General Discussion

I'm a bit older than you, and have been a forum member a few months less than you. For most of those years, I've recognized you not only as a Good Democrat, but a Good Man. Someone that in the past I'd have enjoyed sitting out at my pond with, talking politics. And though that has changed -- I'm confident as much for you as me -- I still think you are an asset to the Democratic Party. And that you often add valid, even important points to a conversation.

I'm sorry that, as BannonsLiver pointed out, this is the second time in recent history that you have posted an OP stating that you are leaving. The stated reason now is because people question "leadership." This, of course, has to do with posts by people who strongly oppose Senator Shumer's recent action. Just as you sometimes mention the valuable things your father taught you, I tend to do the same. My father often said that one could easily predict how many votes republican candidates will have in a given election -- just look at the last election, or ther one before ...... because republicans were incapable of thinking in terms of what was in their own self-interests, but did whatever their leaders told them to do.

It is always interesting to consider what is beneath the surface of what one says or writes. I do that most all the time. When I commented on one of your recent OPs, for example, I could tell by the tone and diction that you were not in a good place. Thus, when you responded to my most recent OP, while I could easily have traded insults, I knew it was better to say, "Thank you," and leave it at that. In part, because I respect that two people can look at the exact same set of facts, and view them differently. Indeed, that is the difference between the Democratic Party and the republicans.

I note that while the express reason in your post's title has to do with opinions on party leadership that you disagree with, thirteen of the fourteen paragraphs focus on you and your feelings. I hope you take a day or two to really think about that, and that you continue to participate on this forum.