So, what is a former dedicated Clinton supporter doing here?

[JohnnyLib2]

--thriving on positivity
--seeing things realistically
--keeping one eye on the future, always
--being reminded that, indeed, "politics makes strange bedfellows"
--refusing to be pigeonholed

and enjoying this forum greatly. Thanks, folks. :hi:

[DevonRex]

1. I view Obama and both Clintons as the ultimate liberal pragmatists.

Teddy Kennedy was one, too, rest his soul. So, I don't think it's strange at all that you're here. The politicians I mentioned have taken a lot of shit from a lot of people about not being liberal enough and not being conservative enough. But they kept trying no matter what.

[Lindsey]

2. JohnnyLib2, we're thrilled to have ya! nt

[get the red out]

3. You are doing what Secretary Clinton is doing

Supporting the efforts of the Democratic Party and the Democratic Administration. Where else would you be? :toast:

[JohnnyLib2]

4. Exactly.

:thumbsup:

[dcsmart]

13. that is the truth...the bottom line for a democrat

:toast:

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Welcome, Johnny!

I supported Obama from the beginning, but had always been, and remained, an admirer of Hillary Clinton. I'm pleased as punch that she's now our Madame Secretary of State.

[JohnnyLib2]

7. Thanks, and a clarification--

I've been here for some weeks. I decided to mention the Clinton angle because there seems to be some realignment going on within DU.
Hopefully, that's a good thing and will bring out some pragmatic, one-eye-on-the future views that have been shot down recently.

[LiberalAndProud]

9. May I ask what realignment you perceive?

[JohnnyLib2]

16. Not easily!

Actually, I see that Frenchie's post down thread has pointed out a distinction between focusing on policy progress and becoming "stuck."

The "stuck" can be on a personality, or a piece of legislation, or specific issues, etc.

In my own case, some hard lessons came from being an advocate in the disabilities area. There is always the next legislative session, always the next election which can make a difference, always the dark corners needing illumination. Part of the reality is learning to grit the teeth, swallow the frustration, and build the coalitions.

I think folks with that orientation are surfacing on this forum.

Thanks for asking. :hi:

[RoyGBiv]

28. I hope so ...

I'm not always optimistic. The Stupid seems to come in waves, and I seem to have an unfortunate ability to hit GD just when one of those waves is washing through.

But you make a good point, and I'll extend it. I think, based on nothing but casual observation, that a lot of what I'll call pragmatic people are simply becoming fed up with all the negativity and more on point are sick of listening to radical wanna-bes list their non-credentials as though their involvement with the blogosphere gives them imprimatur. Many of these people simply don't have a clue what real change in the political establishment takes. I've suggested before that we have a lot of people at DU who weren't in the least politically aware, much less active, prior to the 2000 election, and the whole context of their political experience is based on an aberration. This creates crazy people with no sense of perspective. Some, of course, are just contrarians and would be the way they are no matter who is in office. One thing doesn't fit with their preconceived notions of perfection, and off they'll go.

For my part, back when I first became politically active, back in the mid-80s, I took to heart a local issue that had been bouncing around from time to time since I was a child. Not yet old enough to vote, I started helping out with people I knew who were involved with it and as my first overt political act stood on a corner and helped a State Representative collect signatures for a petition to bring a question before the county voters. The same issue had been voted upon every two years for nearly fifteen years by that time, and it had always failed by anywhere from 20 - 30%.

Well, we didn't do any better that time either. It was a stunning defeat, and I was crushed. The representative leading the effort that time, and for a few years afterward, was a jerk. Everyone knew he was a jerk. Somehow he managed to keep getting reelected, but few people would listen to him on individual issues because they couldn't stand to listen to him. Realizing this, I almost gave up, but a young lady of about 40 years experience in state government took me aside the evening of the election and told me not to despair. She'd been through worse, much worse.

So, with that and my grandma's voice in my head as well, I stuck with it. Finally, when I was almost thirty, still involved with some of the same people I'd met when I was 17, we brought the question again, and this time we were able to convince a respected member of the religious community to argue for our cause. The religion angle (this was a women's health issue, btw, that was perceived to involve abortion more than it did, but it would take too long to explain it for this purpose) had been a stumbling block in the past as the leader of the First Baptist Church had always been firmly against us due, in part, to a property dispute. He used his pulpit and free television time from his Sunday morning service to urge people to the polls in his patented backhanded way. This guy we recruited, by effectively going to what we perceived as the other side and framing the issue in terms with which he could agree, helped counter that.

In 1998, twelve years after I first started helping with the issue, our measure passed by about 100 votes.

That whole experience taught me a lot. The first is that if you're serious, you need patience. The second was that not everyone you perceive as an enemy actually is. Third, even if you disagree with an individual on almost every other issue, they can prove to be a valuable ally at times (Ted Kennedy understood that well, btw) and are not inherently evil just because you don't agree on much. Finally, I learned that you cannot be an insufferable prick and hope to get anyone to follow you or help you.

I think there are a lot of people out there, most of whom are generally silent because they have no desire to engage insanity, who are starting to stand up and say, "Enough. Of. This. Crap."

FWIW, I voted for Hillary in the primary too, but I didn't actually make my decision between her and Obama until election day. I was not disappointed then, and I'm not disappointed now. Elections are not sporting events to me. Either would have made a fine President, and the guy that won is proving that he is one.

[Cary]

29. The thing I learned from the real world is that if you don't play ball,

you don't get anywhere and you don't get anything done. You can call that selling out or you can call it reality. I have nothing against Dennis Kucinich but he isn't going anywhere and he didn't get where he is today without doing a few things that one might call "selling out."

One of the former partners of my law firm was a one term State Senator. He had a lot of money and he couldn't be bought. He was only a one term Senator even though he could have easily won reelection. He had had enough.

You cannot become a Senator without having a lot of money. For one thing how do you support yourself while running? For another thing there isn't even a lot of money in it if you win. Sure, there's power and there are perks but I really don't know why anyone would subject themselves to the nonsense.

[JohnnyLib2]

30. Wow! Perfect story for coaching the impatient.....

I don't know what would happen if you posted this as an OP in General Discussion. It might appeal to many who are currently intimidated. You would probably need 5 layers of insulation, though!

Thanks for the reminder of how important mentors are in this (and other) process. I was reminded immediately of a wonderful, 40 year year Democratic stalwart who told me she had burned too many bridges over ERA and "could not go back to some of those men." It registered, just as the woman in your past did.

Thanks again!

[azmouse]

6. Working together we can get so much done.

Hillary Clinton would have a been a very good President... and she still may be some day.
I'm eager for the day when a woman is in the WH!!

[Cha]

8. I absolutely love former

primary Hillary Supporters who look at the big picture..and there are a few.:)

I didn't know you were one so that's good to know, JohnnyLib.

Way back in 2003 I was a Dean supporter who learned a lot from him about dignitiy in losing the primary and actually wanting what was best for my country and not for just me.

One of the top ten political moments of the Decade was Hillary's concession speech as posted in the BOG on another thread via huff post.:patriot::patriot:

:hi:

[goclark]

10. Someone said it best, You are doing what HC is doing

"--thriving on positivity
--seeing things realistically
--keeping one eye on the future, always
--being reminded that, indeed, "politics makes strange bedfellows"
--refusing to be pigeonholed"

[pearl]

11. Glad to see you here

I just got my star back, Thanks Sis for donating for me. I've been here since 2001 and don't always have a star. So I'm in the forum I need.

[Cha]

17. I've been here since 2002 too..

and don't believe I've ever seen you around. Glad to make your acquaintance in the BOG, pearl.:)

[pearl]

18. Yes I've been here

Right after the stolen election. I found it through Mike Malloys web site. I'm here in Chicago and have been an Obama supporter since before he ran for the Senate. I voted for him in the primary in 2004. I'm not really a fighter though.

[Cha]

20. Good..no need to fight

in the bog..we're all after the same thing.

Your support for Obama has come quite far and now we're all here with ya.

[rebel with a cause]

24. I try not to fight on the blog....

but in 2004 I was angry enough that I was fighting all the repubs I ran into especially when they came into the SI regional Obama office where I volunteered. I was the drama in the no drama camp. But I feel better now. :rofl:

[JohnnyLib2]

22. That's great!

I get the impression that the "pioneers" of DU were a rambunctious crew, but less intent on ripping each other up. Sigh... :dem:

[NJmaverick]

12. Welcome, you know despite the divide in the primaries

Hillary and Obama were really not all that much apart in their positions. I seriously doubt things would be much different if Hillary was in the White House. I think that she would have tread a similar path.

[NYC Liberal]

14. I, too, was a Hillary supporter in the primaries

but didn't get involved much in the primary wars here at DU because as a Democrat I thought both her AND Obama were people I would love to have as President!

Glad to have you 'round these parts! :hi:

[FrenchieCat]

15. There are more of you than any other, in terms of those who supported Hillary

during the primaries.

In my mind, you are a real Hillary supporter,
a Democrat who made a personal choice.....
but in the end, you were about policy progress.
That's probably what made you active in politics to begin with,
not simply the thought of Hillary as President.

The folks who got stuck and couldn't cross the road,
weren't ever into policy that much to begin with.....

Those who are stuck in the past are technically the cult of personality supporters,
something they like to label those who support this President at this time.

I'm glad you are here and I'm sure there are many more like you that are lurking,
and more even that will be showing up. Cause at the end of the day,
it can't be just about one person; it has to be about all of us.

[goclark]

19. Absolutely ~ welcoming all those of good will to the BOF

This is the No Drama Obama Forum!

[Hekate]

21. Welcome to you, JohnnyLib

:hi:

[grantcart]

23. lifting the IQ average? welcome to the group

[rebel with a cause]

25. The same thing most Democrats have done following elections past.

In the year 2000, I didn't have much time for the primary because I was working and in school. But I was not a big Gore supporter and I hated Lieberman. But when they were the candidates I pushed them like crazy to everyone I met. "They're not the same as the republicans." I would say while hiding my disgust with lieman.

In 2004 I was a Clark supporter and was very disappointed with him when he quit so quickly. I was not a big Kerry fan, but Edwards was the thorn in my side. I could not like the man but I worked/volunteered in the Obama regional office which became the Democratic regional office and we worked for all the candidates. (What does that tell you when Obama was more organized that the Democratic party.) Anyway, I worked as the others did to get Kerry/Edwards elected and was disappointed/angry when it did not happen. Our state went for them, but that was because of Chicago.

In 2008 I was for Obama all the way and I know I probably fought for him sometimes on this site, but if he had lost and Hillary had won I probably would have swallowed my hurt and stood behind her and her campaign. I say this uncertainly because I was battling cancer at the time and I don't know how much I would have been able to do. Back then I was putting my reason for living in getting Obama elected because he was the candidate that I had met and had a connection with. I had to have something to live for. It is now seeing the end of "Lost" and other tv shows, seeing this country get back on its feet and other things that I latch on to. If these people defeat my hope for this country, I just don't know...........:cry:

[JohnnyLib2]

26. Hey, friend--

My wife will have her 25th anniversary of breast cancer in just a couple of weeks! Find hope in that, please, along with the return from the dark ages of Bush. :hi:

[rebel with a cause]

27. Thanks..

25 years. Wow! I will take hope in that.

the problem is that I had so much hope following the Democrats returning to holding the majority, and now to have people act like the d*cks they are make me feel very bad/sad/mad. (take your pick) I knew the racism was out there, I have lived with it, but to see what they are using against their own party members makes me find them even more disgusting than the racist I have known over the years. And this is coming from someone that protested a KKK meeting and had to have police protection before it ended.