Hi, I don't post here much but I do like to read. Its an interesting and cantankerous community. Very committed and it seems quite at odds.

I wrote a diary here a few weeks ago called "Pollyanna". I wrote as a supporter of both candidates. I was ultimately an Obama supporter and voter but I would have been happy with either. Two good Democrats, two great choices.

I'm not sure what the rules are for photo blogs. Someone holler at me if I've done something wrong. I'll take the diary down if asked.

I went to the July 4th celebration at the city park in a small town in northern MS today. There were 2,000-3,000 people there by my estimate. A very mixed crowd. Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Orientals,  Philipinos, and probably more races and ethnic groups that I didn't see.

It was a big family event. Lots of kids, teenagers, and adults of all ages. I spoke to one older couple who said they were both in their 90's.

Politics is a strange, and often fascinating, process. People get involved with politics for any of a number of reasons. Some people view politics as a game. Others view it as a participatory sport. Some see it as a means to make a living, or in some cases, a fortune. I can understand all of those views, but I don't share them.

To me, politics is a means to an end. In my view, politics should be used to advance an agenda. When played for any other reason, such as fun, to gain power, for profit, or even as a means to pass the time, politics becomes about you. When this happens, politics ceases to be a means to an end and becomes nothing more than an ego trip.

What does all of this have to do with PUMA? It's really quite simple. The people in PUMA and like-minded groups have a purpose. You may not like their goals. I know I don't. You and I may disagree with their tactics, or their rhetoric, or even their goals, but that doesn't take away the fact that they are working towards an end result.

Troll labels (and the idea of imagining trolls lurking around every corner) are an unfortunate aspects of web-life. Obviously, there are some GOPers who try to stir up trouble on Dem sites, but I'd say the same number of GOP'ers are stirring up trouble on Democratic sites as Al Queda is stirring up trouble in Iraq. What do they say? Al Queda is 2%? 3%? The rest is domestic.

OK THAT WAS JUST A METAPHOR to say that most of whom we call concern trolls are just PEOPLE WHO DON'T AGREE WITH US, and most likely they're Democrats.

So get a grip.

Golden Truths.

1. Barack isn't perfect. He's a good sincere guy but also a total politician (as good as Bill, if not better) who used "new politics" to get himself nominated and is now doing what he politically needs to do to win.

2. Barack, not being perfect, may give us 60% of health care, 60% of out of Iraq, etc. But that's better than McCain's 0%.

3. The term "politically correct" originated from Mao's Red Book, and was adopted by the left. It's meant to eliminate those who disagree and is totally lame.

NOW: Disagree with me. I WON'T call you a troll. I promise.

Ever since Hillary endorsed Barack on June 7th, much has been made on this site and others about the newfound unity among Democrats to combat John McCain and the Republicans. Yet, according to a new CNN poll (pdf), it appears that in the month since existing the race, Hillary has actually garnered more among Democrats as a whole than she had before she left. The numbers among Hillary supporters are even more stark. Last month, 60% of Hillary supporters said they would back Obama if he was the nominee. Now that number has dropped to 54%. At the same time, the Hillary supporters who say they won't vote for either Barack Obama or John McCain has gone from 22% to 32%. This poll may explain why Obama has yet to establish more than a 5% lead over McCain, even though the generic Democrat beats the generic Republican by 20%.

If Hillary Clinton were still running for president, who would you rather see the Democratic party
choose as its nominee?

   * Barack Obama 54% (59%)
    * Hillary Clinton 43% (35%)

(Among Hillary Clinton supporters) Now that Barack Obama is the presumptive Democratic nominee, who is your choice for president?

   * Barack Obama 54% (60%)
    * John McCain 10% (17%)
    * Would Not Vote 32% (22%)

Survey of 431 registered Democrats was conducted June 26-29. Results from the poll conducted June 4-5 are in parentheses.

As Senator Obama continues to moderate his positions on many issues:

Today's installment is the declaration that "mental health" issues should not be used in the "health exceptions" to late-term abortions.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires 20080703/obama-abortion/http://www.huff ingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20080703/obama -abortion

BTW:  This is a rare example where I have disagreed with Obama's move to the center.   Also, with the talk yesterday about the war and maybe curtailing his withdrawal strategy, the Senator may want to take a break from this strategy for awhile.

But anyway,...

I realize Senator Obama is no where near the line, but
I got to thinking, at what point am I or anyone no longer a Democrat to the extreme ideologues here at mydd?
---------------------
Here's my list of important issues and what people generally consider them to represent on the political spectrum:

1.  abortion rights:      far left
 I support without qualification

2.  gun control:          far left
 I support strict gun licensing, registration and ability of govts to enact strict gun control where it makes sense.  Sometimes the overall safety of the community can be improved with gun control bans even though it harms an individual's personal right to protect themselves in particular situations.

3.  death penalty:        moderate right
Against it in the current system where the justice system is clearly broken, and not fair.   But would support a well-defined system that worked both in terms of correct id and quick resolutions.

4.   education:    extreme right wing
totally against our centrally planned public school systems and favor numerous choices including vouchers, charter schools, home schools, church schools, and ensuring parents control as much as possible rather than a govt. board

5.   trade:   moderate left wing
Support fair trade that includes labor and environmental standards that seek to raise the standards, spread the prosperity and prevent a race downward even though this would raise prices and lower our projected standard of living.

6.  tort reform:  moderate right wing
Support reform that protects companies and individuals who are making a good-faith effort at their jobs from being sued when something goes wrong. So for instance, if a doctor does everything they can, yet something happens to the patient, the standard to sue should be whether they knowingly did something wrong.  This goes also for medicines that wind up having bad side effects.  As long as there wasn't any fraud or deception, there shouldn't be any lawsuits.

7.  taxes:      

I think taxes should be kept as low as possible and replaced with more progressive ways to collect revenue that is needed. We can use auctions, lotteries, and other ways that involve people volunteering their funds rather than forcing them to pay.  For instance, the Super Bowl sells out every year, the govt. could auction off special tickets and use that money for tax revenue.

I reject the notion that people who make more money should pay a higher percentage of taxes.  The key should be everyone shouldering the benefits they receive from society.

8.   gay rights:  extreme right wing

I'm in support of traditional moral values, and believe we as a society need to promote strong healthy normal marriage, strong role models and a civil society on t.v., and good values throughout society.

I am in general against the gay rights lobby except when they talk about protecting people from violence and discrimination in the workplace.  They are right in those cases.

9.   social security:    right wing

I support every American have a personal account that can be passed on to the next generation.  It should include a guaranteed part that is used for the individual and than passed on to the next generation, and a part that can be invested in numerous legitimate vehicles.

I believe social security should continue to be mandatory, but updated to fit a more modern world.

10.  foreign policy:   moderate left

I believe in having a big military budget that helps us maintain the strongest military on earth.  We should use it to promote good around the world, but mainly to find adversaries before they find us.  We need to be realistic about what we get into in terms of the longer term implications of what we do.  I supported Afganistan, against Iraq, against Iran.  All, based on what was/is in our best interests.

My point is there are a few issues that seem to be litmus test:

pro choice
gay rights
against vouchers

while others aren't

gun control
faith based policies
supporting a strong military
death penality

I think both parties need to included honest people who generally agree with them.  Since neither side has a coherent philosophy, I don't see how more people here and elsewhere aren't constantly challenge our party leaders.  

Our failure to do so harms us all as a nation and I hope we start taking inventory of our positions and advocating for them regardless of who we take on as allies on a particular issue.

I am a proud democrat who is fighting for change in my party.

Typical of most Americans and most people in modern society, we shorten the descriptive title and the meaning of important events and important days to remember.

I believe that we all refer to Independence Day as the 4th of July. In doing so, I believe we loose the real meaning of this day.

Thom Hartmann did a wonderful show the other day, where he dedicated the last hour of that show to the true meaning of what the 4th of July or Independence Day really stands for.

This is what July 4th, this Nation, the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution are all about.
Thom Hartmann hour 3 - 7/1/08 - KPOJ
The first half hour is split between his reading of the Declaration of Independence (in typical Thom style) and passages from his book "What Would Jefferson Do".

It should draw a tear from you as it did many of the callers (last half hour) and myself.

more below...