My 10,000 Post & Almost 12 years on DU!Idabriggs

[CC27]

IdaBriggs (10,039 posts)

My 10,000 Post & Almost 12 years on DU!


I'd like to start by thanking the admins for creating this site and helping keep me sane during the horrible Bush years: THANK YOU, SKINNER, EARLG and ELAD. You guys have created an AMAZING on-line community.

I joined this site during the summer of 2004 while volunteering for John Kerry, and it ended up dramatically impacting my life in a variety of ways. The first "big time" began on election night 2004 (while sick with bronchitis/unable to sleep) when I was able to identify some statistical anomalies in New Hampshire, and with the support of people here on DU, ended up leading the charge for a recount there, then got involved in election integrity issues; I made several friends "in real life" at that time (Andy Stephenson is still missed), and still pay attention to election integrity issues.

DU has been a strong support place for me in my personal life as well. My father passed in 2005, my twins were born in 2007, and I have shared family dramas and challenges in many a post, with support given and received. I was honored by a "front page" pin about my experience as a Red Cross volunteer during Hurricane Katrina, proud to announce having "beaten a bank" during an illegal foreclosure proceeding, and my efforts to help families of premature infants and special needs children were strengthened by the people on this board. I am grateful for all of you for those times.

Politically, I have evolved during the last twelve years. Originally, I was a "firm Independent", a status that didn't change until 2012 when President Obama made me realize it was time to embrace the fact that:
1) supporting Democrats with my votes,
2) volunteering and donating to them, while
3) agreeing with the party platform at an extraordinary high level
4) consistently for decades
meant that I really was a Democrat. I remain proud of President Obama's efforts, and grateful for his leadership.

On this board I have argued political positions and policies, debated the merits of candidates, jeered at Republican foolishness, and fretted over flame wars that burned brightly, then faded like the memory of candlelight. On two separate occasions my participation on this forum prompted (offline) death threats, which I am grateful were never more than bluster. I am at this milestone, having typed ten thousand posts, and wanting all of you to know how much I appreciate this board, and the people who have joined me in participating in it.

I made a decision to post this in "GDP" because I am going to mention this presidential election. I am currently a Bernie Sanders supporter. If Hillary Clinton becomes the Democratic nominee, I will not be able to support her, and will switch my voter registration back to Independent. I will continue to support down ticket Democrats, but not any "super Delegates" who vote for her at the Convention.

Like a large percentage of Americans, I believe Hillary Clinton is an untrustworthy liar who has used her political power and position to personally enrich herself and her family. I believe her judgment to be bad, her stated positions to be in opposition of her actions, and her pandering to be insincere because bluntly, I can't tell which team she is lying to. I don't trust her on abortion, LGBT, foreign relations, environmental concerns, civil rights, privacy, or even common sense use of computers. She has been an abysmal failure as an advocate for women and children, and I am honestly expecting her to be on the receiving end of a criminal indictment in the near future.

This change in my opinion from a simple concern about "immediate family of a living President running for office" (I considered it Republican corruption with the Bushes) to active disdain for her came as a shock to me, but has grown stronger the more I have investigated her actions, and should not be confused with support for the Republicans or even "passion for Bernie". I had previously supported and defended the Clintons against what I thought was unwarranted hostility, but Hillary's actions during her tenure as Secretary of State, combined with the questionable fundraising over at the Clinton Foundation, now has me angry at myself for having been fooled by the letter after their names because corruption is corruption and I know it when I see it.

I have been struggling with this issue since mid-March when I began to grasp the significance of what I had previously dismissed as "those stupid emails". I am lucky that DU is still in "primary season" but if the worst happens, and Hillary does get the nomination in July, then this place which has meant so much to me for the last twelve years, may not welcome me anymore. I have already begun my grieving process over that, but in the meantime, I choose to be hopeful. And yes, I know that my honesty about this issue has many people eager to type a "good riddance and don't let the door hit you!" reply.

 I know you, DU. Kind words don't get near the views as a little bit of fussing at each other.

Maybe it's part of what I've grown to love about you so much? 

Twelve years. Ten thousand posts. The primary is not over, and I hope to be here when it ends. If I am not, please take this milestone post as a positive memory because I REALLY want you to know this:

I appreciate you. I'm grateful for all of you. Thank you for EVERYTHING. You have been (and hopefully will continue to be) an amazing part of my life. No matter what happens --

THANK YOU!!!

Seek help.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511924563

[CollectivismMustDie]

It takes a special kind of individual to affirm their own stupidity ten thousand plus times, publicly.

A (D)Ummie.




CMD

[Carl]

They all know that Shillary is the poster child for political corruption and deviousness but they all will support her anyways.

[franksolich]

They all know that Shillary is the poster child for political corruption and deviousness but they all will support her anyways.

Yeah, I'm sure that Ida, Skippy's lay when no one else is available, will come around to supporting the nominee presumptive; right now she's behind Methuselah.

Like the bitter old Vermontese cali primitive, Ida hates women.