Dear John GOP,
We’ve been together a really long time, haven’t we?
It was a beautiful relationship for sure.
Hey, remember the time that Clinton was running and I loathed him and couldn’t believe my fellow teenagers were falling for his saxaphone playing on late night television? How mad I was that I would be 18 on November 7th which was FOUR FLIPPING DAYS after the elections and I was so pissed off they wouldn’t let me vote for Bush that I practically picketed the registration office?
Man…those were the days, weren’t they?
I’ve been raised with you. I remember watching the Regan/Carter debates and I knew who my man was even though I was only, what…6?
My parents totally approved of you.
Well, except for that weird period where they cheated on the elephant and ran around with the donkey during part of the Clinton administration.
It was weird.
My mother’s insistence that ‘THAT WOMAN chased and stalked our President!” (when, hi…she was 21 and hello…due to that little thing called The Secret Service, nobody stalks the President of the United States unless HE WANTS TO BE STALKED) really, really confused me. Needless to say, I was highly relieved when they came to their senses and voted for Dubya in 2000.
Lately, you and I just haven’t been getting along. The fights, the bickering, the distance.
I really think we’ve grown into two different people.
And I have come to a decision:
I AM LEAVING YOU AND OFFICIALLY REGISTERING AS A DEMOCRAT.
I’ve been thinking really hard about us for a long time. I have gotten more and more vocal about ideas and thoughts and stands that I have stayed quiet about for a long time.
In the hundreds of times I have told my story about being invited to visit The White House (November 6th! WOOT!), I keep uttering the phrase “I’m a moderate Republican”. And I kept feeling more and more and more…wrong.
It used to be very true.
I just don’t think it is any longer.
Between the passing of Proposition 8 in California banning gay marriage (which I more strongly disagree with then I can find adequate words for) and health care, I have really had the foundations of my political ideals shaken and questioned.
In talking about my outrage with both of these issues (and others) I came to realize how important this is to me and how different my thinking is then many of the people around me. I am an extremely non-confrontational person but I have felt passionately enough about things lately to go to the mat with my nearest and dearest loved ones. I’ve gotten into heated, intense arguments with people I never seriously argue with.
I find myself shaking my head more at the right and nodding it more at the left.
It used to be the exact opposite.
During a conference call through BlogHer today with a Republican Congresswoman, though she was lovely, I found myself yelling at the phone in frustration. Hey, some people yell at their TV screens watching sports, I yell at my phone during health care reform conference calls.
(We won’t go into the rambling and confused question I asked her regarding high-risk insurance pools as the rambling and confused part came about because I WALKED INTO THE CORNER OF MY BEDROOM DOOR right before being called on and was seeing stars and worried that people heard me yelling curse words before my question. Go, me.)
When I hung up the phone it was like the last little piece of the puzzle was in place and I just absolutely, 100% KNEW.
I am worried, I will confess. I’m registering as a Democrat AND I’VE NEVER EVEN VOTED FOR ONE.
This is a HUGE change for me. It’s almost like leaving a religion where I’m from. But I know it’s the right choice for me right now. When I end something it’s usually pretty final…at least about the way I feel. I may be able to work it out but chances are high I will never feel the same about it again. There has been like, one exception to this in all my life, BUT…even that isn’t immune and it’s proving me to be pretty much the same lately. So, I don’t think my feelings about you will ever go back to what they once were.
Lots in my life is changing. I’ve outgrown things and I’ve seen others without the rose colored glasses I am prone to wearing. I owe it to myself to do this to see if I feel more comfortable. And frankly, I am doing your party NO favors by staying in it feeling the way that I do.
I don’t even know if the Democrats would even WANT someone like me. I am pro-life (though that is a gray area and much too long for this post), I am ADAMANT about military funding, and I am really not sure if I love the earth enough for the left side of the aisle.
(Though I really think there is a Facebook quiz to help me find out. Imagine how pleased I was to find out that I am the rock band “Journey”!!! I could totally pass off looking like Steve Perry! WOOT!!!!)
This decision IS NOT ISSUE BASED. It’s because of the way I THINK.
After hundreds of hours of bickering, debating and arguing about the ins and outs of both parties I came to realize something: I have a completely, completely different ideology then the party I have been a part of since I was 18. And it’s too different to remain a Republican any longer.
So, I’m not.
I could be an independent but the Democratic party in Utah is so small I want them to have the numbers, frankly. And I kind of like being the rebel underdog. Beyond that, voting in the primaries is hugely important to me.
Before we say goodbye I want to assure you I don’t find either side “BAD”. I love WAY too many people to bits and pieces that I believe are true, humble, lovely, classy and good hearted to ever classify a whole party that way. You will find assholes on both sides, frankly.
So, thanks for all the memories, GOP.
It was fun while it lasted.
If you’re feeling all wounded and hurty over this, you can go cuddle with my husband.
He’s still there for you.
AND…he’s an excellent big spoon.
:)
Kisses n’ stuff,
Loralee
Stumble it!
Filed under: 
LoraLee, as a Democrat, I say, WELCOME.
I’m all the things you described as well. I find that neither party agrees with me 100%, but the Democrats come closer than the Republicans these days.
WORD. And thanks for the welcome! :)
I am proud of you!!
Thank you, friend. That means the world.
It’s strange but as an Aussie OBSESSED with reading everything about American politics (and priding myself on knowing quite a bit about the subject now) I always thought you were more Democrat than Republican in your viewpoint.
It’s so nice to be right about something.
Even though I didn’t know I was.
Go me!
And, er, you.
And I hope your informed decision will be met with the respect it deserves. xxx
Well, in the last year I definitely have been.
If you had talked to me two or three years ago you would have probably thought something differently.
I am still pretty middle of the road…I just realized that now it leans to the left instead of the right.
I don’t see that changing any time soon.
This is the nicest break-up letter I’ve ever read. Although I haven’t read that many… or, uh… any at all. Anywho, hope you feel better after making this decision for yourself. I know I do, ;)
LOL.
I think it’s the first one I’ve written. :)
How funny things change the older you get. I used to be a die hard liberal, almost everything you wrote, you could have put Democrat for Republican and that would have been me. I registered Republican for the first time last year. I loved Bill Clinton, but I just can’t stomach what Obama is doing to our country. As a social liberal (support gay marriage and pro choice) but a fiscal conservative, I see very hard times coming with the way this president is running things financially.
Anyway, guess my point is you always need to follow your heart, I’m not judging either way, just saying how funny it is to be one way for so long and then after being exposed to different ideas, change the other way. That’s what makes American great though?
You are way more in the norm. Most people get more conservative growing up.
I always seem to do things differently.
I have always been a fiscal realist. (Well, until health care. It’s not that I don’t care, I just think that what it means trumps.)
I had KITTENS WITH BUSH about money.
I figured that honestly, the Republicans were doing a shitty job with the financial end of things just as much so I might as well go with a party that supported my ideologies and social issues.:)
Go you! I am registered not registered as party affiliated, just a registered voter. I sort of want to register as one party though because you can only vote in primaries in my state if you are registered with either Rep or Dem (which I find truly distasteful). I just can’t classify myself. I vote based upon the candidates beliefs, not their party, and my hubs has finally come around to that idea!! Congratulations to your realization that you are neither. I believe we people are going to rise up and revolt against this “2-party” system soon since nothing gets done!!
I gave that long and hard thought.
Huge.
But…I ended up deciding to try on Democrat shoes to see how they fit. (I also like voting in primaries. It’s the same here)
Watching all that has been going on latelty, I have to say this: you (Americans) take politics and political affiliation much more serious than we (Poles) do. I mean, I take it seriously, because I am interested in politics, but most of my friends and colleagues don’t. Maybe that’s why we’ve got so little turnout during each elections. Or maybe that’s because we’re still not used to being a free country and having an election at all? I dunno. Anyway, you takie it very seriously, don’t you? Maybe that’s because you have only two parties? I mean, in here we’ve got lots of them (in actual Sejm, which is the lower but more important house of the parliament, we’ve got what, 6 different political parties I think?) and the difference between them is not so easy to catch, so maybe that’s it.
Anyway, I’m impressed. It has to take guts to change your affiliation when you’re surrounded by Republicans :)
regards,
Amy.
I am wondering too, Had I live in USA, would I be a Democrat or Republican? I’ve been thinkign about it for quite some time now and I can’t really tell. I mean, in my country I’m more to the right, right-center I s’pose, but I think it’s gotta be different in US. I mean… I honestly don’t know. Tough ;)
ciao,
Amy.
That would be an intriguing question. Probably the most telling thing would be how you feel about government presence in your life:
Do you want more government programs, etc. and higher taxes or would you rather have as little government involvement as possible?
I guess that depends. My judgement is different than yours. In a case of my country I see need for the market as free as it can be and government as little as it can be, but we’re a post-communist country and there’s still a lot to do to get rid of that legacy (First to do – get rid of people who lived then and are now in the government. I’m embarassed with them ==). But with all I know about USA I think you’re on quite the opposite side of the fence – that you could actually profit from a little more government involvement (especially in the matter of Health Care and all Social Security). I don’t know though. After all, all my knowledge about USA is from TV Shows like The West Wing and press articles. (And Wikipedia. Some year ago I looked up both Republican Party and Democratic Party at the wikipedia to see what their ideologies are.) And your blog ;)
ciao,
Amy.
Yup you would have a RADICALLY different political mindset, experience then I would.
I love your thoughts here. I think that yes, there should be more government intervention, especially in heath care.
I think it must be horribly difficult to be raised all your life with communism and then have to radically change. One of the things I watched that made a huge impact on me was a documentary about the two sides of Germany coming together after the wall went down and how difficult it was for many of them to get used to the West’s way of life.
I saw it 10 years ago and have never forgotten it.
Well, I didn’t ecactly experienced the Communism, my parents did, I’m too young, I’m from ‘89 generation – first Truly Free generation in my country (though I’ve been born in communism, it lasted some 2 months after me beign born xD). But it is still present in my life and my country and we can’t really get rid of it. For example, politicians fight with each other using arguments like “We stand here where the Solidarity stood and you stand there where the ZOMO stood” (Solidarity was the first free trade union that led our country (and others with us) to the fall of communism, and ZOMO stnads for Motorised Reservs of Citizens Militia (while militia was just another word for police, t’was change after the fall of communism), so it’s always the fight between who did what, who worked with communists, who opposed them, who was a secret informer etc. etc. – it seems like it’s never gonna end ==”). It’s really, really stupid and embarassing.
Anyway, from what my parents told me and from what I’ve learnt from numerous movies/documents/articles and even from history lessons at school, I can tell that it is the whole new world now. But the legacy stays – and not only political one, aslo mental one. People have learnt to operate in one way and they still do it, for example it’s well-known that you can’t get anything done in a public sector unless you pay a bribe. So corruption is a serious problem, on a scale you can’t even think about. And people are minding their own businesses, not interfering with others, certainly not helping each other… There is this story that shows that: a group of Poles rides in a bus, but it stops because there is fallen tree on the way. Poles get out, start to fight with each other, blame each other and do nothing. A bus full of Americans comes too, Americans get out, look around, alltogether get the tree out of the way and continue to drive. I dunno, maybe that a historic thing – when we have an outside enemy, we come together and fight; but without the outsider to fight, we start to fight each other. Maybe that’s a historic thing, after all for centuries our neighbors tried to get rid of us and yet we are still here (or not – that’s also the cause of very high rate of emmigration; there’s about 15-20 million people of Polish ancestry living outside Poland (about 10 million in USA alone!); population of Poland is 38 million).
And yet I still love this country and these people. (Yeah, I’m a bit of a freak; I am a patriot, but I study French literature and language and civilization and I’m fascinated and, dare I say, a little obsessed with the USA.)
And I talk too much, I’m sorry. It’s just – I’ve been paying a lot of attention on the topic of communism lately, because we’ve been celebrating the 20th anniversary of its end for some time now, and in a few days there’s gonna be an anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, which is, I think, very remarkable. I can say I’m the same age as the freedom in Eastern Europe is \o/
bisous,
Amy.
PS. Did I ever say that? I am very, very, very sorry for all the mistakes I make, and I’m sure there’s plenty of them. Don’t hestitate to slap me anytime for murdering your pretty language ^^”
Wow. I never knew you were a Republican. You seem so normal! Well then, welcome to the dark side :)
LOL. I do know several normal Republicans. We just disagree a lot anymore.
VERY few people knew my politics before the whole White House thing. That was my first political post.
This isn’t a political blog and I won’t blog about it often but it is a huge part of my life and so I’m writing about it.
Yay! Welcome to our side. We have better cupcakes!
See, that was totally why I switched.
Mmm…cupcakes…mmm…
L-
Handling this here with humor is the perfect way to make a very serious point. I know you have thought long and hard about this. I imagine it has not been something you’ve done lightly. If I was a GOP strategist, I’d be looking long and hard at this email. I think there is quite a bit in here for the party to consider.
Loved you even when you were playing for their team, but happy to extend a big, warm, welcoming hug to ours.
I am such a humor filled person I couldn’t help it. And I don’t want to bash the other side. It was hugely difficult and painful for me, though.
Thank you for the welcome sweetpea. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU IN DC!
Well, it’s about time, Loralee! I’ve had your blog tucked in a deep, dark folder in my feedreader for fear one of my liberal colleagues would catch me hangin’ out on “the dark side.” So I’m moving you out in the open! The truth is that there are few of us who follow party lines and platforms on every issue, which is what makes us so interesting, IMHO. The main issue I have with strident dems or repubs is their stridency about it, and less their actual position. Glad you remain open minded enough to change your course– most of the research says that kids follow their parents’ party lines the vast majority of the time, and block out anything that is incongruent (but which could also positiviely influence them.)
LOL.
I would never not associate with someone because of their politics. Their manner of delivery and expression maybe…
;P
Meaning…if you are not a hateful asshole of a person that is interesting and I like, your politics won’t change that. :)
Loralee-
As a longtime liberal Democrat (hey, I’m from MA, what choice do I have?) my first instinct is actually not “Welcome”, though would certainly like to welcome you to this big, absolutely crazy tent we call the Democratic Party. My first instinct is to express condolences. You clearly feel that your longtime party has abandoned YOU, and that requires some mourning. It’s a loss. As a Democrat, it infuriates me that what used to be a moderate GOP member isn’t considered loyal anymore (see Olympia Snowe). It’s driving away reasonable, middle of the road people like you. We need two mature, healthy parties and we don’t have that. And that’s a shame. I also need to say how brave you are to come to what I KNOW was a tough and painful decision. Once again I express my admiration for you.
D-
I’m actually crying at this.
Sure, this is a funny, lighter post but it is a front for many tears, arguments and lots and lots of pain.
It’s a bit like my divorce…I knew it was right but man was it hard to do.
I agree with so much of this comment. xo
UGH! I hate politics, and as the mother of a child who has a disability, I have to advocate for him and therefore deal with politicians. Democrat…Republican….Elephant…Donkey…they all lie! They will look you in the eye and lie through their teeth. I hate to sound like a cynic, but with all the day to day things that I have to do for my son, I wish that whichever party that these people chose to affiliate themselves with, that first and foremost they would affiliate themselves with the truth first.
P.S. I am not affiliated with either party, and voted multiple ways in the last, and I think all elections.
Politics can be an ugly place and those who have to take it on regularly to advocate for themselves or their loved ones like yourself (while not enjoying the perks of it) often get chewed up and cynical from the process.
There is a lot of fugly that goes on on Capitol Hill for sure.
I agree with so much of this and I loved what you said about truth.
I don’t think many of us out here would disagree.
Welcome! Cookies to the right, margaritas to the left~make yourelf at home :)
Wow. Cookies AND cupcakes? I am in the right place!
I consider myself a very Pro-Life – Moderate Democrat and get infuriated that the ‘Life’ issue (as it relates to the unborn) is just so deeply politicized – it shouldn’t be – but I digress.
It’s YOU the GOP should be listening to. People with more moderate conservative views are the ones who need to grab back that party and stop the extreme polarization of politics that’s going on right now.
I don’t see it happening any time soon though :(
Awe, thanks.
And there are many issues that have become politicized that shouldn’t be.
Yay! Now I’m not the only Democrat in Logan! :) I actually know I’m not, some of my good friends are very active members of Cache County Democrats.
You should have seen the looks I got from my neighbors last fall though with my Obama sign in the yard. They actually asked me if I was joking. uh, no. I love that man!
Welcome to my side of the aisle. It’s a lovely place to be.
Oh, and I registered Democrat before actually voting for a democrat also. So, no worries ;)
I am getting to know more and more and more lovely Dems in the valley. I think I actually may be close friends with more liberals then conservatives!
(delurking)
I did the same thing (but without a breakup letter) at the beginning of the year. I was a moderate Republican who voted for Reagan … twice. However I drew the line at voting for anyone with the last name “Bush”. My parents were moderate Republicans. But I just haven’t been able to stomach the nonsense that has been going on with the Republican party. It is not the party of my youth either.
Welcome to the world of new Democrats. It’s a little liberal over here but you kind of get used to it.
I’m not ashamed of voting for Bush. I truly believe it was the best issue at the time.
It didn’t turn out so well but we live, we learn, you know?
Welcome! HEHE. What fun it was to register as a Democrat years ago and know the people that were running the booth. Neighbors who are NOT Democrats that know you personally. Yeah… them. Anyways, they still love me.
I totally was going to call you on the phone but got sidetracked.
I can’t wait to have a discussion on Halloween (Oooh! I need to talk to you about that)
And I know exactly which lovely neighbors you are talking about. But they love Brian and he is so left he’s almost wrapped around to the right! :)
Welcome! We’d love to have you.
I don’t know anybody who wholeheartedly supports the entire platform of their chosen party, including myself. However, I just have found that my ideals line up more with the Democrats than the GOP.
It’s rough to be a Dem in Utah (there hasn’t been an election in 15 years where I didn’t cry,) but it’s also fun to be able to raise a contrary point of view and challenge people. We need a two party system, not a one party system.
Oh, yeah. I know. Especially in Cache Valley. Still…I like the idea of trying at least.
p.s. my mom has a joke that while in the rest of the world you start more liberal and grow more conservative, we Mormons (or culturally Mormon, you know what I mean) start conservative and move to liberal. Maybe we’re all looking for a little equilibrium, a little moderation.
I REALLY think that is a huge part of it. We come from such conforming conservatism that I think for many people it’s a backwards process from most.
As a lifelong liberal Democrat, I remain in the party because its platform issues are those I believe in, but our legislators on both sides of the aisle are sadly unable to squirm out from under the thumb of the corporate lobbyists, so change toward the progressive side is certainly slow in coming. I retain hope (and fight back cynicism) and hope you won’t be disappointed with your important decision.
I welcome you into the fold, Loralee.
I have big issues with lobbiests, pork, sticking crap in bills that is utterly unrelated to the matter at hand, OH the list goes on and on and ON.
The process of politics can be disappointing no matter WHAT side of the aisle you’re on.
Loralee, I feel your pain on the 1992 elections – but – the election was four days before your 18th birthday. I know this because I am one day older than you and therefore that much wiser – and I didn’t get to vote either.
And don’t feel bad, in 1992 I was flirting with Libertarianism. Don’t worry, I got better, too.
Awe,crap!
I stand corrected.
So much for my memory. I’m getting old. Next I will be ordering prunes and eating dinner at 4:30pm.
:)
I remember my break up letter as well. When I was at Ricks College, I started thinking that maybe Dems weren’t all that bad and in the next few years I became more and more liberal. Several years ago I finally took the leap. It was easy being a Mormon Dem in Oregon, harder in San Diego and about a year ago when we decided to move back here to Cache Valley, I was actually nervous. I was a political writer for awhile, worked for the Cache Dems in college, worked for Repub pollsters, and LOVE politics and I knew, coming back here, I would be in the minority terribly. I hate the points we get at our Obama sticker on our Subaru in the church parking lot. I hate that people think I’m crazy for being a Democrat. But I can assure them. I’ve been on both sides…I know what I’m doing! I may not agree with everything in any party, but I agree with the most on the left side and I just so very much want to bring a little balance to this crazy place we decided to settle.
Having a kid sealed the deal for me, oddly enough. And my potato born and bred hubby has taken the leap with me. If you ever need a good political discussion in this valley, let me know! I, too often, keep it bottled and sometimes I need the release!
OOOH!
You should come to coffee (cocoa!) with my dear friend, Nancy Williams. She’s a professor of journalism up at the university.
Drop me a line. I’d love to chat!
I got my degree in Journalism at USU. I never had a class with Nancy (whe was on sabatical during my tenure!) but I would love to come and chat ANYTIME.
Ugh. Sorry for the novel! I clearly don’t get to talk about politics very often!
No worries. You will find that I have a HUGE tolerance for talking. :)
Welcome to the light! ;)
I am a Democrat for pretty much the same reasons you are. I am very socially liberal. I admit I need to do more reading to figure out what I am fiscally.
I don’t live in Utah(though I was born and raised there, in Mantua which is really close to Logan, you may have heard of it) but most of my neighbors here in PA are Republicans and my whole family who are still in Utah are all Republicans so I really know what it’s like to be the odd duck. I just have to follow my conscience and that has led me to be a Moderate Democrat. It sounds like that is where you are too!
Anyway, good luck with your change and dealing with any fall out you may get from family and friends.
The reservoir in Mantua is one of the most beautiful parts of the drive through Sardine Canyon. And I’ve always wanted to wander through that hilltop cemetery!
I have quite a few Dems for friends but I will be the sole Dem with my inlaws. And, there is only my sister in my immediate family (although another sister is probably going to change, too)
Loralee~ Why not register as an Independent? We’re the real underdogs…Dems control the WH, House, and Senate. The two party system is destroying our country…the powers that be have CONVINCED us that it’s one or the other, but really they aren’t very different. They’ll keep flipping power back and forth while we watch like we’re at a tennis match, all the while devaluing our currency and leaving our future uncertain.
The biggest reason is that I like voting in the primaries and you need to be to vote here.
But YES…I would love to have more then a two party system for certain.
Completely off topic, November 7th is my birthday as well! xoxo
SWEET!
Happy birthday to us both!
*sigh*
Loralee, Loralee, Loralee…
For the first time ever, I think I’m actually… a little disappointed in you. ;) I mean… REALLY? I could understand switching sides during the Clinton years, but NOW? With Obama in office? WE NEED YOU! Besides, can’t the Mormon Church like… excommunicate you for that or… somethin’? :)
Either way, I still love your guts. My guts are just a little bit sadder now. :)
LOL!
You’re the first Republican brave enough to pipe up!!!!
And I am so glad it was you!
I know it’s disappointing, I do. For some around me it’s downright hurtful.
But I’VE been disappointed with the Republican Party and it got to the point that I had to leave for my own peace of mind.
And I didn’t start off liking the dude but I like an awful lot of what is coming out of Obama’s mouth. So I know a change was needed.
I am sad I have to disappoint anyone, but I still love your guts too, woman!!!! Ooodles and oodles.
xo
I’m proud of you, and delighted you’re on our side of the aisle now. <3
Let’s drive to Taos and smoke a joint (but not inhale)!!!!!!
Totally kidding.
:)
Thanks, friend. I’m awful glad you’re around.
Love this, Loralee. Can relate on so many points. And even on the points where we don’t see eye to eye, at least I know we can hold a reasonable discussion.
I have been a registered Dem for 13 years. But I truly don’t identify fully with either party. But I welcome you my friend. Let’s have a Democrat party and pass out cigars (unused of course) ;-)
SHUT UP!
I had NO idea.
Like, none.
Wow.
This is so uber cool. And I know I don’t fully identify and never have, with either party. (I kinda like it that way)
The Republicans simply aren’t the party of Abraham Lincoln or Theodore Roosevelt anymore. It’s why I left.
I happened to stumble upon your blog and am posting here for the first time, but I wanted to welcome you to the party. As a former Republican myself (voted for Reagan in my first election–brrr), I find the umbrella bigger and the philosophy comfier in the Democratic party. I registered Democrat because I live in Utah and somebody has to buck the one-party system we have here.
Evolution of the soul is not only inevitable, it is a positive thing. Change may be scary, but without it, we stagnate.
Hear, hear.
I agree whole heartily. THAT said, the Democratic party isn’t that of FDR though, either.
BUT…I really agree with you about it being a comfier political philosophy, at least as far as mine go.
And yes, the Dems need the numbers. I’m excited to see how the party goes.
Your evolution here continues to surprise me. I, of course, can’t register, but if I could it would probably be Dem because of the whole gay thing. There is just no place in the Republican party for gay people, and those who try to convince themselves otherwise are folling themselves.
That’s not to say that Democrats are perfect, because they’re FAR from it. both parties kind of suck, and it sucks that there isn’t a viable third choice in the US. Both suck, and have sucked since Clinton, on fiscal issues. The Democrats suck less on social issues. The Republicans have just kind of gone over the cliff at this point. They will rebuild and perhaps find new rallying points and come back into the fold at some point. But really, right now they seem comsumed by “meanies.”
I still want to marry you and have your babies. DAMN that whole “You’re gay and I’m married” thing! :P
I GET TO MEET ERIN NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AFTER 5 FREAKING YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
There aren’t words for how much I wish you could be there, friend. I’ve adored you FOREVER.
You and Erin are meeting? YAY! I would love to make the trip over, but I’m far too sick right now. And Marco has come down with Bell’s Palsy. It’s not supposed to be funny, but it is. And I’m sure you’ve had enough of the whole illness thing lately to last until 2012.
Keep up updated – I always read even if I don’t always comment.
Awe, man…that blows.
Yup, I am meeting Erin next Thursday, I think, and she is coming to my birthday party on the 7th!
I’m so excited about that.
I am utterly sad about Marco. I hope he is one of those that spontaneously recovers.
LOVE you, Dougie.
I’m a moderate Democrat. Yes, there is such a thing, and we’re pretty cool. I get pissed at my party, and sure, I’m a political cherry picker and am SUPER conservative about funny things, but I like my spot as a left-leaning centrist-type.
And Doug’s right. There IS no place in the Republican party for gays. Or anyone who isn’t white and rich, if you ask me. And frankly, I”m sick of it. I’m sick of people saying they should be MORE conservative and “get back to the base.” I’m sick of hearing that people question the faith of those of us who support gay marriage and are pro-choice.
I believe in God. I think God thinks I’m pretty nifty, too. And I also think he’s cool with the fact that I want gays to be able to marry, and I want abortion to stay legal for those who need it.
Ok, NOW I want to marry YOU AND DOUGIE and have your babies. Even though I am not gay and as far as I know it’s a little genetically impossible for the two of us to procreate together.
Dammit.
Surely we could work this out, though!
I’m an optimist!!!
Ok, not really but it’s just so hard to be a downer around Doug. :)
Interesting post. I agree with most of what you said, with the exception of this:
“And frankly, I am doing your party NO favors by staying in it feeling the way that I do.”
Any vocal minority always does their group a huge favor, whether the group recognizes it or not. Questioning your religion, political group, community, or family members is quite possibly the biggest show of support one can offer. Its the only way to move toward reasoned change.
I totally see what you are saying. As of late though, I am having difficulty saying ANYTHING positive I’ve been so unhappy at a fundamental level. (And I am giving a lot of media interviews so it ups the ante) That is more what I meant.
Congratulations, brave lady! You deserve HUGE props for getting up the nerve to write this post.
Also, you said you were worried that your opinions would be too far from those of mainstream Democrats to feel at home. But here’s the thing: the Democratic Party is a “big tent” too. You don’t have to be pro-choice to be a Democrat because the party supports your right to make that personal choice.
Anyhow, welcome to the party! *hugs*
It’s scary but it hasn’t been bad. Most Republicans have just been quiet (I imagine they are doing the “if you can’t say anything nice…) and I REALLY appreciate that. It’s been hard enough with out any, “Don’t let the door hit you on the ass” kind of stuff.
Everyone has been uber respectful and I’m so glad because I really tried to be as well.
So, do we tell our new member Loralee about the hazing ritual involving a pillow fight with Rachel Maddow?
Love the idea!
And welcome to the club, Loralee. Funny, since I’ve been reading you (a few months) I’ve secretly suspected you were a closeted Dem. Maybe one that just hadn’t realized it yet.;)
OOPS! The above was meant for Jaieth! And it has been a long, slow thought process but this last year has been hugely changing for me so I am not surprised it started to shine through. :)
LOL!! DUDE, that is hilarious.
I replied to you down in the next comment (DUH!) One day I will get a hang of MY OWN BLOG. :)
hee hee hee ha ha ha haw haw haw!!!! Yeayah hahaha! You go girl. You know, the more I talked to you the more Loralee = Republican (no matter how moderate) just didn’t make sense. I am just loving the visual in my mind of your house hold and extended family reactions right now :D (big cheesy grin)
My mom called me on the phone after reading this and you know, she was supportive.
TOTALLY unexpected but really glad for me. My inlaws are much more conservative and they are the ones I worry about frankly.
I hope I wasn’t misrepresenting. It just took me a long time to think things through and come to realizations. xo
Welcome to the left.
I started as a Republican during the Reagan era, went to Independent, then Democrat with the ‘88 elections. I don’t agree with everything my party believes in, but I find that as a whole, my fellow Democrats will accept my differences with their POV. They will yours, too.
Glad to have you on this side of the aisle, because it almost seems like you were already here.
Yup, I pretty much was.
Wow. I know this was hard for you. I have been a registered Dem. for 15 years. As I have gotten older, my political views have changed many time, but always stay on the left for the most part. Welcome!
It has been very difficult and has come with a lot of thought.
It’s not the Party, Loralee. It’s the direction the leadership has taken the Party. If it was up to me, there would be no parties. Bills would be passed or fail to pass based on their merits. People would be elected based on the content of their character and their stated objectives. Hundreds of people could run for office if they wished – and there would be runoffs until the elections were decided.
But it ain’t up to me. Welcome to the Democratic Party. And don’t be fooled. We have assholes too.
Hon, I know there are assholes on the left. There are people on the left that drive me nutso and I can’t see me EVER liking them.
And I LOVE your idea but until that is the way the game is played we’re stuck being divided by an aisle. :S
Props, Loralee! I know it takes courage to go to the left here in Utah. I’m originally from New York, have been living here for 5 years–my husband is stationed at Hill AFB. Five years…yikes! thanks for voting for military funding, BTW). It was HARD moving here as a liberal Democrat, between the Republican military and conservative Utahns I felt totally alone. When my NY liscence expired in Aug I got a UT liscence and actually registered as an Independent…sigh…so disappointed in myself. So PROUD of you for standing up for what you believe in. Would love to chat with you ANYTIME!
Awe, I can definitely feel for the situation you are in here.
Feel free to drop me a line babe! I am in the area every now and then to have lunch with bloggity friends and would love to have you join us.
I “know” how you feel. I grew up in Utah as a Republican as well. I realized that my values — social justice, regulation, civil rights, etc. — were more in line with the Democratic party (ironically at BYU). I remain the only Democrat in my family and I believe that even eighteen years later my father is deeply disappointed in my decision. Fortunately, we all can pick and choose where we stand on different issues; (I happen to be pro-life as well) and still can call ourselves whatever we want to!
Besides Utah needs all the Democrats it can find! I moved to Massachusetts and now I yell at the opposite party.
Yes, you do know how I feel. I decided I could never go to BYU when they almost didn’t let me take my high school extension final when I was in sandals. :)
The phone call I got from my mom today was actually very supportive. I am thinking it will not go over so well with my inlaws. I feel very out of place. They are VERY conservative.
I know Utah needs as many Dems as possible, which is why I am registering. I think it will be utterly rad.
I’m a registered independent voter, but I’ve always leaned conservative (I was hung up on abortion, to be quite honest), or maybe it’s the Mormon thing…
…but ever since I “came out” as an Obama supporter during the last election, I’ve been suprised at how many Democrat Mormons there actually are! I still don’t agree that abortion should be legal, but there are SO MANY much bigger, more urgent matters these days- it was hardly a topic of conversation during the election.
Keep on bloggin, girl.
With love,
Your East Coast Doppleganger
I KNOW! Holy cow, I have gotten a lot of support. And from people in my little valley!!! It’s been lovely and so much nicer (thus far) then I EVER dreamed of.
So far I have been received with open arms and kindness despite my differences. It’s awesome.
Um, I think it’s sad that the GOP has driven you away. But the Democrats are just a rebound affair. They will NOT treat you any better. Trust me. They may talk a good game, but they will have their way with you and then throw you away.
And, I know you want to root for the underdog, so why not just become a Ron Paul supporter?
Seriously, DO NOT register as a democrat. Just because you’re leaving the GOP doesn’t mean you have to join the other side. Be a rebel. Be yourself.
I know you have good intention with this but I assure you that I absolutely AM being myself.
Which is WHY I am registering to be a Democrat.
I trust myself.
It is one of the most frustrating things about my husband. He thinks I don’t know my own mind, am confused and one day will “Get it” whenever I express a liberal thought.
I’m not joining the Dems to get back at the GOP. This is not just me rooting for the underdog. Sure, it makes it more attractive, but that is far from why I am doing this. It is no rebound. This is not a quick decision for me.
It is because my fundamental politcal ideology is that I want the government to be in my life with programs, regulations, to be a helping hand with a wide net for a wide variety of people and I am willing to pay higher taxes for that to happen.
Not one thing about this is Republican thought. It took me a LONG time to realize that was how I really felt.
If them having their way with me is being open, lovely, respectful and thoroughly interested in what I had to say and inviting me to The White House as a Republican?
I can totally deal with that.
Best using I have ever had, actually. :)
Welcome! I used to be more left-ish. Then I started working for a company that does a lot of business with the People’s Republic of Massachusetts, and got pretty infuriated with how my tax dollars are being spent. My fiscal views became a lot more conservative but…I could never vote Republican because of the social issues (health care! gay marriage! and, for me, reproductive rights). Which is kind of a pity. So, anyway, I don’t agree with everything the Dem’s do and I may not believe in the party line, but anyway. WELCOME, and I hope you enjoy using the donkey as your trusty steed.
I like government programs and the idea of having a wide net under as many people as possible BUT…I am not saying government is awesome at how they run things. I would LOVE to see overhaul. There is so much waste, pork, padding bills, it drives me nuts.
BUT.
It is what it is and I have lost a LOT of confidence in the private sector as well.
Thanks for the welcome!
I couldn’t read through 98 comments to be sure I wasn’t repeating any, just so you know. I grew up in a republican household and that was Just. How. It. Was. Shortly after graduating high school and experiencing for myself what I believe and what each party believes and how those mesh, I decided I was a Democrat. Then a Libertarian. Then a Democrat. Then Green. I still think I’m a Green but I vote Democrat for the most part.
Sadly I don’t think “moderate republican” exists much anymore. And the “moderate” Democrats irritate me to no end. I am glad they are providing a place for you, though. I can only hope this country somehow morphs into a three or four party system, where people can vote for who they truly align with instead of choosing the “lesser of two evils.”
Welcome to the land of sanity, Loralee. :)
I will probably drive you nutso. It will be hard to shake a lot of my more right views and excluding health care, my fiscally moderate side will probably come out.
I agree with needing stronger and multiple parties. I just don’t see it happening, sadly.
I love you not because you are a Democrat but because you are honest with yourself. And you are not afraid of growth. Grow on, Loralee!
That’s one of the nicest things anyone has said to me. THANK YOU.
Well, as a Canadian I am flabbergasted by the amount of thought and consideration put into divorcing one political party for another. I can appreciate the “either you are or you aren’t” lifestyle of the American political views, I am just in awe of how hard it was to leave one side for the other.
We here in the Great White North tend to be a little more promiscuous when it comes to voting. (I think) We never have to proclaim ourselves as loyal to one party or another and I’ve even jumped on THREE different band wagons over the past few elections based on the PERSON that was running and what I thought THEY were capable of – not a party as whole.
It’s really just amazing to see the differences, that’s all.
I really agree with what @Greene Means Go said: I’m sorry that you’ve left, that your party has abandoned you and that you’ve been pushed into a position to choose. That’s not fair, and it’s really sad. So ya, I feel for you. I really do, even though I can’t say I know what it’s like (in a political sense) but, you know..
xoxo
I’m surprised about how rabid y’all are about Hockey but I’m just not a sports person. :)
It’s always hard to go against the thought, life, etc. of most of your family and community. It just is. And it makes me very different here.
It’s tough.
I am surprised by how sad I am about this. We need socially moderate fiscally responsible people to have a voice. Instead you have picked the group that is bankrupting the US AS WE SPEAK. If we can’t get our finances in line, it won’t matter how you feel about social issues because we won’t have a strong country anymore.
It makes me very sad.
I certainly don’t enjoy being hugely different from most people around me. Not that it is the difference that I mind but here it means for many, many people that I am a bad person and that sucks.
And…for years I was in the party that took us to financial ruin as well. When it came down to it? The Republicans were JUST AS BAD fiscally.
So, I couldn’t use that as a justification any longer and wanted to be where more of my social issues were agreed with.
With the exception of health care reform I will continue to be fiscally concerned for sure and I am not saying two wrongs make a right but I am just more in line with what the Dems what to spend money on vs. the Republicans. (While I am for military funding, PEACEFUL military funding is just a WHOLE lot less you know? I did not start out thinking this way, I was in support of the war, I can’t be sad a hideous dictator is gone but the cost has been way too huge, and not just financially.)
I DO have a problem with how it is run, but I have lost a huge amount in the private sector too.
It’s a sad paradox for sure. One party gives lip service to not tanking our economy and the other is more honest about its intentions. At the end of the day, the party that is out of power will fight harder to restrain what is going on in government. So, the Republicans are our best hope at the moment for controlling ridiculous spending. Also, Pres. Bush (and believe me when I say I was an intern for his administration and not enamored by any means with his spending) did not spend nearly as much. Basically the best way we hvae at the moment to not bankrupt the country is to “fight the power” and currently the power is the Democrats. To say the US dollar can’t handle the stress it is currently under, the private sector can’t handle the negative incentives this healthcare bill will give them, and banks like Goldman Sachs shouldn’t be forced to a certain size even though they did nothing wrong and warned for years about the problems in the system, is…well…exactly what I mean to say.
Other than that, I began following your blog off of the White House Council on Women and Girls website. I came across it while doing research for a thinktank in DC.
hug
My question is on your last line, did you mean you have lost a huge amount of respect for the private sector?
You’re correct in saying that Bush did not spend nearly as much, but he also racked up huge deficits at a time when the economy was growing at a substantial clip. Conventional economics go that when the economy is growing, the government should shrink, and when it contracts, the government should grow to fill the gap. Bush grew the government by fantastical amounts. Had spending been more restrained during those years, today’s deficits wouldn’t be near as large. But they were, and they are, so it’s a moot argument.
While I agree on the “fight the power” notion, it would be nice if the Republicans were offering a clear, coherent alternative to the Democrats, but they’re really not. The current Republican “fight the power” strategy is to be obstructionist, which is really not what the country needs at this point.
I also worked with an investment company (briefly, very briefly) and once you see how that works, you fully see how the little guy gets screwed. Consistently and constantly. Independent investors know nothing about “shorting” stocks, but the big guys who short stocks push down the prices and force the little guys to sell at a loss. That’s a very small example, but one of many. To say that GS did nothing wrong is disingenuous, and most firms operated exactly like that. They knew what they were doing and while they were making vast sums of money, it was fine. But their inevitable failure almost tanked the entire country – we cannot allow that to happen again, under any circumstances. If a company is big enough to tank the country, then it’s time to break the company up into smaller pieces. People and nation come before money, always.
Hmmm…I’m thinking and will reply Doug. Thank you
So I have been considering that myself as well. Cannot get over the fact that republicans are idiots over the health care situation….someone poke my eye out…ahhhh.
What’s funny is in Utah….the mormon republicans aren’t necessarily rich at all…there just ignorant.
Living far far away from Utah…does give one a breather….I can’t say I’m ready to join the dems yet. Sometimes I think maybe it’ just the mormon republicans that tick me off so much. Got a son who is special needs…very expensive. Utah mormons congressmen have shredded medicaid down to nothing. Out where I live now…they realize that disabled children’s famlies need help….need to not go bankrupt paying for there kiddo’s.
So although I haven’t jumped on the dems bandwagon quite yet…could head there any minute….and I’m more than proud to say I have voted for a dem before…many many times.
Welcome to the party. It’s a nice place. Try the punch.
I kinda feel like you wrote this for me. The problem is, I don’t really fit in with either group. So I’m glad that you found what’s right for you.
Good luck!
Loralee, wow. I know how huge this was for you.
Just, wow. I understand, because the Dems don’t completely represent me, either. But they come a whole lot closer than the GOP.
It’s a nice place to live, and I can look myself in the mirror. Also? The grass is pretty green and I don’t long for the other side, at all.
Welcome. I’ll even let you use my mower to cut that grass, should it become overgrown.
T.
Oh, and Happy Birthday!!
I can only imagine how difficult it must be in your situation (where you live, jon’s strong viewpoints, in-laws, etc.). Being true to yourself is the most important thing. I’m proud of you, not for joining my adopted party, but for being you.
I left the party of my youth years ago after I had my first child (and actually gave it some thought) and haven’t regretted it one bit! I’m disappointed by politics in general but at least my ideology is being respected. Welcome to the left, where the donkey poop is smaller than the elephant’s.