Whew ! I was just about to leave DU.

[jaysunb]

But thanks to njmaverick--who alerted me to this forum--I have found a way to stay.

Having been around here for the past 8 or so years I've seen and participated in just about every major battle there's been...and they've been many, but I NEVER considered leaving, until the last few months.

When I first ran across this site in Feb 01, I, like many was disgusted & dumbfounded by what had just happened the previous December when the SCOTUS pulled a coup on the country. I was personally blind w/ rage and seriously ready to get out of this place.(USA)Even After spending my whole life fighting--both literally and figuratively-- to make my country live up to it's promises and supposed ideals, I was rethinking all my personal convictions and past participation that I thought would make a difference.

The civil rights movement was my entree, Vietnam became the largest conflict of conscience I'd ever experienced in my young life, The peace movement after my service, human,equal,womens rights all became a part of my core fiber. The Dec 2000 coup shook me as not much else had before.

Then came DU...

I found comfort in a community of about 2,500 anonymous people that shared my anger and anxiety. We argued passionately over causes and solutions. We fought bitterly over war and policy. We laughed in the "lounge" and traded barbs that sometimes stung but were kept in perspective. ( Yes, there were tombstones, but there was also redemption)

There were "get together" where we actually begin to meet & party with other local DU'ers. There were friendship developed around the country that last to this day. There was calls to action that were answered across the country. Ideas were floated to advance our progressive cause that came to fruition.

We grew...and grew.

We marveled at the rate of growth. We celebrated each milestone. 5,000, 10,000, 25,000....where would it end. We were mentioned in most MSM often (mostly unfavorably. LOL )

We shared and implemented strategies designed to help right Americas ship. We winced in pain when we lost in 02 & 04.

And yet we grew

Finally, Nov 06 things took a turn. All the hard work and sharing of ideas began to pay off. We had grown to over 100,000 registered posters. Fresh faces, new blood.

But then something happened.

We finally took back 2/3's of our government,saw the historical assent of the first woman to House leadership. We shocked the world ! and took back control of the US Senate. The only thing left to create sheer nirvana was elect a Democrat to the White House in 08.The beaten has arisen from the ashes and had set sail for a new day.

Things would have been perfect if only that damned Pelosi would stop covering for Bush/Cheney and put impeachment on the table. That stupid Harry Reid was nothing more than a washed up fighter who might secretly be a Republican. So, surely, if we get ourselves a good Democratic President, he or she would straightened all of them out.

Yippie !

We not only got our Dem Prez, we got a historical black man that made most all Americans feel very good about themselves and our country.

And then the trouble started in earnest.

I saw a kid in the market not long ago screaming as if he were being killed. Mom wasn't moving fast enough to please him. She mostly ignored him, but I told him he needed to shut up. Yes I did ! And that's what I've been feeling like here at DU lately.

DU has had to create a forum to permit those of us who want to see our country turn away from evil and progress in a direction guided by democratic principals and shared responsibility. It's almost laughable that DU is now being used by the MSM and others to try to kill the Obama presidency in it's infancy. The dog has finally caught the car and doesn't know what to do with it or maybe he can't explain why he was chasing it in the first place...

How sad...how fucked up.

Thanks Skinner,Earl& Elad. I would have missed this place. :)

on edit: Silly me, I didn't realize this forum had been around for 3 years, albeit that it was created for a different purpose.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

1. And thanks to NJmarerick...

He and grantcart pointed me in this direction. I'm seeing lots of donor stars and lots of long-time members in here. I think Skinner should be paying those guys on commission -- lord knows how many donations he'd be missing if we all left!

[goclark]

36. I agree ~ I was one second away from saying by by

when NJ stepped in and saved me.

Thanks to grantcart too!

[Blue_Roses]

2. ditto

:thumbsup:

[Arkana]

3. Sup dawg

I'd have no reason to come to this website without this group. GD and GDP have turned into such shitholes I can't even go there anymore.

[jaysunb]

6. Hey Now !

this feels better already. :smoke:

[Cha]

4. Good to see you here, jaysun..

I have a lot of the history here like you do..only I came a year later.

This place could be every bit as big as any other forum only it's a private one on DU..how cool is that?!

I've read it was started in the primaries by Deep Modem Mom and just recently has been resusitated for the same reason it was originally formed.:)

Were you a Deaniac?

[jaysunb]

5. I was one of the California co-chairs

HD & his family remain good friends and allies.

I travelled the country on his behalf and continue to use the 03/04 model in all campaigns I work with.

Our 04 surrender to the Kerry folks was one of the more painful experiences I've had here. But I still went to Ohio & Nevada for him as well helping them understand and implement their internet campaign. (Obama too, as he was the first person on our Deans Dozen list)

:hi: and happy holidays to you and yours.

[Cha]

7. I thought I remembered..

Didn't know how much of one though:patriot:..I went under the name of zidzi back then and only started using my name Cha after we got impunity to change when Obama won.

Merry Holidays to you and yours~:hi:

[Cha]

8. Regarding surrendering to Kerry..

It was heartwrenching but form a coalition we did. Dean was very gracious in his loss and taught me a lot about working for the good of the country and I actually came to be very fond of Kerry, too.:)

[jaysunb]

10. ZIDZI ! It's you !!

I knew over the last year that there was something about the poster "Cha" that I liked and found strangely familiar. WOW !

Speaking of surrender, I was fortunately (?) one of the 30 so called "Deans List" folks from around the Country that was invited to D.C. for what became known as Unity Day. It was hosted by Sen. Harkin and included a personal plea from Sen Kerry, that we forget about the political hardball that had been played in Iowa. That was reinforced by personal meetings w/ Sen Kennedy & Minority Leader Pelosi, as well as about 40 members of Congress that had supported our campaign.

Hobb knobbing with the powerful and well connected didn't make me feel much better, but I did the same thing I did in Vietnam...sucked it up and did my job. But I knew things were not going to go well when they served Charles Shaw (2 buck chuck) at the dinner that night. :rofl:

[Cha]

17. That sounds really interesting what you did

for the Unity of the party..and it was "hardball"! But, it takes time to heal and here we are with us a Democratic President and all the jane hamshers in the world isn't going to screw that up.

I thought that "z" might ring a bell.:)

[Avalux]

9. So glad you didn't leave!

I was disgusted and not posting much when njmaverick let me know what was going on here. A lot of familiar faces and new ones too. :hi:

[jaysunb]

13. Hey Ava !

Wow ! I haven't seen YOU around for awhile. :hi:

Wishing for the "old days" won't make us any progress, but it sure is fun :rofl:

Happy Holidays !

[Avalux]

14. We can bring the old days to this forum, and progress from here.

How about that? ;-) Happy Holidays to you too! :hi:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

22. Wow! So glad to see you on this forum Ava!

Hope university is treating you well

I know that you had the pleasure of meeting our President personally, which would be an experience I'd dearly love

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year:hi:

[Avalux]

25. I hate to disappoint -

but I think you mistake me for someone else. So I will say that it's a pleasure to meet you, RFKHumphreyObama. I have been a DUer for a very long time; formerly "sparosnare". I was a moderator for quite awhile too. :hi:

[SharonRB]

11. I just found out about this group

I've been staying away from DU a lot more lately -- I can't stand the infighting. It's worse than primary season. Glad I found a safe place where I can support President Obama.

[Avalux]

12. Nice to see you!

:hi:

[Lindsey]

15. Welcome Jaysunb!

We're trying to spread the word about this forum. Glad you made it here. :hi:

[jaysunb]

16. Thanks !

I've already sent 12 PM's. :hi:

Happy Holidays !

[Cha]

18. Good to see you here, Sharon~

:hi:

[firedupdem]

21. Hey Sharon!

Don't know if you remember our conversation about Peking House...probably a year ago. Just to let you know, I was home for Thanksgiving and had dinner at Peking House! Loved it and wanted to stay! Glad you're here. :)

[SeattleGirl]

23. Sharon!

Glad you made it over!

:hi:

[dcsmart]

19. great post

:toast:

[NYC_SKP]

20. Hi jaysunb!

Welcome to Democratic Underground's Democratic Underground!

:hi:

[Adelante]

39. Heh

Good one :D

[RFKHumphreyObama]

24. I wish we could recommend posts here

Because this one needs recommending:hi: I agree word for word

Welcome to the forum. We're so glad to have you

[FrenchieCat]

26. Hey jaysunb, I'm feeling you!

Debate now here ain't nothing but a name calling fest.....
for which I, a Democrat, am called every name in the book, here at Democratic Underground....
that according to DU rules is supposed to be a place where.....

"most of our members come to this website in order to get a break from the constant attacks in the media against our candidates and our values. Highly inflammatory or divisive attacks that echo the tone or substance of our political opponents are not welcome here.

Civility: Treat other members with respect. Do not post personal attacks against other members of this discussion forum.

Do not post messages that are inflammatory, extreme, divisive, incoherent, or otherwise inappropriate. Do not engage in anti-social, disruptive, or trolling behavior. Do not post broad-brush, bigoted statements.

People who repeatedly and willfully break the rules, or who generally engage in rude, anti-social behavior, will be banned. It doesn't matter if you are a fellow progressive, a long-term member of this community, or a donor.

[Cha]

31. Yeah, who knew

Frenchie? The good news is..we got Obama and they got their hate.

[Undercurrent]

27. Thanks for your post,

and I'm glad you, and a rapidly growing number of other reasonable people are coming here to share and discuss.

Besides, who wouldn't want to hang out in the Secret Democratic Cool Club? B-)

[lamp_shade]

28. Ah.. yes.. Nancy Pelosi.

DUer uponit7771's excellent post http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=88577&mesg_id=88577 questioning the possibility of orchestrated hate certainly comes into play here IMO. I remember well when the criticism of Pelosi started. It moved slowly for a long while then suddenly, almost overnite, as if somebody yelled STAMPEDE, there was a pile-on of epic proportions. That was my first experience on DU with the "Echo chamber" effect though I didn't understand what was happening at the time. I was flabbergasted, probably because I've ALWAYS been a strong supporter of hers (and Harry's).

Anyway, welcome to the group, Jaysunb.

[DeepModem Mom]

29. Welcome, jaysunb!!!

:fistbump:

[azmouse]

30. We're having a great time here. Welcome!

:)

[madokie]

32. I was going to basically say what you said

but not in as many words as you used so I say to you you are speaking for me too.

njmaverick thank you very much, you are a gem

Happy holidays all

[tandot]

33. I got here the same way.

I am really thankful.

[OregonBlue]

34. Same here. I hadn't looked at this forum since the election. njmaverick steered me here. Thank god.

[rebel with a cause]

42. I believe it was Lindsey that steered me over here.

Like the rest of you, I was about to leave.

[Hekate]

35. Glad to see you over here! What a great post.

:hi:

Hekate

[sandyj999]

37. I was also about to leave until I was directed here.

This is like I came out of the sewer into the sunshine. I am happy to be here!

[lamp_shade]

38. Hi Sandy

:hi:

[Dappleganger]

40. Relieved to have found this place...

I was ready to leave as well with all of the perpetual whining and tearing down that's been going on. It's sickening to see the name-calling as well--if I wanted that atmosphere we could go over to freeperland!

BTW, I do really like our prez but don't believe he's the messiah. Just really think he needs a chance and that we need to support the one who has the influence to change things the best we can.

[Cha]

41. Glad you found the BOG.

:)