I think it's important to have intelligent, civil discussion in a time when we are all very emotional about what is happening. I look forward to mixing it up here on BlogHer, knowing full well you've taken me to the woodshed more than a few times over at Twitter. ;)

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain

-- it's terrific to have not only a conservative voice but a Midwestern voice. Both are needed!

Alanna Kellogg
Kitchen Parade &
A Veggie Venture

Melody
http://slurpinglife.typepad.com/

Personally, I am thrilled to see a conservative voice join BlogHer and look forward to the conversations that will surely follow.

Congratulations. 

I respect you for not being afraid or ashamed of your beliefs, for standing up where others sit and wait. You choose a different unfairness than I do, but I don't doubt your reasoning to that unfairness, and I appreciate that  you don't doubt the reasoning of those who choose their own unfairnesses.

 Not to say that there aren't some stupid people out there saying stupid things for stupid reasons and making the world a stupid place.

But you ain't one of them.

 Vote Green! :}

http://backpackingdad.blogspot.com

Welcome! I also look forward to hearing your perspective. I try to look at all sides of an argument and definitely want to hear/read a variety of opinions. However, I want read civil discussions and lately, on BlogHer and elsewhere, it's turning into shouting matches.  I guess it's easy for people to go the negative route rather than laying out their perspective and then fostering a positive discussion around it.

A. L. Venable is a Random Citizen. She primarily writes at Dimple and a Smirk (dot) com and Our PDX Network.

It's no fun debating someone who thinks just like you do....  have fun with it!  :)

I completely respect and welcome a differing opinion from mine.  I would love to sit down with a true Republican and really discuss the differences between our parties on the issues that are important to me, as a woman, mother, citizen.  Too often, unfortunately, those things end up shouting matches, and frustration. 

Can't wait to hear more about what you have to say.  

I am so glad to see a conversative on blogher. I've been reading posts for a number of weeks thinking where, oh where is a conversative voice.

You were once a democrat? OMG!!

I had no idea that democrats even exsisted in rural Missouri..I thought only St Louis city...except St Louis city is a bunch of conservative...almost GOP members..who hide behind the democratic name.. and blindy vote for a candidate..but I digress..

Jumping off soapbox to say congratulations on the new gig. I'm glad there are some conservatives out there willing to debate and educate..I'm exhausted..been there done that.  

"If people can’t talk about politics and then sit back and have a beer
together afterwards, there’s more brewing there than just policy
issues."

Hear, hear. When I hear people say they may have to re-evaluate their friendships with anyone who votes Republican in the upcoming election, well if they're serious I think that's incredibly sad and closed minded. As a socially liberal/fiscally conservative Independent, if I had that kind of mindset I wouldn't have any friends at all!

Welcome to the community.  I love having a debate but it is no fun debating people who take it personally.  Our differences are what makes it fun to be around us.  If we keep our hearts and minds open we might just learn something. I love Blogher because there are so many intelligent informed women with whom I can discuss everything from politics to sexual positions! 

Michelle

I blog at http://www.mommycan.blogspot.com/

Hi Dana,

As Bunslife said, it's no fun debating someone who thinks exactly the way you do.  I look forward to hearing about the issues from your perspective. 

Megan

Megan Smith

BlogHer CE, TV/Online Video

My Personal Blog:
Megan's Minute 

Albeit to the other side than you did, it came slowly and partially as a result of living in the DC region and finding out that I wasn't really of my parents' politics.  But I've long believed that any society is only as strong as it's ability to disagree with decorum (no need to go blasting one another, there's enough of that in the world) and I love a good, fun, spirited debate -- not to try to convince someone to change their mind, but to expand my own.

I'm looking forward to your posts 

Peggie Arvidson - The Awaken Your Soul Mentor 

Hee. I'm a long-time lefty, and enjoy talking with people of the opposite persuasion if they have good arguments (er, unlike, say, certain members of my own family who usually spout things that are not so well informed, simply jingoistic and sometimes slightly racist, such as "Muslims are trying to convert us" and "Arabs have an agenda," and that sort of thing. Um, which brings me to needing to say outloud that I wish McCain, in his response to that woman who said she didn't trust Obama because he's an Arab, I wish he'd said, "No, no, he's not Arab, he's American, but even if he were Arab, why would that be a problem for you?" or something like that. Jon Stewart did a great bit on this last night.)

Ok, but let's get right to it: Republicans have issues that they rally around, such as God, guns and gays. Re: the guns issue, you mentioned the second amendment right off the bat, which is what spurred me to write.

How did that spur you to become a conservative?

When is the last time a Democrat tried to "take your guns away" (another phrase I hear from my family member)? Democrats have mostly been responsible for implementing safety measures in the acquisition of guns, such as forcing waiting periods, background checks, and - if I recall - limiting (successfully? I can't remember) the purchase of semiautomatic weapons, all of which seem SIMPLY REASONABLE to me. No one wants to take away your right to hunt, or to keep a gun in your house for self defense.

Why do they always claim Democrats want to do this? Tell me one instance where that has been true. We just want some sanity involved in the process, that's all.

With that, welcome aboard, and i look forward to sparring!

KeegsMom blogs at KIDSFLIX
http://kidsflix.blogspot.com

Good to see your first post as a CE. 

Nordette is a Contributing Editor with BlogHer.com whose personal blog is hosted on another site at this link.

Thanks for the welcomes!

@Keegsmom - that's totally a post I have coming up. There are so many things that brought on the change in my political perspective that it's easier to look at it post by post really, issue by issue, because one post would't cover it and (would do the topics and perspectives a disservice). 

@Peggie - exactly. It's good to have equal parts passion for both the issue at hand *and* your fellow woman, but when the issue, when the desire to "win" becomes more important than the people, that's when it becomes a problem and when people shout. 

I also think I should note that I'm not a Republican; not that I personally loathe any party, but I'd rather pledge my loyalty to the best person for the job rather than a party. 

Thanks again!

Dana
Mamalogues.com

on KFTK 97.1 FM/Fox News Radio

I am thrilled that you'll be blogging here and we'll get to have intelligent discussions that won't end up in political sign-torching or senior citizen beatings. I know that sorta takes the fun out of it, though. Maybe we could set up one avatar smackdown just for kicks. :-P

Mistie

A relatively intelligent Southern-born former college cheerleader. No, really.: http://myheartsindixie.blogspot.com

so good to see more of this view!

I don't believe in the party system.  But I don't usually synch up with liberal views very often (I've been calld a Libertarian (sp?) , and still not sure what that means).

 I often get scared to even say how I feel around here for fear of some bits of hatred I see....

And so excited to see a fellow Radio-er and BlogHer member (we do ChickChat Radio on XM!)

Cheers!

Dana, I'm so happy and complimented you've joined us. I particularly like this paragraph:

I’m excited about contributing to BlogHer. I know that it’s a more liberal-leaning majority here and because of this I’m looking forward to the potential for discussion beyond the Twitter-sized ranting and raving. I wouldn't have accepted Queen of Spain’s offer if I didn’t respect BlogHer's editors and the way that ideas are presented here – and that those who are on the other side of the political fence are comfortable enough in their own convictions to break bread with a conservative. It’s a reason I was drawn here in the first place: mature discussion on hard-edged topics by intelligent women. These topics would rapidly invoke a flame war in other parts of the blogosphere.

In fact, I find via surveys of our network that our bloggers and readers are pretty evenly split, between blue and red, left and right. What unites is absolutely our interest in politics and the economy -- along with every other topic under the sun -- and a commitment to civil discussion when we do disagree. Which, happily, is about every other second -- whether we're talking about Iraq or shoes.

Welcome!

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

BlogHer is non-partisan but our bloggers aren't! Follow our coverage of Politics & News.

I don't subscribe to a party, but I am definitely liberal-leaning. A liberal in very conservative Utah, who grew up in a very conservative family in conservative Idaho. (My dad still looks at me with bewilderment during political discussions, unsure of how I turned out how I did.)

I am looking forward to reasoned arguments. I know there are policy points against Obama, and I am hoping to have a civilized discussion about those, since I'm tired of my dad's "Obama is a bad, scary person" line. You can't debate that. Because once a lot of that sort of stuff comes out, all reason has left the discussion.

Best of luck to you!

This Time, It's Personal

Yielding Wealth

I've actually been staying away from BlogHer the past couple of weeks because everytime I write commentary on a political post I feel overwhelmingly drowned out.  I was so pleased to read about this impending commitment on your Mamalogues blog! 

I'm looking forward to reading your articles and hearing the "other" side of the story.

April

www.AprilsLittleFamily.blogspot.com

I'll definitely be following you. You sound like a kindred spirit!  I'm also strong in my beliefs but I don't start with the supposition that someone that disagrees with me is evil. We have to get past that or I'm afraid for where we're headed. I'm technically more libertarian than republican, but definitely conservative. 

- Gin, Founder
Mommiestees.com

I'm so happy BlogHer invited you to blog, and can't wait to read more of your intelligent and thoughtful posts.  I think BlogHer needs more conservative bloggers, and you are a welcome addition.Heather* A Mama's Blog

I have been a recent reader of Mamalogues (sent by my husband, jyoseph) and have really enjoyed your writing. I am a wife and mother and lean conservatively. It's is great to see conservative bloggers since the majority are not.

Can't wait to read more!

I am struck by Backpacking Dad's comment - "You choose a different unfairness than I do, but I don't doubt your reasoning to that unfairness, and I appreciate that  you don't doubt the reasoning of those who choose their own unfairnesses."

Neither side is perfect, but I agree with you - I vote for the person who seems to be the best choice.  Am I completely enamored of McCain?  No.  But the good outweighs the bad with him, so that's where I'm placing my support.

Kimberly Dorsey

http://jumpwithfaith.blogspot.com
http://jessicaandkelliuhl.com

Parachuting Without a Net

.... other conservative writers felt that liberal writers (like me!) aren't bad people. But I have to tell you, I get puh-LENTY of comments at my place suggesting that I am bad and way worse because of my political leanings.

More tempered conversation among us all can only help!

PunditMom

I probably have you all beat at jumping ships.  I've done it twice now.  I started as a Democrat for many years, then a Republican for over a decade, and now a full fledged registered Independent.  

There are not just two sides.  There are many sides.  And I'll be here from time to time to remind you all of that, lol. 

LePlusJeune - proud Independent

www.remodelle.net