I was just foolin' around in my profile when I noticed I had originally joined on December 12th, 2004. Actually, I had joined a year earlier but was sidetracked starting a new business and by the time I was ready to participate again, I'd forgotten that previous login. So on this day seven years past I made a new one, Dave925 and haven't ever forgotten that one.
Seven years, wow, it seems longer actually in this modern age of instant information, floods of it that it seems more time has passed than actually has.
What has passed in those eight years, though I don't diary much, I do comment "frequently" (check my profile, I'm only repeating what it tells me) and that's what I like to do the most. Whether it's commiseration with my fellow progressives over the outrages committed against the people of this country by a venal and corrupt political and corporate class or celebrating the triumphs that sometimes come our way, I've made my feelings and opinions known, right here and often while an event is unfolding in real time.
I've been online for a long time now, I originally began my political commentary on old Usenet which was then the primary source for political interest groups and it was there I learned how to battle the right wing shills that were then as now paid for their nasty efforts. A couple years later I began posting among like minded folks on what was then the latest thing- message boards. In fact, I participated in a group that included both Digby and Atrios before this thing called "blogging" got off the ground. I remember the day Atrios (aka Duncan Black- we never knew Digby's true identity back then) announced he was going to start a blog and it was only a short time before Digby followed suit. I often wonder now what my life would have been like had I decided instead of starting my own IT business I would have started my own blog. I went with what I felt was the more in demand service and haven't looked back but one price I have paid for choosing IT is the loss of time to compose thoughtful articles that would have been the basic content of the blog I never started. And that's why I post diaries so seldom, no time to meet my high personal standards, but every chance I get I do comment and a morning does not go by that I don't start it with a visit to the Daily Kos front page.
I will be forever grateful to Kos for creating this blog that has become such a wonderful and effective tool for hundreds of thousands of us to come together and have a real impact on the politics of this country. In fact, I am grateful enough that this year, I am going to give myself a Xmas present- a lifetime subscription though of course being a computer geek, I would have no trouble blocking ads if I chose to do so, that's no way to repay Kos for what he has provided me these past eight years- a place where I can get my opinions off my chest as often or not as time and mood allow. This is not to mention the incredible resource the site is for research, camaraderie, news and many more things too numerous to mention.
After eight years where we saw the wretched and probably corrupt results of the aftermath of the '04 election, through the horrible tragedy of Katrina, then the demise of Shitboy Bush brought on by an ill advised attack on Social Security and the ongoing failure of his grand middle eastern war crime. We saw the election of 2006 sweep in a new Democratic congress together and who could forget the elation and hope that produced in us all. Then there were the primary battles of '07-08 that were acrimonious to say the least but in the end and for the most part, we put aside our disappointments and got behind the nominee, Barack Obama. I'll never forget that election night in November, 2008 when he won the Presidency. I don't believe I have ever in my then 55 years felt such pride and hope as I did that night along with scores of thousands of my fellow Kossacks. We've certainly had our ups and downs and disappointments since that night but I've never doubted than when it comes down to it, the vast majority of us will pull together to keep this the most vibrant and effective progressive site on the 'net.
So here I am, after seven years, still commenting, still starting each day spending an hour or two as time allows reading devouring as much information as I possibly can while tossing in my 2 cents as well. Who could ask for more? Not I! It's more than I can absorb as it is and it is with gratitude and admiration for the effort I thank Markos from the bottom of my heart for all he and the staff do. Thanks so very much, I can only hope the next seven years will see DKos on the very cutting edge of returning this country to what it was and should always be, a nation dedicated to the welfare of all its citizens, not just those that can afford to buy corrupt influence in the people's houses of government. Between us and the millions more like us, we can and will see that done, I have no doubts at all.
And that's how it is for this one Kossack, UID 38047, Dave 925. Me. Thanks again!