Love this site... but I feel like the only liberal. True?

I love this site (as I've said above.) The community is wonderful, helpful, concerned, and generally just great, and I find the tools are super helpful. I've learned so much about eating right and being healthy here.

But.. I feel a bit like the only left-leaning cc'er. My suspicions began when, in a thread where an unexpectedly pregnant cc'er was asking the do-I-or-do-I-not have an abortion question, and then all of the these folks chimed in with how wrong it is, and just how much she will regret it forever. I was aghast that all these folks who have always been so supportive on other topics could be so judgemental on another. Then came someone who was terrified to mention that she had gained weight after quitting drugs - again, someone who sensed that the community here would not be receptive to someone who had used cocaine, and was upset about the resulting weight gain that is common (and depressing) among recovering addicts. Then today I see this huge thread about how it's super great that McCain picked a very young, very socially conservative running mate, because wouldn't it be awesome if she ended up as prez? Yes, I would love it if another socially conservative candidate were elected to the highest office in the land. It's gone so well these past eight years (please note the sarcasm.)

So, anyways, just a rant. Feeling a little bleak here.

 EDIT: I'm getting some feedback about being judgemental.. that was not my intention. The reason I rarely speak up about my political leanings is because I hate the bitter division, and senseless arguing that seems to ensue. I had just been feeling that any sort of leftie-ness 'round these parts got flamed real fast, and felt sad that the same sorts of division often occurs among the wonderful cc community. I can't say that I've ever encountered a cc'er I didn't like. You guys are all great! Just wanted to remind us all to be open minded - to both sides of the fence

No, "this country" really refers to living in a Western nation.  He's commenting on the fact that people can disagree on issues without fear of incarceration or death in "this country."

Americans assume they are always talking to other Americans.

I AM A LIBERAL TOO!

Anyone else think Nived should shut his mouth before the us angry liberals get to him?

Okay, I've been reading along and someone got really up set with Dave saying their family and friends didn't have a choice about going overseas.  Of course they did! they made their choice when they signed up for the service. Who joins the army,navy, airforce or marines and thinks they are going to spend their entire enlistment  doing nothing but visiting bases around the world. As a service member you pledge to defend this nations and the president like it or not is our leader.  I was in the army for 10 yrs. my hub for 21 yrs. my sister for 5 and my father in the airforce for 35 yrs and my son just got out out after 10yrs.  I can easily count how many years my husband I were separated for trips to these God forsaken countries. The point is people sign up for the service, they are not drafted like my father was or uncles they want to protect this country and most soldiers would tell you not to pull them out of Iraq now when we have come this far - finish the job this time.    We are on our 5th tours here at Ft. Campbell ky.  Our soldier and families don't complain as much as our cilivian counter parts but we'll protect your right to complain.  pray for our troops and their families and our nation.

Dave said, "If it was so bad, and all was going wrong, these brave men and women would not be going back for 1-2-3-4 tours."

1.  Going on a tour of duty IS involuntary.  Yeah, I understand that once someone signs up they should be prepared for it, but Dave made it sound like people choose to go out on multiple tours.  That's not the case.

2.  If the war conflict was going so well it all these brave men and women would be home by now.  When was "Mission Accomplished?"  It's been awhile.

3.  Troops' contracts are being involuntarily extended (stop-loss).  That’s 100% involuntary.

nope - no shortage of liberals here ;)

just scanning through the thread, i noticed that the names i recognized (and the OP was not one) are the people who spend a lot of time in the lounge.  i think the lounge is dominated by (smart) liberals, and many of the conservatives who venture in there run away pretty quickly to seek refuge in forums where it's cool to try to tell people they're not allowed to have abortions.

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

When was "Mission Accomplished?"  It's been awhile.

Total American dead in the Iraq Illegal Occupation:  4150

Number of days since "Mission Accomplished": 1947

Total coalition forces dead: 314

Total Iraqi Dead: 700,000

Number of days since the illegal occupation of Iraq began: 1990

Number of days between Pearl Harbor and the end of WWII: Only 1347

I is a libberel.

You are right pgeorgian, back  to my safe area. This just gets senseless. But I dont' care if anyone gets an abortion - their choice not mine. Enjoy the election year all.

Original Post by pgeorgian:

nope - no shortage of liberals here ;)

just scanning through the thread, i noticed that the names i recognized (and the OP was not one) are the people who spend a lot of time in the lounge.  i think the lounge is dominated by (smart) liberals, and many of the conservatives who venture in there run away pretty quickly to seek refuge in forums where it's cool to try to tell people they're not allowed to have abortions.

pg... come on now, you know as well as I that there are only a handful of smart people in the lounge and the rest are nodding heads.

I consider myself conservative though I must admit the modern conservative social issues hold no interest for me.

i did say "dominated by", ig.  i know when i'm being pandered to ;)

Speaking as someone who DOES know some troops who have been on a few tours in Iraq and troops who are currently over there, I can assure you that not a single one of them voluntarily went over there or are happy to be there. You know, I get the fact that they did enlist and signed on for the possibility of this, but to make it sound like they are gung ho about it is insane.

Now, what I have seen is one friend who has already been there twice and is set to go back a third time and he is looking for any way out possible. It has effected his life, mind, family, and soul in such negative ways.

The troops I know want to lie, do ANYTHING to get out of going again. Even be dishonorably discharged just to get out of going back! I have a friend who is now on the run because it messed him up SO bad over there. Say what you will about that, but these are all good people and they have been broken by this BS.

Original Post by michellerc:

Speaking as someone who DOES know some troops who have been on a few tours in Iraq and troops who are currently over there, I can assure you that not a single one of them voluntarily went over there or are happy to be there. You know, I get the fact that they did enlist and signed on for the possibility of this, but to make it sound like they are gung ho about it is insane.

Now, what I have seen is one friend who has already been there twice and is set to go back a third time and he is looking for any way out possible. It has effected his life, mind, family, and soul in such negative ways.

The troops I know want to lie, do ANYTHING to get out of going again. Even be dishonorably discharged just to get out of going back! I have a friend who is now on the run because it messed him up SO bad over there. Say what you will about that, but these are all good people and they have been broken by this BS.

 And then there's the question of whether the entire thing was necessary or not but don't get me going. ;)

I'm pretty liberal. I wasn't pushing the post over or anything but the last eight years have inspired me.

 I'm a RED and I aint under da bed!

Progressive politics in the western nations have taken a real battering in recent years. With the gains made by working class people, woman, blacks, and Gays, coming under attack by a resurgent right, cloaking themselves in the garb of religious certainty.  Still the tide is turning, and good people are not going to allow their hard won rights be taken off them. I believe most people are left leaning and have a sense of fairness and social justice, it's just that many issues can be complex and confusing and the right knows how to exploit this. Sooner or later they are exposed however, and then people can see they've been sold a pup!

Original Post by moonikins:

I've been accused of leaning so far to the left that the post fell down.

 

Oh, yea mooni?  The post ran and hid when it saw me coming!

I think there are two kinds of ppl: those who are afraid of death and those who aren't.  Those two mindsets are expressed clearly in those who vote Republican and those who do not.  And please, don't even ask which correlates to which.  Thanks. 

Seriously, Mel? I find the site to be comfortably liberal.  I'm amongst my kind, here. I think the conservatives you hear from are a vocal minority, and/or I'm not reading the threads that they're on.

Power to the People!

Original Post by pgeorgian:

nope - no shortage of liberals here ;)

just scanning through the thread, i noticed that the names i recognized (and the OP was not one) are the people who spend a lot of time in the lounge.  i think the lounge is dominated by (smart) liberals, and many of the conservatives who venture in there run away pretty quickly to seek refuge in forums where it's cool to try to tell people they're not allowed to have abortions.

LOL!

I'm liberal (and yes, of course, very smart--but isn't that redundant?)

Original Post by freedomfrom:

I'm one of those Old School Republicans.

Do you mean Lincoln era Old School Republican?  That would make you  liberal! :)

I actually haven't seen much politics on this site but I guess the forums I've visited weren't left open for politics. 

I'm a Independent of no party affiliation.  I have both Conservative and Liberal views so it does frustrates me when I see people blindly supporting their "team", so to speak.  It's like Dallas Cowboys versus the Washington Redskins. :)  Life is not so black and white. :(

I pour a liberal single malt.