I’m a Democrat who strongly supports Israel, is a huge gun rights advocate, believes in free trade, supports Ukraine, is very pro-immigrant, opposes Trump’s cruel deportations, is a free speech absolutist, embraces the LGBTQ community, and believes in balanced budgets.
I support Israel when it acts against aggressive neighbors seeking to destroy it, but do not support continued Israeli settlement in Palestinian territory. The latter makes it harder for proponents of the former.
We are a big tent party. We don't have to agree on everything. But we all believe in the Constitution, democracy, and the rule of law.
Exactly.
You sound like you fit in quite well in your newly chosen party. Welcome. Back when I lived in Utah I joined the 'pubs because that was the only way I could make a difference...
Please define huge gun rights advocate Frmr moderate Rep Left when FelonRapist Named 2016 nominee Agree w/your other stances There is no more Rep party Only Mega MAGA moronic monsters Scared into submission Greedy faux religious Antisemitic pro Israel poseurs Autocratic puppeteers Dupes
Why on earth would you “strongly support Israel”? I agree with you on everything else.
They'll call you a Marxist
I'm an independent who doesn't give a fuck about Israel.
Do you support Netanyahu as Israel’s leader? He is as bad as Putin!!
I’m a democrat and we can disagree on a host of issues extra commitment to the constitution
Israel's border crossings are war crimes.
All sounds good. I'd have to know where you draw the mine on gun rights though.
Then form your own party. No party exists for you today.
Me too. #sanity #truth
How do you feel about the right to choose? Would you support federal legislation make it legal & safe through 20 weeks gestation?
WHY TF DO YOU SUPPORT ISRAEL? Doesn’t match with ANY of the other stuff you support.
Israel is literally committing genocide. . . AND at this very moment lying to drag the US into war 🤔
Netanyahu is, yes. He’s Loco.
Then teach us a masterclass on how to defeat that which you helped create!
You are wrong about many things. Dems I agree with more act like THESE ARE JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES! I will use my voice and body to dissent, march, knock on doors, disobey and risk arrest. You have🔥, I am glad to have you on our side. Lets get this done, and argue later!
Those first two lines are why I'm leaving!
Where do you stand on a womans right to choose?
But do you like pineapple on pizza?
Seems reasonable to me….
. ". . . is a huge gun rights advocate . . . " 👎
Then you're not in the Democrat tent.
Thank you for putting this list of your beliefs out there … I know from reading your posts you were a Repub at one time. Glad you’ve come over to the Dems.
Joe you are making progress as a sensible human with the exception of guns. Im not against gun ownership but sensible humans don’t need Military style guns EVER
Keep stretching the tent, buddy!
Unfortunately that sort of balanced approach doesn’t go far in today’s political arena. It’s a shame, really
Joe, I agree mostly but we need reasonable gun laws, equitable wages and we need to rethink our resistance to Universal Healthcare. The EU is proving that our system is broken. Life expectancy is declining, quality of life is declining and corporations want us to believe they hung the moon!
Same!
Hey weirdo, welcome to the tribe! Thanks for standing with us to protect our democracy! Got any other scrappers you can bring with you?
In other words, you are one of the majority that no one seems to represent.
Why do you support Israel? I don’t understand that.
If you cannot bear to point out when Israel is a) lying and b) committing war crimes, you should stay the hell out of public policy.
Netanyahu certainly is. A lot Israelis oppose him.
Progress. All I want is progress. In science, medicine, healthcare, human rights, relations and all facets of democratic government. I want all religions recognized and respected, but none of them even remotely involved in governing or lawmaking. We’re in the stone age led by very old and religious.
We’re happy to have you!!
And if you’re against the left-wing trans issue you might get my vote.
You’ve got a head start just by standing for something
For sure. Instead of maga who waits for their cult leader to say something and then say what they stand for — whatever the idiot says.
Most democrats can’t articulate a clear message in this chaos either.
Covfefe
Trying to trust you. Not seeing or hearing you much outside of Bluesky tho.
Right?! Something’s he posts hit a little wrong for me.
Welcome, Joe! I’d rather have you standing in the tent pissing out then standing outside pissing in!
And egg prices?! I’m a one issue voter.
I disagree with you to degrees on some of those policies/philosophies, but Dems are the big tent party despite what you often see on Bluesky. As long as you support the constitution in good-faith, you should be welcomed.
And this type of gullibility is how MAGAts were able to infiltrate our government, our military AND our law enforcement for years. We need to be wary of individuals espousing their sudden epiphany of morality, especially making that HUGE leap from Tea Party to Democrat without a pause in between.
This is absolute nonsense, and it’s why I specifically mentioned Bluesky folks EXACTLY like you.
Folks like me? What kind of "folk" am I? The kind who doesn't fall for bullshit? The kind who thinks for themselves? The kind who doesn't blindly follow along like a cultist? The kind who closely monitors those who attempt to fool the less intelligent? Then yes. Yes I AM one of those "folks", Matt.
bsky.app/profile/soft...
I love how the NRA and gun right advocates are silent about Americans defending themselves when being kidnapped by masked men with no ID. If they do not ID themselves, we as Americas have the right to defend ourselves
That's what I'm saying. If ICE comes to your home WITHOUT identification wearing masks, then we as Americans have a right to protect ourselves
Can’t lie, Joe, as a Gen X, this is a weird place to be with you. That being said, LFG. 👊✊
fwiw, I'm a lifelong Democrat slowly moving to the center who moderately supports Israel, wishes we banned guns but that ship has sailed,supports Ukraine, immigration, LGBTQ community and believes if we want balanced budgets we need equal sacrifice with spending cuts and tax hikes...
I think at this point I am more anti-republican than pro-democrat. Feel a bit like a political orphan. Seems like there is opportunity to push MAGA as an extreme, independent party and for the Republican Party to rebrand away from MAGA but I don’t see the leadership or courage to make that happen.
Or want to.
I lost you at huge gun rights advocate. I personally don’t care if people own guns EXCEPT nobody should own AKs or AR15s or silencers and EVERYBODY should go through background checks and have a 2 week waiting period to buy a gun. I’m with you on everything else.
Honestly, I used to be big "sensible gun reform" but now, fuck it. Just take all the guns I'm tired of kids dying. I'm tired of my kids going on lockdown and learning how to hide from a gunman in fucking preschool
Exactly. It's about the kids!
This
I’m with you on like 75% of the things, and you know what? That’s all we need - perhaps more than we need - to work together in this moment to save our country from fascism.
Sounds more libertarian, but the labels are dumb anyway
Are they? 🤔
I'm good with gun rights similar to motor vehicle licensing and insurance. Prove you're trained and responsible and have at it. Act outside of these laws? Instant felon.
You are a moderate Independent. It is very very lonely here believe me.
It is possible to recognise that Israel is committing genocide without being antisemitic. It was appalling when Jews were submitted to atrocities last century. Why are atrocities now being excused when they are committed by Israel?
And your view on the situation in Gaza?
First ….you’re a what ?
He’s newly dem, with some views that clash with liberal values. But he discusses things. This is good.
IDC
IC
As a cradle Dem, I’m good with this. However, would like to hear a more about what it means to be a huge gun rights advocate. While I deplore guns, the Constitution gives the right to own them. But serious reforms are needed and if anyone doubts that, then they aren’t a Democrat.
You forgot to mention that you think "both sides" is a viable issue. Something about your "transformation" directly from Tea Party to Democrat doesn't smell right...
What's the reason for your support of Israel? Do you have the same level of support for any other Middle Eastern country?
You know damn well what he means. It’s your beef that needs justification.
I’ll vote for you if you run for national office, Joe.
“Gun Rights”
My brother is in Israel. He said it takes almost three years to be approved for a gun. I wish that was the case here! Training and interviews w/doctors. In addition, years ago, soldiers weren't allowed to take their guns home on the weekend. They found this reduced suicides dramatically.
I am so hoping we can return to a time when we debate policy issues like these and it’s a given everyone in the debate supports the Constitution and separation of powers. Thanks for your voice in this fight for democracy.
Joe I left the GOP in 1988
Fair enough
Well said, people need to be able to agree to disagree again. Reasonable people is what this country needs again.
Yes to all of that!
Me too
How about abortion?
I’m with you about 70%.
A breed known as a 90s compassionate conservative. The once-flourishing species was extinct by a disease known as Trumpism that ravaged the GOP.
You israel freaks are gonna support Israel no matter how many people it kills, aren’t you?
Even if I dont agree with all of what you stand for, I 100% support your right to such positions. Coalition building means finding common ground with others in the march towards progress. We can persuade each other in our disagreements or agree to disagree, but we move forward just the same!!
"Supports Israel" is no longer a meaningful term in my view. 'Supporters' strongly disagree - with each other. They range from fanatics who want a Greater Israel created by extreme violence to those who want Israel to exist peacefully as it is.
LFG! How bout getting unlimited $ out of campaigns and lobbying/pork barreling out of lawmaking? Let’s loudly base this newer Democrat party, or whatever party we are, on fixing the root causes- outside $ in politics and the presidential electoral college.
Weird…me too.
I agree with you on some of those things and disagree on others -- and am glad to have you in the party!
Fine. A big tent is needed to extricate ourselves from the current threat to democracy.
Agreed
I strongly support the deaths of tens of thousands of women and children so the messiah will return! I strongly support the ability to kill a hundred school children in five minutes… while using silencers and automatic weapons. Other than that, I welcome you to the Democratic Party!
👏👏👏👏👏 thank you. It’s OUTRAGEOUS