For the First Time, I'll be Registering as a Democrat - for Bernie Sanders

I've never been a political party member, and that means that in most states, I can't vote in the primary. I've been toying with the idea of registering as a Democrat ( ), so I can vote in the Democratic primary this year, but I've waffled back and forth.

Seeing this 15 minute interview finally firmed up my decision. I have the forms all printed and ready to go.

If you're at all curious about Bernie Sanders, this interview is a must-see!

"There is a difference now, I have to say, between presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton," said Maddow into the camera, having interviewed Clinton on Friday.

"Even though there is no issue now, no difference now, between them in terms of what policies they support now, there is a difference between them as candidates," she said, "as to whether or not President Bill Clinton signing that antigay law, whether that was an antigay and lamentable mistake that never should have happened, or whether — as Secretary Clinton argued here on Friday night — it was actually a well meaning effort, a well meaning effort to head off a greater harm that would have been done had President Bill Clinton not signed that discriminatory bill."

Rachel Maddow Interviews Bernie Sanders

Last election cycle i was a big fan of ron paul, now i am a fan of sanders, they both seem like honest men.

Heres hoping he wins over hillary.

Well its not like there's a lot of choice looking at the other candidates either side....

a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

I hadn't been a registered Democrat since the early 90s until a few years ago.

Despite what some may believe, I'm not that interested in party politics. I really do know that neither of the "political machines" in this country are truly out for anything other than their own advancement and power. However, in this country, we are often given a choice between being fed crap and being fed crap laced with broken glass.

I have great hopes for Mr. Sanders, although, I fear his main success will be in forcing Mrs. Clinton to come back toward the left (or center) on some issues, as I've always seen her as more than a little right-wing.

a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

I'll repeat what I said in the other thread here since it belongs here more.

I'm not sure I'm at THAT point yet, but I imagine that I may end up doing that too if the Republicans continue to carry on like they are doing. I really don't like Hillary either. I didn't like her in 2008 and I can't find a reason to like her now. Heck I stopped being a fan of her when she moved out of the White House to New York state during her husband's Presidency all so that she can be eligible to run as a New York Senator as soon as Bill left office. The struck me as a VERY shady tactic to gain power at any cost.

The idea of registering as a Democrat or a Republican is disgusting to me...

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
The idea of registering as a Democrat or a Republican is disgusting to me...

It is to me, too. I get a little physically ill at the thought. I've never felt it was important, as there was never anyone I wanted to vote FOR. This time it's different. I still hate the idea of playing the game, and will become "unaffiliated" as soon as possible, but I feel I need to vote in the primary and support Bernie as much as I can. If he lost the primary, I'd feel like crap. This is no time to rest on my laurels.

I wish you luck... out of the establishment candidates yea he seems like the best bet... but he is still part of the problem in my eyes.

Ill vote third party once again, and continue pushing folks to look at their stances in hopes of the VPOA garners enough votes to achieve third party status.

a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

What will you do if Hillary wins the nomination?

originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

What will you do if Hillary wins the nomination?

I know what I would do....move to Canada

originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

What will you do if Hillary wins the nomination?

I can't speak for BH, but I'd do the same thing I do every other time a candidate I don't like gets elected. Go on with my life.

a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

What you said is likely the only reason that I would do it. Though I DO prefer Hillary over most of the Republican candidates. As distasteful as I find her, I find the Republican candidates to be even worse. So if Bernie ultimately didn't get the nomination, I wouldn't consider it the end of the world. I'd just tune out the rest of the election like I did in 08.

a reply to: Krazysh0t

Hillary = no ground glass.

Still plenty of metaphorical poop to go around.

I'm actually hoping against Hillary ... as her election guarantees another 4-8 years of gridlock and constant internecine conflicts.

a reply to: Gryphon66

I'd rather gridlock than let some of the Republicans' running for office get their way on things they want, like defunding Planned Parenthood or cracking down on the legal pot market. If Republican rhetoric wasn't so damn terrifying these days then maybe I'd be more open to other possibilities.

I don't WANT Hillary to win. I want Bernie to win, but he is still in a distant second place in the polls. Plus the way that the media swoons over Hillary, it is likely that she will end up winning the nomination despite grassroots polling for Bernie.

I was a lifelong Independent voter as well.
When I moved to where I am now in PA, I registered as a Republican to vote against a local politician in a primary. Hell, I usually ignore the national elections since they seem to be in the bag for one candidate or another and just make sure my local community and school board candidates get my vote.

Now I need to register as a Dem for Sanders. Thanks for reminding me to fill out the paperwork, BH.

originally posted by: nwtrucker
a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

What will you do if Hillary wins the nomination?

I'll decide then. My guess is that I'll either write-in Bernie (if there is a movement to do so) or vote for Hillary.

As much as I don't want Hillary to win, it would be a matter of the lesser of two evils. And I would prefer 4-8 more years of the same (gridlock with the occasional progressive law getting through) to 4-8 years of anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-personal freedom, anti-immigrant, anti-poor, theocratic-like legislation, which is what we are promised if we have a GOP president. So, as much as it would pain me, I would probably vote AGAINST the GOP, instead of FOR someone.

I prefer to eat crap without the broken glass shards.

I also would have never in the past registered for either political party but this year I've gotta support Bernie, he is the ONLY one that is trying to get us out of this corporate controlled BS we are in now.

I was a Republican until they became insane.

I'm now registered "unaffiliated". I will never be a Democrat.

I would love to live in "Bernie's World" - - - just don't think the timing is right that we can get any where close to it at this time.

It's "Fire vs Fire" at the top. Yes, I will be voting against the GOP.

a reply to: Annee

I'm pretty sure that the who ever the Democratic nominee will end up being will get a LOT of support from people just like you (and me) who are voting against the Republicans more than voting for a Democratic candidate.

a reply to: Benevolent Heretic

It's not like your donating a kidney -- you can swap parties pretty much at will here in America. Think of it more like a haircut, it'll grow back...

If you have to do it to vote in a primary, do it just for that and then switch to undeclared or independent after you vote in the primary! It's not like having a party affiliation means you are obligated to donate money and show up at rallies and buy into all the policies!

Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to make sure the best people make it through to the general election.

EDIT: Here we can go onto our state's website and change our party affiliation at any time. There are, of course, deadlines for when you have to do it by in order to be eligible for things like the primary -- but it's easy-peasy to do and only takes about 40 seconds or so!

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: Annee

I'm pretty sure that the who ever the Democratic nominee will end up being will get a LOT of support from people just like you (and me) who are voting against the Republicans more than voting for a Democratic candidate.

I do want change. Just to make that clear.

But, we are fighting a religious war against fundamentalists. We shouldn't be. Its something that should never have happened. Why are we fighting for a Secular government of Rights of Choice? We should already have that. Its crazy and wrong.

The "government of the people" needs an IQ test if they want to make political decisions instead of personal emotional ones.