A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-08-03....Pippin's Thoughts ~ "Confessions of an Ex-Democrat"

Mama_Bear; Pippin | Pippin

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Confessions of an
Ex-Democrat

I recently read a thread on Free Republic about an ex-democrat who didn’t leave the party so much as the Democratic Party left them!

Well, this is how I feel at times. Let me explain......

Back in the mid to late 70’s when I was a teenager, Watergate was going full swing and dominating our television viewing. Oh, I can remember when, during the hearings, the soaps and other daytime programs would be pre-empted for coverage that seemed to go on for “decades”. I’m afraid that did not put the GOP in a good light for me, or with many others of my age group. As far as I could tell, the Republican Party seemed to be made up of grumpy old men and crooks.

My dad was a staunch Republican, I certainly didn’t think he was a crook, but I thought he was misguided at least! In a fit of rebelliousness I registered to vote as an Independent as I didn’t want to be associated with either the Democrats, who I was suspicious of, or the Republicans as I had grown tired of them in power. So, in 1976, which was the first presidential election in which I was eligible to vote, I had already decided I was not going to vote for Ford (boy, what a mistake that was!). I was going for either the Independent or the Democrat running against him.

I was as surprised as the rest of the country when Jimmy Carter won the Primary Election to become the Democratic candidate for the ’76 race. Realizing that I could not vote in a primary election unless I was a member of a major party, I registered as a Democrat to vote for Carter. I was just so glad to have someone I hadn’t seen or heard of before get a chance to right some of the wrongs this country had been experiencing (remember, I was growing up in a very liberal state and had become thoroughly brainwashed).

I started to work on Carter’s campaign as well as the campaigns of others for lesser offices. I even went door to door campaigning with the wife of one of the candidates running for the state senate. He lost but I had fun campaigning. Those were the good old days, before the Internet, and when it still was okay to be outside walking around and not have to worry if the next house we came to had an axe-murderer or a pervert or a terrorist living there.

At the time I wasn’t thinking about what my personal political views were, I just knew what I liked and what I didn’t like. I was very naive and I thought these Democrats were really fun people to be around, I didn’t know until much later about their views on issues such as abortion or gun control or anything else. I just knew I was against abortion and for the right to own guns. The exact opposite of the Democratic Party views. In fact, I had someone comment to me one day that I sounded too conservative to be a Democrat. I didn’t think much about the comment, but I guess I kind of held to it in the back of my mind.

As for President Carter, I was really excited about the fact that the first time I voted in an election I voted for the winner! I purposely stayed home to watch his inauguration, as I wanted to see how my vote counted.

I ignored the fact that many people did not feel the same way about him as I did. I guess I wasn’t thinking about the oil shortage or the gas crisis or embargoes or stuff like that, because in 1980 I worked on Carter’s re-election committee. I really thought he would win, but there were the hostages in Iran among a whole slew of other problems. And Reagan was very popular, he seemed to bring hope to a lot of people. But, all I could think of was myself at the time and I felt if Carter were to lose that would somehow mean I was a bad voter and I voted for a bad President.

I’m afraid that is what I thought; do you know that I boycotted President Reagan the first year he was in office? But I was stunned and horrified when someone actually tried to assassinate him! That’s when I started to think, how dare anyone try to harm my President! I guess I was starting to see the Democrats for what they were. I started to see folks like Reagan and others as the good, decent, America-lovers that they truly were.

Still, I was enthralled with the Democrats and thought they had some redeeming qualities. In fact, when Carter had lost the election in 1980 to Ronald Reagan we all cried and kept saying in 1984 we’ll be “ready for Teddy”, meaning Senator Ted Kennedy, who, by the way, I did not care for much. I though he was an arrogant fool. He still is!

What really steered me in the “right” direction (pun intended) was the 1992 election and the aftermath. Yes, being the “dutiful little dim” I voted for Clinton, and oh how I rue the day! I was going to vote for Bush Sr. but I remembered the 1984 election when I had voted a split ticket and got balled out by other Democrats. They told me I should always vote the party line. So like a zombie, I followed the “leader” and drank their Kool-Aid!

Not long after 1992 election, I regretted my vote. I no longer felt like a failed voter if the guy I voted for lost re-election, but I still felt like a bad American and a bad voter for voting the way I did this time. I think that was about the time I started seriously considering re-registering as a Republican.

I remember when I went to vote in 1996, I think that was the first time I voted for a Republican presidential candidate. It was then that I asked the election judge working at the polls if I could register as a Republican. She told me I could, however it would be too late for me to vote as a Republican in the 1996 election. But, by the time I got to vote in the state election, I was voting as a Republican. I remember everyone I knew thinking I had lost my mind. But I think I had finally come to my senses!

I don’t need to tell you who I voted for in 2000! And I’m glad I did! I am proud of my President for the first time since 1974!



God Bless George W. Bush with four more years as our President!

____________________

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-04-03 Military Monday 08-05-03 Texas MY Texas 08-06-03 The Lighthouse at Old Presque Isle, MI 08-07-03 JohnHuang2 - John's Two Cents

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[Billie]

Hi, there, you two!

Aqua, love the Bush/Cheney button!

Thanks, Cal. :)

[dansangel]

But I turned "right" LOL!

You sure did, sweetie! Both of us, by the Grace of God.

:-)

[dansangel]

I suspect with Ah-nold joining the fray, you have *tons* of material to work with!

[JohnHuang2]

I suspect with Ah-nold joining the fray, you have *tons* of material to work with!

Oh, I can't wait...hehe

[dansangel]

((((((((Meekie)))))))

I have a definite apprehension about Ah-nold. Having lived in MA and witnessed the kennedy-klan first-hand, I find it very difficult to trust the intentions of one that is married into that fold.

[dixie sass]

Hello Cuz! Gosh it's good to be back! I have missed each and everyone of y'all. It's good to be home again at FR!

Pippin, I was a senior in high school when JFK was assinated. Along with others at Myers Park High in Charlotte and for the last six months of high school at Therrell High in Atlanta, we felt that Lydon Johnson had the President assinated. We knew that Johnson felt that he should have been president and that he resented Kennedy. That one incident, more than anything else drove us to rethink our loyalties. Being from the south, voting Dem was just something you did - like having grits for breakfast! Of course, Vietnam also had a lot to do with it ("...Lyndon Johnson told the nation there would be no esculation...", words from a folk song of that period). We also were backing our friends and relatives that were being sent to Vietnam.

Most of us didn't agree with what the Dems were doing (and still don't). I listened to the nine people who are supposed to be some of the nation's elite the other night. During the debate they held in Chicago, I had to sit on my hands (literally) to keep from throwing things at the tv. Everything smacked of communist rhetoric. They were blaming the admistration for things that had been voted in by a democratic congress and president. Denial, denial, denial, they will never admit that they were and/or wrong...

Turning soap box off...

lol, Pippin, I'm glad that you decided to come over to the "right" side.

[Mama_Bear]

(You are to be commended, Mama_Bear, for doing this strictly to make his day..:))

Thank you, it's nice to be appreciated. :-)

Always the considerate one, you are, deliberately sacrifing your reputation as a perfectionist....sigh...)

Well, heaven knows, I try. LOL

[ChewedGum]

If a man says something in the woods and there are no women there, is he still wrong?

I'm not even going to touch that one.

Gum

[Billie]

Hi, Billie!

A quick thought for the day:

If a man says something in the woods and there are no women there, is he still wrong?

LOL! Pardon me while I ping a few of th' guys! :)

[JohnHuang2]

Sexist! J/K hehehe

[jwfiv]

Hi, Dansy...yes, today definitely has that good Friday feeling to it.

It's a beautiful day here, warm and summery with a cool breeze blowing thru the window.

I can hear chores and duties calling, but I ain't paying much attention...)

[Mama_Bear]

LOL! My final words as a dem voter was let me out of this idiotic party!

For some weird reason that comment reminds me of a line in the song "Hotel California"........ ".......we are programmed to receive. You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave!" LOL!

But, the great thing is YOU did and we are soooooo glad you escaped!

[dixie sass]

Your most royal podness, wonderous pusher of wheelchairs - truly you have the heart of a race car driver.

Hi Ya Podness!!!!! No, sire, er - sir. Taxman has to fix something with the soundcard, until then ...

How are you doing Pod? I've missed you.

[LadyX]

What a treat to have you at The Finest Thursday AND Friday, John!

(Do you have a note allowing you out in broad daylight??..:))

That was some tornado in Jupiter Beach. I have sons in Lake Worth - not far from there - and Davie.

Remember one that passed one block west of my house in Port Malabar back in 1972. It tore off the roof of a house, killing a friend of my little girl, 10 years old.

[Pippin]

Thanks, Lori! :O)

[Billie]

DIXIE!!!!! So glad you're back!

[Mama_Bear]

Good morning, Mama_Bear, and good day to ALL!!!

Good morning, friend. Hope you have a perfectly beautiful FRiday. :-)

[JohnHuang2]

Why, thank you, thank you, my friend. A real special treat to be here :-)

(Do you have a note allowing you out in broad daylight??..:))

lol -- Yes, but my dog ate it! Honest! Well, not really. ;-)

[MeekOneGOP]

It's a matter of keeping things in perspective, imho. Which is worse ?? Arnold or ...

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks for correcting my typo in the title. "Pippin" looks much better spelled correctly. ;-)