In my 57 years on this planet...

[oldleftguy]

...I've never felt so proud of being a Democrat. How does the rest of the DU feel?

:bounce:

[Swamp Rat]

1. The same!

Geaux Kerry! :bounce:

[WindRavenX]

2. In my 19 years on this planet...

I've never felt so proud of being a Democrat either :)
John Kerry is a bona fide hero. Compared to him, W is a bloody insult to this country.

[roguevalley]

3. I've always been proud but then my grandpa was a socialist and that

sort of builds in optimism.

[sandnsea]

4. Long time coming

I'm 46 and haven't felt this good in a long, long time. So many wonderful Democrats, amazing vision for the future, determined leader who can really get us where we need to go.

[War Pigs]

5. Hey sandnsea, I'm 46 too and I thought it was just me. Really!

:bounce:

[sandnsea]

14. Remember how it was?

We believed our big brothers and sisters and that we were going to create a different kind of world. Remember in the 70's, even though there was still racial strife, there was also alot of progress. I had alot of hope. By 1992, I had pretty much given up. Clinton didn't offer me any real hope of a new America, just hope of a little economic breathing room. But it's hard to put that little spark completely out, isn't it? Let me tell ya', it's flaming bright tonight!!!

[NightTrain]

6. I watched my my first political convention at age 14. That was in 1980.

In the intervening 24 years, I've followed the conventions of both major parties rather closely. And I gotta say, the 2004 DNC is the best one I've ever seen! It was even better than DNC '92, and that's saying a lot.

GIVE 'EM HELL, KERRY!!! :kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

[Bundbuster]

7. This 57 year-old couldn't be prouder

I'm just now starting to fantasize on a world without bu$hCorp...

Having lived (awarely) through everything from Eisenhower until the current devastation, I can assure those who are younger that NOTHING in the past was as destructive to a decent and free world as this junta. And that is what will make our deliverance in November the highest of highs.

I am so proud of everyone at the Convention, from candidates to custodians, and also proud of all the dedicated souls here at DU fighting to take our country back.

*edited to clarify - no offense at all meant to Dwight D. Eisenhower, a good & honest man.

[Merlin]

8. 2nd to how I felt in January 1961, JFK's innaugural. But this was sweeter

This comes after such a period of angst that it seems like a gift from heaven. I'm so excited, I keep waking up to check out DU and the papers on the web.

[Dem2theMax]

9. Are we all gonna admit how OLD we are? lol. OK,

47, till Sunday. Then I'm going to be 46. I'm going backwards. ;)

I have been so depressed over the state of this country for the longest time. Every once in a while I'd get a twinge of hope, but then Bush and his cohorts in crime would do something to take it away. I've sat and cried on more than one occasion over what Bush has done to this country, let alone the world.

Then this week, the convention -- and now I really do feel full of hope. God it feels WONDERFUL!

I even got my 86 year old mother to change party affiliations and she is voting for Kerry. She said her mother is probably turning over in her grave. My Mom is now the only Democrat in their family. Ever.
Times, they are a' changin' - and Bush is going to have to pack his bags! :)

[sandnsea]

15. On going backwards

I was born in Oct '57, DH in Feb '57. So he turns "our age" first. Normally it's a joke between us, he's the old guy. A couple of years ago, I don't know how it happened, but I thought I was 45 all year. My birthday came around and I realized I was just turning 45, HE was the one who was 45 all year! So I got to be 45 all over again!

[Dem2theMax]

17. Hey, that works for me! LOL.

Sometimes I forget how old I am. That's good isn't it? Or a sign of Alzheimers slowly creeping up on me? :)

Well, at least I'll be a younger than I really am VERY happy and HOPEFUL Democrat! :)

[VolcanoJen]

10. In my 38 years, I've never been more optimistic!!

Except for that night in '92 when Poppy Bush puked all over the Prime Minister of Japan, and I first realized there was no way we were going to lose that election. :D :D :D

[NightTrain]

11. Hey, we're the same age!

How about a hug? :silly:

[VolcanoJen]

12. A hug? Just for being born during the Johnson Administration?

:hug: :hug: :hug:

[NoQuarter]

13. We're only guaranteed one important vote.

The first. One does not often get an opportunity to cast a truly important vote. One that is between what is wrong for your country and what is right for your country.

You want to take your convictions solidly into the voting booth.

I'm proud to be a Democrat tonight, because I know I can do that.

[radfringe]

16. HEEE-HAAAAAA!

couple of comments:

Might want to ask R-wingers who say bush* does good enough' -- ask them - "why settle for mediocrity when we can do better?"

meanwhile - about that hamster story -- if it's not happening already, watch for r-wingers to poke fun at it

suggested response: Kerry was aware of his daughter's attachment to the hamster. Instead of saying - "we'll get ya a new one" - he save it. If he took the effort to save a hamster for his daughter's sake, imagine the amount of effort he will put into saving America.

---------

Any PA DUer's going to Kerry rally in Scranton PA? I'll be there in my Wild-Eyes T-shirt.

[Hekate]

18. 'nuther Boomer happy to be a Dem tonight

He did it--Kerry pulled it off. We have had days of thunderously wonderful speeches from Carter, Clinton, Gore, Clarke, Sharpton, Dean... And Kerry brought it home. :-)

I watched Senator Barbara Boxer kick Tucker Carlson's little butt around for awhile. Heehee. "Oh, Tucker, just get over it," she'd say, while his voice rose to a squeak. Heehee. :-)

I tuned in to Charlie Rose and caught Rep. Nancy Pelosi, who was very confident. Charlie had a series of guests, and I didn't catch all their names -- but this fellow who used to work with Tip O'Neill and has known (and liked) Kerry for 30-40 years analyzed The Speech thusly:

1. It was not for the people in the hall--they are already going to vote for him.
2. It was not for the people watching the convention on tv--they already have their minds made up, too.
3. It was for the undecideds, who channel-surfed in and out of the convention and caught it as sound-bites. And,
4. The Speech was constructed as a series of sound-bites, and those sound-bites will be heard over and over on the way to November. Count on it.

I can live with that. :-)

I caught The Daily Show and Jon Stewart was fabulous. He mocked the cable and network news coverage of the convention and particularly of Al Sharpton's speech (that's the coverage, not the speech) to the high heavens. Those folks should be ashamed to call themselves journalists, but they are past shame.

Ted Koppel caught up with Jon Stewart on Wednesday's Nightline, and for a moment I had hopes that Ted would actually stick with Jon's seriousness, but instead he abruptly terminated the conversation. It was an odd moment, because Koppel wanted Jon to tell him the essential difference in the audience-appeal of their two formats, and Jon said Koppel and the rest have a greater responsibility to cover the news better than they do "because you have the gravitas. I'm a fake news program!" The camera man caught Koppel turning away as Jon, returning to comic mode, repeated, "But I'm just the dancing monkey!"

Lessee, how many more reasons can I give for mostly only watching PBS, CSPAN, and Jon Stewart?

BTW, if anyone can tell me how to find downloadable copies of the speeches PLEASE let me know. I want to just copy them to file so I can read them later, not print out all the extraneous material to get the text. Wednesday night I tried the Convention website, but was unable to highlight any text so I could copy/paste it; nor could I find a button for "printer-friendly copy."

Let's hear it for The Bounce :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Hekate

[calimary]

37. Hmmm, sounds like Ted's getting a little touchy. Hearing a little

CRITICISM lately, Ted? Or is that Monica Koppel?

[0007]

19. In my 71 years here, this feels pretty good in a long time.

[tommilator]

20. As long as you're not anti-war

Why shouldn't you be proud?

Any antiwar democrat should be ashamed of the convention, the free speech zones and the security guards swiftly removing anyone trying to get a 'stop the occupation' message out. A Democratic party united to the continuation of war and the selling of Bush Lite to the proles of America.

Check out todays Counterpunch, they've got a great article on Mr bonafide war hero.

[Skidmore]

22. Tommy, you need to be clued in on who set out the

free speech zone. Thank the Department of Homelannd Security for that one. Brought to you by Big Brother, not the Democratic party.

[tommilator]

24. Yes you're right.

I'm just disillusioned that even if you get rid of el Pretzeldente. The middle east, Iraq and the war of terror will still be going to hell in a handbag... in my opinion.

But clearing out the shrub it the first step I guess. Things can only get better, even if not a 100% to my liking.

[BeFree]

28. Happy to support the Democratic Party...again

War is human history. We must always learn from history and realize we can't change it overnight. It will take eternal vigilance from all of us if we are to put an end to war.

Kerry will end this one, and he will win the peace. He helped win the peace with Viet Nam. He has the experience, and the will, to do justice to this latest war.

Kerry on, dude!

[lanlady]

21. Not only proud to be a Democrat again--

I'm proud to be Kerry's fellow New Englander and Yalie. I'm on Cloud 9 this morning after that speech!
:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

[union_maid]

23. 54 and bursting!

I haven't felt like this since way before I was old enough to vote.

[opihimoimoi]

25. born in 41, and very proud of this Day...will be much happier in Nov when

we 86 the Chimp and this nightmare can end....

[Justice]

26. Not just proud,

but appreciative, thankful to be a Democrat. Thankful that my eyes were open, that my parents gave me a gift and values (to ask questions, to care about people, to want more from my country) -

I was really struck by the words of one of the Kerry daughters in relating a story about her father -- talking about "this soil" and "this sky"

[greekspeak]

27. Definitely a good, motivating convention

There is something in the air all over America this week. I felt it yesterday when I was driving through a major intersection, and there were people on the traffic islands with Kerry Edwards signs and everyone was honking and waving. I felt it it great speeches and excited delegates. It is a good week to call oneself a democrat!

[UTUSN]

29. Count Another One In, Reporting for Duty n/t

[Butterflies]

30. Yes! I love our party now more than ever

It's the unity and the positiveness and the finally fighting back and the candidates we have now. I wear my Dem buttons all of the time now. :-)

[carolinayellowdog]

31. Proud to be an American for the first time since 12/12/2000

All the world can see now that the last four years have been a nightmarish interregnum between legitimately elected Democratic presidents.

[americanwomanone]

32. I AM Very Proud!

All of these years I thought I was not a member of either party but voted at times Republican and other times Democrat. Then the trend in my voting changed. I voted for Bill Clinton, I voted for Al Gore and I most definitely am voting for John Kerry! After this depressing last four years I am no longer wondering where I belong. Let's just say that at 68 years old I have finally found my way! This man is the hope and future of our country. Bush has tainted this country and all that it stands for. We need a man to bring us back up where we belong. John Kerry is the man that can do it!

[americanwomanone]

33. I AM Very Proud!

All of these years I thought I was not a member of either party but voted at times Republican and other times Democrat. Then the trend in my voting changed. I voted for Bill Clinton, I voted for Al Gore and I most definitely am voting for John Kerry! After this depressing last four years I am no longer wondering where I belong. Let's just say that at 68 years old I have finally found my way! This man is the hope and future of our country. Bush has tainted this country and all that it stands for. We need a man to bring us back up where we belong. John Kerry is the man that can do it!

[americanwomanone]

35. Sorry, Got a Bit Fired Up! n/t

[calimary]

34. Fifty-one and Proud-Proud-Proud!

When our guy's speech has my jaw dropping, my heart dancing, and my hands waving delightedly in the air, when Joe Scarborough and others on the MSNBC panel can only critique Kerry because he read his speech a little fast, when I consider our World-Class BENCH STRENGTH for the future, when Frank Luntz conducts his "focus groups" and looks like he's just come from an FBI interrogation, I am PROUD-PROUD-PROUD! THIS is the best I've felt in quite a while. Could that possibly be a light at the end of the tunnel I see?

[Cybergata]

36. I had almost given up on the party

I found myself more often voting green. Last night made me glad I didn't change my party affiliation. This whole convention felt like the Democratic Party has remembered it roots of compassion & standing up for those who can't no stand up themselves. This 51 year old is proud to be a Democrat for the first time since Jimmy Carter was in office.

:hippie:

[Marymarg]

38. I have ALWAYS been

proud to be a Democrat.

I am deleriously happy about our ticket and our fired-up wonderful party. :bounce: