The 20-year DU Anniversaries (a little history?)
A fellow DUer's 20th anniversary here reminded me -- of course! DU began after the devastation that was Bush v. Gore. I hope it's okay to post a short history, without breaking the rules. It seems too long ago for it to revive any feuds.
The "Shrub" administration seemed as threatening then as the orange menace seems now. By 2004, the fight among primary candidates was fierce. The DU sensibility was generally for Howard Dean. Some of us who supported other candidates lurked on other sites but feared joining DU. I know those of us who supported Gen. Wesley Clark ("Clarkies"
considered DU with some trepidation.
Clark's strategy included Dean winning Iowa, thinking it might then become a two-man race in New Hampshire and narrow further in South Carolina. But Dean lost Iowa, and Kerry and Edwards came out with huge momentum.
General Clark dropped out of the race in February, and Dean dropped soon afterward. Once Super Tuesday was over, the coast seemed clear at DU. John Kerry was going to be the nominee, like it or not, and everyone was (somewhat) welcome at DU.
That's why there was an influx of new DUers in March of 2004, and why we're likely to see a lot of 20-year anniversaries around now! I just checked my profile, and realized my own 20th anniversary on DU will be March 12th. How time flies!!!
Remembering those times, I am really grateful for the flexibility of the DU owners, operators, and admins - past and present - who rolled with troubled times, changed the rules as needed, and even opened all the new forums to keep us going after 2004. Even though I haven't posted as much lately, DU has been important to me for a long time. 
= new reply since forum marked as read
You got it PERFECTLY!
How time flies!!!
Weren't we rebellious, improbable "Clarkies" just yesterday?!? 
But yet I remember oh so vividly.
Thanks for posting. 
A sketch actually from the March 21, 2024 issue of The New York Review of Books
?w=1140
A sketch of a street in Iraq by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad from A Stranger in Your Own City
I know this is a a nostalgic thread about 20 years ago, and I don't intend this as criticism, but a reminder the George W Bush administration was a true international disaster, and the price is still being paid. The title of the review is Iraq’s Twenty Years of Carnage.
So glad it happened and was able to stay, thrive and survive. Yes, 20 years plus went fast forward. So glad we could meet up online now and then! In a world full of inconsistencies this has been the place to try to figure it out. Thanks to all!
My own 20th is in May, I will celebrate on the day. My coming here had nothing to do with what you said I was working on Kerry campaign doing voter registration. Like many here I was for Howard before he dropped out. I found a link for DU on Michael Moore's website. Just wanted to be around people as upset as me about Bush.
After four years of the Shrub, I thought the American people would wise up, but between the low information voters and the Swiftboating of John Kerry, 2004 was a dark time. Eventually though, through Bartcop and the Horse, among others, I was led to DU and found a place where I could get news and real life commentary, questions and answers, and camaraderie. I lurked until May of 2005, seems like a lifetime ago with all that’s happened. In many ways it was. Thanks for reminding me of the memories Sparkly. 
and have many more!!!
June 7, 2004
Joined Nov 2003 during the dark days of GWB. Thought things couldn’t get worse after him. Then along came Trump. 
Oh gosh, Darrell Issa -- there's a name I haven't thought of in a long time!! 
