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]

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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

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[Pippin]

That's why I'm a Republican today! :O)

[Aeronaut]

Hi Pippin. Congratulations on "coming to your senses." Good bio - mine's somewhat similar - I voted for - gasp - Gene McCarthy.

[Pippin]

*gasp*!

[Aeronaut]

Well, he was from my home state.

[Pippin]

LOL!

[Only1choice____Freedom]

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!

I wan't paying attention then, but did anyone in the media suggest that the CIA/FBI let him in to shoot President Reagan so he could generate a lot of anger and sympathy?

Do you suppose that if something like that happened today McKinney and her gang would suggest such a thing?

[MaryFromMichigan]

"I registered as a Democrat to vote for Carter..."

Tooters hangs her head and admits she voted for Carter, too,
And I suspect we were not the only ones in this forum that did!
Oh well, at least we came to see the light!

[Billie]

Keep on 'thinkin', Miss Pip - ya' done' good! Love the backgrounds, Lori, and You have Mail. :)

[anniegetyourgun]

Heck, even my own mother fell for his "kindness." I've never let her live it down!

[Aquamarine]

Under alot of peer pressure my first Presidential vote went to McGovern, that was the last time I voted for a democrat.
Still remember how good it felt to vote for Ronald Reagan.

[Calpernia]

Goodmorning to the Finest!

[Calpernia]

Pippin give John a run for his money!

[FreeTheHostages]

Hey, isn't this the perfect calendar for our Pippin?

[LadyX]

Love how you wrote this with such honesty, Pippin - and Mama - the presentation is so striking with that blue background!

The Thin Man will be relieved to see he won't have to labor, pointing out slight 'adjustments' to make..:))

It is almost sad that those, say, under 30 are allowed to vote, the majority not well equipped to make such important decisions. Takes a bit of education and experience to sort out issues and the direction the candidates wish to take for us, rather than vote from blind 'emotion.'

Too often candidates have a personal agenda not necessarily for our benefit; but ones of their financial and political 'backers.'

In our naivete, we often do not look beyond the practiced smile, and are deceived.
It has been my good fortune to have met both President Gerald Ford and President George W. Bush, the latter when he was a candidate for the Republican nomination in February 2000.

One could see the surprising strength and genuineness in our current President, and feel the sense of his destiny! Awesome day - -

PULIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: dixie sass is back online !!! Hooray !!

[sauropod]

"Still, I was enthralled with the Democrats and thought they had some redeeming qualities."

No they don't.

[sauropod]

Wha' happen? Cat get your tongue?

[JohnHuang2]

Pippin give John a run for his money!

Definitely! Bravo, Pippin :-)

[JohnHuang2]

"Pippin (Bush/Cheney in '04)"

Don't worry -- your secret is safe with me! hehe ;-)

[JohnHuang2]

G'morning, ladies :-)

[JohnHuang2]

G'morning -- great to 'see' ya, friend.