Democratic Underground is 25 years old today
Many of you already know the story of how this site got started: following the (s)election of George W. Bush in 2000, two twenty-something liberal web designers, angry at the outcome, and aghast that there didn't seem to be any competition to right-wing web communities like Free Republic at the time, threw together a site and promoted it by waving a hand-painted DEMOCRATICUNDERGROUND.COM banner at Bush's inauguration in DC on January 20th, 2001. The rest is now quite literally history.
Unfortunately I don't have a copy of what the site looked like on launch day, but this is pretty close -- below is a screenshot of the DU homepage from February 19, 2001, just under a month after we launched. If you want to know how times have changed, note that at the bottom of the page, we offered people the option to contact us by fax 
At launch DU was intended to be more of an article-driven site than a web community. This was before the age of blogs, so one draw of the site was that we would publish articles by regular people who couldn't get published by mainstream media. It's hard to believe now, but at the time this was somewhat revolutionary.
The discussion forum was initially an afterthought. We tacked it on at the last minute, having never operated or even given much thought to running such a thing, and it quickly became apparent that it was going to take up more of our time than we realized -- mainly because the forum was immediately flooded with freepers and trolls, and at launch the forum software didn't even have the ability to ban people.
Over the years, as blogs and then social media became widespread, the need to provide a space for liberal authors to get published waned, and DU's discussion forum community essentially overtook the entire site.
I'm not sure how many websites there are out there that have been in continuous existence for 25 years, but I suspect the number is not enormous. I believe that DU is still here because after all this time, there still isn't anything exactly like it on the Internet. We wanted to create a place where people from the center to the left can have civil discussions, free from right-wing trolls and disruptors. And we still strive for that goal every day, thanks to the efforts of DUers serving on Juries and as Hosts, taking part in MIRT, and -- most importantly -- simply posting in a civil manner, with the intent of having a good conversation.
And really, that is why DU is still going strong after a quarter century -- because of all of you, and the community that you have created here. We built it, and you came -- and you keep coming back, after all these years.
DU would not exist without all of you. So thank you for being here, no matter how long you've been here.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Creating a safe place for Democrats.
So, like mid-April 2001.
Another life, another handle...
Good job to all of youz.
Where should we go???
Thank you, EarlG for giving us this space (not forgetting joint founders Elad and Skinner and all the mods, etc who have helped keep this place going). It's almost hard to remember all the needs this place has served--although I'll never forget the lifeline this was on 9/11 when so many other news sources failed us. 
I came here for the articles (especially the Conservative Idiots) and stayed for the discussions. I helped host the Lounge back in the day, ran the Stock Market thread for a while and have helped out behind the scenes numerous times. Lately, real life has led me to post and interact much less frequently, but there is always a DU tab open on my computer and a link on my phone. Even my Bluesky account name links back here.
I love this story of how you got started. Back in 2001 I didn't own a computer, and cellphones were in their infancy.
So I discovered DU a little more recently, in 2017 when Chump was about to be inaugurated. We've all been on this quick slide into Hell together, and we're still going down. If I didn't have DU I think I would have gone crazy by now.
Thank you for this life-saver called Democratic Underground, and for keeping us all together!
This site is my ROCK.
Thank you Earl for all of your hard work and commitment.
It’s been quite a trip. So proud to have been a part of this journey. I would have lost my mind long ago if not for DU and its many smart and creative members.
2005 found me here, and here I will be till I croak.
So many adventures for me here: many new friends, people who are part of my life, and a few who can't stand me. But stay I will!
DU is my electronic home.
happy bday du
And thank you, EarlG and elad (and Skinner) for building such a wonderful community
And thank you for twenty-five years of hope, sanity and support during the good times and the bad,
And Happy Anniversary!
And Thank You!
I think there were about 13,000 members when I joined. Anyway, if not for DU I never would have found Bartcop! May he RIP. Keep up the good work Earl. I intend to be here until the Universe punches my ticket.
referred to the 25th Amendment.
Happy birthday to DU. I’ve been here since 2003 and don’t know how I would survive the insanity without this place.
Grateful for you all.
Happy birthday to what I often consider to be my lifeline.
Thanks EarlG and all those who keep DU going!!!! Love the DU family, and to another 25 years!!!!!
Found my way here through Bart Cop.
Thank you EarlG, elad, Skinner, and everyone here. Cheers!!!!
to the top 10 conservative idiots! It was good timing, because I had just started helping locally on the Obama campaign. He was a spunky newcomer from Illinois, but that charisma - I was sure he could win.
Found this through the Top10 linked from AHNC in ‘01 and lurked for several years, then after the site went dark in ‘16 I became a paid member.
Don’t know what I would do without the sanity check of this site
Been lurking for 20 years. Love all you duers 💙
Than what we had in 2001.
And, honestly, I sometimes worry whether the goons visit this site, I sometimes worry whether EarlG and Elad and their families may be in danger.
So thank you for the courage continuing with this site. Thank you DUers for the courage to post opinions that could be considered anti American, or something.
Happy Birthday DU.
I was here from the very early years on. 2002 I believe.
It was the days of WilliamPitt, Blondeatlast, Beherenow, Skittles -- some I remember off the top of my head.
I enjoyed the often deep, well thought out and researched posts I found here, and I found it is a place that kept me informed and thinking.
And of course, let's not forget Oscar, the mixed animal that A-Schwarzenegger inherited from his Uncle Leonard.
Thank you very much EarlG for your continued work and improvements to DU.
Elad and Skinner. Thank you to all the members for this safe place to vent, celebrate, laugh and cry.
Here’s to the next 25 years……
I have so many effusive things to say about DU. It is a truly unique experience. You guys are really good at what you do, and you are particularly skilled at adapting when necessary.
I am relatively new around here - I feel honored to be among so many great minds and great communicators.
I spread the word about DU to like souls with whom I come in contact. And nowadays, in the grass roots activism community, I meet a lot of like minds.
One of the questions someone asked me the other days was bout intruders and trolls. I said - not a problem....gone in a flash...thanks to a special team designed specifically for that purpose. She was impressed with that idea. Go MIRT!
I tell people about the creative ways of fundraising, like hearts. You guys really do rock!
Thank you for the creative classic smilies.
Thank you for your creative minds.
Happy Birthday DU!!!
And Happy Birthday!
I came over from Bartcop -- I started out here as username "Tuesdays," and I was around by the time 9/11 happened. But for security reasons I ended that account and re-joined as "Wednesdays" on Feb. 1, 2002.
Thanks to all involved for this wonderful site! 
Happy Birthday DU
A friend said, hey, you need to check out "Democratic Underground", there's people like you there
Sept 2005...whewwwwww
Thank you DU and EarlG, from the bottom of my heart
I've been on the board for 10 years which is hard to believe in and of itself. A 25th anniversary for any internet space is a big deal; things come and go through the ether in an eye blink.
An enormous congrats to everyone involved and to you, Earl, for providing a secure conversation/debate platform and a caring community. I think most DUers would agree that the space has kept us reasonably sane and thoroughly connected with other political junkies and concerned global citizens.
Btw, I love, love the 'historic' page provided, a rocket ship back in time.
Thank you for all you do.
I couldn't say this in 2001 cuz I still needed my job, but now, if and when I say the wrong thing, and ICE raids the DU office for my address to come and get me, please go ahead and tell them my address and tell them as they go out the door, "the Submariner says "Fuck You, and come and get some you fascist Trump ass licking maga-nazis".
Especially at this time, thanks for this platform to vent stuff.
You probably never expected this, EarlG, back in the day. For the sake of my sanity, I'm so happy that you're still here.
17 years, 3 months, and a day for me, and many years lurking before that.
May we all have many more please!
Here's to 25 more! 
I cannot even imagine what the past 22 years would have been like without DU. You are my rock, my island, and my breath of fresh air every day. Here's to another 25!!
Thank for for all your work, EarlG, to keep this project up and running and serving us so well.
DU is a sanctuary in a world of nasty.
I've been here the entire time. I don't know what the hell I'd do without DU!
and I still get the DU sticker in the mail
so thankful for all the hard work put into this little corner of the world. It is my safe haven....And I can take it anywhere...and do I ever travel...but I will check in ❤️💙
And many many many more!! This place feels like home & keeps me sane. Love to all!!!
Thank You for DU - a life saver!!
Keep Swingin' The Hammer!
I landed here through his site link.
A birthday shot of Chinaco Anejo for 25!
and it just gets better and better!
THANK YOU!
What a wonderful thing to celebrate! So glad I found you and am part of this community.
us
And I found DU a year and a half later For the very same reason!
I was in New York at the time and closer to the Action and So Grateful for your Democratic underground! 
I remember telling my Co-workers when I had made 5000 posts... they looked at me incredulously. Easy to do when discussing the Injustice of the SC/bush takeover of our Country.
Congratulations to you, Elad, and Skinner For Making this Possible and Now here we are 25 Years Later.
Bravissimo!
Who got the boot - Skinner or Elad
?
Congratulations EarlG. It is really an achievement…
Last edited Tue Jan 20, 2026, 08:26 PM - Edit history (2)
I didn't know about your GWB Inauguration banner!
I actually semi-accidently found you guys on line just a few months in; while at a big, and inexpensive Manhattan Internet Cafe!
With GWB in I was looking for Democrats on line, but not an official Dem Party site (don't remember my reasoning).
Your site came up; but without a computer at home, having to hop to multiple libraries to get on-line time bc I had/have many interests, lI forgot to consistently follow you, and I soon forgot.
Fast foward about 20 yrs....
I was disgruntled at the off-topic poltical sub forum on a particular band's music & discussion site for lack of acknowledgement about one of the most seminal tragedies of The 60's on the anniversary there of.
Looking back - the fact that I was about 10 - 15+ years older than many fans on the site made the difference in awareness, and memories!
Sooo, I thought; could there be Democrats out there on line (not a official site [mind you, I've volunteered for several Democratic Presidential campaigns], so I was engaged w the official Party).
Welp....there I was thinking, and....
Suddenly "Democraticunderground": popped up from the Depths of my memories - almost 20 years later!
I joined that very night! 👍
ETA: I was rushing through before my battery charge ended for the moment!
Thank you EarlG, Elad, Skinner, many mods, and many great posters!
Usually here a few times a day, except on my mental health days off 1x, 2x per week.
Thanks, also, for the smart decision to have the many forums of various interests; The DU Lounge for occasional serious personal issues, and a heck of a lot of *fun* !
Long may you reign, DU!
Oooops! I forgot about MIRT!
TY!!!
I didn’t stumble in here until… 2008? and then I suffered a computer death and it took me forever to find my way back (brain and login still worked, thankfully!)
DU must’ve had that same banner forever because that font was the first thing that jumped out at me.
And many thanks to EarlG, Skinner, and Elad.
in the past couple of years I've given a heart to names I recognize from 2004 without a star and who post less frequently. This is a good list and bookmarked.
Guessing it is a large fundraiser day for DU so join me ... only if you can!
Disclosure ...
I was not paid for this endorsement
Happy birthday DU.
🎂 🍰
Lurking since March '08 DU has been part of my daily routine going on 18 years.
Bummer!
Thank you for being a small dose of reality in an increasingly unhinged world