What caused you to join DU?

[jackson_dem]

I was motivated to come here the day after Iowa. Edwards had just suffered a big loss, but he was still alive because he defeated Clinton for second. I decided to come here to help John on the grassroots. These are my favorite threads from the Edwards era:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4156947#4160355
I posted a thread--on the 1/10 day in question-- about http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080128/hayes
Another thread was on "corporate elite fear Edwards" http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7217369
I posted a thread on this photo of Edwards on Letterman http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/john-edwards-funny-guy/
I posted a thread on Edwards' memo on a new strategy based on this article http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/edwards_charts_a_new_path_to_d.html
A thread on http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation/story/465055.html in which I decried the swiftboating of Edwards in the msm and pointed out, to fight one of the smears against John, that he worked on poverty including spending millions of his cash long before politics
"Some truth on Edwards' Senate record" http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4082013
"More truth (about Edwards' record)" http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4110346
Thread defending Edwards by debunking the No Child bill attack as being disingenuous http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4198897
Defending Edwards the same way on another of the "Big 5" flyspecked bills used against him http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4202823
A thread analyzing the polls and arguing Edwards could still win states, again on 1/10 the date in question. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4020413 This was also intended to raise Edwardian morale during a tough time.
Kicked this thread in my crusade against the smearing of John http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4261029
John Edwards tribute video http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x89146#89327
I posted a thread based on this and the media blackout http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/01/30/edwards_aviser_trippi_points_a.html
Fighting the "phony" smear yet again with truth http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4474754#4478193
Thread based on this honoring his legacy and contributions after he dropped out http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/31/opinion/main3774700.shtml
"I am Edwards Democrat" http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4545776#4574578

What do you consider your best work on DU?

[Maddy McCall]

1. I lurked at DU from 2001. I joined on the night of the invasion: March 19,2003.

I was distraught and couldn't get in touch with any of my Dem friends. So I logged on for the first time, and I've been here ever since.

[jackson_dem]

6. How'd you find the place?

I knew about it from lurking at Kos but never decided to join and post here until after Iowa. I knew it was an uphill battle after that and in hindsight he needed Hillary to lose New Hampshire to have any shot after not winning Iowa.

[Maddy McCall]

10. I did a search for Democratic forums.

This was one of a few that popped up. The Latest Breaking News page was a daily visit for me. It was refreshing to see how many people thought like me on so many issues.

I joined on the night of the invasion...I think I posted my first thread on an anthropological topic--on linquistics.

I made some good friends--I tried a couple of other forums when I'd become dissatisfied with DU, but those places were insane, and I always found my way back to DU. I'll not post anywhere else, unless something huge changes here.

:)

[TomInTib]

2. Like Roky Erikson said when asked why he chose certain songs for albums..

"I choose the easy ones."

Hell, it took me a couple of years to even figure out how to post, here.

Kos and all them are way too complicated.

[Blue_In_AK]

25. Another Roky fan.

:) I used to go see him and the Elevators when I was in college in Houston. He's one of a kind. :hippie:

[TomInTib]

29. Roky and I go back, forever...

I produced Fever Tree with Scott Holtzmann (actually, his wife Vivian did all the work because we were usually pre-occupied).

The BandAid was my idea.

Roky is now living in a little trailer behind a fuckmovie arcade on Hwy71 just east of Austin.

And he is clear of parole and probation (you know, that mail-stealing problem that he had).

But he still has that beautiful voice. Maybe better than ever.


One of my favorite moments (I was there)...

Dick Clark (American Bandstand), "So, Roky, who's the head of the band?".

Roky, "We're all heads".

Tom

[Raejeanowl]

36. This Website Has It Wrong, Tom

It gives full credit for production of that 1968 album release to Scot and Vivian Holtzman.

http://home.austarnet.com.au/petersykes/psych60s/reviews_texas.html

Maybe you need to get it corrected?

[TomInTib]

37. It's too late to give a damn...

That was a few million miles and forty years ago...

I am sleeping on the floor and headed to New York.

You?...

[hisownpetard]

57. You are?

[Blue_In_AK]

45. Wow, Fever Tree

That's a name I haven't heard in a while. That used to be one of my favorite albums, too, back in the day. All of that was such great music for those of us newly initiated into the joys of consciousness expanding.

I'm glad Roky is alive and well and free of his legal issues. He's such a unique talent. I remember he was so high energy at those clubs and dances, he seemed to radiate light.

[FlyingSquirrel]

3. I have a soft spot for this little song I wrote.. it was my first attempt

at writing music. Unfortunately the music is in my head and I don't know how to write music. Or anyone who would be able/willing to turn it into reality.

------

WELCOME TO AMERICA

Once our leaders were elected
We still vote but now they’re selected
For us

The press has been consolidated
The truth is much too complicated, don’t
Bore us

Welcome to America

The laws are changed with a signing statement
Against all reason our president
Ignores us

The bodies lie where our flag’s unfurled
But we don’t understand why the world
Abhors us

Welcome to America

What’s the Constitution
Just a Goddamned piece of paper
Let the Congress stand and watch
As the oil barons rape her
Don’t you dare try to resist
Or we’ll put you on a list
Say goodbye to all your freedoms
As they all go up in vapor...

(Solo?)

Welcome to America

I wrote this song I hoped you’d listen
But now I’m locked in a secret prison
Why....
Why, oh why....
They won’t let me die
I’ll never see the sky
Why....
Please tell me why.....
Why.......

America, goodbye.

[Straight Shooter]

13. I think there's a program called Cakewalk that helps you get the music written.

Kind of expensive for my budget. I've never used it, can't tell you how it works, but I have some musician friends who think it's great.

I don't know if that's the name of the program or not, just going by memory. But I'm pretty sure it has the word "cake" in it.

[elocs]

4. The way things have looked lately around here I wonder why I ever joined. n/m

[Window]

44. I hear you.

However, having been here since 2001, there's been much more good than bad. These are hard times, indeed.



Peace:thumbsup:

[harun]

48. I think the same but you can see the Mods are always trying to do

what they can to stop the nonsense spamming. They can only do so much but at least their hard work is always trying to fix such things. I still think the site is great.

[madrchsod]

5. lurked in 2001

joined early 2002...finally found people who were democrats to discuss issues with...i live in the hometown of ronny reagan where democrats are few and far between

[UALRBSofL]

9. I use to go to the AOL political sights

And after the moderators were taken away the democratic sites were infested with Freeper GOPers and they were literally disgusting. Someone told me about this site a year ago and I lurked for a while then I joined. :) This place is much nicer then AOL.

[LordJFT]

7. I was reading some stuff by crazy RP supporters because i thought it was funny

then someone was trying to get people to come to this libertarian blog and mentioned that the repubs already had free republic and the dems already had democraticunderground, so I decided to check it out.

[Straight Shooter]

8. I came here via BuzzFlash featuring Top Ten Conservative Idiots on their site.

I joined because I believe DU is a cross-section of what people are thinking. Sometimes I get a headache, though, when the rancor gets ratcheted up too high.

I've done nothing noteworthy as far as "best work" on DU.

[Seabiscuit]

11. My wife first saw reference to DU on the Dean for America blog, spring 2003.

We both lurked for a year before we began posting.

IOW, we were Deaniacs before becoming DU'ers.

Seabiscuit is actually a split personality. Both Mr. & Mrs. Seabiscuit post here as Seabiscuit.

[Iktomiwicasa]

12. joined in 2005 primarily to raise hell with Democrats...

...for ignoring native issues, and to let democratic minded people know that lip service alone gets nothing done. Usually too busy with the real world to spend alot of time on the computer, but it's been really cold and really snowy this winter, so I have alot of spare time lately. Can't rightly remember how I found DU....I think I might have just stumbled on it.

[Tatiana]

14. Selection 2000. After Gore conceded. No Senator would sign.

I was heartbroken. Still am, really. I won't ever get over that Supreme Court decision. Came here via SmirkingChimp or Mediawhores. I forget which.

[1awake]

15. Began lurking here

at some point in.. late 03. It was apparent at that point the repub party and I were obviously not getting along. After lurking for several months, I joined. I suppose I asked to many odd questions being not a repub anymore nor a Dem, and was told I wasn't welcome. So I stayed away for a year or so, then came back. After deciding this place was a nice fit for me (lurking again), I joined a second time. And.. here I am.

In all honesty.. the first place I can remember hearing about DU was from Shawn Hannity's radio program. I'm a mobile Therapist and can't stand to listen to music all day every day so talk shows get turned on. Yes.. I think that is the first place for me.. and it is the one thing I actually learned from Hannity that was worth learning.

[Desertrose]

16. Came here after watching *'s first inaugural sadness....

1/2001....saw some dude with a sign saying democraticunderground dot com...checked it out and that was that....

[Maddy McCall]

21. These are the best stories...

The original members who joined because of the sign.

:toast:

[jackson_dem]

30. Really? Maybe we could do that at debates, hardball events like the Ron Paul people do

[ErnestoG]

17. A friend recommended it.

I'm generally glad I found the place, although the shreiking level of Obama hate amongst a few is pretty embarrassing.

[Obamaman2008]

18. The White House nt

[NMMNG]

19. I found DU after Googling for Democratic messageboards

about 3 years ago.

It's been rather...interesting how things have progressed over those years.

[nonconformist]

20. I lurked for a very long time, then joined in early 2003 during the lead up to the war.

It was a lifesaver for me, a sliver of sanity in an insane world.

[marlakay]

22. I can't remember if it was 2003 or 2004

but definitely by spring 04. I found DU through michael moore's site he had a link on it.

When i was looking back to find out when i joined I saw an old post I saved from 2004. It made me want to cry. It was a time when we all were one. The day after Kerry lost, someone started a post and said their real name and about a thousand of us me included all said who we were and that we weren't afraid to stand up for what was right.

It was a time of mourning and a time of unity. Unless we want another day like that we need to come together as one.

[Awsi Dooger]

23. I searched for betting odds on the 2002 primaries

I've bet politics since '96 and was looking for new offshore sites that might offer wagering. Gambling sites were exploding early this decade.

Anyway, one link was to a discussion of betting odds on DU. They were ridiculous odds, not from an actual betting outfit but from a political analyst named Ron Faucheux. His odds are ludicrous, often listing races as slight favoritism when they are so lopsided no reputable firm will even quote the odds.

The DU thread was lingering and I couldn't believe no one was assailing the odds as idiotic. Finally I couldn't take it anymore after about 24 hours and joined to post a lengthy comment titled, "Ignore those laughable odds." I remember one guy responded, "Dude, I didn't even understand half of what you wrote, but post more often!"

Actually, nowadays political betting has all but dried up. The markets are sharper and not many outfits offer fixed betting prices. I made only two bets in 2006, winning both (Lieberman and Palin), and this year the only bargain I found was Hillary in the California primary after the horrible Zogby polling created an incredible bargain at basically even money. No chance that was an even state given the early voting and Hillary's strength among Hispanics.

Last year I took 10/1 on Giuliani winning the GOP nomination. Obviously that one never had a chance this year but when I took the 10/1 it was closer to 5/2 on Intrade. Give me that every time. Successful betting is getting the best of the number and letting the math work out for you in the long run. Volume and an edge.

[Blue_In_AK]

26. Congratulations on winning the Palin bet.

She's really not half bad for a Republican. ;)

[Awsi Dooger]

31. That was a weird situation on Intrade

Tony Knowles obviously would have been favored over Frank Murkowski. And the Intrade price seemed to be based on Murkowski as the nominee. I couldn't believe the Democratic nominee was given 80% likelihood on Intrade, when everything I was reading and sensing was that Palin would unseat Murkowski in the primary. Finally I decided to grab it. Not Palin, although that might not be so bad.:)

I nabbed plenty of GOP contracts to win the general election, at nearly 4/1 odds. Within a week it had swung to GOP the favorite so I knew I had a steal. And when Palin surged to more than 50% in the 3-way primary I was confident she would prevail over Knowles in November.

That was a case of the political speculators getting lazy and overlooking the shifting fortunes in a somewhat obscure race. Doesn't happen very often. In the late '90s there were many bargains like that every cycle.

[Blue_In_AK]

52. Sarah's domination of the governor's race in 2006

was truly phenomenal. Both of her Republican opponents were much better funded than she was. We always knew Murky would go down because by the time he left office he was THE most unpopular governor in the country, but John Binkley had a lot of money behind him, he's not a half-bad guy for a Republican, and he hadn't been contaminated by association with the oil companies. But Sarah was like a freight train. The Dems might have done better to select somebody other than Tony in our primary, who, although popular, was "yesterday's news" -- I personally voted for Eric Croft -- but I don't think anybody could have defeated Sarah in the general. If she doesn't take on Lisa Murkowski in 2010, I'm sure she'll have two terms as gov unless something really drastic happens in the next couple of years.

[Blue_In_AK]

24. I came here right after the 2004 election.

I was searching all over the internet trying to figure out what in hell had just happened, and I stumbled in here, liked the place and decided to stay.

[Inchworm]

27. I'm here for the hot chicks!

believe that. :P

:hi:

[Hill_YesWeWill]

28. best work?

uh, I don't come here to work, and I don't think I know enough for my opinions to affect anybody else's opinions, plus I believe people shouldhave a right to choose their own candidate without feeling pressured. I guess I got interested in the primaries a few weeks ago and I was looking for a message board, and I found DU!

[DeepModem Mom]

32. Found DU through Salon's forum; lurked almost from the beginning;

as a Clarkie, got up the courage to register and start posting. My work is the same: I'm a news junkie, and I post articles. (There are rare exceptions when I have had enough of something going on around here and post a tirade.) My best work, I think, is as a neutral poster of articles about candidates, with, I hope, respect for each candidate and his/her supporters.

[RandomKoolzip]

33. I joined in late Spring 2003. I was living in Nashville. It was lonely there for a liberal.

I'd been lurking since 2002, but in May/June 2003, with the Iraq War fully flaring, it honestly (seriously) seemed like my country had been taken over by psychotic fascists, and everyone around me was okay with that. Finding this place was like finding the last pocket of civilization before falling off the edge of the world - it was so reassuring to know there were at least 10,000 others like me who refused to be brainwashed....

Those were very dark, urgent times. Sometimes it's good to look at the present condition DU is in in that context. If someone on DU had told me in June 2003 that five years later America would be on the verge of electing either a black guy or a woman as President, I would have thought they were losing consciousness due to the fumes of paranoia.

Then again, if someone told me then that five years later American men and women would STILL be over in Iraq, and STILL being killed for a goddamn lie, I would have sat still and cried a great deal.

[NOLALady]

34. I began lurking in 2001 post 911.

I knew the country/world was screwn and became obsessed with the "News". I instinctively knew the MSM was feeding us BS and began this hunt for alternative outlets online. I found Alternet, BuzzFlash, Common Dreams, Democracy Now. One of them either referred to DU or had a link. I was content to read and lurk, didn't start posting until last fall.

I'd like to share this with you. I was thinking about driving to Camp Casey during the last week of August 2005. I sorta talked myself out of it because I knew it would be a long tiring ride alone. But, I was concerned as counter protesters were expected to show up that weekend and I hoped there wouldn't be any trouble.

I like to get up early on weekends(before the house comes alive), make coffee, turn on the puter and check out the LBN. This AM I was quite concerned about Cindy Sheehan. The very first thing that caught my eye was a poster in Texas offering New Orleans residents a place to stay and/or info about hotels. When I went to bed the night before, we were told the hurricane didn't seem to be much of a problem as it didn't seem we'd get a direct hit. I immediately checked the weather channel online.

Well, so much for my quiet time. The sun was not yet up but I woke everyone and we immediately went into crisis mode. There was so much to do. I never did find out what happened at Camp Casey that weekend.
I shared that story with Cindy when she came to Slidell for the Veterans March in April 2006.

I didn't have power for two weeks. By the time, I got back online, everyone was worried about Swamp Rat. I was worried too although I'd never communicated with him.

The rest is history.

[andym]

35. You came to DU to help John on grassroots?

This place, especially this forum, is not a particularly good place to help on grassroots. Much better is actually working with other activists in person, or if you enjoy writing, then writing articles on Edwards' behalf and submitting them to newspapers or posting them in places where they would draw attention for more than a few hours from people who might actually be open-minded. As far as I can tell the GD/Politics/Primaries forum is for entertainment purposes only.

I came here is 2003 (the last primary season) because I was unhappy with the state of the country and wanted to see what Democratic party activists were thinking. I was and am pretty disappointed by the online behavior of many activists during the primary campaigns. It's as if many Democrats secretly want to become Dick Nixon, Lee Atwater or Karl Rove. Btw, I am not sure how many people on DU are actually activists, or just wannabe activists. I've occasionally tried to inject the voice of reason or some positive thoughts during both primary seasons, but it seems that such posts are not as entertaining as attacks and vengeful counterattacks. I sometimes return for the same reasons I initially came here.

Btw, Edwards is a special candidate who showed remarkable growth in his positions since the last election cycle, it is unfortunate his message was somewhat drowned out by the inability of the media to report anything but the most simplistic racehorse story lines in politics. I don't think that getting smeared was his central problem, but just getting the attention he deserved. He was overshadowed by celebrity candidates in both 2003/2004 (mostly Dean, Clark, and then Kerry) and then again this year by Clinton and Obama. Besides the media, I believe that Edwards biggest enemy has simply been timing. Had the economy entered a significant recession in either 2003/4 or 2007/8 his populist message would have been able to break through. Ironically, we'll probably get the recession soon, just a little bit late to help in this election cycle.

[jackson_dem]

53. I know but in my state Edwards never cracked the double digits

He had no presence here, no office and no real campaign. The best way to reach folks was online.

[TomInTib]

38. The free toaster....

And I am still patiently waiting...

[nemo137]

39. I forget when exactly I joined.

I was around for the 2002 elections, because I remember arguing with some members of the board I now respect highly as to whether Arnie's election was a sign that California was going fascist.

I don't think I have "best work" at DU. I lurk a bit, used to post a lot on the R/T forum, occasionally get into it on threads about class or religion, and sometimes get goofy in the lounge. Nothing major. I've been surprised a few times by a heart this time of year, which is always nice.

[Sapphocrat]

40. My ex spotted Skinner's sign at the 2001 inaugural parade on TV...

...and we both checked it out. She joined first, while I lurked for a full year.

Sidebar: I didn't register because I was cowed by fear that DU really was an "underground" site. (Can you believe my naivete?! What a fuckin' rube! LOL!), and that anything I said here, no matter how innocent, would result in Secret Service agents showing up on my doorstep and hauling me off as a dissident. How scared was I? I started serious political blogging just before the Iraq invasion in 2003, completely anonymously. Now I don't give a damn who reads my words -- Hi, Agent Mike! -- because I am an AMERICAN, not a SUSPECT! (So fuck you, Asskroft and Rummy and all you shitforbrains old men I was soooooooooo afraid of. Go fuck yourselves. Hard. Sideways.)

When I couldn't stand not saying anything anymore, I registered in 2002 (early 2002, as I recall). I was still looking over my shoulder, but I posted anyway.

I have no idea what my first post was about. I do remember my first rant, a very long one about queers getting taken for granted and being expected to march in lockstep, in which every single sentence began (on purpose) with "I am fucking SICK of..."

Which only tells you: Nothing ever changes. Nothing at all. EVER. I figured out a long time ago that the real purpose of boards like DU -- hell, blogs, too, and the Web at large -- is to blow off steam. (I'd paraphrase Riff Randall if I could remember the line about thinking the school is yours as long as you're in it...)

Anyway, I guess I've been here some six years. And the clock is ticking down to the end of my run (you can thank me after I'm gone, Obama supporters - LOL).

[quantass]

41. Obama-mentum -- I keep hearing this guy A LOT (even from Canada) so i wanted to know more.

[Yossariant]

42. Battling monkeys for years. DU started sounding like freerepublic.

I have used DU as a research reference for years -- mostly LBN, but never had much interest in a forum of like-minded people.

DU has some excellent stuff on Venezuelan issues, but many other issues, too.

Then, about a month ago, accidentally read some of the freeper stuff being posted here about the Clintons.

Appalling. When I joined, I thought the board was overrun by freepers, --- but maybe not, eh.

:shrug:

[Window]

43. The excruciating pain of the 2000 selection.

Joined in 2001.

Skinner and DU really helped to pull me through those dark days. Thanks Skinner & Co. for all you guys have done and continue to do. You've built quite a community!



Peace:thumbsup:

[rug]

46. The pleasant discourse.

[Faygo Kid]

47. The drumbeat for war, 2002

Despite threads here by Hillary supporters that "nobody spoke up against the war," I was one of those "nobodies" that marched, wrote and otherwise protested against the coming madness.

And I found many of like mind here on DU.

[hiaasenrocks]

49. I think it was Katrina.

I had been reading DU for a while, but started posting in the days after Katrina, I believe.

I remember people here listening online to police/fire/rescue radio frequencies and the round-the-clock reporting that happened here on DU.

[tishaLA]

50. First came right after the invasion....

signed up early in the leadup to the CA recall election, I think. Found out about DU from MediaWhoresOnline.

[Forkboy]

51. Found DU on Sept 12, 2001 while searching for any and all news of 9/11 I could find.

I liked what I saw, and I've been here ever since. The only real negative is DU has made me really not like Democrats much anymore, and GD-P is a great example of why I find the party to be more and more useless as I get older. I no longer feel the Dems can best help the people who need helping, and in fact I now feel there's no party that can, or will.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

54. right after *s coronation in 2001

[terrya]

55. 2003. I felt very alone with the pro-Bush stuff in the news.

I just wanted to talk to other people out there who were opposed to Bush. I did feel very alone.

[Bluenorthwest]

56. A friend mailed me a posting

Written by a DUer called readmoreoften and I came running here looking for Democrats, this being the first Primary I'v ever been out of my home state.