It was early 2005. The Iraq War was approaching its worst stage. I was spending more time on-line, reading the news articles one couldn’t (and still cannot) find in the traditional media. Political blogs were blossoming up like mushrooms after a warm Autumn rain.

One day, reading an article at Majikthise, one of the few blogs where I would occasionally comment, I followed a link to a blog with a strange name – firedoglake. The next day, some other blog linked to an article here. I bookmarked the site and started reading it regularly.

Soon, I decided to comment here. It was risky, as I didn’t feel as knowledgeable on the issue at hand – I can’t remember what it was – but felt I might add a little. Within a few minutes, my comment was greeted by Jane Hamsher, who welcomed me, Edward Teller.

Please join us by becoming a member of this vibrant family.

Many of you may not know that when I started reading FDL way back in the blogspot days, I was a life long Republican* and thought of myself as a conservative — fiscally conservative and socially liberal but overall, I considered myself to be a conservative. Yet I felt no connection with the Republican Party and knew there had to be people like me who didn’t like the way things were being done in DC and didn’t like the direction we were headed.

I never would have thought that I would find my online home at a site full of DFH’s with a decidedly lefty liberal viewpoint. Yet, I found truth in reporting here.

Would you please join the FDL Membership program?

Last year we were just talking about what we wanted to do, and who we were going to have on for webinars. This year we are talking about what we want to do better, what we did accomplish, and the amazing guest speakers that have taught us a lot of important strategies and lessons.

Join NOW

It’s hard to believe it’s already been six months since I joined the team here at Firedoglake as an online organizer. In that time we’ve launched the Occupy Supply program, stopped the Super Committee from making savage cuts to the social safety net, helped paved the way for major drug policy reform in 2012, and so much more. While I’m definitely proud of these accomplishments, I can’t say I’m surprised. It was Firedoglake’s signature brand of independent, ground-up news and activism that drew me to it the first place.

Join Firedoglake today.

This is a our second annual membership drive here at Firedoglake and I ask those of you who aren’t members of FDL, why not? It doesn’t cost much, you can join for less than four dollars a month. So why not sign up and support all the great reporting and activism that goes on here?

Support Firedoglake by joining now. Be a part of our vibrant community.

FDL creates community, creates activism and produces results. I am a proud member and will continue be one.

JOIN FIREDOGLAKE TODAY.

Firedoglake has earned a unique reputation as a site for citizens of the world, who are deeply passionate about freedom of information and government transparency. It has earned a unique reputation as a site at the forefront of all efforts to advance support for Bradley Manning. And, it has grown into a site that is a foremost resource for the latest news on all things related to WikiLeaks.

Become a member to ensure that Firedoglake continues to be a valuable resource.

You know that feeling, when you arrive somewhere you’ve wanted to be? That satisfaction? The ahhh of having arrived? That’s how I felt about FDL when I finally started commenting here after lurking through just about all of 2007 and parts of 2008.

And right in January and February after the Inauguration, allasudden my trepidation was confirmed by Jane. So fact #1 – the news here at FDL and the reading of the tea leaves? Irreplaceable. I didn’t see that report elsewhere at the time. So I was hooked. Here.

Members make FDL itself happen, and FDL walks and chews gum and supports Occupy all at the same time. So what I’m asking you to do right now, is support FDL itself. To get your news, your tea-leaves, your inspiration, your invitation to activism.

It’s Membership Drive time here at FDL. Ryan Cook has all the details. Membership here is about building community, as this is not a one-way megaphone but a two-way channel that fosters greater engagement and activism, as I’ve learned from my own experiences here. So join the FDL community by becoming a member today.

I have had the pleasure this week to work with Jane Hamsher and Lt. Dan Choi, DADT activist and superstar occupier! I have been booking travel and organizing events for Dan at 5 different occupations across the country, from Delaware to Fairbanks, AK.