Ex-Republicans: What made you change & when? How has your life changed?

[checks-n-balances]

It would be really interesting if any of you fit this description. Here are some questions I've been wondering about, and if you feel comfortable responding to any of them (or answering your own), maybe some of us long-time Dems could learn from it. Surely this has been the subject of threads here in the past, but it might be interesting for some of you to "tell your stories"!

1. What made you reach the "tipping point" when you realized you couldn't go along with it anymore?

2. Do your friends/family know yet?

3. How has your life become harder/easier (or, what was easy about the change, and what has been the hardest?)

4. Chances are you heard lots of stereotypes about Democrats. What has been the biggest surprise for you about Democrats themselves? Do you see Republicans in a different light now?

5. Do you have any desire to bring "on the fence" people over to your way of thinking now? If so, what do you think you would tell them (and what kind of reaction would you expect)?

I know there are some people out there who are "all ears", so feel free to think about some of this and respond. Thanks in advance!

[MARALE]

1. Not really a repub

But I thought that dems were big spenders, after Reagan I found out that repubs were the biggest spenders and not for the people. I also thought that they wanted to take away my guns.

[checks-n-balances]

4. Thanks for posting your thoughts & welcome to DU!

I hope being at DU is a great experience for you - I have learned a lot in my short time here.

Just curious: did you ever hear someone actually say that dems would take away people's guns, or did "gun control" sound like a ban on firearms?

I'm always interested to hear about what changes people's minds!:hi:

[RUSTY SHACKLEFORD]

6. Not the "Democrats" ... the "Librals"

As a card carrying NRA member, I can tell you from first hand experience that many, many advocates of the the 2nd ammendment, Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians and other third party members, believe liberal leftwing Americans want to remove the right to keep and bear arms. And there is factual foundations for these fears. One only needs to look at most European nations or Canada to see how this disarming of the masses has already occured in many places around the world.

Although, the counter arguments are fairly solid too. Americans, in general, are insane. It seems like every time someone gets angry, he or she pops a cap in someone else. Violent crime is ridiculously high, etc.

My personal opinion is that you can get rid of the guns but not get rid of the kooks, so what's the point? If we take away the guns from the citizenry and Dubya decides to not step down when he's voted out in November, we might regret what we done done ...

[Spiffarino]

22. I felt much the same way

That's why Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine" was powerful for me. The message I took away from the movie - in spite of the spin from the radical right - is that guns are not the problem, FEAR is.

I grew up around guns. Hunting and fishing was a big part of family life, and I know firsthand that people who own guns aren't all nuts. On the other hand, nobody I know who is a real hunter owns an assault weapon, a machine gun, a TOW missile or a tank.

[EconGeek]

23. AW = Hunting Rifle

Hi there. I don't know if you've read the Assault Weapons Ban, but what it bans is basically safety features, and "scary" things from semi-automatic rifles.

The re-authorization bills that were proposed would have banned all semi-auto rifles. And virtually every hunter out there, except for purists who use a musket or bolt action, hunts with a semi-auto, or an "Assault Weapon" under the attempted renewal of the Assault Weapons Ban.

What's currently banned are too many of the following: Pistol grip, collapsable buttstock, flash hider, and bayonett.

People aren't engaging in drive-by bayonettings. A flash hider is a legitimate safety device, and I don't see how pistol grips makes a rifle "evil".

Really the term "assault weapon" Was made up for the bill-- its not a real term, like "Semi-automatic".

I believe most people think "Assault weapons" Are machine guns... but machine guns have been effectively banned since the 30s.

You cannot uby a TOW missle or a tank either... certainly not functional ones.

Many hunters use .308 caliber semi-automatic rifles. Now if their rilfe is a winchester lever action, or if its a FAL, its still just as effective at taking down a dear. Except the lever action is "ok" but the FAL is an "assault weapon".... the distinction makes no sense-- they both fire the same round.

And AK-47 type is a perfectly reasonable hunting rifle, though some states restrict its use because the round is NOT lethal enough-- eg: they consider it unkind to the deer.

IS the fact that its round is less lethal than ,say, .308 what makes an AK-47 evil? OR is it those really ugle Soviet style ergonomics that make it evil and thus worth banning?

I've never understood this. I guess most people who oppose Assault Weapons think that they are machine guns.

[benEzra]

26. Most gun owners (including gun-owning dems and indies) don't hunt

I grew up around guns. Hunting and fishing was a big part of family life, and I know firsthand that people who own guns aren't all nuts. On the other hand, nobody I know who is a real hunter owns an assault weapon, a machine gun, a TOW missile or a tank.

An "assault weapon" is an ordinary civilian rifle with a protruding handgrip instead of an 1800's-style straight stock. A lot of us Gen-X and Gen-Y types like more modern looking rifles instead of the old walnut-and-blued-steel chic, and for some reason that drives the gun prohibitionists absolutely crazy. Actual military assault rifles (M16's, military AK-47's and -74's) are VERY tightly controlled by Federal law; the whole "assault weapon" issue was a bait-and-switch by the prohibitionist lobby to ban as many CIVILIAN guns as they could.

FWIW, the vast majority of lawful gun owners nationally (4 out of 5) aren't hunters. I personally don't hunt, though I support hunting 100%. I suspect we nonhunters pay most of the excise taxes used to fund public game lands for hunters...


Added on edit: OOPS, should've read the thread date before posting. Darn, I didn't mean to resurrect an old thread. (Sound of banging head on keyboard.)

[struggle4progress]

32. Once you've hunted fish with a bazooka, you'll never go back ..

.. to the old ways ...

[johnlal]

9. I also fell for "Big Spenders" line

I have always been concerned with the National Debt. I fell for the line about "tax-and-spend" democrats. In my first presidential election, I voted for Reagan. I soon learned that I had been fooled. It goes to figure, ANY politician wants to spend as much money as he can get his hands on. NO politician wants to support increase in taxes. It takes a special type of leader to impose fiscal responsibilty. Neither political party has fiscal responsibility encoded into their DNA. I have voted more critically ever since.

[RUSTY SHACKLEFORD]

2. Well...

Until recently I had been a Republican for all of my adult life, by default. The reason being, I am (and continue to be) a conservative-minded thinker when it comes to politics and the American way of life. I'd prefer lower taxes for individuals (although I acknowledge the corporations get away with murder when it comes to taxes), I'm against gun control, abortion, legalization, etc. and advocate capitol punishment, strong military, strong foreign policy, free(er) trade agreements (especially in the Western hemisphere). I'm pretty much hold all conservative ideals with the exception of all the holy than thou religious morality issues (I'm atheist).

The problem being, the Republican party is now controlled by neocons and not true conservatives. Neocons hold very few conservatie values dear. They are the guys running around shouting "NUKE THE FREAKIN' MOON!" and are absolutely serious about it. George W. Bush started his term out on the conservative path, but after 9-11, he revealed himself as a full-blooded neocon. It was really bizarre for me.

I mean, the incident where our spy plane went down in China, I thought he handled that well. He bit his lip, gave the Chinese lip service, "appologized" for the incident, did what was necessary to get that flight crew back home. Then, without even worrying about the airplane itself (which was still sitting on that Chinese airbase, Dubya had our nuclear battery "retargetted" basically taking many of the nuclear missiles that were targetted at the ex-Soviet Union, and "pointing them at Beijing. It was as if to say, "Hey. You guys wanna be enemies, then so be it. We'll play your silly little game."

And then, there were the free-trade summits with central and south America. I thought, "man, this guy is brilliant". He seemed to see that the EU is slowly becoming a mammoth that is going to trample the USA financially if we don't do something to stimulate all the third world economies we have in this hemisphere. But apparently, I was completely fooled. That stuff went by the wayside after 9-11. In the meantime, the EU just added another dozen member-nations and the Euro is kicking the bee-Jesus out of the dollar. America seems to me to be in slow decline, and if we don't all pull together for the good of this country, it won't be long before China and Europe are dictating our economy instead of the other way around.

Anyway, after 9-11 I was like everyone else ... pissed. Looking for a reason to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I was all out of bubble gum. So I supported the incursion into Afghanistan and got carted right into this war in Iraq. All I remember coming out of the Chimp's mouth was "Saddam Hussein has WMDs", "Saddam Hussein is not disarming", "Saddam Hussein is a threat to America" and shortly after "Shock and Awe" I gradually got a bitter taste in my mouth for this administration. With every passing day that the war in Iraq goes unjustified, I grow more bitter towards these neocons.

So, obviously I am no liberal (although I will be voting for Kerry in November). I imagine I could get banned here at the DU for even mentioning such blasphemy, but I'm not here to cause any trouble. Right now, I see myself as pretty much in agreement with leftists. We gotta get Bush out of the White House, that's the bottom line.

Anyway, sorry if I didn't really answer your questions. Sometimes I just write whatever I feel like chatting about...

[Lenape85]

3. Glad you've seen the light

I've been seeing an amazing number of conservatives who are not shilling for Bush and are willing to vote for Kerry, if only to get chimpy out of the White House.

Many modern Republicans such as Eisenhower and even Nixon must be spinning in their grave over Bush's presidency.

[checks-n-balances]

5. Well...nice to hear from you! I'm glad you felt free to respond

with whatever you wanted to talk about! It does take some critical thinking to see through all the fabricated reasons that were put out there for going to war. I guess that's the thing about this administration that has enraged me the most - the biggest waste of lives, resources, and goodwill - at least in my lifetime. And oh, of course, the sheer dishonesty.

I agree, W campaigned for one thing and became another - a real bait-and-switch job on the voting public.

You can probably see that DU folks have a running conversation about whether we (and the country) should be more centrist or less centrist (at least compared to W). But at least at DU, it must be enough of a "big tent" place for the exchange of ideas to flow fairly freely. And you've probably already noticed what the exceptions are.

Anyway, Rusty, thanks for taking the time to write out your story and welcome again to this discussion board!
:hi:

[saccheradi]

12. The benefit of being a democrat...

is that you don't have to be a liberal, you just have to think for yourself.

So nobody will ever censure you for thinking whatever you do, and chances are you'll find plenty of other democrats (like myself) who agree with you on many fronts...

so blashpheme all you want, We're not republican so you won't be tortured for it.

[swinney]

7. I turned anti-gop when

I was in local library and read Haynes Johnson book "sleepwalking" on Reagan. I was shocked. I voted twice for Reagan. I trusted Haynes as being one of most honest writers on Washington Post.

Then, Clinton speech at Georgetown U on "Covenant With America".
I had never heard such a great speaker who did not need notes and said what I felt needed to be done in America.

Then, his book "Putting People First". It outlined what we needed as a nation. It was unreal it was so astute.

Then, I became very political. Before I was apolitical.

I became an Historian of 1980's, 1990's and now Bush.

Search clarence swinney on google, yahoo and you will find my info on Reagan, Clinton, Democrats, Repugs and Bush.

[checks-n-balances]

8. Wow - so you've been "in recovery" for about 12 years! Great story!

So there IS hope that some people can change their minds when presented with the facts.

I'm glad you're political now - probably with a vengeance considering the upcoming election.

I WILL do that googling - it sounds GREAT!!

Obviously it changed your life a great deal.

Thanks for sharing that impressive story!!

[Robert Murphy]

10. I Don't Consider Myself an Ex-Republican, But...

Here is one of my darkest, most shameful secrets: when I was 16 I supported Reagan and believed in the Republican party. :o (I was a stupid, naive kid.) Then I actually started to read real newspapers such as the Times and Post, instead of relying solely on the TV media. It was when I got wind of what Reagan was doing in Nicaragua and the Honduras that I began to realize what a bunch of amoral hypocrites this bunch was--I soon saw the light. While there are certainly Republicans I respect, they are sadly atypical of the rest of their party. I've been a card-carrying Democrat ever since.

Robert

[Lost147]

11. Ex Republican here

1. What made you reach the "tipping point" when you realized you couldn't go along with it anymore?

The list is just so long and blood boiling to recall.

2. Do your friends/family know yet?

Yes, the same happened to my entire family as well. My friends were glad the fog of ignorance had lifted.

3. How has your life become harder/easier (or, what was easy about the change, and what has been the hardest?)

Much easier, this current administration is either incompetent or stupid and I'm not sure if one is better than the other. In my humble opinion if the democrats can't win this election they might want to try something else because obivously politics are not there speciality. I mean this administration has done NOTHING that has helped me in any way.

4. Chances are you heard lots of stereotypes about Democrats. What has been the biggest surprise for you about Democrats themselves? Do you see Republicans in a different light now?

The irony that has taken place in the past few years is most shocking. The Democrats had once represented the lowest class of America but has now jumped into a new population and the Republicans are finding more and more of there supporters in trailer parks. The biggest surprise I've had about democrats espically on these forums is the pettyness. Both sides are obivously equally guilty but I figured the democrats were above sending back hate letters with surveys that the Republican party issued. What the hell is the point of that?

I'm beginning to not view this current administration as Republican, for the record nearly all wars have been started by a Democrat and finished by Republican. Its been a basic belief that if the nation is having money troubles than the Republicans are your best choice. How ever if the nation is having social problems than the democrats are the best choice. How ever this administration does not follow those very basic concepts. We're in extreme debt and have nothing to show for it beside from what the media makes out as a hell hole.

5. Do you have any desire to bring "on the fence" people over to your way of thinking now? If so, what do you think you would tell them (and what kind of reaction would you expect)?

I consider myself on the fence currently. If anything I'm more independent than democrat. I like to read all view points and form my conclusions with out unjust biased preliminary reactions that so many "Yellow Dog" democrats have. I've realized that those who are hardcore Conservative Republicans and those that are Yellow Dog democrats are simply a waste of a vote and really don't matter when it comes to election time. for every yellow dog there is a right wing nut job that cancels you out. In reality elections are really up to about 30% of the population because the other 70% simply vote for the party their name is attached to. These two numbers cancel each other out. I would urge the "on the fencers" to stay where they are and realize both political parties just want whats best for America but both are trying to take a different path.

[fumetti]

16. A horribly wrong assessment...

"I'm beginning to not view this current administration as Republican, for the record nearly all wars have been started by a Democrat and finished by Republican."

I appreciate your revelation that the GOP isn't what it says it is. But your assessment about America's wars is wrong.
Only the Civil War can be construed as fitting your interpretation (Southern Dems starting it, newly formed GOP finishing it).

World War I: started by Europe, and a Dem (Wilson) did enter the U.S. into it. But no Republican "finished" it.

World War II: started by Japan and Germany, finished by a Democrat (or two).

Korean War: started by North Korea, fought by a Dem, abandoned by a Republican (but not "finished")

Vietnam War: our involvement started by a Dem, but hardly "finished" by a Republican. Nixon had no exit plan except to beg for mercy to save face. Nixon had six years and a "secret plan to end the war" but still wasn't out when he resigned.

Gulf War: a wholly Republican matter. (and if Bush Sr didn't want this war, all he needed to do was tell Saddam. Saddam asked the U.S. for what amounted to permission at least twice and both times got a "we don't care" kind of answer.)

Iraq invasion: Pure Republican.

So I don't understand where your characterization of "the record" is coming from...

[wish_I_could_vote]

13. What a great thread !

[Arator]

14. My story...

1. What made you reach the "tipping point" when you realized you couldn't go along with it anymore?

I haven't voted Republican at the presidential level since I foolishly voted for "Read My Lips".

Now that the Republicans are shamelessly staging a rolling fascist coup against our constitutional republic and gutting our Bill of Rights, I changed my registration from Republican to Independant and will vote against all Republicans who are not of the Ron Paul libertarian/constitutionalist variety (these are presently an extremely rare and endangered species).

2. Do your friends/family know yet?

Yep.

3. How has your life become harder/easier (or, what was easy about the change, and what has been the hardest?)

No change.

4. Chances are you heard lots of stereotypes about Democrats. What has been the biggest surprise for you about Democrats themselves? Do you see Republicans in a different light now?

Democrats are just like Republicans. One shouldn't generalize. Both major parties have a grassroots that supports the Constitution and Bill of Rights and a corrupted elite that is actively gutting same. I share common cause with all who support our constitutional republic and am the enemy of all who seek to destroy her, be they Republican, Democrat, or whatever.

Michael Moore is a hero in my book. As is Al Gore, Gore Vidal, Robert Byrd, and every Democrat who has stood up against the neo-fascists to defend our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Bush's brother Bonesman (and cousin) John Kerry, on the other hand...

5. Do you have any desire to bring "on the fence" people over to your way of thinking now? If so, what do you think you would tell them (and what kind of reaction would you expect)?

Absolutely, and for that reason, I created a website:

http://americathebushieful.blogspot.com

Check it out!

[Fone Book]

15. AMAZING THREAD

This is the first thread that has actually like... moved me...
Like, you can feel this thread...
Amazing...

[fumetti]

17. It was the summer of '92...

I originally registered as a Republican, just like my parents, during the Reagan administration.

But it was the Bush Sr administration that made me realize that the GOP was all about big business and never about the worker. Their tax cuts were a matter of peanuts for the worker and plantations for the employer. I like tax cuts, but the bulk is not going to those who need it. A tax cut for the rich is a tax cut I oppose. They don't pay their fair share as it is.

I switch to "Independent" during the 1992 campaign when I heard a Republican congressman argue against the minimum wage by saying "if a man wants to work for $3 an hour, why should the government not let him?" The absurdity overwhelmed me. And then I learned about corporate welfare, and it was all over at that point.

My social and political and economic beliefs were starting to solidify at that time and I kept hearing people call my views "liberal." So, I'm a liberal but not a Democrat. I hang with Democrats because they're on the right side of most issues.

[Robert Murphy]

18. Let Me Add...

One more question:

6. Have you experienced a marked improvement in your grammar and writing skills? Can you now spell above second grade level?

Just had a look at the Hate Mailbag... ;)

Robert

[jessicazi]

19. My story

My story is quite interesting. I was born and raised in the Seattle area and considered myself a Republican. I just regurgitated the garbage my conservative relatives spewed out, and never thought for myself.

When I was 18 I moved to southeastern Idaho and attended a private, religious, and extremely conservative college (BYU-Idaho). At first, I still had a lot of conservative beliefs, and even contemplated joining the college Republicans club (perish the thought!), but never did. In my junior year, I took a Sociological Theory class that was taught by a professor who had his PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy from Purdue. I respected him immensely and he opened my eyes! He stated that he didn't care if homosexuals were allowed to get married and that they should be allowed to adopt. This was upsetting to me at first, I am ashamed to admit, but when he explained his reasons, it all started to fit together. This was the beginning of my reawakening.

My senior year was spent at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. Now Pocatello is still conservative like the rest of Idaho, but it is the most liberal part of Idaho, by far! I was a sociology major and the entire department of Sociology was liberal, and therefore my true education continued. I also got involved with a progressive club on campus and now I am so far to the left, I am almost off the charts!

So, I always like to tell people that I didn't become liberal until I came to Idaho, saw some real conservatives, and conservative politics, and saw the Republican party for what is truly is. But really, it was that one professor, who exposed me to ideas I never entertained, who opened my eyes, and who changed my life.

1. What made you reach the "tipping point" when you realized you couldn't go along with it anymore?

I have reached several mini "tipping points."

2. Do your friends/family know yet?

A few do. But my family is 95% Republican, and my mom has begged me to keep my mouth shut at family get togethers, which I do, out of respect for her.

3. How has your life become harder/easier (or, what was easy about the change, and what has been the hardest?)

It has become way harder. I am in a minority here in Idaho, and in my religion, where 80+% are Republican. I have been ostracized by many because of my beliefs.

I am always having to defend my political beliefs, which has only strengthened them.

It has become easier in that I feel free, and have enjoyed a life where I am not constantly judging and unhappy, but rather accepting and loving towards others.

4. Chances are you heard lots of stereotypes about Democrats. What has been the biggest surprise for you about Democrats themselves? Do you see Republicans in a different light now?

Republicans try to claim "family values," and religion/spirituality for itself. When, in my opinion, the Republican party is a party of wolves in sheeps clothing. A party with many hypocrites and unhappy people who have to tear down others because they have such miserable lives. Jesus was the most progressive leader the world has ever known!

5. Do you have any desire to bring "on the fence" people over to your way of thinking now? If so, what do you think you would tell them (and what kind of reaction would you expect)?

YES! I am careful about who I talk to about politics. But, whenever I get the chance, I spread the message of liberalism and how it has improved my life immensely. I also try to talk to some not on the fence people. If someone listens to me, I try to bring them over.

I also created a website, exclusively about Mormonism and pacifism, and how the two are connected. I will be sharing my website with anyone who wants to view it.

Thank you for this opportunity to share my story,
Jessica

[Pale Blue Dot]

20. Hi Jessica!

Welcome to DU! :hi::bounce:

[jessicazi]

21. Thank you...

Thank you for the welcome. I have been a lurker for over a year, and love the Top 10 Conservative Idiots section on DU. Finally decided to participate a little bit more!

Jessica

[LiveWire]

24. Living in the OC...

I was raised in a "moderate" background. While we tolerate all races/sex/sexual orientations in my house, we were always pretty conservative on all other issues. And then, after 9/11 when I was 18 years old, I registered a Republican. the only reason why I could tell you, is because I just didnt understand all the anti-american sentiments going on in the country at the time.
1. Sociology 180 & 185 with Professor Timmins. A great teacher, and the things we watched were never showed on FOX news. He was very liberal, but he taught you to think deeper about many issues (especially the war in Iraq). Also, my friend Jason Lacey, who when came back from a tour of duty in Iraq said how horrible it was. (He put a TOW missile through a bus filled with women/children/republican guard among other things). I learned it is easier to talk about the war of Iraq here, then to actually go over there and do it.
2. No they dont, I recently moved, and im re-inventing myself at UCSB
3. Its harder to find news that I actually trust! Watching "Control Room" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" can really open your eyes to the crap that is our news agencies.
4. Dems are just normal people. They put their pants on one leg at a time. No, they are not ultra liberals all the time. While I still have respect for some Republicans, i have seriously lost all respect for the president that I was too young to vote for in 2000.
5. Ive found that people are going to think whatever they want. Little of what I can say will ever bring anyone I know over.

[Jackie97]

25. I was never Republican.....

but I used to vote for a lot of them. The reason was I was so against abortion being legal (Okay, throw darts at me now). I thought the Democrats took it too far, and that most Republicans were not "pro-life" enough.

Other than that, I've always liked a lot of Democratic values. I think the tipping point for me was a combination of two things.

First, I changed my mind and became pro-choice.

Second, Bush happened. I've never seen the Republicans be so evil before the last four years. Once I researched the subject, I found that Republicans like Ronnie was evil too. Sorry to use such a strong word, but there's no other word to decribe Bush and certain others.

For fence sitters, I would suggest trying to talk to them about why they should vote for a president (even if they're against choice). I knew a guy who normally votes Democrat, but thought Gore was too pro-choice. He felt the need to stop it. Abortion will persuade a lot of voters, and I think that needs to be tackled.

I would also try to convince them that homosexual marriages are probably not going to be passed by most Democrats for a long time, and wouldn't destroy nuclear families if it did. I never have understood why so many people care so much about homosexuals and taking away their rights. My only explanation is that so idiots actually think that homosexuals are a real threat. Why?

For poor fence sitters, I would first convince them to register to vote to begin with (most of them probably don't normally vote), and convince them that the last thing their struggling family needs is a politician that cares only about the rich. If they say that they'll be working the whole day and can't make it to the poles, then convince them to get an absentee ballot.

[NoLongerRepresented]

27. Ex not really much of a Republican

Wow does this hit square between the eyes!
Here is the short answers:
1) a)A public debt that my children can never pay off.
b)Invasion of another Nation who did not attack us.
c)Lies, Lies, and more lies about why we did.
d)Being accused of hating my country because I question my governments reasons for sending our young men and women to die for a lie.
2) I guess so, my views have not changed. It will be a shock to them when I don't vote Republican this time though.
3) Heated discussions about why I believe the Republicans are more dangerous than the Democrats.
4) Can't answer this one yet.
5) I attempt this all the time. Mostly I get heated comments like "your just an idiot" with no explanation why other that I believe Bush is an idiot.

I have no Idea if I'll be welcome around here or not. I am sincerely looking for a different political direction, so I started here.

[Tab]

28. It's been years since I counted myself as a Republican

Growing up (my early 20s, I guess) I counted myself a Republican because (1) they were in power, (2) I believed what they said about Democrats, (3) I didn't know a damn thing about politics or how to judge politicians, and (4) sounded good to me.

Reagan was in office and Newt was on TV and they were always complaining how Democrats obstructed this and obstructed that and how smoothly things would be running if it weren't for those darn obstructionist Democrats. I believed it. Then again, I didn't have a whole lot of sources of information, except for some TV news shows, talk radio, and articles.

Then Bush Sr. was in office. I still didn't know a lot about politics, but I thought he was okay in some respects. I think he handled the Gulf War well - he passed the hat, had other countries pony up and we provided the muscle - and he had everyone buy into it before going in, and all the other countries financed it. He was former DCI, and former Ambassador to the United Nations. He was a diplomat. I didn't agree with everything, but I was okay with him at the time, given what I knew then.

Election time came around and I bought into the "Slick Willy" thing. I considered myself an Independent at this time, so I didn't vote for either Bush or Clinton. I was impressed with the straight talk of Perot, so I actually voted for him.

Clinton got in, of course, and I was immediately impressed. First, I found out that a lot of the spin against him was just that - spin. And he was smart, smart, smart. Rhodes Scholar, the whole works. And he stayed up late and I liked most of the decisions he made.

But what clinched it was that no sooner was he in office than Newt and Dole and whoever else were on TV doing exactly what for years they complained about the Democrats doing - they were immediately and forcefully obstructionist. This was my first clue about the hypocrisy. Then came the witchhunt on all sorts of little things (Travelgate, e.g.) that were distractionary and obstructionist. The bullshit with Monica just sealed it for me, particularly that it made it to impeachment proceedings. I elected (second time around) someone to be President. I wasn't electing a Pope. Bill can do what he wants in his private life as long as he does a good job running the country, and I thought he was doing a great job. They lost me for good with that impeachment. I wasn't Republican at that point, I was Independent, but from that point on I was decidedly Democrat because there was no way in hell I would vote Republican again for a long damn time. There was no point in being Independent because there was no chance I'd be voting Republican, so I just went decidely Democratic.

And I'll tell you, Dubya and company hasn't done a damned thing to change my mind. If anything, he's only cemented it. Whatever the Republican party once was, it's not any more. I'm personally a social progressive/liberal and a fiscal conservative, but the Republicans aren't even fiscally conservative anymore. Who cuts income (tax cuts) and simultaneously increases spending? I can't do that at home, and it's not any different for the government. Dems are now more fiscally conservative than Republicans.

If they ever get me back, it's gonna take DECADES, and some major screwups on the Dem side, and some major improvement on the other side.

[Bullwinkle925]

30. Great writing.

I wish that more people would take an honest look at what is truly going on in D.C.
I agree with your last sentence. I must admit that I have never voted for a Republican. I am always too fearful of the party platform - now I'm terrified.

[kwolf68]

29. Here is my story

I just read it again, not that great...but it's about 5 years ago right here on DU. Sadly, I did not vote for Al Gore as I had not fully completed by transition at that time (NO, I didn't vote for Dimson either).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/01/08/09_once.html

[melissinha]

31. Bravo from a lifelong Democrat

Yeah I'm a former College Democrat blah, blah..

To the Republicans who are rejecting the current administration, I believe that you can still be a Republican, really..... we need the balance that the TRUE REPUBLICAN PARTY can create, but that is simply not going to happen now cause the neo-con sect has taken control and even corrupted the real Goldwater Republicans. Its ok, so long as you know what is going on and are planning to restore it you are welcome to work with us to restore our country.

To those on the fence and fully converted, welcome to the Party, I'm not sure that I can speak for the DLC, but really the grassroots are really about community and even when devout Republicans vote out of hate, greed and judgment, we really want things to be better off for them too. Its the honest truth.

Welcome to all, we really mean it. We aren't against Christianity, but against fake fundalmental opportunistic Christianity; Intelligent Design is BS and evolution is the foundation of the sciences we use every day (many scientests believe in spiritial creation of the natural world that evolved but was created by a higher pwoer), we aren't against guns, we are for reasonable ownership; we aren't FOR abortion, we are for what ever the woman wants.... (I wouldn't do it honestly, I really don't believe in it, but my belief in privacy and personal stewardship is infinately stronger); and so help me God we are for the physical and mostly the ECONOMIC SAFETY of all Americans and world citizens.... Now I wish the Democratic leadership would just prove that.