue]

48. Checking in

Thanks very much! Very glad to be here. There's nothing like a warm welcome. :yourock:

[kedrys]

4. Welcome to DU!

Very articulate first post. I look forward to reading more. :hi:

[MadMaddie]

17. Welcome!

I had to walk away from the TV tube while she was on (I was so angry that if I continued to watch I don't think the TV tube would have made it) and I almost stabbed myself with a fork while he was on.
....all is well I came to DU to regain my sanity!

Get ready for the ride because DU is one big family!

:hi:

[arthritisR_US]

20. welcome! you are our hope. :-) n/t

[chatnoir]

21. Welcome to DU

Very well said for a 19 yo - we need more like you!

:hi:

[alsame]

6. Thank you. I'm a long time lurker and finally joined because

I want to be a part of the discussions in this community. I know it's a cliche, but I really feel like this the THE most important election of my life (and I'm 51). I am so scared for my country and what will happen if we don't take back the White House.

[chatnoir]

23. Welcome, alsame!

We're glad to have you with us!

:hi:

[Lugnut]

34. Welcome to DU!

I'm almost 63 and I KNOW this is the most important election of my life.

:hi:

[Mz Pip]

7. A warm welcome

from this Oldie (4/2001) to all the fired up newbies.

I survived Nixon, Reagan, Bush I relatively unscathed. Bush II has been disaster and McCain will be the last straw. No way. No McCain.

:hi:

Let's get to work.

[flstci]

8. Sarah Palin drove me here.

After watching her speech I did some searching and decided to sign up. I don't do this much.

[Leftist Agitator]

16. We're glad to have you!

And for what it's worth, Texas is about one or two election cycles from truning solidly BLUE!

Spread the word to friends, family and neighbors that the Democratic Party is working for the interests of the common person.

The Democratic Party = Truth, sensibility, and a better life for all of us.

[MadMaddie]

18. Welcome flstci!

He..he..you don't do this much!

Watch out because you will be up to 1000 posts before you know it, and then when you are not on you will be wondering what's going on at DU...

It's a DU addiction flstci.....and we keep coming back!

:hi:

[Liberal In Texas]

33. Welcome fellow Texan.

I would sure love to see this state cast all it's electoral votes for Obama.

[Aeval]

9. I have been reading DU over my husband's shoulder for a while

But I was hesitant to join... I totally get why you are skeptical of new members!


I am most definitely a committed progressive who believes we MUST take our country back from warlords, religious fundamentalists and evangelists, and those who would further divide the classes.

Your welcome is much appreciated.

[MadMaddie]

19. Aeval we are glad you are here!

We have a lot of couples that participate on DU!


Welcome to DU!:hi:

[Leftist Agitator]

10. Kick for the night crowd!

:kick:

[blondeatlast]

11. Welcome all of you! nt

[cliffordu]

12. Howdy!!

:patriot:

[Flying Dream Blues]

13. Welcome and thanks for joining the good fight! nt

[madmom]

14. Welcome all, it gets kinda rowdy here occasionally, but hang in there we're all after the same thing

GOBAMA!!!!!

[ColbertWatcher]

15. Hello to you, too! n/t

[Lex]

22. Welcome to you, skypuddle.

From a member of the old-timers club.

[chupacabranation]

25. I'm here to stay now

Newbie here.

I've always been fired up about politics but have never found DU....until I got mad. REALLY mad. Mad enough to stay up until 3 AM on the computer, combing the internet, until I could find a place for people just as fired up as me.

It's not "We have to win this election" anymore.

It's "We will win this election."

That's how mad.

Every weakness they give us...every chance we get to profess we are not exploiting that weakness...every legal avenue to hurl them back to the plutonic lairs of selfishness, greed, corruption, and general unholiness from which they came.

[magellan]

40. Welcome, chupacabranation!

It's great to have you with us. :hi:

[Sy Kopath]

26. Thanks For the Welcome

......but frankly I'm a little scared to post sometimes. It seems like people who have low post counts get kind of picked on by others and not always in a joking manner. I've been here awhile and have only posted a couple of times.

Any advice from long time DUers?

[rockymountaindem]

27. Stay away from controversial topics and definitive judgments for awhile

Just act like you entered a party full of people you'd never met and try to make a good impression. Sooner or later you'll know when it's time to start tearing it up with everybody else.

[tbyg52]

30. You're right, in some cases.

Un, have more courage than I usually do?

Talk back to "them"?

Recognize that people are people, and carry on in spite of them (us)(you)?

Not being snarky at all - just giving advice to myself!

Very, very sleepy, must go now.

Vist the ER forum!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=203

[magellan]

42. Read, read, read

...and don't be afraid to ask questions. Ignore the ones who may give you a hard time or bat back at them as you please, but don't let them stop you from learning and participating.

Welcome!

[Sy Kopath]

50. Well Thanks for the Advice

So, how's the weather where you are? Is that non-confrontational enough? ;-)

Seriously, I don't like to argue and try to find humor as often as possible.

[tbyg52]

28. Hello to everyone! Welcome!

Please, I hope we can try to make the world a better place.

Or send a few seeds out. Any fellow science fiction readers?

[Caliman73]

29. Thanks

I initially came here looking for some moderate or other Democrats who are firearm owners like me, but I really enjoy being around people who have similar beliefs and well reasoned arguments. I know many DUers may not have the same beliefs about firearms, but you can't agree 100% A solid 90% is good enough for me. This is a great site!!

[tbyg52]

31. 2nd amendment believer here.

As in all the Constitution.

[orleans]

45. you know there is a gun forum, right? i'm not sure what it's called--

i don't really go posting there, but i know we have one. (just thought i'd mention it in case you're interested)

[Caliman73]

54. been there. Thanks

I spend more time in GD right now cause I love to see all the information to use against McCain and Palin. We have an amazing bunch of researchers and facts checkers here. As I said, this is a great site.

[intheflow]

32. Newbie's Guide to DU:

DU has all kinds of cool things to help you navigate the site.

Learn what's acceptable behavior on DU by reading one of two versions of the rules: the basic rules and the detailed rules. The rules not only help you with board etiquette, there are also guidelines for posting, such as how to adhere to copyright laws, how big your sig line can be, or rules for posting in LBN. Good stuff!

Perhaps you're wondering what I meant by "LBN" in the preceding resource. The DU Glossary explains most of the DUnique slang, inside jokes, and abbreviations.

You can meet the moderators, a great group of volunteers who keep DU safe. :patriot:

Are you the investigative type? If so, you definitely want to check out the Research Forum.

You can find out if the local Democrat you're working to get into office is a DUer!



Anyway, I'll let you discover other stuff on your own. Welcome to DU! :hi:

[SpookyCat]

56. Thanks for that, intheflow.

I haven't seen all those links in one place before.

:hi:

[Lugnut]

35. Hello to all the new posters!

:hi:

It's good to have you all here.

[Waiting For Everyman]

36. Hi skypuddle, and DU!

:hi: Thanks!

[EFerrari]

37. K&R

[Mopar151]

39. Yo

Well, a recent spate of unemployment has freed up a little posting time for me.....x(
But , seriously:evilgrin: :toast: :yourock:
From a :crazy: :hippie: :grouphug:

[magellan]

43. Oh I'm sorry to hear that

...and sincerely hope things look up for you soon. You'll find many helpful resources here if you need to avail yourself of local community services and the like, just ask.

In the meantime, a very warm welcome to DU!

[calimary]

41. Yeah, there are some threads in which I've said hello to maybe half-a-dozen new DUers -

or DUers who've lurked a long time but maybe post once in a blue moon - or maybe they've lurked but just decided to step forward.

Glad to have them all. We need every one of them.

We are not a website here. We are a THINK TANK. My mind keeps wandering toward some Democratic Underground Foundation (Dem Underground Institute would abbreviate to DUI so no go) - in which someday there might be formalized departments where people will be in charge.

This is a kick-ass giga-resource. It's because of what we do here, and by doing, how we offer all kinds of good stuff to people who frequent this site.

Consider:

Late breaking news - sometimes before we see it or hear it in any detail from the mainstreamers.

Research - background stuff on everybody and everything as soon as news of note breaks. We fan out across the world wide web, each in a slightly different direction, and cast our nets, and probe with our shovels and hand trowels. And we build upon other research from DU and elsewhere. How often have we enlarged on Daily Kos or Huffington stuff? Links galore are always attached, that lead you across the globe.

Analysis - LOTS of political analysis, plus philosophical, geographical, financial, cultural, psychological, academic, theological, scientific, anecdotal, managerial, legal, sociological, artistic, economic, historical, even technical, medical, and astrological. It's not just our own internal analysis, either. Incoming from other media and other parts of the country and the world are available, and are thoroughly examined.

Strategy - All the really eloquent and well-reasoned analysis makes for some humdinger strategizing and brainstorming sessions. You start playing this geopolitical game almost like a kind of chess. How many exercises have we seen here aimed at outwitting and counter-acting and second-guessing kkkarl rove? These exercises are the true mental gymnastics. You get a real workout, thinking in ways and directions that might otherwise never have occurred to you.

Senior Fellows - Some really prominent people post here (Elizabeth Edwards briefly):
Gifted and distinguished writers like Michael Collins, Dan Sweeney, Larissa Alexandrova, Nance Greggs, Brad Friedman (Bradblog), and William Rivers Pitt;
MANY more under such DU names as H2O Man, davidswanson, robertpaulson, kpete, jenmito, sfexpat2000, babylonsister, ProSense, grantcart, The Magistrate, and I know I'm forgetting quite a few others who deserve better than that from me!
Brilliant and compelling artists like Swamp Rat, and the late, great nostamj.
Specialists galore who are authorities on public figures, poll results and interpretation, issues, such as bobbolink on poverty and homelessness, and more.
We have eagle eyes jumping on every significant editorial or political video from a galaxy of sources to log them in here so the rest of us don't miss them.
We have KharmaTrain, Newsjock, Ava Lowery and others who are or have previously been involved in the news media as advisors and eyewitnesses, professional and citizen.
We have working politicians here, both past and present. Some are current office holders in their localities - and I recall one such case in which the successful candidate had been stirred to action by people here at DU.
We even have JeffR chairing an awards committee!

Membership - We have an embarrassment of riches as far as the breadth, depth, and width of the talent here: professionals of every stripe including doctors, lawyers, craftspeople, brokers, students, teachers, journalists, parents, humorists, members of the military from enlistees (and their family members) to veterans, authors, performers, business people, designers, technicians, researchers, videographers, artists, philosophers, organizers (yes, sarah, even community organizers), satirists, scientists, tacticians, psychologists, and activists of all kinds. We have members from coast to coast, PLUS Hawaii and Alaska. Both those are extra relevant with the makeup of the candidates in this particular election cycle. We also have members weighing in from across the globe. We have members of every age - teen to elderly, every faith, every race, every sexual preference, and at every economic level. You have any question about anything and there's bound to be somebody here who'll have an intelligent response. And you seldom have to wait very long.

Activism - This is a MANY-tentacled squid. Just look what we have here:
Confirming/debunking rumors;
Contact information (emails, TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers, fax and phone numbers, snail mail addresses);
Historical and/or biographical background information frequently within seconds of posting a question;
Motivational and inspirational pep-talks, rants, stories from the neighborhood/school/office/family gathering;
GREAT and well-written/well-researched responses to those nasty and lie-filled emails about Obama, liberals, and all things Clinton;
Details on rallies, speeches, VIP appearances, protests, lectures, GOTV drives, peace-ins, campaign schedules, phone-banking, poll watching, precinct walking, and more;
LOTS of great minds thinking up terrific original talking points, catchy memes, memorable buzz phrases, clever rebuttals and slogans worth many a bumper sticker that can help you win an argument, convert some doubter or longtime opponent, or make some wavering voter stop and think - and sound GREAT doing so (AND you're up on all kinds of news and knowledge so you'll sound intelligent, too);
Solidarity - of many people of like mind who sympathize, empathize, console, inspire, amuse, motivate, educate, encourage, fire you up, and/or calm you down. You're NOT alone out there. You're among friends and family and supporters here. That makes you a better American because you become more confident in how you feel as you move through your world - because you know so many DU brothers and sisters have your back;

AND frequent/regular updates on ALL of the above.

I must confess I sometimes imagine this elegant DU headquarters building somewhere maybe in DC or Virginia or some such place, with a publishing arm, media coaching department, endowments, foundation-type fundraising, strategy-and-tactics advisors who influence and interact with the Democratic National Committee at all levels, and "product placement" - various DU representatives appearing as guest analysts or pundits on network/cable/radio talk shows nationwide. We would be The REAL Answer - AND ANTIDOTE to the American Enterprise Institutes and other vermin pits. Would that be cool?

[Festivito]

44. Welcome. I was once new. Ran into difficulties early on.

Keep at it. Keep it fun. Don't be too easily discouraged. And ask questions.

If you do ever have a problem here that your friends here cannot help, that the moderators cannot solve, I hope you'll find as I did that the top leaders here are incredibly insightful. Also, I'd hope you'd never need to use them.
Here's to a better country leading to a better world. :toast:

[orleans]

46. hi to everyone, new & old! n/t

[TexasObserver]

47. I think any time there's an EVENT, we see an influx of posters, legit & suspect

That's natural. McStinkface picked Palin, and that means everyone who feels strongly about Palin finds the intertubes and finds a place to say what they have to say. With the level of discussions here at DU about Palin, I'm sure that links to this board pop up quickly when one searches for PALIN mentions.

So, we see legit and suspect posters show up. It would be a mistake to quickly dismiss all, as some will be legit and highly valuable. The trolls show themselves soon enough, usually too soon.

[Number23]

49. Nicest thread I've seen all weekend

You're nice. :)

[Leftist Agitator]

51. You flatter me.

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[MadrasT]

52. I joined in June...

when I found out this was the only place I could get news about Kucinich's motions to impeach.

And lo and behold... I discovered a whole giant community of PEOPLE LIKE ME!!!! :hi:

I would be a lot more sane if I'd found you guys years ago.

And yes, it doesn't take long to get to 1000 posts.

I want my constitution back.

So... "hello and welcome" to people newer than me :hi:

And a great big "thank you" to those of you who've were here in the trenches before me and make it such a wonderful community.

Think tank, indeed! We're a giant, kick-ass think tank. :woohoo:

[DailyGrind51]

53. I've been here for only two months, but am grateful for the valuable links you provide.

I never have to search the web for an authoritative link to respond to the RW e-mails I receive, it can be found right here.

[lonestarnot]

55. Nice appreciation.

:hi:

[SpookyCat]

57. Thanks skypuddle!

Not as shiny and new as some of the respondents, but still have the new poster smell! (it's kinda like pine...)

This is a nice thread in the midst of all the current chaos.

:hug: