For me...this may be the last straw.

I was registered as an Independent from the first general election I could vote in ('92). Though I always leaned left, I just never felt it important enough to register as a Democrat.

'04....I registered as a Democrat. I voted for Gore in 2000, but felt like I obviously didn't share the same warped values as the right after 4 years of Bush. So I registered as a Democrat. And I did quite a bit to make sure Kerry got into office. Volunteered. Phone banked. Canvassed. I was crushed to have 4 more years of Bush after the election.

I became more and more excited as '06 approached. All the writing was on the wall. The Democrats were looking like they might pull the upset. And they did indeed win. And the next day was fantastic. I and everybody I knew were walking on air.



My posting has progressively decreased since that day.


Today, after this vote, I think I'm going back to being an Independent. I know some people say, "Well this is politics, we have to play.".

Guess what. The neo-cons don't play the game. They just put their foot down. And they continually win. The don't play any games. They say how it should be. And it is. The don't believe in compromise. Why should the Democrats compromise now that they have the majority? They shouldn't. At least not with people that have taken us so far down the hole. But they do. They didn't even get a compromise. They just rolled over and capitulated.

Disgusting.

The Democrats were played for a bunch of lily-livered, milque-toast invertebrates. And who can blame the Republicans? Really? The Democrats set the tone early. "Do what you want...because we'll request compromise...but won't do anything to actually GET compromise...you stay where you are...we'll come to you.". They don't listen to Dean or any other Democrat with nuts. And yes, it IS about having nuts. Being offended. You don't get it.


Tomorrow...I'm going to change my registration back to Independent...and I'm paying off my DNC credit card (yes..they exist) and cutting it up.

I'm done.

I never thought that after "winning" in 2006, I could be even more disenchanted than before, to the point of just about giving up.
I read a few blogs, garden, and try to make my little world as beautiful as possible....I've never been this alienated from politics in my life.

I don't have a party to stand behind me. So why should I argue?

I've got a new slogan for the Democratic Party.

"All hat...no cattle."

'08 was looking like a sure thing, but now? No longer sure. The thing that makes me sick is the Democrats in Congress make me feel like I have sold out my principles for supporting them. Yeah, that's how I feel...

NEVER a "sure thing," even before this fiasco.

Our so-called "front runners" don't have what it takes to pull in the while male Bubba swing votes from the South and mid-West - one of the most consistant voting blocks in the area.

Other than that, I completely agree with your assessment about how it makes one feel regarding their principles. I just wanted to point out that 2008 was never a sure thing since I still feel we'll have a hell of a time flipping any red/purple states.

All we need to know how to do is "spin" it better.

But in the meantime...can't the Democrats do ANYTHING better than roll over?

This year... it is #9 year, which mean, any un-finish business need to be finished and any dark closet matter will be exposed. Indeed, we are seeing it now. This vote valeted about closet democrats with their vote. Next year, year # 1... which mean, HUGE CHANGE! Year # 1 mean changes, it could be anything, job, politics, love life... So, look for major changes to come next year! Possibility new 3rd party rising out of no where and move this country forward!

what has kept me (a second class citizen at DU) in the Party has been my desire to end this immoral anti-life war based on lies, as well as the massive accompanying corruption and economic rape of my country. I may have to register as an Independent and write in a presidential candidate in '08.

It looks to me like you think everyone else is a second class citzen, since I've never met a pro death Democrat. :shrug:

but "choice" is a euphemism for death, is it not?

That is what "choice" is about.

give money to the few Dems who are doing the job you want them to do -- there are, surely, a few. E.g., I give to Conyers and Boxer, even though they have nothing in particular to do with my state; but they're doing more for me than the rest of 'em put together.

The best way to train any creature is with carrots as well as sticks, etc.

Maybe I'm a fool. A doormat. But this is a two party country. At least that is how it has been.

They want us to divide. I am not going to give them that luxury. Think about it. You are free to do as you want. And I do not know what is right. But I think what we are seeing is the DLC wedge they inserted into us.

They're cheats and criminals. Let's stick together and build this party big enough and smart enough to override the tricks they throw in our path.

If we were sneaky like the Repubs, we'd be busy dividing their party. But we don't operate that way. Leave the Dems, and we become smaller. It's that simple.

But what do I know? Do what you feel is right.

At least it seems that way to me.

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll425.xml

Look and see- last I checked 86 dem congress voted aye... if yours is one then you weren't doing your job as a constituent. Did you call or write? I did both and mine voted nay.

Really- how will they know what you, their boss, wants unless you TELL them?

Lil Karl has a big woody now.

Sorry if i seem bitter but i am.

wrong thread..

I mention this because I used to be a registered Independent until I actually took the time to read the "Independent Party Platform". They are opposed to a woman's right to choose and are supporters of prayer in school. I have instead opted for "Decline to State". When people ask me what I am, I say "I'm an American". I don't have loyalty to a "party" but rather to my country and vote for the best candidate. I get a notice from the registrar of voters prior to any primary that asks me which primary (GOP or DEM) that I want to vote in. I can then return the card and choose which I want to vote in (same is offered to Independent and Green registered party members).

Just thought I'd let you know that this is something you might want to look into, especially if you haven't actually read the Independent Party's views. I'm tired of the loyalty to parties crap. Especially when they are all so disappointing.

But I mean small-i independent, not a member of the Independent Party. Technically, I'm a "decline to state." Always have been.

And right now, I'm not sorry. My only regret is that I cannot vote in primaries where I am.

I too am an American--no party loyalty, and I try to vote for the best candidate.

My state doesn't require one sign up with an official party in order to vote in the primaries. You just declare in which primary you'll be voting when you show your Voter's Registration card to the clerks. You get a code number, punch that into the machine and it automatically gives you the list of either Republican or Democratic candidates, dependent upon which primary you selected.

It's a "open" primary. I happen to like them.

of my former party. Rest in pieces, Democrats.

to my own pattern.

Except that I'm older than you, and did not belong to a political party for 25 voting years before registering as a Democrat.

I'm not leaving the party at this point. I'm going to vote for Dennis Kucinich in my primary. There are some Democrats that I'm happy to support. He's one. My former Senator, Barbara Boxer, is another. There are some other good Democrats from my former state of California. Barbara Lee. Maxine Waters. Of course, I can donate to worthy Democrats, campaign for Democrats, and vote for Democrats whether or not I'm registered with the party. I just can't vote in primaries. For the moment, my displeasure with the choices on the ticket in the general election will keep me a Democrat.

It could happen that I will return to independent status after the convention. It depends on the nominee, the "tone," the agenda, and the actions of Democrats in Congress between now and then.

before 2000, and like you am going back to independent now. The republicans are ruining the country and the Dems are no better, they are just the light version. Coke or Pepsi and I want neither.

Apparently, they don't understand our messages very well.

no political party is ever going to make you happy 100% of the time. Even an independent candidate will do things that will piss you off at some point. After all, didn't Lieberman run as an independent?

You have to figure out which candidates suit your overall political philosophy and vote for that person. For me, 99.9% of the time, it's the Democrat. I agree with the vast majority of the Democratic Party's platform, so I'm a Democrat. It's that simple.

Simply so I can vote for Mike Gravel in the primary. After that, it's back to Libertarian for me. I mean, if the Democrats are just going to be slaves to corporate interests, I might as well re-affiliate myself with a party that admits as much, but also supports non-interventionist foreign policy, and an abolition of consensual "crime".

But I vote Democratic if the issues suit me.

At least the other times, it was the other guys screwing us over.

Now, it's our own guys.

So what's the point of supporting them?

What's the point of "representative democracy" if the people we vote for don't, ya know, "represent" us?

Pick the person you feel will do the best job.

Apparently I'm not the only one you lost.

You guys are idiots. The majority of the country doesn't agree with this war. So not only did you alienate your base...you alienated a LARGE portion of our population...that is NOT your base.

The other choice would've let them say you "hated the troops". But here's the problem. Just because you gave in, they're STILL going to say you hate the troops.

So now you still lose the framing battle, but you also lost your strategic positioning.


Sun Tzu would've been embarrassed.

because people may have their heads up their asses, but they know integrity and guts when they see it.

And they obviously aren't seeing it.

Your argue with co-workers and family members, that the democrats are better choice. I can't tell you how many arguments I've had with my father, who does not support the war, but still votes R, because he thinks democrats are hypercritical about the war. And they basically prove his point.

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I made my conversion after voting for Nixon and Reagan (once). My awakening came when a student told me, "Have you ever noticed how most Republicans are incredibly uninformed?" Being an uninformed Republican myself, I found that comment offensive. I decided to prove him wrong by getting informed. The more I studied the issues, the more ridiculous the Republicans seemed. I've been registered as a Dem, and I've never looked back.

Now, I could construct a long list of reasons why Democrats are silly and confused and often don't represent me. But, the happenings of this week is not even on the radar screen.

During the 2006 election cycle, Pelosi announced that impeachment was not on the table. I was initially distressed by this, but I listened to her reasoning, and I can see it. I truly hope we see Cheney and Gonzales impeached, but we may not.

Not long ago, Barack Obama announced that Congress would not play chicken with the president over funding of the troops. I was distressed by this, but I listened to his logic, and I accept his reasoning. We will chip away at Bush and his ugly little war. We will eventually prevail. But we must have vision and patience.

It's too bad you're leaving the party, but it's okay. I'm confident you'll be back.