Out yourself.

I used to be a fundie. When I was a fundie I voted for Gerald Ford instead of Jimmy Carter. It keeps me humble.:banghead:

Kucinich was the first liberal who I voted for and then Kerry. I became a liberal shortly after the attacks of 9/11.

:D

Although I am one of the people who didn't realize just how bad Bush was at first.

I didn't really know anything about politics back when I voted for Perot and Dubya. I voted for Perot because my mom wanted me to and I voted for Dubya thinking that he'd be better for my financial situation (economy, 40lk and such).

After 9/11 I started reading up on U.S. foreign policy. I wanted to find out what would cause people to commit such horrible acts and figured it might have been due to the way we have treated them. I started reading people like Chomsky and Zinn. For a short time I was actually a socialist after reading up on some Karl Marx.

I came to DU in 2003 right before the start of the war. I was strongly against the war and I saw a lot of people here who shared my views. I started reading up on domestic policy as well and I realized that I had liberal social views all along. I was actually a Libertarian when I voted for Dubya, but I didn't know it at the time.

Now I hope we might have a president who is like Kucinich in my lifetime.

You are to be commended!!

Although that vote for Kucinich rings of the old adage "There's no greater zealot than the recently converted." :D

But as a billionaire businessman and all that, I also fathom if he would have done the same things in the end...

I wonder where Perot is today? Apart from happily retired and old enough to become a corpse anyway, so I doubt he cares. Apart from possibly telling us "I told you so" and you know he won't do that if all the talk of Bush making any dissenter (suspected or proven) targeted for jail or extermination.

Mom would have probably asked me to vote for Bush 1 if it hadn't been for him. Again, I didn't give too shits who was prez back then. I was just following orders. Now the Bush 2 vote, that was my own doing. I was a serious dittohead back in 2000. That coupled with my ignorance of politics was a recipe for a Bush vote.

I had an economics instructor that favored supply-side-ism. I argued in favor of it to get an A on my essay. I'm ashamed. :cry:

As for voting? I've always done right by that. :P

Redstone

:)

The ghosts are telling me to confess, but no, I don't think I should in such a public place.

Son of a bitch, why are the ghosts here tonight? They've been away for a long time.

Damn.

Redstone

Not so much anymore, though. :D

It's only in the last 8 or so years that I've begun to educate myself. Helps having an ultra-liberal (new)husband.


apathy kills :(


aA

At least we're making up for it now. :hug:

OTOH, I have a whole lifetime of mistakes to look forward too. :banghead:

And so do I. :woohoo:

Second time For Al Gore Third John Kerry..
(really wish Wes Clark would have got the nod)

Where is Ross Perot these days?

My first vote ever was cast for Brian Mulroney.


:hide:

:P

I was in southern Ontario...Liberal country. :blush:

Thanks anyway, hon. :hi:

:o

:spank:

:P

I don't see 'spankings' necessarily as punishment...;-)

I was waiting for the good stuff.

:D

or flogging or paddling or tickling or...

I still have a Perot bumper sticker. I hated Bill Clinton.

But I never voted for him.

Unless the bumper sticker is not on it.

but it's there...looming.

...because I used to be a San Diego Chargers fan! :evilgrin:

Mostly late at night or when I'm plastered. When it's both night and I'm plastered, it's just like being in England - so no problem then!

hahahaha

:bounce:

Most people can't dance, they just fake it.

Patrick Swayze can dance.

I've got... rhythem. I've... got.. blue skies...

Yeah, anyway. My dad used to sing that to me when he was kidding about dancing.

over Carter in 80 and over Mondale in 84.

I wanted him to win because his name reminded me of plants. And I loved forests. :blush:

Its saturday night, and i'm listening to Berlin radio star internet87.9.

I think i'm a DU addict.

I wonder if it might be serious. I'll probably die of it.
Transnational evolution of public knowledge, prescient brilliant.

I'm very happy and humbled to share this board with y'all.

namaste,
-s

Best thing I ever did! :) ;)

I'm more recent than that - 7 years ago I didn't realise myself, how I didn't know I'll never quite figure out. But definitely much better now, those damn closets are so small no room to move around in them. :hi:

Kindergarten and liked it!

I've thrown away plants I was tired of.

Don't know if that is worthy of an "outing" or not. :hi:

Yes, many years ago, I was offered a spot on this "special" group.

Heh heh...how do you like me now?

:crazy:

Even at the time it felt dirty.

I have no idea why exactly except that I must have been a real pain in the ass.


I mean, how big a pain do you have to be to get kicked out of kindergarten?? I must really have pissed off the teacher but I have no memory of it. Other than the fact that she would not let me read (which I
already knew how to do) instead of playing with the other kids.

I was only sent in the hall.

AS IF!!! :beer:

I might be going through something similar...

Short version: suicide of his oldest friend/my dear lover tore us apart.

I have never voted for a Republican for a state or federal office. I've been voting since 1984.

I have never been a religious fundamentalist.

for governor. The Dem candidate had died three weeks before election. Racicot actually did a fair job as Governor but went to the dark side as *'s little pal.

Mayor of San Diego in the early 80's.
The non-partisn election had two repugs running against each other and I was new to the area at the time so I took the advice of my ex mother in law and cast a vote for that racist POS.

That's when you just stay home.

I believe that he ran against Bill Cleator who was your stereotypical old, short, fat, bald, millionaire businessman. Ex MIL told tales of Cleator's dirty dealings over the years and how some "new young blood" at city hall is what San Diego needs.

Shame Shame on me!

an "environmentalist" which was complete bullshit, but I believed him at that moment and he got my vote. (By the way, a friend of mine around that time was a limo driver, and Nancy Hoover, part of the whole J. David Dominelli scandal, gave my friend a $500 tip for a short limo ride.)

okay. okay. breathing. we'll all be okay. i just have to sit down.

no really son, we still love you.

as long as your happy we're happy?

Or, more accurately, the things my imagination conjures up that hide in the dark. So much so, that I have a hard time being home alone at night, even with a dog and two cats to keep me company... :scared:

:hug:

I'm 21 and in the dark my imagination freaks me out in a big way, sometimes even when my SO is home!

*sigh*

nothing ain't worth nothing but it's free
:hug:

:hi:

:hi:

it didn't really matter, Gore trounced Bush in the state I lived in at the time, Washington. But still, out of principle I should have registered anyway.

I registered a week too late to vote in 2000 . . .

My state went to Bush (VA).. . .

Of course it wasn't until the the Sept-October of 2000 I started caring about politics . . . guess I cared enough just a bit too late. . .

I was registered in my home state, I waited too long to get an absentee ballot, and by then it was too late to register in Washington. I wasn't familiar with all the registration rules, etc.

through most of my life as well as my lack of confidence (or feeling of safety you might say) to come out as an atheist.

But one funny story to 'out myself' over also has to do with Gerald Ford. I remember being in the car with my mother during the '76 presidential campaign. I don't know why but it seemed that one time I was very aware of the presidential race and concerned about it. A campaign ad came on the radio, I don't remember the ad but it must've been a Carter ad because I said to my mother in a very concerned voice

"You're going to vote for Ford right? He's already been president he knows what he's doing."

My memory is that she responded in a surprised/amused but non-committal way. To this day I don't know who she voted for in that election. She and my Dad grew up staunch Dems but became Regan Democrats and more conservative later in life. I should ask her.

In my defense I was 8 years Old at the time. :)

I have a secret love.......:blush:

But seriously, the "worst" thing I've done politically was to work for Dukakis in 1988 (instead of my "real" choice, Jackson) because I thought he was more "electable" than the others (sound familiar?). I even went to the state party convention as a Dukakis delegate. Biggest political mistake I made.

Since then I've only worked for candidates I've believed in-- not those I like because of "electability". I've won some and lost some, but I've at least been able to live without guilt.

Yeah, that worked out. :rofl:

:shrug:

i thought she was a good influence on him, would keep him grounded. she did.

he is the only republican i have ever voted for in my life.

i am so ashamed for that lapse. i have been overcompensating ever since.

charging at me.

I thought choosing between Bush and Gore was like choosing between apples and oranges. Damn, did Bush play the moderate act when he was running.

I didn't vote at all. Well, I voted for Feingold and Gwen Moore, but I left the pres spot blank.

Conservative Republican, too. But two terms of Reagan cured me of both real quick. *prepares for beheading*

I was in second grade, and my school at that time (private, upper-crust, Alex P. Keaton blueblood uber-snotty RW haven) had a mock presidential election...I let my so-called friends pressure me into voting for Reagan (who easily won) instead of Jesse Jackson ("Reagan's COOL! EVERYONE'S voting for him!")...When I told my parents, they didn't talk to me for a couple of days ('a black student that didn't vote for Jesse? Did we teach you nothing in this household?')

2. oh yeah, and I also voted for Nader in 2000 (and I'm not sorry, either!)


3. and in 8th grade there was this girl who i was completely in love with, but i was too much of a coward to admit it to anyone, because she was a different race (both of our parents probably would have disowned us)...I wonder what ever became of her, and what we could have become....

4. (you people are the first to ever know this, other than the parties involved): also in 8th grade, I was with my parents on a flight to Atlanta and baseball Hall-of-Famer Willie Stargell was on the plane...My dad, knowing the baseball fan/player I was, had asked if I could meet him and get an autograph--So my dad brought me up to first class, and I was nothing but wise-assed ungrateful punk in front of him! I actually declined his autograph!!!! To make things worse, I was wearing a Pirates hat at the time, since that was my rec league team!


5. On a similar note, in 7th grade, I was in a basketball camp which was visited by John Crotty, who was a star for UVA at that time...being the arrogant little shit i was at that age, i actually gave him MY autograph, swearing to him that I would be famous one day (still working on that)

6. In 10th grade, I got thrown out of a basketball game that we were already losing by 30 points, and i STILL rushed the officials' locker room to 'vent' my anger...that earned me a long suspension...

7. For my first ever reporting job at a newspaper, i was given the task of covering a major rally given by a bunch of local politicians...since i was new to that area, i had no idea what anyone looked like...suffice it to say, the one pol whose comments my editor wanted for the story got confused with another's, and i wound up mis-identifying a major state politician AND giving the wrong attribution to his quotes...I was sweating for two weeks about getting fired for my first story, but luckily no one ever called me on it....

the wrong college, major, career, and probably grad school as well...shit has been uncontrolably fucked up

:hide:

...this after supporting Carter in '76 and '80, and Mondale in '84.

Just an aberration. I have not supported a Republican again, and feel fairly confident that I never will.

2.5 years sober. :)

:evilgrin: But I've always been a liberal leftie and always will be. :D

I've always thought that it was my Mom making that up.

One girl I knew in college wore granny panties all the time, every day, every night, no matter what. She wasn't dating anyone.... :P

My normal attire years ago was a pair of baggy jeans w/ a skin-tight body suit and no undergarmets-no bra, no panties. And Doc Martens.

I think the guys knew.

Definitely no bra in college, and panties were optional. :)

The guys DO know... ;)

occasions. Otherwise, let the girls bounce.

Nowadays, that is an entirely different story.

:D Ah, those were the days... :)

They used to be quite pretty but now it's obvious that they've been functional.

*LOTS* of regrets, but no shame.

on a summer camp field trip, and when the counselor brought them on the bus for someone to claim them and everyone laughed, I didn't say anything and sat there praying nobody would find me out.

never voted conservative. thank God.

Somebody picked it up who didn't know whose it was or what it was and held it up in the air while I turned red...

If you didn't know there was sucn a thing, you're not missing anything. It is impossible to use, women are destined to squat and not to pee standing up.

pay attention to politics without my BP going up. I get scared, I get so mad. I haven't the energy to pitch in and fight, and so I don't pay attention at all. Except to vote.

and I know just the candidate...

My checkbook and I are firmly in Mfume's camp - Maryland Senate. Against Cardin. I confess this much: I know that Cardin is anti-gay marriage and pro-civil unions, and Mfume is pro-gay marriage.

Kennedy? Tell me about that person. See how much I don't pay attention?

Edit: I don't know if I can spare any $ for out-of-state.

I looked over his site. What are his chances?

He ran before and got a third of the vote, which is better than any Dem has done against Sensenbrenner in the last 28 years. A lot of people hate Sensenbrenner now, so the race is more visible and its a little easier to raise money this time. Sensenbrenner is a multi millionaire, arrogant, and has really drifted to the far right. This district is conservative, but somehow they've helped to elect two Dem Senators and a Dem governor in Wisconsin. So I think we just have to get the word out.

I live in Wisconsin but not in his district - I have a great representative who is safe, Tammy Baldwin. This is my first campaign, I'm expecting excitement... I'm hosting a fundraiser for him here in Madison on Sunday.

I don't contribute much financially, but I give a lot of time and energy!

Folks like you who do the hard work get the lion's share of my respect. Thank you. :hug:

:yourock:

I just registered to vote for the first time when Bush ran for second term. It was the first time I voted. I vowed that until there was candidate I truly believed in I would not vote. That was when I was very young. I was traumatized by the Watergate Scandal. No lie. My mother made me watch all the coverage on television as a child and I developed an overwhelming distrust all of all things political especially Republicans. Bush made me break my vow of voting silence. The day he won (Bush). I was at work and all the Bushies were cheering and I cried. Looking back now I know that I was wrong for not exercising my right to vote. Okay, I've outed myself big time. Everybody can line up and slap me with a wet noodle now (hanging head and looking sheepish).

For finally exercising your right to vote. :thumbsup:

:scared:

Chevrolet for life!

Now Im waiting to see if GM can go somewhere with E85 vehicles. They are getting their ass kicked by Toyota and hybrids.

It was before 2000 and Ridge was pro-choice where the democrat was not.

I promise I'll never do it again

I don't feel entirely bad about it.

I was mad at the Democrats for flubbing the political strategy of that campaign, so I didn't want to vote for Dukakis.

Of course, when I cast that vote I was being an unreasonable optimist. I actually liked Bush sr. during the 1980 campaign, and I was hoping that the candidate that ran against Reagan would return once he was in charge.

Boy was I ever wrong. :(

Looked up to him as a kind of father figure during his presidency –he was always so reassuring and grandfatherly. I was 8 at the time his presidency began (and 12 when it ended) and was just becoming interested in politics. I even supported his nomination of Clarence Thomas (:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:) because I thought that anyone he nominated must have been a good choice. And I was outraged the Democrats were targeting him over Iran Contra

In retrospect he wasn’t such a bad President. He probably should have been held more accountable for Iran Contra (and his pardon of his fellow Iran-Contra conspirators was unacceptable nepotism at its worst) and he also shouldn’t have appointed Thomas to the Supreme Court but he did give us Souter (he could have given us another Scalia in addition to Thomas) and he did largely keep Newt Gingrich and his bunch of right wing ideologues in check. He also kick started the Mid-East peace process, ended the excesses of the previous Administration in Nicaragua, continued the process of negotiation with the Soviets and showed respect for international diplomacy and international law (all things that his son has not or would not have done).

But my perspective on politics all changed with the emergence of Clinton. That didn't stop me though from not being as vociferously opposed to *'s candidacy in 2000 as I should have been -I was much too complacent enjoying the era of Clinton-induced peace and prosperity


I also was a strong supporter of the conservative party in my country during the early 1990s. But then again the conservative party leader whom I so strongly supported has now come out to the left of even our centre left opposition party on some issues that I don't entirely regret supporting him

quizes that are supposed to summarize your political leanings. I scored Social Nationalist. Not exactly sure what that means

I used to be radically left in college, but Im a little less radical now.

...twice. It wasn't until 1985 or so that I realized that he was a douchebag. I'm sorry, I just didn't know any better.