I first came to

[xxqqqzme]

Democratic Underground in 2002. I was outraged over SCOTUS interfering with the Florida fiasco. DU was my link to sanity as W, rummy, cheney and rice plowed US headfirst into an Invasion of Iraq under completely false pretences. I can still see W smirking face, on the eve of invasion, warning saddam not to destroy the oil fields

As disgusted as I was then, it doesn't even come close to the abhorrence I feel for the current inept, lying, arrogant asshat occupying the White House and his party-before-country horde of enablers. I fear the damage inflicted on US will take generations to repair; those generations will pay for the blind decisions made because he can pick up a phone and bark fux conspiracies as policies or a sharpie and scribble his name on some misguided idea hatched in hannity's pea brain.

DU is my refuge, my quiet place assisting my blood pressure meds. It is comforting to know there are intelligent, compassionate, thoughtful persons supporting the good while acknowledging the work needing our attention.

Thank you for being here. And especially for being here today.

[FakeNoose]

1. Yes, DU has helped us make sense of this horrible time

[spanone]

2. K&R...👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[FailureToCommunicate]

3. Amen. And Merry Impeachmas!

[Traildogbob]

4. Feel the same

I came here after being banned from Twitter for calling out "Tami" Lauren after she praised gassing refugees on Thanksgiving a year ago. I only said she was a LampPost appendage. Yet trump remains a courteous by the rules Twitler, honored member. It was a very rewarding ban for me. I love DU. I can not say it has kept me sane during hard times like many ppl say Stephanie Miller et al does. That ship sailed in 2000. No cure. But, laughter is very good for insanity. No cure, but laughing while insane can only be good.........for all envolved. Thank you DUers!

[CaptYossarian]

5. Since the popular vote is meaningless in our version of Democracy, it's nice

for us real Americans to have a place to vent.

Thank you to whoever came up with this site.

[Paladin]

6. You and me both. (nt)

[Bettie]

7. DU is a refuge for me too

when it was down after the election, it was horrible. I felt lost without people to talk to.

And yes, today, it is great to be able to check in and see what people are saying.

[DENVERPOPS]

10. Laugh at this, you all will

Lily Allen at her very best........LOL

[Martin Eden]

8. DU has also been my refuge since 2002

I am much more alarmed by Trump and the fact that anyone in his or her right mind could possibly think this pathological liar; this malignant narcissist; this self adulating con man; this appallingly ignorant jerk; this vindictive schoolyard bully; this misogynistic sexual predator; this vile racist; this criminal with zero regard for our laws or democratic institutions; this treasonous asset of Vlad Putin -- should be President of the United States of America. If he somehow cheats his way to another term our long experiment in democracy could very well be over, to be replaced by a 21st century fascism made possible by white supremacists and Dominionists who want a strong measure of theocracy.

Donald Trump has made me more fearful for the future of our country and the world, but I have not yet reached the level of rage I felt when GW Bush exploited the national tragedy of 9/11 with a pack of lies and fearmongering to implement the predetermined neocon agenda with the war crime of invading Iraq -- costing us $trillions of dollars and thousands of lives while killing upwards of a million people "over there." This colossal strategic blunder recruited and trained the next generation of hardened terrorists, throwing the region into a horror show of bloodshed with no end in sight.

There has not been a Republican president worthy of respect since Eisenhower, but these last two will (or should) go down in history as the worst and most destructive chief executives in our nation's history. One of my means to cope with all this is to express myself in poetry. Though I prefer more pleasant topics, it's therapeutical to excoriate these villains with rhyme. I wrote the poem below when GW left office, stating what I would say to his face if I could. Hopefully I can do the same for Trump within the next 14 months, or sooner.

I'd tell you to go fuck yourself
But that is much too kind
For if you could perform that feat
You'd take pleasure in your behind

I'd like to say eat shit and die
But you deserve much more
You should suffer all the grief and pain
Of your misbegotten war

Though I can never my you feel
Or think, or understand
I'll take solace when you hear your name
Cursed throughout the land

From inside a lonely prison cell
Dark and bare and cold
Where every day you pay for your crimes
Until you're sick, heartbroken, and old

Then when you finally leave this earth
You fucked over oh so well
If there is a God and afterlife
You're going straight to hell

[Karadeniz]

9. Great poem!❤

[calimary]

12. WUNNNNNNNNNderful!

I’ve been here since 2001 and I’ve been grateful for this place of refuge and solace almost every day since.

[marble falls]

11. I'm here because it keeps me from giving up.

[BigmanPigman]

13. Pretty much everyone I have talked to about the healing

of the country agreed that it will take generations too. The damage in so many areas is enormous, some can't be repaired.

[Katinfl]

14. I first came to DU in 2016

A friend told me about this site and I have been addicted since. I check in the first thing every morning, constantly during the day and the last thing at night. It keeps me sane and I cannot tell you how much I have learned about the whole political process, people, laws, policies, etc. It truly is eye opening and I never thought I could get so involved and interested in politics.

[CaptainTruth]

15. Thank you too!!!

[lark]

16. I too found DU during those dark evil days.

I couldn't find solace anywhere, my husband just didn't understand the depths of my despair at SCOTUS stealing the presidency for shrub and neither did any of the rest of my family. I was searching all over thee internet and found my political home here. Finally, people that understood how I was feeling and many of them had similar feelilngs. Ahh, just a breath of air in my life.

Every day I am grateful for this board and the wonderful people who come here to discuss important and not so important (in the big picture ) stuff. Love to all my lefty DU sisters and brothers during these even darker times, one with an enemy who will not rest in his effort to destroy the USA for the benefit of PUtin and the worldwide oligarchs.