Leaving the Democrats

[JKirkLVNV]

Since we all share so much with each other, I thought I’d share this:

I come from a long line of blue-collar/farmer Democrats. I’ve belonged to the party since I could first vote (though I cast that first vote for Ronald Reagan, may he rest in peace). Over the last decade, my party has increasingly distanced itself from me and from the values that my family instilled in me (so much so that my old grandfather finally registered as a Republican! If you had told us in the 80’s that he might do that in the late 90’s, we would have rather discourteously laughed at you). As I find my conscience, formed by our Catholic faith, increasingly at odds with the Democrats, I have finally come to the decision to leave the party. I will be going to our county building and registering as an Independent/Non-partisan. Many of the conversations that have occured here in these forums helped me toward that decision.

 

[StratusRose]

You’ll find in history that the switching of entire demographic groups to another party is not all that uncommon. Take for example the South. In the 1800s the South was predominately Democrat, being a Republican was unheard of, only Yankees were Republicans. Then when President Nixon came into office, he began the “Southern Strategy.” This ploy was to get Southerns to join the Republican party since most felt the Democrats had abandoned them. It worked for the most part. So now, the North Eastern states are mostly Democrat, and the South is mostly Republican.

There’s your history lesson for the day!

 

[miguel]

Good for you. I did the same thing. My parents are Irish immigrants and Democrats, although they now hold their nose and vote Republican primarily because of the abortion issue. (I hope they aren’t just telling me that to keep the peace. ) I grew up reading the liberal rags (LA Times, Time Mag). I was highly brainwashed. And I did vote for Jimmy Carter the first time out before I knew what I was doing. But I couldn’t reconcile voting for the despicable party of baby killing with my Catholic conscience. Thank you Saint John Bosco high school.

 

[Zooey]

Welcome to my world…
I had thought I would be a Democrat forever. No more. National Right to Life Party, here I come on election day.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

StratusRose:

You’ll find in history that the switching of entire demographic groups to another party is not all that uncommon. Take for example the South. In the 1800s the South was predominately Democrat, being a Republican was unheard of, only Yankees were Republicans. Then when President Nixon came into office, he began the “Southern Strategy.” This ploy was to get Southerns to join the Republican party since most felt the Democrats had abandoned them. It worked for the most part. So now, the North Eastern states are mostly Democrat, and the South is mostly Republican.

There’s your history lesson for the day!

I should have mentioned in my original post “blue-collar/farmer Democrats FROM THE SOUTH!!!” When I was growing up, a Republican in our small town would have been rare…and not terribly popular. Bill Clements, in the 80’s, was the first Republican governor elected by Texas since Reconstruction. His ranch is near my hometown and my high school band marched in his inagural parade.

 

[jlw]

StratusRose:

You’ll find in history that the switching of entire demographic groups to another party is not all that uncommon. Take for example the South. In the 1800s the South was predominately Democrat, being a Republican was unheard of, only Yankees were Republicans. Then when President Nixon came into office, he began the “Southern Strategy.” This ploy was to get Southerns to join the Republican party since most felt the Democrats had abandoned them. It worked for the most part. So now, the North Eastern states are mostly Democrat, and the South is mostly Republican.

There’s your history lesson for the day!

Let us not forget that Kennedy’s answer to Dr King’s “Letters from Birmingham Jail” was HUGE. Nixon did not answer. This northeastern democrat flew in the face of the Jim Crow dixiecrats. After Kennedy’s death, Democrats won huge margins in the '64 elections because of this, (even though 85% of republicans voted for the Civil Rights Bill, and only 50% of democrats). Johnson, hardly a real friend of the black man) wanting to capitalize on Kennedy’s political capital with african-americans, swept the Great Society welfare state into existence with his newfound majorites, and the rest, as they say is history. The democrats went from far right socially (1860-1960), leftward to the middle with Kennedy (and with most northeastern classic liberals, otherwise know at the time as…*republicans), BUT THEN…*continued to lurch leftward, and by 68, and then certainly '72, the party became the party of the other extreme, the radical Left.

 

[miguel]

jlw:

Let us not forget that Kennedy’s answer to Dr King’s “Letters from Birmingham Jail” was HUGE. Nixon did not answer. This northeastern democrat flew in the face of the Jim Crow dixiecrats. After Kennedy’s death, Democrats won huge margins in the '64 elections because of this, (even though 85% of republicans voted for the Civil Rights Bill, and only 50% of democrats). Johnson, hardly a real friend of the black man) wanting to capitalize on Kennedy’s political capital with african-americans, swept the Great Society welfare state into existence with his newfound majorites, and the rest, as they say is history. The democrats went from far right socially (1860-1960), leftward to the middle with Kennedy (and with most northeastern classic liberals, otherwise know at the time as…*republicans), BUT THEN…*continued to lurch leftward, and by 68, and then certainly '72, the party became the party of the other extreme, the radical Left.

Don’t forget Johnson was a Texan. He was Kennedy’s VP to gain southern support. And he barely won and not without a little corruption on the part of his old man.

 

[jlw]

miguel:

Don’t forget Johnson was a Texan. He was Kennedy’s VP to gain southern support. And he barely won and not without a little corruption on the part of his old man.

Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin’ town…

…Yeah, and it was Johnson who, after losing to Kennedy in the primaries, was so furious that Kennedy had beaten him with the black vote the he declared, “I’ll never get out-ni**ered again!!”.

 

[marvin]

I left the Dems as well, right after 9/11 officially. As has been said many times by others, I din’t leave the Democrats, the Democrats left me. I can’t envision a scenario in which I’d consider voting Democrat again anytime soon. I just don’t even understand them anymore.

 

[JOHNYJ]

Its obviousyou haven’'t realy thought this out.
The Republican Party is more big business than it has ever been since Herbert Hoover.
Using abortion and the war on Terror it scared the American people into voting against their own interests.
President Bush and the Republicans are in big business’s pocket. Drug companies are making more profits than ever befor and there is no one in the adminstration trying to help lower them. American oil companies,not the Arabs, American Oil companies. Are making over 200% profits. President Bush made it harder to get a second chance through Bankruptcy, or to be able to sue a big company for damaging people.No increase in the minimum wage,no help for 43,000,000, people with no health insurance.Also you better keep a close eye on Social security,

 

[jlw]

JOHNYJ:

Its obviousyou haven’'t realy thought this out.
The Republican Party is more big business than it has ever been since Herbert Hoover.
Using abortion and the war on Terror it scared the American people into voting against their own interests.
President Bush and the Republicans are in big business’s pocket. Drug companies are making more profits than ever befor and there is no one in the adminstration trying to help lower them. American oil companies,not the Arabs, American Oil companies. Are making over 200% profits. President Bush made it harder to get a second chance through Bankruptcy, or to be able to sue a big company for damaging people.No increase in the minimum wage,no help for 43,000,000, people with no health insurance.Also you better keep a close eye on Social security,

John, you want to tackle each one of these issues with me?? I’d love to politely debate If you want.

I used to be a democrat too…until I wised up about faith and family, how economics actually work, how government actually works, how businesses operate, survive and perish, and how soundbyte political spin is turning our minds into mush.

 

[vern_humphrey]

marvin:

I left the Dems as well, right after 9/11 officially. As has been said many times by others, I din’t leave the Democrats, the Democrats left me. I can’t envision a scenario in which I’d consider voting Democrat again anytime soon. I just don’t even understand them anymore.

I’m a Republican. (I even ran for Congress as a Republican.) But I have to say the loss of the Democratic Party is a tragedy. This country needs two strong parties contending vigorously for the benefit of the people.

The modern Democratic Party has moved so far left that I beg Democrats, “Don’t become Republicans. STAY in your party and take it back!! Clean it up and make it a party you can be proud of again.”

 

[manualman]

JOHNYJ:

Its obviousyou haven’'t realy thought this out.
The Republican Party is more big business than it has ever been since Herbert Hoover.
Using abortion and the war on Terror it scared the American people into voting against their own interests.
President Bush and the Republicans are in big business’s pocket. Drug companies are making more profits than ever befor and there is no one in the adminstration trying to help lower them. American oil companies,not the Arabs, American Oil companies. Are making over 200% profits. President Bush made it harder to get a second chance through Bankruptcy, or to be able to sue a big company for damaging people.No increase in the minimum wage,no help for 43,000,000, people with no health insurance.Also you better keep a close eye on Social security,

None of which approach the seriousness of 1 million murders per year, perpetuated universally by the Supreme Court appointees of Democrats since Carter and, infuriatingly, by some appointees of the Republicans too. At least the R’s have put in SOME decent justices.

But you’ll note that he left the Dems. He didn’t join the R’s.

See my thread on us needing a new party!

P.S. In high school, I campaigned for Adlai Stephenson. No that that one. His son, who ran for IL governor. The only Democrat I voted for since then was pro-life Glen Poshard who ran against the crooked George Ryan a few years back. (We lost)

 

[jlw]

vern humphrey:

I’m a Republican. (I even ran for Congress as a Republican.) But I have to say the loss of the Democratic Party is a tragedy. This country needs two strong parties contending vigorously for the benefit of the people.

The modern Democratic Party has moved so far left that I beg Democrats, “Don’t become Republicans. STAY in your party and take it back!! Clean it up and make it a party you can be proud of again.”

Amazingly, I agree with this sentiment. The Republican party is not the end-all be-all. Richardols knows this. Hey, as a republican, so do I. I don’t want JUST one party (if the Left continues to drive the party over the cliff, it will happen) running the show! Yikes!

What I want is a political system where both party platforms are pro-life and pro traditional family, and that the candidates can argue over tax policy, spending policy, foriegn policy, etc.

Santorum vs Casey in every election?? Sounds good to me.

 

[vern_humphrey]

jlw:

Amazingly, I agree with this sentiment. The Republican party is not the end-all be-all. Richardols knows this. Hey, as a republican, so do I. I don’t want JUST one party (if the Left continues to drive the party over the cliff, it will happen) running the show! Yikes!

What I want is a political system where both party platforms are pro-life and pro traditional family, and that the candidates can argue over tax policy, spending policy, foriegn policy, etc.

Santorum vs Casey in every election?? Sounds good to me.

And the way to do that is to support pro-life candidates and NOT support pro-choice candidates. Don’t mince words. Say clearly, “I’m a Democrat, but if you want my support, you have to be pro-life.” And make sure they understand that means more than just saying they’re pro-life and pro-family.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

JOHNYJ:

Its obviousyou haven’'t realy thought this out.
The Republican Party is more big business than it has ever been since Herbert Hoover.
Using abortion and the war on Terror it scared the American people into voting against their own interests.
President Bush and the Republicans are in big business’s pocket. Drug companies are making more profits than ever befor and there is no one in the adminstration trying to help lower them. American oil companies,not the Arabs, American Oil companies. Are making over 200% profits. President Bush made it harder to get a second chance through Bankruptcy, or to be able to sue a big company for damaging people.No increase in the minimum wage,no help for 43,000,000, people with no health insurance.Also you better keep a close eye on Social security,

Hmmm, actually, I’ve thought about it for a very, very long time. Also, I registering as an Independent/Non-partisan.

 

[ncjohn]

I am one of those who vote republican primarily because the democrats no longer really stand for anything, and certainly none of the values they professed 40 or 50 years ago. They have been taken over by four main constituencies, two of which were at one time honorable but are increasingly less so. Of course the dominance within the party of the abortion lobby is most problematic and it appears that no pro-life democrat would be able to rise to national prominence.

The labor union support seems to be rightly fracturing over the direction they have taken so grossly supporting their own self-interest over that of their constituency–no longer really the champion of the “working man.” The trial lawyers (not all, but way too large a percentage) have so perverted the legal system that they probably rank below the proverbial “used car salesman” in most people’s minds (no I’m not at all slamming used car salesmen, just using a recognized stereotype) and do incredible damage both to our economic and our value system.

Finally you have the Hollywood celeb influence, which seems to run contrary to Christian values at any cost to make a buck. There are many thinking and thoughtful celebrities, but they tend not to be the ones actively involved in making things better.

Finally you have the problem that the party platform has mostly become “we’re against whatever the republicans are for” rather than proposing creative solutions for the common good. With the exception of Kerry’s anti-nuclear stand, I found little if anything in the last election that was positive. It has become almost completely a party of obstruction rather than construction.

That being said, there is much to despise about the republicans, including their primary interest in maintaining the status quo for the “haves” at the expense of everybody else. They have done some good things in education and in opposing abortion, but there is no consistent life ethic present for the most part. I end up voting that way predominantly though because at least they stand for something I believe in…and something is more than nothing.

I guess it all becomes a matter of people living and voting the values they actually profess. A Catholic voting bloc that truly voted Catholic values can swing any election, but truth be known, I fear there is no such bloc.

Peace,

 

[JKirkLVNV]

vern humphrey:

I’m a Republican. (I even ran for Congress as a Republican.) But I have to say the loss of the Democratic Party is a tragedy. This country needs two strong parties contending vigorously for the benefit of the people.

The modern Democratic Party has moved so far left that I beg Democrats, “Don’t become Republicans. STAY in your party and take it back!! Clean it up and make it a party you can be proud of again.”

They don’t listen and I don’t think they have any sense anyway, Vern. Case in point:

My senator, Harry Reid, as leader of the minority in the senate, made the most asinine remark after Justice O’Connor announced her retirement and the scuttlebutt was that Gonzalez might be the Pres’ nominee. He said that he had objected to Mr. Gonzales when the president had nominated him as attorney general, but that he would not really have much of an objection to seeing him on the Supreme Court. Now how does that make any amount of sense? I should think that we would be of the mind that the President ought to be able to appoint whom he wishes to his cabinet and be given a bit of a walk on that, inasmuch as we know that person won’t be in there for any longer than the President’s term of office. Gonzales wasn’t good enough for that, but is good enough for a job the term of which is life or good behavior?!?! And this is my party’s leader in the senate saying this.

 

[vern_humphrey]

JKirkLVNV:

They don’t listen and I don’t think they have any sense anyway, Vern. Case in point:

My senator, Harry Reid, as leader of the minority in the senate, made the most asinine remark after Justice O’Connor announced her retirement and the scuttlebutt was that Gonzalez might be the Pres’ nominee. He said that he had objected to Mr. Gonzales when the president had nominated him as attorney general, but that he would not really have much of an objection to seeing him on the Supreme Court. Now how does that make any amount of sense? I should think that we would be of the mind that the President ought to be able to appoint whom he wishes to his cabinet and be given a bit of a walk on that, inasmuch as we know that person won’t be in there for any longer than the President’s term of office. Gonzales wasn’t good enough for that, but is good enough for a job the term of which is life or good behavior?!?! And this is my party’s leader in the senate saying this.

That’s why I say, clean up your party.

We had an interesting example here – the First District Congressman, Marion Berry, voted for all the anti-gun legislation. A well-heeled Democrat pointed out to him that he had a D- rating from the NRA. Marion said, “Well, they’re all a bunch of Republicans, anyway.”

The other guy pointed out that Mike Ross (4th District Congressman) is also a Democrat and is rated A+.

Marion changed his position and is up to an A right now.

But it took someone within the party to convince him.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

vern humphrey:

That’s why I say, clean up your party.

We had an interesting example here – the First District Congressman, Marion Berry, voted for all the anti-gun legislation. A well-heeled Democrat pointed out to him that he had a D- rating from the NRA. Marion said, “Well, they’re all a bunch of Republicans, anyway.”

The other guy pointed out that Mike Ross (4th District Congressman) is also a Democrat and is rated A+.

Marion changed his position and is up to an A right now.

But it took someone within the party to convince him.

I’ll grant you that the possibilities exist for the party to be reformed, BUT…I’m not the person they’re going to be listening to nor people like me (pro-life Catholics). Something drastic will have to happen, like congress and the WH remaining in Republican hands for a decade or MORE, before it shifts. Until then, I don’t know that I’m comfortable with my name on their roster. I’m always open to listening to reason, though.