'Retrieve the value of the configuration option startdate'

def getstartdate(self):

    datestr = self.config.getdefault(('Repository    ' + self.repository.name), 'startdate', None)
    try:
        if (not datestr):
            return None
        date = time.strptime(datestr, '%Y-%m-%d')
        if (date[0] < 1900):
            raise OfflineImapError(('startdate    led    to    year    %d.    Abort    syncing.' % date[0]), OfflineImapError.ERROR.MESSAGE)
        if ((time.mktime(date) - time.mktime(time.localtime())) > 0):
            raise OfflineImapError(('startdate    led    to    future    date    %s.    Abort    syncing.' % datestr), OfflineImapError.ERROR.MESSAGE)
        return date
    except ValueError:
        raise OfflineImapError('invalid    startdate    value    %s', OfflineImapError.ERROR.MESSAGE)
