Does anyone else feel that their membership in the Democratic party may not survive this GE?

[saracat]

When I think of my years of dedication and what i see today, I sense a real bleakness.My first impulse is to 'disinvolve" but I am fighting it.Does anyone else experience those feelings? Even at my darkest points in the party , I have never felt this way before. I see us on a course I am not sure I wish to be part of.

[liberalnurse]

1. All the operative trolls will be gone..

Well, we will have new ones for the GE but less offensive since the standing rule will be to support the Democratic Nominee. So, we should bond once again.

Yes, I feel the bleakness too. I deal with it through "battle". I can't help it, I am survivor type and one who will defend and protect. It runs in the family. My cousin served in the Secret Service. He protected a VP and two Presidents. :shrug:

http://axissecurity.com/

http://axissecurity.com/

[LiberalEsto]

2. I left the Democratic Party once

back in the late 1970s to join the Citizens Party. At the time I was very idealistic and believed we could build a progressive, anti-corporate, viable 3rd party. I felt the Democrats were too corrupt and too willing to kiss corporate ass. Unfortunately the CP never got very far off the ground, although they did succeed in winning a few local elections around the country.

After seeing what Reagan did to our country, I decided to hold my nose and rejoin the Democrats in voting against him and Bush 1 and 2. I wasn't thrilled with Bill Clinton, but he sure beat the alternative of 4 more years of Bush 1.

I'm pretty disgusted with the Democratic Party today -- particularly with quislings like Pelosi and Reed. But it beats the alternative, which is more Republican/corporate domination.


Hope my comments help.

[Why Syzygy]

3. Well, I'm not a member of the Democratic Party

nor do I plan to be. I've always been a Texas Independent. We are not required to register for one party. I will do what I've always done, and that is vote my conscience.

I was always a mini-activist, writing letters, making phone calls, attending Town Hall meetings, etc.
Even that was frustrating.

No, I don't feel a need to support the current system. I don't blame you for wanting to dis involve.

[I Have A Dream]

4. Not my membership in the Democratic party. However...

I feel much more of an obligation to vote my conscience than to vote the party line. I must say, however, that I feel compelled to protect a woman's right to choose, so I'll definitely be voting for whomever the Democratic candidate is for this election.

[latebloomer]

5. I've never really been a staunch Democrat

For the most part, I've seen them as the lesser of the evils. It's become increasingly clear how wedded they are to the corporate/military agenda.

[elleng]

6. saracat, mine has not survived.

I 'officially' signed up to be able to vote in primary some years ago, as I'm basically independent. Primaries have been only times I've actually had a candidate to vote for.

I'm VERY concerned about the way Dems 'select' candidates, given human nature and msm, and I see very little chance that things will change appreciably. Sorry to say this, but as I see it Dems have thrown away best possible President (Wes Clark) and ignored another fine opportunity (Joe Biden.)

[saracat]

8. You had some fine choices there. I was an Edwards supporter

Still am and our choices worry me. I have real problems with Obama.Hillery isn't perfect but I just don't feel Obama represents "me" .I feel I am looking for my party. It seems like, contrary to those who are thrilled with Obama, I see the party surrounded by darkness. It is very odd. It makes me uneasy.

[elleng]

9. saracat, I'm not satisfied

with either. As I stood on my head for Wes, and some for Joe, its clear my activity now wouldn't have any effect.

I'm afraid not that party is surrounded by darkness (but maybe) but IS darkness; can't get away from huge damage self-centered human nature causes, and huge media monopoly feeds. That faced with highly skilled 'sickening' Reps leaves us, uh, worse than nowhere.

Sorry for such a dreary response! But I'll be here, if you want to chat!

[Silver Gaia]

15. I feel it, too, saracat, but then, I think you know that.

I do not think, at this point in time, that I will leave the party, though. My husband may. Honestly? I don't know what I will do. I feel right now like I'm just in a holding pattern. I'm doing my best to fight it off, but the negativity (and darkness) just seems to be encroaching from so many directions. I haven't given up all hope... yet... but even the word "hope" seems somehow sullied to me now. I have never in my entire life felt anything quite like this. I am not quite sue what to make of it.

[iaviate1]

7. Been gone for a while...

Looking for the party to find me again.

[I Have A Dream]

10. Welcome to the AS&AH group, iaviate1!

:hi:

[BlueIris]

11. No, but...I can see why you would be considering it.

Don't give up hope, sara. This is not over.

[okasha]

12. I'm considering not only leaving the party

but leaving the country. I've voted in some rancorous elections before, and lived through some of the Democratic Party's roughest times, but I've never felt that it was simply coming loose from its moorings the way it seems to be doing now. I hated the corruption inherent in the choice of candidates by party honchos bribing each other in smoke-filled rooms, but I'm not sure the present method of nomination-by-mass-hysteria is any better.

[BlueIris]

13. "(N)omination by mass hysteria" is an awesome expression and you may consider it stolen.

[okasha]

14. You may consider it given.

:hi:

[Dover]

16. Okay, this was really uncalled for (though based on a true event)

but apparently no one in GDP gets my humor so no harm done. :dilemma:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4658506

I'd like to know how they got my number. I'm an Independent Independent.

[crikkett]

17. Are we allowed to say that at DU?

I hid the GD: P list a while ago and felt much better since.

[Shine]

18. Nope, not at all.

but then, I'm an eternal Optimist. :D

[davsand]

19. I've been a Dem for a long time. Not changing anytime soon.

Frankly I see a lot to feel good about right now, and I am not going anywhere. I fully support Obama and have for a few years now--since his Senate Primary race. This is the first time in a VERY long time that I have felt this good about a front runner.

I loved The General (I still love Wes Clark even IF he isn't running this time!) in part, because he struck me as such an intelligent man and in part because he inspired so many of his supporters to participate in the process for the first time. I feel much the same way about Obama except Obama seems to be inspiring that same passion in a LOT of people which is what it takes to win in a General Election.

I have suffered a lot at the hands of the local Dem party, but I will say that even that has never made me doubt who or what I am politically.


In peace.


Laura

[Callie McAllie]

20. I'm a Democrat at heart, but I gave up membership a while ago

They're all corrupt. I'm sorry, but that's the sad truth.

Actually, for some time I've been wishing for a strong middle-of-the-spectrum third party. Like those old Miller beer commercials: "Tastes great, less filling." My 3rd party slogan would be something like "socially compassionate, fiscally responsible."

:toast:

More recently I've been thinking of a rainbow. A rainbow of ribbons, like those crazy magnetic ribbons people stick to their cars.

Red - Support the troops, end the war
Orange - Tolerance for all races, religions, sexes and colors
Yellow - Maintain social safety nets like social security, and provide national health care
Green - Take immediate action to help address global climate change
Blue - Uphold the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Geneva Conventions
Indigo - Support for a rational, reasonable immigration policy
Violet - Support for Gay and Lesbian rights

:grouphug:

I had the happy notion of making rainbow ribbon pins and asking candidates to wear them. I'll never do it, but I like the sentiment.

[Why Syzygy]

21. You did that on purpose, right?

The chakra matching rainbow? And very appropriate slogans for each center/color!
I love it.
Where do I sign up?

[Callie McAllie]

24. Wish I knew that much about chakras...

it was just a happy accident, I guess.

[Popol Vuh]

22. To be honest, I think parties should be outlawed

I feel that if we didn't allow political parties it would force closer inspection on where candidates stood on the issues instead of this pervasive attitude of "my team!"....."gotta support my team at all costs".

[LWolf]

23. It's pretty much a done deal.

For me, it's all over but the technical re-registering. I was an independent my entire life until 2002, when I registered as a Democrat to participate in primaries. That has been an eye-opening, and disillusioning experience.

Not that I expected to come down on the winning side, of course. The closer look at the actual processes, and how they are corrupted and manipulated, has left me with the unavoidable conclusion that my participation is worthless.

Further, spending time in discussion, meetings, and people generally focused on party politics has reminded me forcefully why I DIDN'T register with a party for most of my life.

Finally, while I've voted for Democrats, with a few independents and 3rd party candidates thrown in, all of my life, I no longer harbor any illusions about the Democratic Party being "liberal," "progressive," standing for labor, the environment, or social and economic justice.

This will be the first presidential election I've been old enough to vote in that I won't have voted for a Democrat. :cry:

I know I don't wish to travel down the path the party is currently headed. I'm angry, and I'm sad, but that's the truth of the matter.

[BlackVelvet04]

25. I feel the same.....

I think I'm about done. I feel totally out of sync with the party, my surroundings and the great majority of human beings.

[Chovexani]

26. You and I both

The racism, sexism and homophobia has been out of control, all in the name of getting someone elected.

We are not the party of the downtrodden anymore. All anyone cares about is getting their candidate in.