I'm Eric, 26, from a suburb of Seattle, WA. I've visited dkos occasionally in the past, but the DNC helped me decide to actually join. I was looking for a place to discuss politics with like-minded people. I just got so amped up by Obama's address.
I would describe myself as a true-blue democrat who isn't afraid to vote for a republican. It doesn't happen very often, lol... but that's besides the point. I voted for our state's republican attorney general Rob McKenna. That's my crossing-party-lines claim to fame.
Keith Olbermann is a hero of mine, because he lets his views be known, but he also reports with integrity. He doesn't need to make things up or lie to support his views (like Bill Orly and the repugnant Hannity). I think KO is the closest thing we have to Edward R. Murrow in this age. So thank you, Keith... from a long time viewer and forever a fan.
I don't want to ramble in my first Intro, so my story continues after the fold!
At 18, my first presidential vote was in 2000, I voted for Al Gore. At the time, I called Dick Cheney a warmonger to my conservative friend, and I predicted "political diarrhea... a lot of runny s**t coming out of Washington" after the repubs took control of all the branches of government. I feel vindicated after the last 8 years... small consolation, I know.
In '04, my mom liked Howard Dean, and my uncle liked Wes Clark. I picked Kerry before Iowa and it's a small point of pride for me that my "primary picks" end up being the nominees (I liked Obama '08 after his keynote speech at the '04 DNC :P)
After watching Kerry get swift-boated, and the republican smear machine take down another smart man (who may have minced words a bit too much, but so what?), and witnessing a second possibly-stolen election, it's safe to say I'm a bit disillusioned by the system and the low-information electorate as a whole.
So yeah... my two presidential votes have been losers, and probably stolen. Disillusioned would be a good way to describe me. Older dems can at least say they voted for a winner in Bill Clinton. I don't have that. I need Obama to win! Watching the inexplicable McCain bump in the polls after being transparently calculating and disingenuous with his VP pick and his campaign in general, that disillusioned feeling is creeping back in.
This election is so important. Barack Obama is a once-in-a-lifetime candidate. He reminds me a lot of Jack and Bobby Kennedy. A genuine, intelligent, caring person who only wishes to do good for us. A real chance for change and integrity in Washington. The country desperately needs him.
It sickens me that the right casually tries to disparage him... like it's just some kind of game. I can understand if someone on the right disagrees with his views, I respect that. But the political hacks who disparage his accomplishments and his qualifications, and blatantly lie about his plans, are despicable.
What's worse is that despite our best efforts to convince them otherwise, the infamous "low-information" bloc continues to eat up the repubs' slop like candy. What's wrong? This is insanity!
I'm keeping the faith though. All this Palin nonsense is a distraction (And I say that as someone who got pulled in by it for a time). Once the campaign can get back to the ISSUES, OBAMA's promise, and MCCAIN's failings, I'm confident Obama's lead will only grow larger.
That's what we've got to concentrate on. We've kind of lost our way since the DNC. Don't let McCain distract you with Palin. Let's get back to the issues, because that's what McCain's real problem is... and that's what Obama's true strength is. So what if Palin is a firecracker? McCain wants to tax our healthcare! Obama's campaign has lasted for months, but low-info people still don't know that Obama will cut their taxes! That's not acceptable!
So hello! It's good to be here! Let's get out there and get Obama into office! The right man for the job! I fear for our country otherwise.