I started to write here in the summer of 2007 during the contentious Democratic primary that was hard fought and quite bitter for many. I was drawn back into politics because the 8 years of Bush had gotten me so disillusioned and angry I was ready to fight. And fight with more than a vote since 2000 proved that hadn't mattered much anyway.
2000 had been a soul withering year for me politically. Clinton was the first President I voted for, the first President I campaigned for and, incidentally, the first President I met, but he was Governor Clinton the and it 1991, during the Democratic primaries and I was half the age I am now, just 20 and a Democrat in arguably Republican central, Orange County California. There were just two volunteers the day Clinton spoke in Irvine, that's why we got to meet the Governor.
But just 9 years later, from the high of vein involve, being engaged, I saw the opposite occur, I saw the ultimate betrayal of our Democracy, the disenfranchisement of millions of voters by the Supreme Court decision to halt the recounting of ballots in Florida. When the decision wasn't challenged, I was angry.
In 2004 when Kerry ran and he was given what we now call a "swift boating", I was more disillusioned, I felt my party had forgotten how to fight back. And then more voter fraud in Ohio, more complacency and the media, where was the media?
So through all of this I found myself struggling with a lot of issues, I came to Daily Kos to work on way too much. And I started to write. And people took notice.
But what came with the new found voice and conviction was a new community, I was amount people who understood my frustration! I found people who also like my funny cat photo with the captions :) (Yes, I am one of those, I have Edwards Pooties and please, I know, I know you told me so, drop it). But I had found a political home away from home and so I got off the computer and got involved locally.
And in 2008 I asked my husband to run for California State Senate so there would be "D" on the ballot (why I couldn't run? I had become so angry at Dems for losing in 2004 I registered as declined to state, no party affiliation at all, so there was no way I could run).
I reregistered as a Dem and I helped Gary run. We learned a lot and I kept writing, working and during all of this I struggled with health issues. And Daily Kos was there for me too. I found an amazing community of friends who understood what it meant to be ill and not know what was wrong. and when I was diagnosed, they were there for me too!
And I was laid off too, and this community was here for me.
Every big up and down.
It was difficult too when I took a break, Gary ran again for office and won this time. He is now on a local school board, one of the biggest in California and the highest performing large district in the State. Last night he was voted to be Board President and is running again next year. It will not be easy, he's been accused of a lot and the fact that he has supported progressive ideals in the past were used against him. They were used in a nasty sort of way, from he wants to teach our kids about being gay to he supports late term abortions, is this the kind of person you want on your school board?
We got their attack piece at home with the unflattering photo and the words "extreme liberal" under his photo and our daughter sensed the animosity enough to ask why people hated Daddy. I cannot imagine what happens to families who run Congressional Campaigns, especially ones that are high profile.
But through everything I have aways had a community to come too and people to not only help me, but a means with which I could reach out and help others.
This is a powerful place, even for people who are not members. In 2008 I helped a stranger and in doing so made some friends.
Abe: The Miracle Cat survived the Wildfires but his Parents Lost Everything
In 2009, I asked for help for a complete stranger:
Don't Let Lee Popa be another Statistic - Lets Save his Life
I learned that even if you do not make the rec list here, it does not matter, this diary still made a difference for Lee and he is alive today and we are friends now on Facebook. Earlier this year, on the 1 year anniversary of his liver transplant, he told me that he was alive today because of that diary. UCLA uses the diary as an example of how social networking, blogging and the internet can make a difference in a person's outcome.
This place has meaning.
I have other examples.
This is about politics, but as I have shown in my own life and my diaries, the personal is political and you cannot have that without a diversity of voices, from age to gender, from economic backgrounds to geographical ones. You need people who can gather from every corner of the world, whether the be newly American, visiting, ex-pats or outsiders looking in at our crazy political system with a fresh perspective. Community means everyone including those who do not agree with us (respectfully of course).
I became a monthly subscriber this year when I decided to put my money where my voice is and since the tiny netbook I was using was taking forever to load, the help I got without the ads was amazing.
Daily Kos has allowed me to do much. From finding my voice, to helping get a Democrat on a school board in a very red South Orange County. And he is doing well, we hear the Tea Party hates him. Reasonable, moderate Republicans could care less what party he belongs to since it is a non-partisan seat! I went to NN10 on DFA Scholarship!
I have been asked by some local elected Dems when will I run for office? Usually I explain why I cannot after I stop giggling. But I am flattered.
So, the facts:
W
hat subscribers will get:
* An ad-free experience of the site. Faster loading, no annoying
ads. Ideal for a friend on dial-up.
* Three download e-books will be rolled out this month. Both giver
and receiver of subscriptions will have access to these e-books.
* Unlimited access to upcoming photo organizer -- allowing diarists
to upload photos onto Daily Kos itself, as well as have access to
the Daily Kos editorial team's news photo library. Expected launch
by first quarter 2012.
Lifetime Subscription:
* Will stop selling lifetime subscriptions on December 31, 2011.
* The cost is $100.
* https:/www.dailykos.com/subscribe
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Annual Subscription:
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Monthly Subscription:
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* Existing monthly subscriptions will be maintained for the time
being.
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And to end on something fun, some original pooties and some of my other favorite animals :)
A special thanks to all who have given away anonymous subscriptions, you have demonstrated the true meaning of this community through a purely unselfish act by giving people access to their life line, their voice and their family of friends. No one really can ask for more around the Holidays.