Why aren't you a Repuglican?

[Labors of Hercules]

Hello Everyone! It's time to tell the world... why are YOU a proud Democrat?!

The reason I LOVE DEMOCRATS: To be a Democrat you have to care about something more than yourself and your own narrow beliefs. Whether it's protecting the Earth or making sure all human couples enjoy the same rights we have in our marriage, We stand outside of ourselves to find the answers to the needs of the world...
And so I am happy to join together with all of you here on the DU to tell ALL self-serving destructive Repuglicans to GO FUCK THEMSELVES!!!


DEMOCRATS:yourock:

[Kelly Rupert]

1. I think a better question is "why are you a Democrat?"

I define myself based on who I am and not who I am opposed to. And that's why I'm a Democrat.

[Labors of Hercules]

6. That IS the question...

And a FANTASTIC response! Cheers to that! :toast:

[hfojvt]

9. not me

I am more of a socialist than a Democrat, so I am voting against Republicans at least as much as I am voting for Democrats. That's what yellow dogs do. We would vote for a yellow dog if it was running as a Democrat. Democrats are far away from socialists, but they are not nearly as much against the working class as Republicans are.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. My Dad told me many years ago that Repos are elitists. He was right.

[live love laugh]

3. I have a conscience. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. What about us Indies who tend to vote

democratic?

[Labors of Hercules]

10. Same question applies...

Why are you an Indie who tends to vote Democratic?

:pals:

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. The real answer

our system does not allow for any third party.

By design

By teh way, used to be a registered Democrat...

:-)

Now if they do what I think they are doing... I may change my registration back

[TwilightGardener]

5. I'm a pretty conservative Dem, so I'm not too far from being a 'Pug.

What stops me from crossing over to the dark side is the conviction that EVERYTHING 'Pugs do is self-serving on some level...rather than acting for the good of their country, their neighbors, etc. It's the "I've got mine, screw you" party. Also keepin' me a "D"--The war. And the evangelicals.

[Labors of Hercules]

46. You think so too?

I always thought the foundation of our government is that the needs of the individual and "we the people" are so well balanced. It seems our parties represent these two ideologies pretty much by definition. It's when the individual (republican) agenda becomes the deciding opinion that we have so many problems, bacause you have everyone making decisions for themselves and noone else.

[crim son]

7. For those of us raised in repuke households, the question is a good one.

My transformation started when I decided not to take the golden path offered me, but instead dropped out of college and pursued other interests. I met the sorts of people I'd never met before and my eyes were opened to a new world. Taking a break from college, I became a barber and then a beautician and so came into contact with many progressives and specifically, many gay men. Later on after college I worked at a school of music and met another incredibly interesting crowd, including a lot of lesbians and more gay men. At this point my views began to change. I was old enough to start to follow politics and look outside my own religion and began to understand that being a republican meant something other than pulling oneself up by the bootstraps; in fact it meant a whole host of shit which I found repugnant. My evolution has continued and I've never looked back.

[hfojvt]

14. I was raised Republican

but my parents switched before I did. Under Reagan, the Republican party took a hard right turn, even more so under Bush. We did not walk away from the Republican party, the Republican party walked away from us. Plus I graduated from college, jumped off the 'good job train' and was unable to get back on. 'If there is a lower class, I am in it' but not entirely by choice.

[crim son]

15. I'm in the process of entering the lower class as we speak.

I'm still at the "consider it a challenge" phase. Anyway, my mother who is a true Christian, has turned republican. My poor old father who has a good heart (I swear he does, but he comes from money) is still shaking his head and wondering WTF? He'll figure it out eventually.

[InkAddict]

39. A specific group of lying Repuke county commissioners

pushed me off the cliff of apathy and into a new world of modest political activism. It even surprises me sometimes that I found a voice with which to speak out, write LTTE, attend campaign rallies and war protests. I once voted for issues and picked the candidates on the basis of their answers to the concerns addressed under their jurisdiction; either party, whatever. I'd rather identify with the donkeys than with the bunch of hypocrites and thieves that collectively and, I now believe, purposely worked at ruining my family's security. Worse than any of that though, the reputation of the US in the world has been tainted and our collective domestic economy and security at home has been undermined while while they filled their own pockets at the citizens' expense. Their collective deceit evidently knows no bounds, and they have no respect for our Constitution. I feel exquisitely shamed by their behaviors, policies, and unconscionable lack of regard, and I fear this experiment in democracy has run its course.

I suspect my family of origin may have had Repuke leanings, but I don't know now because I'm estranged from them at their request. I was told I was always a problem who did not meet their expectations. Politics, like most everything else, was not to be discussed. Only religious dogma or gossip about church members was "fair game" for conversation. Their religious fundamentalism and intolerance, LCMS, turned me off long, long ago. They don't even bother trying to practice the charity of the Bible.

[Labors of Hercules]

50. I'm sorry to hear that your family is so lost...

I think the most evil, unchristian thing a family can do is reject their own child because they refuse to accept the dogma they've been taught. I know how it feels to be rejected by those who are supposed to love and support you no matter what, and it just plain sucks.

[Labors of Hercules]

47. Who offered you the golden path, Crim?

Do you know why they follow it?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. Medication Compliance.

n/t

[loudsue]

11. I'm not a republican because 1) I know how to read, & 2) I can think for myself

I guess that about says it.

:kick::kick::kick:

[hansberrym]

12. Because I am committed to the proposition that government of the

people, for the people, and by the people shall not perish from the earth.


That was said a century and a half ago by a Republican President, but today
Republicans are for something rather different:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x20259


Bush wants a government of the multinational corporations, for the multinational corporations, and by the multinational corporations.

[tblue]

22. I heard Ken Burns (documentary filmmaker) say that when Lincon used that phrase, he emphasized

the world people: "Of the PEOPLE, by the PEOPLE, for the PEOPLE."

I thought that was cool, and it really accentuates what gov't should be about.

[Labors of Hercules]

52. but wait, aren't corporations of the people, by the people, for the people?

And because the people happen to be the ones white enough, male enough and wealthy enough to have a governing interest in the corporation only makes them better... they are, in fact, "Uberpeople" because they drive the economy, and that keeps the guvment in their debt. They used to be white male landowners, now they're white male CEOs, so what's the fucking difference?

[tblue]

77. Not to me they're not. I don't think that's what Lincoln meant, but I can't ask him so I guess I'll

never know.

And why are you yelling at me?

[Labors of Hercules]

85. I'm being sarcastic blue...

and I hate using the stupid :sarcasm: thingy.

[Marrah_G]

13. Many reasons...

I am a single mother of 3, Wiccan, I love my gblt friends, I live in massachusetts, I like to read (something other then the bible) and I have an intense dislike for liars and thieves. I think that about sums it up!

[Labors of Hercules]

54. Oh... When can you come for a visit??

You sound like a fascinating person, Marrah! Yet another reason to love Dems, we've got fabulous variety!

:pals:

[Marrah_G]

79. hehe aww thanks :)

And ummmm vacations have to wait another 5.5 years...but after that I am good to go!!!

[Labors of Hercules]

86. running a business and raising kids are very vacation reducing vocations...

hmmm... that's a dilemma. You could try being kidnapped!:thumbsup:

[ourbluenation]

16. because I honestly believe that rising tides lifts all boats. the dems are politically

closest to that theory.

[GainesT1958]

17. I kind of like my elected leaders...

To tell the truth!

I also like them to remember that no one is above the law.

B-)

[Labors of Hercules]

93. whew... that title taken alone could be a bit scary!

[Madspirit]

18. I am not a Republican

I am not a Republican because I am not a xenophobic, bigoted, hyper-religious, mean-spirited, racist, homophobic, Matthew Sheppard killing, Ku Klux Klan joining, Holy Roller Bible Thumping, big business, child beating, dog kicking, cat skinning, selfish, self-serving, sadistic son of a bitch.

Anything else you would like to know?
Lee

[Ishoutandscream2]

49. Yes!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Labors of Hercules]

55. yeah, so, if you aint none of them thangs, what the hell are ya?

:rofl: cat skinning! you got me goin there, Mad!

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

19. Because I'm pro-life.

[upi402]

37. okay, that's what I was going to say

but I'll add that I hope your liver feels better.

[Labors of Hercules]

56. Is that the only reason?

It's a damn good one, but... :shrug:

[alittlelark]

20. My nasty habit of having EMPATHY.

[MasterDarkNinja]

21. I used to be a repug, before I could vote

Luckily by the time I could vote I had become a democrat. I grew up in a family with a very conservative dad, and a moderate conservative mother who used to be a democrat. In 5th grade when I first learned about the political parties and what their opinions were on the issues I went "oh boy lower taxes means more money, I like republicans".

After Bush took office though (when I had recently entered high school) I started to slowly change my mind about Bush and republicans, and discover more and more issues where I disagreed with them. That change started to speed up though once it was becoming clear in the news that Bush was going to invade Iraq no matter what other people thought. I kept on saying to myself that he was going about it the wrong way, then once he invaded Iraq and I learned just how expensive it was probably going to be to keep our troops in Iraq I started to hate him. Then soon after that I started to hate repugs to and realize how I agreed with democrats a lot more often then repugs, and become disgusted with repugs using hate of certain minority groups like muslims and gays to their political advantage.

The thing that makes me the proudest to be a democrat is their progressive views on civl rights issues, because racism and discrimination is the greatest evil of them all.

[aquaman]

23. Because I am not an idiot....

and actually use my brain, and care about other people.

[Colobo]

24. I'm became a Democrat because

It's the party of the American SOCIETY, not the American INDIVIDUAL...

[ComerPerro]

25. I am not a Republican because I believe using government to prop up the wealthy is immoral

[dEMOK]

26. I'm not a Repub for the same reason I'm not a Dem...

I think for myself & don't want to carry the burden of any party line.

Any other Indi's here?

[opiate69]

27. Because I'm not a selfish, misanthropic prick. .

:hi:

[OnyxCollie]

28. self-delete

[NMMNG]

29. I care about all living beings

I believe morality is more than what people do with their genitals.

And I refuse to let myself be ruled by hate.

[leftofthedial]

30. I have a conscience

and I'm an egalitarian

[fortyfeetunder]

31. There are good Republicans.

It's just that we've got some individual Republicans who have lost sense of what it meant to be Republican. Thanks to them, the perception GOP has morphed from the party of Lincoln to the party of Loony.

It's not too late to bring it back to the party of Lincoln. Love, peace, tolerance and morals for self are possible....

[Colobo]

35. Excellent post, man.

I truly agree, having been in the other side until fairly recently. Most of the people I met over there were actually very reasonable, intelligent and GOOD individuals who happen to consider themselves Republican but do not share the "values" the mouthpieces of the party promote.

[Labors of Hercules]

66. I'm very happy you decided to post here!

And to be fair, my post is very unfair to those who are truly good people but align with Republicans because of they think "conservatively". I feel sorry for them, really, as their good intentions and ideas have been railroaded by certain horrible decisionmakers.

[lvx35]

32. I'm not a Republican because I am not afraid.

that really cuts to the heart of it for me.

[Labors of Hercules]

67. What are they afraid of that you aren't?

[lvx35]

87. Everything.

here's a good place to look:

http://www.notsorrynoteverybody.com/gallery.asp

The left versus the right. The right has all the guns, but the other side isn't afraid. This sums it up pretty well. A gun is what you have if you feel you have to defend yourself, if you feel your life is threatened. The constant sense that their life is threatened is fear, plain and simple.

[whoneedstickets]

33. Because I ALWAYS root for the underdog....

[Labors of Hercules]

68. So when we win the Presidency and both houses in 2008, will you become a Republican?

:evilgrin:

[whoneedstickets]

90. Societal underdogs, not electoral ones...

I suppose sports underdogs too.

[Labors of Hercules]

92. Now you're talking!

:thumbsup:

[JTG of the PRB]

34. I think it was my upbringing.

I was basically born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. I've lived here almost all my life. For those of you who don't know a lot about Boulder, we're sort of a puddle of blue that is (usually) surrounded by red. My parents have always been kind, loving people. They've taught me different things about morality, but they never told me what to think. As I grew older and began forming opinions about the world, I found I was more inclined to lean toward the "liberal" spectrum of thought. I began to see that all people should be treated equally, no matter their race, gender, or personal preferences. If it doesn't involve me in any way, what right do I have to determine what somebody should or should not think or do or feel?

I"d say about 20% of my liberalism comes from living in Boulder, 40% comes from what my parents taught me through their words and their actions, and the other 40% comes from what I've learned on my own in the past 12 years of my life.

[Labors of Hercules]

72. Welcome to DU!

:headbang:

[DaveJ]

36. To me, it's more about competency

My attitude is different. I don't know if Dem politicians are nicer or more caring, but they are just better at their jobs. It's not all about being in the good 'ol boy club. They stick their noses to the grindstone and take their work seriously.

It terms of values, I'd pick the Greens, Constitutionalists, or Anti-War activists, but given a choice between the two dominant parties there is absolutely no comparison. Rethugs have proven themselves just plain lazy, incompetent, and dumb. Democrats have work ethic and convey that value to those around them.

[Robeson]

38. Because I'm empathetic, sympathetic, and have a sense of.....

...custodial-ship for our species and planet. Those three qualities are utterly lacking in a Republican.

[Eagle_Eye]

41. That statement symbolizes the voting habits of Americans

I regularly hear people explain who they voted for. Their reasons can be simplified down to:
"I not voting 'FOR' anyone. I am voting 'AGAINST' that other SOB."

[wellst0nev0ter]

42. As A Complicated Man Once Said

I was born black and I was born poor.

They didn't really leave me a choice.

[maine_raptor]

43. One simple reason, based upon past performance.

I will NOT support any political party that nominated Richard Nixon three times for the Presidency.

[Ganja Ninja]

44. Because I'm a troop hating, tree hugging, pot smoking, fetus ...

killing, America hating liberal with a bad attitude. And for some reason even though FOX news and Rush Limbaugh have told me this time and time again I'm still not buying it.

[Labors of Hercules]

75. ...

:scared:

[Chimichurri]

45. Because I can think for myself.

[WinkyDink]

48. The Sermon on the Mount.

[deutsey]

51. Why am I not a Republican? I'm not rich or stupid enough, I guess

:evilgin:

[EstimatedProphet]

53. I'm not because I don't expect the world to suck up to me

[mountains539]

57. hmmmmm easy answer

Because i have a brain and a heart

[Cabcere]

83. Hey, welcome to DU, mountains539!

:hi: Great to have you here.

[krispos42]

58. Because their economic theory sucks

And they don't believe that government has a purpose.

And their ramrod-style religion really turns me off.

And the hypocracy, oh, the hypocracy...

I find myself agreeing with them on the 'guns' issue, but that's about it.

They used to believe in government, just a government with a somewhat different range of responsibility and method of function. Now, it's just 'privatize, privatize, privatize'.

[KamaAina]

59. Uh, I don't make a quarter of a million dollars a year?

nor do I naively expect to in the near future, like all too many. :eyes:

[dogday]

60. Cause I have a sense of humor

and don't like to kill others....

[porphyrian]

61. I don't pay others to use me and I actually feel compassion. - n/t

[Beausoleil]

62. Here's why

Conservative Christian, right wing Republican, straight, white, American male.
Gay bashin’, black fearin’, poor fightin’, tree killin’, regional leaders of the South
Frat housin’, keg tappin’, shirt tuckin’, back slappin’ haters of hippies like me.
Tree huggin’, peace lovin’, pot smokin’, porn watchin’ lazyass hippies like me.
Tree huggin’, love makin’, pro choicin', gay weddin’, widespread diggin’ hippies like me.
Skin color-blinded, conspiracy-minded, protestors of corporate greed,
We who have nothing and most likely will ‘till we all wind up locked up in jails
By conservative Christian, right wing Republican, straight, white, American males,.

Diamonds and dogs, boys and girls, living together in two separate worlds
Following leaders of mountains of shame, looking for someone to blame.
I know who I like to blame:

Conservative Christian, right wing Republican, straight, white, American males,
Soul savin’, flag wavin’, Rush lovin’, land pavin’ personal friends to the Quayles
Quite diligently workin’ so hard to keep the free reins of this Democracy
From tree huggin’, peace lovin’, pot smokin’, barefootin’ folk-singin’ hippies like me.
Tree huggin’, peace lovin’, pot smokin’, porn watchin’ lazyass hippies like me.

Todd Snider


Sums it up for me.

[Labors of Hercules]

64. ooohhhhh yeeeaaahhh!

[baldguy]

63. Reagan turned me away from the GOP

Because when I was 18, I could add. His budget proposals didn't add up: you can't balance a budget by decreasing revenue and increasing spending. It was just too convenient that Iran released the hostages the very same hour that Reagan was sworn in as President. He killed 241 marines in Beirut. He allows dozens of hostages to be taken in the ME and get the terrorists weapons to get them back, which were used to kill more Americans.

Reagan was the first Monster President of modern times. Bush is the second.

[Labors of Hercules]

76. Monster presidencies...

That's true, Nixon, Reagan, Bush and Mini-Bush all had that in common... These idiots create messes that will take years to clean up, and expect the next president to do it... then when things are looking up, another fuckoid steals an election and messes it up again. It's like clockwork.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

65. Because the republicans are the worse(t) of two evils.

[KansDem]

69. Age

As I got older, I began to realize that in order for us all to get through this life together, we need to get along. That means respect and tolerance for and of others. I don't see that in the Republican Party.

[republicansarewhores]

70. Because I have a brain.

EOM

RAW

[ends_dont_justify]

71. Simple. Democrats listen

Republicans make up statistics and say people vote for them but democrats will alter their views on the outcries or praises of the people. There's no reason to vote republican because it's a wildcard -- they're going to do what they want regardless, or who has the biggest paycheck (which isn't your average middle class guy).

There are ideals on both sides I respect, but I don't believe for a second republicans will stand by a single one of them so long as they get paid by lobbyists.

[slackmaster]

73. Nixon

:nuke:

[Zavulon]

74. I'm a former Repug, actually. Voted for Reagan. However, in 1992

I voted for Clinton and never looked back.

The war, as well as a few other things (abortion), keep me a Democrat. I do agree that government is too big, that entitlement spending is out of control and unsustainable, I am vehemently pro-gun and I think anything higher than a third of your income to the feds (regardless of income level) is an outrage. I am for school vouchers. I am against socialized medicine. However, other than guns, what do the Repugs offer me? Poorly-targeted tax cuts offset by massive spending increases. The Repugs talked tough about fiscal conservatism in 1994, but we now see they were never serious about it.

So, fuck the Repugs. They had their chance with me. They blew it. Now they can blow me.

[Kurovski]

78. My mama and papa raised me right, with good Democratic family values.

As they say: "'Nuff said."

[WritingIsMyReligion]

80. I was raised to be liberal.

My parents always talked politics and whatnot. My momma is a viciously independent feminist who kept her own last name when marrying. My poppa is an idealistic businessman who despised 41 and Bob Dole and everything like that when I was little, and despises 43 now. My maternal grandparents are proud Irish Catholics who came from nothing, and my paternal grandparents are a Protestant preacher who helped people gain CO status in 'Nam and his tough Yankee homemaker wife who raised 6 kids on a preaching salary and sent every one of them to good schools. I have an aunt who is an immigration lawyer in Chicago, another aunt who is a chaplain heavily invested in Amnesty International and who was briefly married to an activist for South African affairs, an aunt who is a vet in DC, a teacher aunt in an inner-city school, a teacher uncle out in the semi-boondocks, among other family members.

I was raised to believe one thing: life--all life, regardless of sex, race, creed, sexual orientation, anything--is sacred.

How could I possibly ever, ever, ever be anything even remotely related to a Republican?

[in_cog_ni_to]

81. I have a HEART. n/t

[JeffR]

82. A bad upbringing, I guess

I was raised by a couple of East Coast liberals, in the Deep South, no less. Thanks, Mom & Dad!

[Cabcere]

84. Cliche answer, probably, but I think it has a lot to do with my upbringing.

My parents are both moderate liberals (Mom's a registered Democrat, I think Dad may be too but he considers himself an independent), and they raised me to care about and respect other people while thinking for myself. They never tried to force any beliefs down my throat, but they did try to instill certain values in me (honesty, compassion, integrity, etc.) that they felt would help me grow up to be a decent human being. (I think it's worked fairly well, but I guess y'all can be the judges of that, lol.) ;)

We live in a very rural, very conservative area, so between my liberal parents and...well, just about everyone else, really, I've seen both sides of the spectrum. There are some kind, wonderful people I know who are dyed-in-the-wool conservatives, but it always seemed to me that there was a kind of ignorance among some of them - that a lot of these people voted Republican because their family and friends did, and because they thought Republican = Christian. (Interestingly enough, most of these people were also single-issue voters, and the Republican hatred of gays and/or abortions was reason enough for them to vote that way.) It's kind of sad, really - most of them don't even pay attention to government at all, and voting Republican is just what good Christian people do. :shrug: Back in 2004, I had a friend chew me out when I mentioned I'd probably vote for Kerry, because she was convinced that he, as a Democrat, was evil and - these were her words, I'm absolutely not making this up - that Bush was "such a cute old man" and she "would love to be his daughter." :wtf: :wow: This friend is one of the nicest people I know, and she's certainly not stupid, but the willful ignorance towards politics is just so deeply ingrained in people like her that it's hard to overcome, I guess.

Anyway, I could go on and on, but I've probably bored you all enough, lol. :P Peace.

[treestar]

88. Because

1 - I can think for myself
2 - I am not obsessed with the idea that I am special just for being born in America and thereby entitled to treat non-Americans as crap, they are people, too.
3 - My self esteem does not require military victory where it is not defensive and not necessary.

[MedleyMisty]

89. Because I feel empathy

My mother isn't really political, and although she is a caring and nice person and probably reinforced empathy and compassion a bit, I think it's perhaps more nature than nurture for me. Definitely the equality bit - my mother isn't a hater, but I remember disagreeing with her on some prejudiced statements when I was little. I eventually rubbed off on her and she's not very prejudiced at all now. :)

My father died when I had just turned seven and I can't remember much about him, but he must have taught me something besides just how to play chess when I was two.

Here's an entry from my second grade journal, misspellings and all.

"You know I wish I could make a speech about how people use their mouths for a force against goodness. They don't care about the words they're saying and they keep on using their mouths for a force agianst goodness. I wish the world was a nicer place to live. When I grow up I'm going across the world making the same speech making the world a nicer place to live."

I was born this way.

[kineneb]

91. raised by grandparents, who were fans of FDR

they lived through the Depression, and knew about poverty. They were life-long Dems. They would be upset by the direction the country is going.