I debated this diary for a while last night and decided a sleeping pill and some sleep was a better idea first. But there are lots of arguments around as to why we should stay registered Democrats…and lots of emotions as to why not.
First: I grew up in an independent thinking family, in Utah, and registered as a Republican. My first vote was the elections of 1974. I marched for the E.R.A. and pro-choice in high school in Utah. I was pro-military and anti-war.
Second: I registered as a Democrat in 1980 when Ronald Reagan and the Republican party refused to put the Equal Rights Amendment in their party platform. Thousands of women changed party affiliation and mailed copies of their change to the RNC in 1980.
Third: I change voter registration as needed…to vote in California’s closed primaries. Regularly and often.
Reason for this rambling
There are those here that would never vote for a Republican, and there are the “no one but a Democrat”, and just as many of us that vote for individuals be they R, D, Green, or other. I have always been a moderate.
By cultural upbringing I’m a fiscal conservative and social liberal. My list is probably representative of those that are posting here…and the people I work with at the grass roots level.
– I’m in favor of social programs but understand that there is a cost that has to be paid.
– My attitude about government is pure Libertarian – stay out of my life, but provide a safety net to those that truly need it.
– My attitude about war is solid 1970’s Democrat values – protect this country but don’t go to unjust wars.
– My fiscal attitudes are pre-Reagan Republican. Yeah – the Republican party pre-1980 were moderates and fiscal conservatives.
So – when so many of us are fed up with the ‘party’ of Democrats – we are probably fed up with the party system. We want candidates that think and feel and believe in the Constitution and values that we do. Registering Independent and sending a copy of it off to the DSCC and DLC is a form of protest. By the next primary in June I’ll be registered as whatever it takes to vote for or against the candidates on my local ballot.
We’ll keep fighting for candidates and causes – we’ve never stopped. Don’t diss us….just try to understand where we are coming from. The party loyalty in us died yesterday.
I’ll be around for a little while – but I’m off to a conference on educational bond funding today.
You know those bonds you have to think about whether to finance new school buildings, etc. Well, the University where I work is looking at a new science and technology building.
So….in addition to voting and campaigning…I work and learn about how to utilize those funds you approved.
Have at it – I know there a lots of us thinking the same thing: neither party represents me so how do go forward.
Have a great day….7:00 am pst…
Sally
In California we can register as “decline to state”, something I did shortly after the fiasco of ’04. There is something terribly wrong about spending over one billion dollars on an election. One of my favorite sayings is that politicians are like “opposite sides of a counterfeit coin”, and it has rung true for a long time now.
I don’t ask for much from a candidate, just don’t bullshit the bullshitter. As part of the largest voting block in this Country (boomers) I’m too old, too cynical, and too damned tired of being sick and tired to buy into the binary world that is American Politics. It’s not if/then, black/white, us/them. The issues I care about are far too complex to be presented in a sound bite.
And it’s damn sure not “Democrats & Republicans”. One issue, one precinct, one candidate at a time. No affiliation required.
How does that work for the primaries? IIRC we are still closed primaries (I’m checking tomorrow).
So how do you get to vote in the primaries?
I agree things are too complex for sound bites…and I recently turned 50 so another cynical boomer here.
primaries are still closed (some legal challenge, not sure if it finished going through the courts); we can’t vote for candidates, but can vote for propositions/local measures/non-partisan races.
I was considering “decline to state”, but it might be better to vote with our checkbooks — literally. When I receive Dem Party mailings this year, I’m going to void a check (cutting off the “magnetic salad” on the bottom), then on the back write a short note explaining why the Party is not getting my money (caving in on judicial nominees, continued support for the Debacle in the Desert, anything else that creeps up this year). That way, when they go to open the envelope, they’ll think there’s a real check inside. (Or I’ll do the same on a check-sized slip of paper.)
It’s just an idea I’m toying with. It would take a lot of folks to leave the party to make any dent in the rolls…and money speaks louder than feet.
From CA Secty of State:
Haven’t checked with the Dems yet to see if they’ll allow DTS votes.
Thanks for that info…I’ll be at a couple of meetings in the next week with some local Dem party people and will find out.
If I can register as DTS and still vote in the primary I’ll make that my registration. We have a bunch of DINO’s running for State Assembly and against Lynn Woolsey in June…so it will still be Dem.
The only down side (or not) to changing is that both parties focus on DTS and independents when trying to get voters to their candidate. This could increase the number of political canvassing calls – hmmm – more chances to express my opinion! Could be good after all!
I thought she was really popular in the district.
She regularly needs to be pushed to support the base – but takes it well. Southern Sonoma County is edging red and that is part of her district. She has a district that is about 50/50 conservative and progressive.
She is being challenged in the primary by Joe Nation: DINO by my perception. He does just enough to sound Dem. Nation’s currently an assemblyman from my area – and has some reasonable support.
Thanks for that. So Sonoma’s always been “conservative”. It’s that hotbed of Reeps in Schellville.
If both candidates hold views that go against my core values, I my not vote for either one of them. I don’t ascribe to the idea of voting for the “better than the worst” candidate, although I will do it if there is something significant at stake.
I’m not a member of any political party and never have been. I consider a political parties a necessary evil so I have desire to align myself with any particular one.
I have abstained at the local level usually – if I didn’t feel I knew enough about the candidates. Since there is a need to grow solid progressive candidates to national office I’ll be following local and regional elections a lot closer.
National candidates – I think I abstained the last time that Diane Feinstein was up for re-election. She rarely has represented my positions. This past week with her ultimately responsiveness to the CA base….I’ll see right now she has my tenative support for re-election.
I always find these discussions productive in attempting to define ideas and philosophies.
In the vision of limited government involvement and fiscal conservatism, how do the free market system and minor control measures compare?
I think the market system is out of control in several ways and a few well placed control measures would benefit everyone. Does that conflict with values of limited govt?
I have no conflict with the concept – depending on the area.
California de-regulated energy and the state got screwed by the energy companies. Since all of the people use energy, and some sort of control helped stabilize the market, then regulation was good. We are now hearing about low income people having no heat – therefore the safety net has been removed.
Other regulatory bodies….one at a time and to what benefit. Currently I think at a state level we need regulatory control over pharmaceutical companies. Again because the corporate machine has gotten out of hand and the safety net is failing.
Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about. Deregulation was touted as the way to lower utility prices. The problem was, the controls that kept the prices honest were removed without any effective oversight on profiteering.
California’s energy price problem was compounded by corporate/govt fraud that really gouged the consumers. It was an Enron based racket that shamelessly took advantage of the situation.
I think reasonable moderation can offer the best of all benefits without hurting anyone.
Without it, the “market,” the corporations, become the government, as you have now.
You said that so perfectly – sums up the situation in short succinct terms!
I wish that things could work this way. But the overriding interest of politicians is remaining in office. (And the funding required to accomplish this feat.)
Perhaps terms need to be sharply curtailed to eliminate career politicians. Perhaps something else is needed. But the fact remains that the federal government serves multiple interests, the benefit of the people not being necessarily primary amongst these.
But you’re right, SallyCat, we need to do what is right. The cause(s) is/are bigger than any candidate or any party.
I vote against any candidate who disagrees with my resolution to see the Digital Millennium Copyright Act repealed.
I vote against any candidate who thinks USA-PATRIOT is a good idea.
I vote against any candidate who supports the War on Iraq.
I vote against any candidate who supports the War on Drugs.
I vote against any candidate who supports Ashcroft’s settlement of the Microsoft abusive monopoly conviction.
I vote against any candidate who supports taxing the poor to benefit the rich.
After 13 votes, I’m the one vote for “party.” I always vote and I always vote for the D. In the long run, I think that’s the most principled position.
I say that even though I moved eight months ago to a new county and registered as an Independent for the first time in my life, being pissed off at Democratic spinelessness and disorganization and regarding a few other issues. But I intend to switch back.
For what it’s worth, I strongly disagree with people who claim we have only one party in this country. The Democrats are disorganized and ineffective. But they are the good guys. Voting Independent, that is for Ralph Nader, is what gave us the evil Republicans in the first place in 2000.
Geez, and here I thought it was voter disenfranchisement schemes and the SCOTUS who gave us BushCo. As far as “evil Republicans” go–far as I’m concerned, the people who got behind Reagan are the ones who gave us the evil Republicans.
At any rate, I didn’t vote for Nader, I voted for his running mate, LaDuke. First time in the history of this country that my interests, as Native American, were represented on a national ticket, and people like you want to vilify me for that? Blame BushCo on me for that?
Sorry, but I will NOT take the rap for BushCo. We collectively must take the rap for that because it was the preceding years of complete and total political apathy, combined with the severe damage inflicted on the American psyche during the Reagan Era (when Greed become an acceptable traditional family value) which allowed that to happen.
The consequences of our collective apathy and inaction hit us full-on in 2000. (oh shit, people, we fucked up!)
I’ll take the rap for running away–(remember, I left the country as a direct consequence of Reagan’s re-election in 84), but I won’t take the rap for voting Perot or for voting Nader, and I will continue to vote third party, independent, whatever, as long as the person I’m voting for represents MY principles.
Two-party system is NOT a prerequisite to democracy. To claim that it is or to blame voters who vote their conscience is to participate in anti-democratic behavior. If you consider that “principled”–oh well, I don’t.
I am an Independent!…and proud of it too! I did not vote for Nader either! and proud of it too! I have stood by the democrats for the most part…al of my life. I became independent in the military and I remained that way all of my life. I will vote for the candidate of my choice, and that is that, no party what so ever will make me do differently. I, however, have voted only once in my lifetime for a republican, on a national level and was sorry of it too. I have local ppl that are or should be good ppl in government that are republican..now that is where I stand..we will see…I am like andif, I do not like a straight ticket…if I understand her correctly.
Registration is as meaningful as the primaries. My registration as a Democrat left me with a protest vote in the last presidential primary, where in CA, NY, PA, & elsewhere, the Party had effectively preselected the candidate. I knew, if only for a moment, how it felt to be a Republican.
Ralph Nader was a jerk and screwed everybody including his own ego. He claimed the ‘independent’ party one year…well he can’t have the name.
Voting independent for me would be defined as ‘without party affiliation’.
So yellow dog democrat: well I’ve voted Dem when push came to shove in general elections for President – except 1980 when I voted for John Anderson. Hold my nose and vote away….but the candidates don’t represent me…not even Bill Clinton.
In the primaries well – let’s just say the party choice isn’t always mine. I voted for Dean and would do it again in a heart beat. Give me another one – like Wes Clark in ’08 and he’ll have my support.
From now on I’m an Indy (my bellybutton is an outtie)
I have to re-register since I moved. Yesterday the Democrats GANG RAPED us all. Fuck them. They had their chance.
I always vote for the candidate. And there’s several Democrate who will NEVER see a vote from me ever again.
I started feeling these ass-whuppins a couple of years ago and stuck with the Democrats through one after another. It’s not just yesterday but a hundred yesterdays in the past 6 years. One issue after another has gone unchallenged by the Dems when citizen input clearly called for their help.
Independent–always have been. Only voted republican once–William Milliken for Governor. And my dad was so mad at me for that, he didn’t talk to me for a few days!
I am looking at third party candidates, specifically the Greens. And I will NEVER consider voting for a candidate who does not advocate (stronly) a single-payer heatlh care system!
I’ve been thinking about what to do in the current situation and have come up with a plan. A realistic plan? I don’t know. Maybe not. But I’d like to get people’s opinions on the ultimate reform of the Democratic party — tearing it down and starting over. Almost.
Right there with you! Vote on conscience, not on party, or for the “lesser of two evils” (that only gets you less evil!)
John Adams may have said it best:
“The favorites of parties, although they have always some virtues, have always many imperfections. Many of the ablest tongues and pens have, in every age, been employed in the foolish, deluded, and pernicious flattery of one set of partisans, and in furious, prostitute invectives against another; but such kinds of oratory never had any charms for me; and if I must do one or the other, I would quarrel with both parties and with every individual of each, before I would subjugate my understanding, or prostitute my tongue or pen to either.”
Wow!
The John Adams quote just summed up so well what was the intent of this diary. It’s late here on the left coast but the site has been bookmarked…and tomorrow I’ll start reading.
Thank you for sharing that here tonight.