Poll: How much of a political news junkie are you?

[dalaigh lllama]

We wouldn't be here at DU if we weren't interested in what's happening to our country, but I'm curious as to when folks here decided they needed to keep a closer watch on the D.C. doings and started paying closer attention.

[wryter2000]

1. Boy, that's a hard one to answer

I've always been aware, but since Bush, I've become hyper-aware. The mere fact that I can find so much news here has helped.

[dalaigh lllama]

4. I guess what I really wanted to find out

is if more Americans are paying attention now than ever before, which to me would seem to be a good harbinger for the future. So far it's looking like most people who are concerned with politics now have always been concerned.

[wryter2000]

10. I don't think you'll get a good sample at DU

Only politically aware people will gravitate to a board like this.

[Mabus]

2. I'm a child of the 60's

I was about four when my mom ran for office on our tribal council and had to go to court to get her write-in ballots counted. I grew up in a politically oriented home and didn't know any different (or better). Nor have a ever found a reason to stop watching.

[dalaigh lllama]

6. Have to say

that altho my mom was always politically aware (she was the only person I knew who watched c-span), whenever she would start talking about politics my eyes would glaze over. I'll confess I used to be one of those who only "studied up" during election time. I only became a political news junkie after 9/11.

[Mabus]

7. the internet has definitely helped

before that, I was relied almost entirely on what the MSM reported.

Mom and dad were precinct committee people so there was never any escaping it. They would host coffees and candidates. My dad ran for a few local offices and it just became a normal part of life for me. Besides, I remembered it as being a lot of fun and it taught me how to schmooze.

[ChiciB1]

12. My Kids Grew Up Around The Same Thing... Now My Daughter

especially has become very active. I started watching C-Span from the time it aired, but have only ever been able to get through to them 2 times. I don't call anymore, stopped a long time ago because I found I lost too much time away from the program.

[Webster Green]

3. Went to see JFK live when he was on the campaign trail...

I was thirteen. My younger brother and myself took the bus to the event.

Mom and Dad were republicans.

Bwahahahahahaha!

[Christian30]

5. I started during Reagan

But since I was born in 1973 that was pretty early. I was REALLY paying attention toward the end of the Reagan administration.

[Hubert H. Hubert]

8. I was asleep during the Clinton years

I had assumed that since a Democrat was in the White House, all was right with the world. I was young and naive.

I was somewhat pissed off at the 2000 election shenanigans, but not enough to wake up. Not even 9/11 rose me from my slumber.

It was Iraq. The first time I heard the MSM start to play up the Iraq "situation", I started screaming at the TV. I KNEW it was bullshit. So I went online to find out more info.

The rest is history.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

9. I started pay attention to politics during the clinton impeachment process...

The Background

I couldn't figure out WTF was the big deal. I mean, I was 15 in 1996 when Clinton won his second term- and friends all around me were experimenting with things- sexual, substances, etc- making choices- more serious choices than a stained dress.

That year, a student at my small prep school walked off the roof of his brownstone while high- he thought he could fly. He died (I believe at the scene). Another person killed themself.

I was still a teenager. Friends of mine had been having sex for years. I hadn't- but that was a choice that I had made. I didn't care who did what with whom... it was their business. And that's how I felt about the Clinton stuff.

Ok- now to the events leading up to the impeachment
All of a sudden, it was like having a parent come in and start trying to figure out who was sleeping with whom... and under threat of serious penalties. Like- a teenager being grounded until they left for college... and then the threat of college was being withheld from the kid (Kenneth Starr and the impeachment process)


And that's when I started paying attention. I SERIOUSLY started to become active in politics during the 2000 (s)Election process.

.

[ChiciB1]

11. My Father Indoctrinated Me when I Was 11 years Old...

Voted for the first time in 1968! Been at ever since! And always a Democrat! My faith has been shaken these past 6 years though. Looking for OUR Leaders to "go to work" for "We The People" again!