For my 50,000 post: Thank you and appreciation to DU.

[Irish_Dem]

Thank you DU for keeping me sane through the long time political reality we slog through. I have been a Democrat since childhood like my father before me. I became a political junkie at 8 years of age when JFK ran against Nixon. It is hard to find kindred spirits, but they are here on DU.

For day to day news, DU is the best site to get accurate news with commentary. When there is breaking news, the only place I want to be is here on DU. Whether good news or bad news, this is the place to get the best information and support.

Thank you for posting provocative, interesting OPs and comments. The liberal viewpoint from walks of life, backgrounds and values; it runs a fascinating gamut.

Despite the variations, the common thread is aways there. The deep love for democracy, and respect for the worth, dignity, value of all humans and our planet. The belief in a fair, free and open society. We value, truth, honesty. And the advancement of cvil rights and a more perfect union.

This is a true community. We listen, we argue, we get testy with each other, at the same time we are kind and supportive.

I have seen people give me very sharp elbows one day, then turn around the next day and stand up for me if someone else has been unfair or wrong. One time a newbie troll attacked me, making absurd and vile statements. Within minutes, DU members jumped on the troll and sent him to oblivion.

I trust this place, I get as good as I give, but we have each other’s backs.

Thank you to the owners for managing one of the best run forums on the internet.

Thank you to the workhorses on this site. The ones who do the heavy lifting, provide the latest news, the videos, the articles, information from other sites. The specialty information by experts who post here, medical, legal, academic, education, business, etc. And those who post anecdotal information of interest.

Please understand that you are not just touching DU members. I read DU every day. My friends, family and neighbors rely on me to provide news, Dem deep weeds and inside baseball news. One of my close relatives is a young Dem attorney who works for a liberal law firm and is in the know. Thanks to DU, when I am with her, I can give her information of interest she didn’t know.

Thank you for the jokes, the humor, the serotonin boost pictures which gives us a welcome break from jarring news. And the specialty posters the photography, music, labor, science, anthropology, food, etc., too many topics to mention all of them.

On a personal note, for most of the time I have been here, I never made OPs. I made comments. I don’t like attention or the limelight. I am a background helper. And introvert. I like the one on one interaction provided by responding to comments. And I don’t think I have much to contribute of value, meriting an OP.

But recently a long time DU member, one I respect and admire, PM’d me out of the blue. They said I should be making OPs. I was taken aback, and didn’t like the idea at all.

After thinking it over, I realized it was my turn to contribute more. So I got off my duff and stepped up to the plate by making a stab at the OP world. So thanks for listen to my .02.

Thank you for letting me be a part of this site. I don’t always see the world like other people do. I grew up in an Irish Catholic military family, moved from pillar to post as a kid, was not always living stateside. Military bases in Southeast Asia were crowded during the Viet Nam war. So we lived off base on the foreign economy. We tried to fit in. Then coming stateside to non military Americans who lived a different life than we had was a challenge. We tried to fit in there too.

Then getting degrees in political science and mental health gave me more of a unique world view, then being a therapist for over 40 years. Cynicism and idealism baked into my DNA.

So a long way around the barn to say thank you for letting me be a part of this site.

[2naSalit]

1. 50,000!

You're halfway there, congratulations!

[Irish_Dem]

6. Is the goal 100,000?

Good God. I will never make it.

Dementia will over take me and I will babble more than usual.
Maybe I will sound the same.

[2naSalit]

7. I don't know, really...

It could be.

[hlthe2b]

2. Wow! 50K since 2017!

'Took me from 2001 to get to 100k and I doubt a handful of my posts are as interesting as so many of yours!

Congrats and glad you are here, Irish_Dem !!!

[Irish_Dem]

20. The joke is that I was born so vocal/opinionated that I was kicked out of the hospital nursery.

I was born two months prematurely and was very tiny.
I fit in my mother's palm and wore doll clothes for quite some time

The hospital wouldn't let me go home until I weighed a certain amount.

The doctor put me in an incubator.

Apparently this situation was not to my liking, and I let the hospital staff know.

I loudly cried and literally kicked out the glass sides of the incubator.

My aunt was an RN and happened to work at the hospital nursery when I was there.
My mother was also a nurse and they asked the doctor to let them take me home
despite the fact I was still badly underweight. My grandfather and engineer uncle promised to
build an incubator for me at home.

(This was during the Korean War and my father was flying combat there so my mother
was living with her parents.)

After the incident where I tried to destroy the incubator, the doctor did allow them to take me home.
He was probably glad to see the back of me.

I was in the home made incubator for a while then moved to one of grandpa's old cigar boxes.
There are pictures of me swamped in the cigar box wearing huge doll clothes.
I looked pathetic, ridiculous, and not quite human.

My father was on a military flight line in Korea at the time, taking off for a departure
and the guys stopped his plane right on runway to tell him about my birth.

When he found out about me kicking out the sides of the incubator, he shook
his head but honestly I was a chip off the old block.

[hlthe2b]

22. Hah!

That's some spunk (and unlike Mary's old boss, Mr. Grant on those old Mary Tyler Moore shows, I LIKE spunk)!

[Irish_Dem]

40. Great scene from a great TV show.

Ed Asner was brilliant in this show.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Oh but thank you, Irish_Dem, this is your moment in the sunshine

We all appreciate your sharpest pencil and keen perspective. Spreading your ideas is what DU is all about, to reach more people, and give them knowledge and inside edge, in hopes that they tell others and strengthen a growth in democracy. I just wonder why it doesn't grow faster, we remain tainted in search engines as a liberal perspective though in the 1980s we might have been middle-of-the-road. DU should be a mainstay of fledgling local progressive websites and operations.

[Irish_Dem]

11. I stick my neck out trying to do the right thing.

My military family risked their lives more than once.

The least I can do is my part, even though I am only an anonymous
internet warrior, safe from harm.

I try hard to educate, illuminate and spread liberal thought.
Providing information from my knowledge base and skill set.

As well as help us face hard realities.

I think we underestimate the DU impact.

The fact Reuters recently used this site as a measure of liberal thought and behavior
was remarkable and tells us something.

Thank you BF.

[Aristus]

4. Congratulations, Irish Dem!

It's been great having you here for all these years. Here's to many more!

[Irish_Dem]

13. Many thanks.

I figure I'll leave DU in a body bag.

[DoBW]

5. Huh? There's a barn?

[Bundbuster]

8. We're glad you decided to start doing OP's

I look for your valuable contributions every day.

[bluestarone]

9. CONGRATS on 50 THOUSAND!! (Double hat tip for ya)

[sheshe2]

10. Great post, Irish!

Congratulations on your mileston, very glad you are here!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. Congrats on achieving this fantastic milestone, my dear Irish_Dem!

I'm always glad to see your name. You have good things to say, and I appreciate them.

Keep on trucking!

[blm]

14. 💐

[Irish_Dem]

61. Thank you blm, I love the flowers.

[ProfessorGAC]

15. Congrats On The Milestone

I'm astonished by the number of 6 figure posters here.
I've been here since DU was 7 months old, and I'm still under 70k.
Keep up the good input.

[Nevilledog]

16. Congratulations!

You're a valued and cherished member of this big and diverse community.

You're a favorite of mine.

[twodogsbarking]

17. What they all said. See ya 'round.

[Harker]

18. ...

🍀

[malaise]

19. Congrats

[yardwork]

21. I love your posts and agree with you about DU!

[Hermit-The-Prog]

23. A gentle reminder that at and after 50,000 you are expected to sweep up the lounge.

[PatSeg]

29. Ha, ha, ha!!!

[PatSeg]

24. Wow, 50,000 posts!

You certainly are prolific. I've been here over 20 years and I haven't gotten to 50,000 yet.

I know what you mean about mostly just commenting on posts. I rarely make OPs unless I come across a good article that no one else has posted.

[Irish_Dem]

53. Thanks Pat for all of our great comment conversations on DU OP threads.

Maybe you should kick up your game and make some OPs.
You have good ideas.

[PatSeg]

71. I've really enjoyed our often long discussions

It has been so stimulating.

I've made some OPs now and then, but if I did it too often, I'd never get off the computer! I have so many books to read and movies to watch. Time is such an elusive thing when you get older, especially if you are on the Internet. It is really strange how fast time flies when you're online.

[Irish_Dem]

73. Maybe we should turn some of our discussions into OPs.

We get on such interesting topics, it makes for a good conversation.

I was laid up before covid after some serious falls and broken bones.
(Osteoporosis). Then covid hit.

I have read Jane Austen more times than I can count.
Books upon books on various topics.
Watched every WWII movie ever made.
And watched all the submarine movies at least twice.
Then my favorite: British mysteries, FBI and police procedurals.

I had to start writing and posting online or my brain would go to mush.

[PatSeg]

75. British mysteries and police procedurals?

Oh my, you must be my soul sister!

Yes, some of our discussions would make good OPs rather than hijacking someone else's thread.

I was offline for over a month at the beginning of the year. I did read quite a bit, but after awhile, I could only read so much and the TV was pretty limited. For part of that time I was in isolation because I caught COVID on top of the condition I was being treated for, so I couldn't even see family. I never wanted to go so badly in my life.

[Irish_Dem]

90. Jebus I am going to highjack my own thread.

Yes Pat, we commit thread highjacking crimes against humanity on the regular.

Oh yes I have loved British mysteries and procedurals for many decades.
I guess that is why we like to dive in the deep weeds and look around.

[PatSeg]

92. Ha, ha, ha!

I suppose it is okay if it is YOUR thread, right?

Yes, I love British TV and have for many years now. No one does television quite like the Brits. On top of the detective stories, there are some amazing period pieces, many that I've watched more than once. I can't count how many times I've seen Brideshead Revisited and I've read the book twice.

I've gotten a lot of use out of my Britbox subscription. I used to have Acorn as well, but I had some streaming issues with them.

[Irish_Dem]

93. Yes we can highjack to our heart's content and not feel guilty.

We don't have to worry the OP will boot our arses off the thread.

Yes BR was so good.

I cannot tell you how many times I have read all of Jane Austen's books.
And seen all the TV and movies adaptations many times over.

About once a year I subscribe to Acorn and Britbox and binge watch for several months.
Usually during the winter or heat of summer when I am not outside as much.

The Brits are superb actors and entertainers.
Once you get hooked on British books, TV, movies, it is hard to go back to American stuff.

[PatSeg]

97. Yes, I agree

Most British actors are better trained and have a greater range than the average American actor. I am often amazed at their talent. The stories can be more original and they absolutely own any period piece drama. That's not to say Americans don't have a lot of talented people, but the studios call the shots and they keep churning out the same old predictable garbage while typecasting popular actors.

Of course, now that I've watched a LOT of British television, I am aware that they have their share of junk TV too, but overall I find the programming considerably better than American TV.

[Irish_Dem]

98. Absolutely true.

British actors are in a league of their own.
Scripts, directing, acting, etc.
Superb.

Even their junk shows are not bad.

[japple]

25. I'm glad you're here, Irish_Dem and completely agree with you about DU

being the best place to get truth, accurate and timely information. From one military dependent to another: growing up on military bases around the world was an education in in itself, and DU is kind of like that too.

[Irish_Dem]

37. To a fellow military brat, thanks!

Oh yes, I loved being a USAF military kid. It was an education on so many levels, yes.

Would not trade it for the world, despite the hardship at times living
in isolated overseas military locations during war time. And fathers being
in a job where planes went down, and were killed or taken prisoner.

I loved living in foreign countries, it was so exciting and interesting.
And loved living with military families.

Not to brag on the US Air Force, but we knew we were the smartest, most educated,
nicest people around. There was not a lot of military decorum or frills. We were mission
oriented and got the job done without blowing bugles and getting feathers rubbed.

Once on a USAF military plane, the family was being moved from one location to another,
one of the engines blew out, the other looked like it was on fire. The USAF pilot
calmly got on the speaker and said, no problem, I have enough engine power to keep
flying.

The adults on board looked worried, but the military kids had no worries.
We knew Air Force flight crews, many had flown combat in WWII or Korea
and now Viet Nam. We knew without a doubt they were smart, brave and talented.
If an Air Force pilot said every thing was under control, we believed it. We knew he could
land the plane in his sleep.

We were flying over water, but luckily after some time we diverted to a military base
for an emergency landing. The firetrucks and medics rushing to our plane when we landed,
spraying foam every where, was quite spectacular and the highlight of our trip.
The mothers were saying a prayer, but the kids loved all of it.

Also the military diversity was amazing.
Some of the men had married women from all over the world.
The US military had been integrated since 1948 with Truman's executive order.
Especially during wartime, every military person is mission critical.
No time for racist nonsense. Lives are at stake.

If my Dad ever heard any hint of racism or making any group an "other," he blew a gasket.
He said every single person in the USAF, even those flying a desk, keeps the planes in the air.
Without them I can not do my job.

In hindsight, it was remarkable. The son of Irish immigrants to the US,
they viewed any one not white Irish Catholic with a great deal of skepticism.
So Dad did a 180 from his parents.

One of the hardest things coming back stateside and integrating with the civilian community
was the racism. I was shocked.

Oh japple, I never thought about something you just said.
DU reminding us of the US military.

Oh yes you are so right. It feels like home to us.

[lpbk2713]

26. WTG

[Irish_Dem]

27. Darn, I forgot to say thank to MIRT.

I know that the MIRT job is labor and time intensive.
And deals with difficult situations behind the scenes.

They work hard to keep this site safe and secure.

They run silently under the radar.
It is volunteer, they don't get or expect public kudos.

Appreciation goes to them.

[GreenWave]

28. You are 1/6th of the way to the great Cha!

keep up the fine work!

[applegrove]

30. I love your posts. Glad you are here.

[ancianita]

31. Thank you for your 50,000! Long may you run!

I appreciate learning from your posts, and now learning about you! I feel a connection, fwiw, coming from a French Catholic (Canadian) and Irish Catholic (Kelleys in Maine) background.

Glad you're here, and a warm part of this site.

[BumRushDaShow]

32. Wow and congrats!

That is one of the best OPs that I have read in a looooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggg time!!!

Your posts have always been helpful, highly informational, and thought-provoking and I beseech you to stay the way you are.

You get the happy line dance for the milestone!!!!



And none of this -

[Irish_Dem]

42. Jebus, Bum, you and the others are making me cry.

I was not expecting any of this!

Thank you.

Coming from you is high praise indeed.
You are a GOAT.

[LoisB]

33. Congratulations, and thank you for your contributions to some really good conversations here.

[Irish_Dem]

46. Thank you Lois.

It is so fun to have good conversations with everyone here.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

34. ID You just reminded of something very funny,

...in hindsight. My mother supported JFK, my relatively new stepfather, Nixon. The marriage didn't last, but the memory of a Nixon bumper stick on the inside lid of our toilet lives on. And he put it there!

[Irish_Dem]

45. Yes it didn't have a chance did it?

[AmBlue]

35. Happy #50,000!!!

I always enjoy your posts, whether OP or comment. You help make DU what it is!!

Congrats!!

[Emile]

36. Congratulations

[pandr32]

38. Congratulations on 50,000 posts!!!

[c-rational]

39. Wonderful post as usual. Congratulations.

[Irish_Dem]

44. Thank you!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

41. Congratulations

[Irish_Dem]

43. Thank you LMPV.

[Hekate]

47. What a wonderful post....

Here’s to many more

[Irish_Dem]

49. Thank you Hekate.

Very nice of you!

[OAITW r.2.0]

48. Congrats on your milestone!

I concur with your sentiments on DU.

[Irish_Dem]

50. Thank you!

[cilla4progress]

51. Bookmarking

I enjoy your posts here, IrishDem!

Huzzah!

[AllaN01Bear]

52. what they all said . i aint going to paraphrase them.

[MOMFUDSKI]

54. Beautifully spoken.

Thanks

[spanone]

55. ☘️☘️☘️CONGRATULATIONS Irish_Dem☘️☘️☘️

[Irish_Dem]

60. Thank you spanone.

I love the shamrocks, thank you!

[Think. Again.]

56. Cheers! 🍀🌊 !

[Irish_Dem]

62. Thank you!

What is the little blue thing after the shamrock? I cannot make it out.

[Think. Again.]

65. A big Blue Wave!

With the shamrock, it's my weak attempt at celebrating 'Irish Dem' in emoji's!

[Irish_Dem]

66. Oh it's truly perfect. I love it.

The Irish Blue Wave.
Perfect. That's me down to the ground.

[Bluethroughu]

57. Thank you for all your wisdom and support!

[Irish_Dem]

63. You are very welcome!

Happy to do what I do here.

[Faux pas]

58. Thank You IrishDem

[Celerity]

59. Congrtaz, and I appreciate you as a great poster.

[Rhiannon12866]

64. Beautifully said. Thank you and Congratulations!

[Irish_Dem]

67. Thank you. I appreciate all the videos you post and our discussions.

[Rhiannon12866]

68. Awww! Thank you so much!

I consider that to be a compliment, coming from you! And back atcha!

[electric_blue68]

69. I enjoy your posts. 🍀 Congrats! And you did have a different childhood.

Reminds me of a friend who spent some of her young ears in ?Malaysia. Her father was Foreign Service.

[Irish_Dem]

72. Yes just going to school each day was an ordeal.

Traveling four hours a day in a bus up a mountain side and back down. Far away from
the AF base.

Then sitting in quonset huts surrounded by barbed wire, in severe heat and bugs, with armed guards
marching around. Something different from American kids stateside.

This was wartime, during the Viet Nam war. The thing is we were never afraid. We knew if anything happened, the US military would come help us. In hindsight, perhaps a bit optimistic.

We also knew we were the very lucky ones. The men fighting were the ones in harm's way.
Every day.

We were far away from direct combat.

[electric_blue68]

74. Well, woah; barbed wire & guards! Glad you didn't feel afraid. I never was very good on mountain roads as a kid....

New England family vacations. I'd have been miserable!

And obviously my friend was living a much safer life over there.

[Irish_Dem]

91. Yes the military in wartime is a whole other kettle of fish.

[TheBlackAdder]

70. WooHoo! Milestone! 🎉🎊🎈🥳💥

[Stuart G]

76. CONGRATULATIONS !!

[Irish_Dem]

88. Thank you Stuart!

[FHRRK]

77. Congrats

You are a DU treasure.

[Irish_Dem]

89. I appreciate the sentiment.

I think I am a bit too opinionated and blunt at times to be a treasure.

[1WorldHope]

78. I believe, by reading the responses, that your time was well spent.

DU is how I start everyday of my life since shit got serious. I mostly only comment. I do understand the dedication, and discipline it requires to write the opinion post. I deeply appreciate the time and effort you have given to thinking through and clearly writing your thoughts. Thus allowing ME to lazily sit back and comment, risking very little. Peace and Love🤟🏼

[Irish_Dem]

87. I am retired now.

So I have time to engage in various activities of interest to me.

I was in the comment only category for a long time.
Until I got kicked out of my comfort zone.

Who knows, maybe one day you will get the same PM.

[orangecrush]

79. Thanks for your contributions

Always a pleasure to read.

[Irish_Dem]

86. Thanks OC

[Peacetrain]

80. Congrats ID!!!

You enrich the conversation... Mr and Mrs Peacetrain

[Irish_Dem]

85. Thank you both!

[dlk]

81. Thank you for your many, thoughtful contributions

And congratulations on your milestone!

[Irish_Dem]

84. Thank you dlk.

[dlk]

95. You're welcome

[usonian]

82. 50,000! Let you eat cake!

[Irish_Dem]

83. Oh that looks so yummy.

I do have a sweet tooth. Which I don't indulge much any more.
But I will make an exception!

Thank you so much Usonian.

[a kennedy]

94. Wow, and good for you, I admire all your posts.

☘️ ☘️

[Irish_Dem]

96. Thank you!