I just made my 1,000th post.

[MelissaB]

If I had I not been drinking and paying closer attention for my 1,000 post I wanted us to list our accomplishments since Nov. 3.

DU has given me hope and a home, especially this forum. I was not an activist until after this election. Something changed for me, inside me. I knew I had to try to make a differnece. I came to this website knowing very little about politics. I now spend my days and nights reading when I can to educate myself. You are all so helpful and encouraging. I have never asked a question that somebody didn't try to help me by giving me a link or the information I needed. I never thought I would be a person who made phone calls, sent emails and faxes to politicians, the media, and anybody else I thought would listen. I have learned a lot, but know I have a long way to go in my political education.

Sometimes I feel discouraged, then I remember several of the accomplishments since the presidential election. So for my 1001 post, let's brainstorm to list our accomplishments since the election...great and small. It will be a heck of a list!

Thank you all. :pals:

Melissa

[jeff30997]

1. Yabadabadoooo!!!

Welcome to the club !:party: :toast::toast:!:party:

[katinmn]

2. Congrats, Mellisa!

to start things off:

The Boxer Rebellion was a huge achievement.

[MelissaB]

5. The Boxer Rebellion

was amazing. I left school that day at lunch (I teach.) becase I would have literally been sick if I had missed it. I was trying to save my sick days and didn't know we had a senator when I left for school. When I found out I suddenly felt very bad :) and had to come home.

[elizm]

22. Hey Melissa..

I'm a teacher, too. I took the day off and flew to DC for the day on January 6th. It was fabulous. I'm like you...never been an activist until after this election. Good to know there are other teachers out there getting involved.

[Canuckistanian]

3. Congrats! A big milestone!

May you post often and prosper!

[Quakerfriend]

4. Cograts Melissa!

Everything you have written is true for me, as well.

You go girl! There's no turning back until our democracy is restored and *co. is OUT!:+

[livvy]

6. Cheers!

I'm indulging in a bit of Merlot after a very annoying week of work!
I have a long way to go before I hit 1,000. I don't post that much, mostly read, pass along what I learn, and try to pop the denial bubbles on anyone I can.
We have accomplished much here at DU.
We've brought this past joke of an election to the attention of our representatives in Congress.
We've spurred on the need for election reform.
We've awakened and supported members of Congress.
We helped to elect a wonderful President, but unfortunately his place of honor was stolen. (Ok, we're not perfect)
We've put a lot of pressure on the MSM.
We've made it very apparent that not everyone is in a submissive stupor.
On a personal note:
My statistic skills have improved as I've wrapped my brain around the great posts by TIA.
My dogs have learned that they don't get fed when mom is on the computer. This has much increased my importance in the pack! LOL
I've learned that there are many, many people out there that feel the same way as I do.
This is a great place, and we have done so much! So cheers to you and the rest of the great bunch here and congratulations on your 1,000th post!

[MelissaB]

8. Great list and LMAO!

"My dogs have learned that they don't get fed when mom is on the computer. This has much increased my importance in the pack! LOL"

Unfortunately, my children feel the same way.

Cheers right back at ya!

[MelissaB]

7. Recount in NH.

NH is one of the things that got us started. I'm still thankful to Ralph Nader for being willing to help.

(Okay! I want to add to my own list. :) )

[marions ghost]

9. thanks melissa

for your Updates which I use.
Congratulations
:party: 1 :party: 0 :party: 0 :party: 0 :party:

Fighting on the home front for Democracy
Some days Sanity is an accomplishment
NGU

[tommcintyre]

10. Greatest accomplishment: We're still here, and we're NOT going away!

Somebody once said: "99% of success is just showing up."

Even a Bush MSM mouthpiece like Nightline has acknowledged our significance (by producing a thinly veiled anti-election fraud/anti-INTERNET blog hit-piece). Bushco, and those like them, have much to fear. You, yourself, are a good example of this. Even with, as you describe, your limited experience; you (and those that help you) are making a significant daily contribution (with your updates threads).

Congratulations! Keep up the good work! You are setting a good example for us all.

:D

Edit: spelling

[MelissaB]

11. Many people help with

that update thread, but dzika carries most of the weight. I'm blocked from DU during the day at work, so I try to do research on the weekend to make up for lost time. I'm just happy to know people read it. Thanks guys!!

[dzika]

12. ...and some damn fine posts you've made too.

Thanks for being here and sharing your good news. I think I'll celebrate!

[MelissaB]

13. Thanks, dzika!

I only report the news, I don't make it YET!

Thanks for all you do! I promise to try make up for my lack of work on the daily thread through the week on the weekend.

[tommcintyre]

16. "I only report the news, I don't make it YET!"

Well... actually, there is a very good chance that we all (internet election fraud/reform activists) are MAKING HISTORY. ;)

[tommcintyre]

14. Well, BIG props to dzika too!

Thanks for all your hard work!

[marions ghost]

15. thanks dzika

for your work on the Updates also. What was the date you guys started doing those, do you recall?

[Hugin]

17. I want a recount! j/k

Congratulations MelissaB.

I've read you're posts since long before I took the plunge
and started posting myself.

Good for you!

(Hope I pass that threshold soon too!)

:)

[Melissa G]

18. Kick for Melissa B! from Melissa G!

Post Long and Prosper! Toast Too!:toast:

[New Earth]

19. w00t!

:beer: :toast:

[skids]

20. Ah, the things we do...

...in the heat of passion that bring such regrets in the morning.

Sorry to hear you missed your DU "ascention."

If it is any consolation, think of it this way. Your 1000th post
has the distinction of being somewhere in a thread so large, it will probably be remembered as a classic. Plus, the KOEB should give you props for your unwavering, fanatical dedication.

Congrats! :party:

(Though you are reading this with a hangover, so have a :hurts: as well.)

[Peace Patriot]

21. Congratulations, MelissaB! I passed my 1000th this week, too!

I look forward to your posts, and always pay attention when you weigh in--you are always helpful. Your regular feature is a great addition to DU! I was surprised to read your comment--that you feel you are a political novice. Whether or not you've been active, you've obviously been thinking deeply about these matters.

DU Accomplishments:

I think we've succeeded in giving the Democrats in Congress a serious shot of Vitamin B!

1 vote became 13 votes became 36 votes, seriously challenging the Bush regime. Bang, bang, bang. Jan. 6. Jan. 26. Feb. 4. It's now a political movement within the Democratic Party to challenge the BushCons, and to take no more bullying from them. If we hadn't been here, hashing out the issues, formulating policy around election fraud and its implications, and going into action when it was needed, that wouldn't have happened. I think more and more Democratic leaders are realizing that they represent the majority of Americans. That is a huge and important development for which we are at least partly responsible.

We have kept election fraud and election reform alive as an issue. This is the MOST IMPORTANT CRISIS American democracy has ever faced. We are helping other Americans to understand it and to face it.

We are committed to the truth. We won't take any flak. We won't put up with "politics as usual." We have a kind of common consciousness that has developed, that sees right through the B.S. often with laser-like precision. We've emerged from the crucible of 11/2 and come out stronger and better citizens--and much more politically savvy than many of us were before.

Going into 11/2, what I saw developing was the most amazing grass roots democracy movement I have ever seen, absolutely unprecedented in this country (except for 1776 itself, and maybe the early labor movement). The civil rights movement and the anti-war movement of the 1960s don't compare. We had better news media conditions then, and a much healthier country in many ways-especially prior to the assassinations of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther king.

This movement--to oust Bush--sprang out of nowhere. Suddenly--despite unrelenting propaganda--much of the country became determined to throw Bush and his gangsters out, and rose up to do so, and got organized, and would not be stopped--even when favorite candidate Howard Dean was forced out of the race, even when a man who had voted for the Iraq War became the candidate. We would not be divided. We would not be conned again. We would work with ANYBODY--even the compromised, corrupt Democratic leadership--if they would help us throw these creatures out of our White House! And, by God--from nothing, from nowhere--we rose up and threw them out! Do you know that our voter registration drive resulted in a 57% increase in Democratic registration, compared to 41% for the BushCons?

A magnificent victory for the grass roots! And then...and then...

...the crushing realization, by some of us, that it had been stolen--and, by others, that all their work was for nothing, that somehow Bush had won, that the propaganda had worked, that the country was turning against 200 years of progress. And that beautiful but very young democracy movement got sliced up into a million broken-hearted pieces, and into 62.2 million (according to Dr. Freeman) depressed, disempowered, disenfranchised voters.

And DU--especially the Election Forum--took those shattered pieces and started putting them back together. That democracy movement is alive and back on its feet today because of DU.

Possibly most important of all, this forum has provided a home, and a generally sane working environment, for those who refuse to accept this fascist coup as a legitimate government. When other activists, and other forums, and other Democrats lost heart and blinded themselves to the truth, DU and this Election Forum were here for us. Those who kept it going through our democracy's darkest hour deserve Congressional Medals of Honor, in my opinion--and maybe, some day, they will actually be so rewarded. (Who knows?) I wasn't here on 11/2. I was a latecomer. And I cannot tell you how glad I am to have found this forum, and how grateful I am to those who were here before me. I am in awe of their resilience and their intelligence and commitment.

And MelissaB, just remember, it was something brilliant and full of light within you that brought you here!