This is kind of shocking- 106 donations for $5,640 in under 24 hours for Obama from just the commentariat here at Balloon Juice.
I think breaking the ten k mark by the NC/Indiana primary is completely doable. Maybe we should even up it to 15k.?
The key thing is to get new donors, though. New blood into the process is even more important than cash, I think, because if we can get people to make the first step and throw in 25, 50, or 100 bucks, maybe they will be more likely to head down to the local office to volunteer to go door to door, send positive energy, etc.
Regardless, I am still pretty shocked. That is a huge sum of money, and maybe after the election we should have a monthly fund-raiser for worthy charities. Something simple- everyone bring a sandwich to work instead of going out for lunch, and donate the five bucks they would have spent to Helping Hands Monkeys or OxFam or some other charity we can all choose. Something to think about.
Regardless, that is still a huge sum of money for Obama. I am glad we did it.
greynoldsct00
Teamwork!
libarbarian
Dude,
BJ commentators rule! You didn’t already know that? :)
TheFountainHead
Since this is an Open Thread, y’all should take a look at Josh Marshall’s post this morning about the latest silliness from Camp Clinton.
Nate
Could we also start a collection to have Lanny Davis take the wrap for a crime that results in him being disbarred, disgraced and deported? Is that too much to ask?
Krista
That’s a really nice idea, John. Make sure it’s not something to which only you ‘murricans can give, though. You seem to have a fair number of godless commie Canadian and European readers as well.
I would suggest that we all make a nice donation to Planned Parenthood, in Rep. John Duncan’s name. ;)
Grand Moff Texan
I hear Clinton raised 10 million dollars, which means she’s still $500,000 in the red.
Heh.
.
bub
I’m in!
Patrick Lightbody
Alright, you’ve guilted me in. First time donor for any political campaign ever. I’ve been meaning to send $25 to Obama, so there you go. I hope you’re happy.
The Other Steve
She raised $2.5 million in 6 hours. the campaign said “At this rate we’ll raise $10 million by tomorrow”
Turns out the actual total was $3.5 million. Apparently people didn’t give at quite the same rate.
Obama raised $5 million in the same time frame.
b. hussein canuckistani
Seconding Krista here. All the cool kids get to give to Obama, but your mom won’t let us join the party.
Well, have some moral support, for what it’s worth. Way to go, guys!
Elvis Elvisberg
What Krista said. That is a wonderful idea. Let’s please do it.
Also, let’s be really, really, forgiving and magnanimous about each choice of charities, and calmly abstain from donating if we decide we don’t like that month’s selection.
Neal
I did my little donation yesterday and tipped the site. We’re doing another in the fiance’s name today and I am now trying to push my brother to do it.
Cole, you got me to finally stop being so wishy washy and just donate (and harass those around me to do the same). I wasn’t wishy washy about Obama, he’s been my guy since the beginning of this thing, but I have always had a big problem donating to politicians. I spent a little when I saw Obama speak last year but that was it til now.
ThymeZone
Yes, let’s do it. Harness the mighty power of Hot Air.
I’m tapped out until the election season is over, between Obama, the Smile Train, Antiwar.com, and a couple others, but after November (or after I max out on the Obama GE limit) I’m down for it.
empty
I think this is a great idea. But why wait till after the elections? Why not run the two in parallel?
Stephen
Brown baggin’ it for charity… I really like that idea.
I started brining my lunch to work with me and donated $30 per week to the Obama campaign. It was money I was spending anyway, so why not, right?
Well, I also lost some weight in the deal from eating healthier. Talk about a win-win!
mrmobi
Great idea, John.
I have a soft spot for OxFam as I’m reading the book “Into the Wild,” which is about Christopher McCandless, the young man who donated $24,000 (all of his money) to OxFam before going on his ill-fated Alaskan Adventure in 1992. The Sean Penn movie about this is just terrific. You get to see a very old Hal Holbrook do what he is so very good at (and was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars).
I’m in. So there’s a positive power to Hot Air, who knew?
Watcher of the Skies
Long time lurker, first time poster.
$50 to Obama.
$55 to Soldiers Angels for a wounded soldier backback.
The wounded soldier backpack gives a soldier clothes and hygeiene products (toothbrush, toothpaste) for when they are medivaced and their belongings have not caught up with them yet. It also has a 100 minute calling card so they can contact their family.
Soldiers Angels also has project “Valour-IT” which helps soldiers a Walter Reed with wound to their hands or other major injuries. These soldiers are provided with voice-controlled and adaptive laptop computers to help them keep in touch with family and friends.
Two good causes that I can think of off the top of my head.
Billy K
Yep, I caught that, too. Doesn’t matter, though; CNN was reporting the $10 million figure this morning.
PUNK’D! LOL!!!1one
mrmobi
Yaaaaay! I just made a small contribution and got to see the amount go to $5,900!
Good work BJers.
Paul L.
The Reich wing is outraged at the removal of children from parents that was caused by fake phone tip from a Obama delegate.
This should be ignore by progressives as the accused are religious nut-jobs and is perpetuated by the saintly good-hearted social workers at Child Protective Services and it is “FOR THE CHILDREN“.
They are lucky that they were not burnt to death in a Federal siege.
Dreggas
Watch it John, once you start donating to charities you really will become a bleeding heart. Next thing you know, you’ll be wearing birkenstocks.
Andrew
If we extrapolate the nanosecond in which my tiny donation was traveling down the intertubes, Obama raised $156 quadrillion dollars in 14 minutes!
Dreggas
Paul L.
tell me, exactly, how is Obama responsible for this?
area man
I just kicked in another $25 and am good for another $50 come payday.
Thanks for putting up the link, Mr. Cole, and thanks to you and the commentariat for many interesting and informative hours of lurking pleasure!
Andrew
I’ve got to say that I’m actually a little surprised that Paul L. is pro-child rape. I figured that there were places that even he wouldn’t go, but I guess I was wrong.
Genine
I’ve been working to get people to donate to FINCA or similar organizations like Accion. (I, personally, work with FINCA, I’m thinking of adding ACCION).I like them because they give microloans to people to start their own businesses. ($50 goes a long way in some African and other countries). The people pay the money back and build credit to get more loans to expand their businesses. Also FINCA requires that participants have their children in school and save a certain amount of profits in order to increase their credit- in addition to paying the loans back.
I like it because it empowers people and allows them to take control of their own destiny, economic or otherwise. It’s not just charity but a way to really build people up and make sure that any positive change is sustainable. It’s more sustainable than charity- though that’s important, too. (People need to eat right away, while their business grows :-))
But FINCA has a 90% payback rate. I am not sure of the others, but I am looking into that because I think its a great long-term solution.
W.E.B. Adamant
I would donate, but I’m in college and poor. Plus I have to drive to work, so gas eats all of the extra money I have.
Mary
Goddamnit, John, you’re making me tear up a little here. I’m another well-fed and secure furriner who can’t donate to Obama, but I can shell out for almost any other charity. I may not get the tax writeoff if it’s not a Canadian charity, but I really don’t care.
Genine
Sorry, I think I sounded a little over the top in my previous post. I just really like that organization. **blushes**
I also donate to Network for Positive Futures, which can be another idea.
But, I will shut up now about my charities.
BP in MN
I like Krista’s suggestion. When someone in politics says something outrageous and/or ignorant, set up a donation for a group that counters whatever issue.
Someone denies global warming is happening? Give to your preferred energy awareness/lobbying NGO. Offensive remarks about genocide in Darfur? Aid to relief orgs.
Do that every other month; in the off months, give money to a worthy charity that doesn’t have the fortune to b opposed by complete numbskulls.
Billy K
The guy’s a card-carrying Deadhead, FFS.
b. hussein canuckistani
Way to stand up for child rape there, Paul. That’ll be a real vote winner for whoever blames Obama for trying to stop it.
I bet Obama would try to stop a human sacrifice cult, too. He just doesn’t support religious freedom, probably because he’s an elitist who looks down on religion.
Paul L.
Nice to see Andrew supports arresting people and taking their children based on phony questionable anonymous calls to the authorities.
I thought you followers of Glennzilla were champions of the 4th amendment.
myiq2xu
If it’s over, why are y’all wasting your money?
Andrew
I guess the pregnant 14 year old and the multiple children of 16 year olds are imaginary beings?
There is irrefutable evidence of one of child rape. Paul is suddenly a strong civil libertarian. I’m guess I’m not shocked about that.
Just on NPR: 20! 20 underage pregnant teenagers. FUCK YOU PAUL.
Ninerdave
That’s an excellent idea.
Andrew
The race is over, but not the potential damage to the
democratic party that will be caused by your candidate.
The purpose of our donations to Obama in the primary is to make sure that a Democrat wins the presidency. Everything you do to help Hillary increases the chance of a McCain presidency. Hillary knows this, and will be happy to run again in 4 years, Meanwhile, you’re a sucker.
Ninerdave
John does ActBlue have some kind of widget that’ll show how much the site has raised?
daryljhusseinfontaine
In for $50 for Barry (first time Obama donor for your tally, JC — my money went to Edwards early in the season), more later as funds permit.
D
Chubbs
I gave $25 under the Balloon Juice banner, had already given to Barack before that but had to give something under the Juice since this is one of the best sites on the web. :)
Nick
Just donated $25 myself. First time I’ve ever made a political donation.
John Cole
I emailed them to ask. Then I get to try to figure out how to install it on the website. Joy.
I really have to get this website under control. I think I know what I am doing in July.
There is a lot of that going on.
Paul L.
Link?
So prosecute the guy who impregnated the 14 year old.
Are you implying that the 437 children who have been forcibly removed from their parents are all his?
I expect the same amount of outrage over this.
22-Year-Old Teacher Has Sex with 14-Year-Old Student, Is Sentenced to…not a day in jail.
Sasha
Well, if you’d rather not have Obama well-funded for the general election, that’s your call.
John Cole
Paul L.
Why are you ranting at us about this stuff? Is there some great big left-right divide on child rape that you want to fill us in on? Or are you doing what you normally do, which is just babble incoherently.
BTW- I never pushed the Duke Lacrosse Rape charges, nor did anyone here, that I can remember. In fact, I remember being on their side on the issue. Why do you always come in here swinging like I was on the other side of the issue?
Quit trying to erect bullshit left-right divides over issues.
Lynne
Wow, a whole 106 donors in 24 hours. Color me impressed. Given the amount of traffic you site gets, and the raging Obamania that is present, you should be somewhat disappointed. Also, given that so many people stated in a previous thread that they gave $25 or so, there must have been at least a couple of people out of those 106 that gave a pretty good chunk, something in the neighborhood of $500 to $1,000 or so, to push the donation total up to what it is.
John S.
Because he’s a dittohead.
John S.
No, you people don’t get impressed unless Hillary wins a handful of delegates or farts in your general direction, and then…
IT’S THE GREATEST MOMENT IN HISTORY!
Conservatively Liberal
I read some thoughts that maybe she collected $2.5 million in the first six hours after the debate, and they extrapolated it to $10 million for 24 hours. It was based on how Lanny worded the press release, something along the line of ‘if it keeps up, at this pace we will be on track to raise $10 million in 24 hours’. Not exactly those words, but it came across that way. It was only a thought that person had, but I would not put it past those ‘geniuses’ in Camp Hillary.
Funny that Lanny Davis mentioned that they got over 50,000 new donors, and that just happened to be the number of new donors Obama got in the 24 hours after the debate. Coincidence? I wonder why Hillary don’t have statistics on her page and Obama does. Is there something that she would rather not show everyone? Something that Obama supporters can look at and measure?
I have a feeling that the numbers they are giving now are not true. She probably got an initial surge of donations, but I bet it tapered off real fast. Too bad she is not as open as Obama when it comes to the number of donors and actual amounts raised.
Great job on the fundraising people! I am going to direct everyone I can to the ActBlue page, even if they don’t post here (but I will get a plug in for John though…lol). It ought to be interesting to see how this works out.
Paul L.
Andrew
Wow, Lynne’s post really sums up the pathetic defeatism of the Hillary crowd.
4tehlulz
>>I never pushed the Duke Lacrosse Rape charges, nor did anyone here.
I’ve always wondered if that was a big deal here or not. Now his trolling doesn’t make ANY sense at all.
John Cole
You should really ask around before you start babbling about things you don’t understand. For a first time fund-raising attempt, this is pretty extraordinary. Go check other endeavors at actblue, and compare the traffic to return.
Additionally, according to the info I have, we had 7 donations over $200, the highest being $260. We had 26 donations over 100 (and that includes the 7 over 200 I already mentioned). That means that close to 80% of the donations were under 100.00. If I had SPSS or SASS on this machine I would give you the breakdown, but the vast majority were in the 25.00 to 50.00 range, with the lowest at 4.00 and the highest at 260 (and I confess to not knowing how to quantify Genine’s positive energy). The average donation so far has been $53.4 dollars.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it, you bitter Hillary supporter.
Conservatively Liberal
Wow, Lynne must have got up on the wrong side of the cat box.
Augie
John,
I think this monthly charity is a great idea but seriously… you used to be a conservative blogger…Now you’re making calls to donate to Obama and worthy charities! You’re really drinking the leftie kool-aid.
And it’s AWESOME!
Bubblegum Tate
I figure fellow Balloon-Juicers would have some fun with this one: GOPer speaks at birthday party for Hitler. Why? Because they asked him to!
On the non-comedy front, I like the idea of doing regular charity donations/collections.
Zifnab
What crack are you even smoking? An Obama delegate? That’s nowhere in the article. Seriously, Paul. Stop smoking the ganja and read the shit you post. You’d make more sense if you were chasing after the Hitler-Farrakhan-Wright-Obama connection.
As it stands, could you be a little more off topic?
Krista
I bet you could make some really fantastic whine out of those sour grapes of yours, sweetheart.
jnfr
If you keep it going a couple weeks I’ll be able to chip in (I’ve given Obama little money before, but not much). Don’t have the extra cash this week though.
Zifnab
Psh, if Obama wasn’t black and if the primary hadn’t been on Tuesday and if you weren’t constantly linked to by Kos and if more conservatives were on this site and if you only count women donors from blue states and if you still supported George Bush you wouldn’t have racked in nearly as much cash.
By that metric, your fund raising was pathetic and you should be ashamed of yourself for even trying.
:p
Ted
Don’t mind Paul L, folks, he’s just a bit retarded. He doesn’t understand that when you remove 400+ kids from a cult compound, numerous underage ones are pregnant, and it’s a polygamist cult, you can’t leave the children in the cult’s custody until you sort out which ones have been victimized and by whom (DNA tests).
Don
John,
The apocalypse is upon us. Two things I never thought I would do: comment on a blog and donate to a politician. By the imploring of Balloon Juice and the new Fox promo courtesy of the odious Clintons, I was driven to unthinkable depths, sacrificing tonights Subway dinner for a $10 Obama donation. Fuck it. I am a displaced Wheeling boy living in the deep South and I like the cut of your jib. Keep throwing kidney punches at the swine.
Don
ThymeZone
It depends on the what the meaning of “is” is.
Of course they are not true, they are playing a perception shell game in a desperate attempt to keep the cash machine from going thunk.
They have serious money troubles. Just another indication that they have been outplayed in this campaign season.
Do you really want people running a government who can’t figure out how to do a 50-state campaign without running out of money?
b. hussein canuckistani
One of my favourite Maltese Falcon quotes:
There you go, Lynne, $6775 of genuine coin of the realm. Got anything to show besides talk?
afferent input
If we do a monthly charity thing, I recommend the National Center for Science Education. It’s the only national organization dedicated to insuring good science is taught in public schools and working against crap like intelligent design creationism and other pseudo-scientific flim-flam. They were instrumental in providing technical advice in the Dover case two years ago.
A little dough their direction would go a long way.
http://www.ncseweb.org/
Zuzu
Well Lynne, I hope you are also counting the many of us who gave just before John set up the ActBlue link. For instance, I donated $100 just a few hours before the link was set up…and all because of Balloon-Juice.
But as you say you’re so easily impressed, how about you give us some comparable fundraising figures from some of the other sites?
Z
And Kiva.org. They are also a micro-finance organization.
Billy K
Where do they get these “writers?”
And in general, I ask, “WTF is wrong with Slate?” I think they actually got worse after they separated from MSN.
Z
Billy K.
I thought it was funny! He was making the point that Hillary can’t win!
Surabaya Stew
Good job Mr. Cole! Way to go in getting us Balloons to act together! Not only do I like this very much, but I also agree that donating collectively every month to a worthy cause is a great idea. Since we seem to enjoy your blog, it seems to reason that we will approve of your chosen charities. So after this endless primary is over, I strongly encourage you to follow up on this.
My only advice would be to make such a monthly collection towards an urgent or 1-time cause, rather than towards a organization that is in it for the long haul. Rather then “fight cancer” or “help the poor”, try “saving a kid’s life” or “help build this community center” kind of causes. Specific and targeted goals have a way of attracting attention and support that broad causes don’t. Imagine if you asked your readers to donate towards the DNC? You would been have been lucky to raise $56 dollars!
Billy K
I thought it was satire at first, too. By the end I decided it was not.
reid
The numbers games coming out of the Clinton campaign are really quite pathetic, and not just in terms of donations. MSNBC, and probably all of the rest, are reporting that her campaign is flat-out claiming that she is ahead in the popular vote. The media dance around the issue a bit and at least mention that her claims include Michigan, but it’s such sheer nonsense that you would think they would be more up-front about denouncing and rejecting their validity. I guess the fallacy of the average strikes again. Please, IN and NC voters, see it for what it is….
Andrew
North Cackalacki Peoples!
Arcade Fire and Superchunk playing Obama Early Vote Rallies in Greensboro, NC and Carrboro, NC on May 1 & 2
http://www.mergerecords.com/news.php?month=Apr%202008#372
I am going to spam the heck out of all the BJ threads, but this is cool.
Lynne
I’m sorry, but given the amount of traffic this site generates and the absolute Obamania that resides here, I am just not impressed with only getting 106 donors. It should have been more, given the absolute Hillary hatred that resides here.
Thanks for the donations breakdown though. I gave $100 online to Hillary’s campaign Tuesday night (my second such donation, the first coming after her win in Ohio), but felt compelled to go back on and donate another $300 so that I could keep up with your larger donors. If you get any new donations larger than that, let me know. I’ve got another $1,800 or so left to play with.
Jon H
Any generous donors want to pay for me to go to Guam so I can go door-to-door in support of Obama?
Andrew
You’re right, it should be! I’m donating again. Thanks for the inspiration.
John S.
I’m running for president. Can I have your $1800?
After all, I have as much chance of winning the nomination as Hillary does, so why not give it to me instead?
Phoebe
I maxed out for Obama a long time ago, or I’d help. This Saturday I’m getting on a bus of volunteers to go canvas & register voters in Oregon. There’s plenty to do, and that’s good because it keeps me from gnawing through my wrist.
John S.
At the time of this post, 134 people have donated over $7000. But those extra 28 people don’t really count because they’re either in red states that Obama can’t win or they are in states that held un-democratic caucuses.
John Cole
You aren’t sorry, you are an asshole, and even then, you don’t need to apologize, as we are used to trolls.
You came in, denigrated a group effort to give to a candidate we all like, were wrong about the key assumptions you made, and then, out of bitterness, gave some to Hillary.
I would say that just from the little you have commented in this thread you are perfectly matched for the candidate you support- bitter, angry, resentful, and divisive. Have fun parroting GOP talking points for a few more weeks on behalf of Hillary before you have to choose between Obama and McCain. And by all means, if you donate more money to the black hole that is the Clinton campaign, make sure you include a nice note to the chief beneficiary- Mark Penn.
PeterJ
Mark Penn thanks you for your donation, he also would like that you give him the $1,800 you haven’t given yet.
Zuzu
I invest through Kiva and also donate. It is a great organization.
http://www.kiva.org
Jon H
Mark Penn would appreciate that. He’s overdue for his brazillian.
Zuzu
Still waiting for you to provide comparable or better numbers from any of the other sites.
Tick tock, Lynnie.
Jon H
Seriously, folks – fly me from Boston to Guam. Travelocity came up with an itinerary for $3,764.86 leaving tomorrow and staying for 13 days.
I’ll campaign like the dickens.
Zuzu
Okay, I’m guessing Lynnie isn’t going to cough up any examples of fundraising by other blogs, so I’ll provide some comps myself.
Who’s supporting Hillary Clinton
Title & Author Donors Total Raised
An Evening at A P T with New York Sta…
by Hillary Happy Hours
45 $1,085.00
Democratic Underground Presidential F…
by Democratic Underground
22 $1,410.44
Hillary Clinton
by Justice Insider
18 $8,275.00
Hillary Happy Hours
by Jeff Campagna
7 $110.00
AMERICAblog Presidential Candidates 2008
by John Aravosis, editor, AMERICAblog.com
6 $538.00
Team Hillary – Pasadena
by Larry Vincent
5 $125.00
Candidates and Causes Supported by Ed…
by Edward Costello
2 $1,035.00
Help WesPAC Help Democrats Win!
by General Wesley Clark & WesPAC
2 $300.00
Hilary House Party
by The Orr House
1 $500.00
Restore US Democracy
by lizpolaris
1 $100.08
Sharon Portsmouth Dem
by Sharon Nichols
1 $50.00
Hillary in ’08
by Roger Pollitt
1 $35.00
Main St. USA
by truth
1 $10.00
Texas Kaos Fundraising Page
by Texas Kaos
1 $10.00
Uppity Wisconsinites for Hillary
by Uppity Wisconsin
1 $10.00
$1 Democracy
by [email protected]
1 $1.00
My 2-cents for Hillary
by The MSM Loves Hillary
1 $1.00
ActBlue Hillary Fundraisers
Wow Lynnie, that IS impressive !
Andrew
BJ for Obama is the #1 page on ActBlue today. Much like Hillary, her supporters can’t recognize who’s in first place.
Lynne
1. Don’t care about other sites – only this one. In approximately 6 hours you got another 26 or so donors. As stated before, given the absolute love everyone has for Obama, I really would think it would be more.
2. Honey, I’m not bitter. My man dropped out, and out of the two candidates remaining, I prefer Hillary. That’s an informed choice, not bitterness. It seems to me that it is you who are bitter – bitter that not everyone within the Democratic party (later comer that you are – I’ve been in the D column since the 1980 election, so pardon me if I feel a little more, well, Democratic than you) agrees your choice of a candidate. The only time I have ever voted Republican in a Presidential election was 1976, for Ford, but hell, I was only 18, uninformed, and stupid.
3. Unlike many of your commentariat, if my candidate does not get the nomination, I will not pick up my toys and go home. I will go into the voting booth and dutifully pull the lever for Obama. He isn’t my first choice, or even my second, but will be my choice against John McCain. I also won’t be holding my nose to do it.
4. Saying that if Hillary gets the nomination, you’ll write in Obama’s name – now, THAT is bitter. And anyone who does so should make sure they are home, in front of the TV, on that cold January morning when John McCain is inaugurated as the next President.
3.
Andrew
Shorter Lynne: You’re not first place ENOUGH.
Lynne
By the way, Zuzu, my name is Lynne. The only person who calls me Lynnie is my husband, and usually when he if feeling romantic. Please, please, don’t call me Lynnie, zuzuie.
John S.
Wrong again, sweetheart.
The majority of us are not stupid (which is why we support Obama), and in a hypothetical fantasy world where Hillary gets the nomination we will vote for her because we realize how batshit insane McCain is.
It’s just sad that due to her ‘exemplary’ behavior over the months the mere thought of having to do so sends shivers down our spines.
Lynne
John,
I didn’t realize that only people who support your choice in a candidate are welcome to comment on your site, and are “assholes” if they don’t support your man. I guess even when you changed sides, you still maintain just a little bit of that Republican mentality – you know, the one that says that anyone who disagrees with you is not only an asshole, but is bitter, angry, divisive and resentful. You sound just like the Republican talking points against the Democrats.
In the words of Rodney King, can’t we all just get along?
Zuzu
No, of course you don’t, Lynnie. And the reason why is quite obvious.
Zuzu
I dunno, Lynnie, there’s something just so … diminutive about you.
PeterJ
Great idea for getting more people donate, adding a sock puppet. And for a second I actually thought that Lynne was real…
Genine
Kiva.org! I was trying to remember what the only micro-finance option was. I need to add them to my list and not ACCION. I read about Kiva in Ode Magazine.
And Lynne, from what I’ve read most people here will vote for Hillary if she is the nominee. John said he won’t, but that’s his prerogative. As for holding our noses, well the campaign she’s run has a lot to do with that. It’s not irrational hatred in most cases.
Besides, the last poll I heard- 19% of Obama supporters say they won’t vote for Hillary if she is the nominee and 28% of Clinton supporters say they won’t vote for Obama if he is the nominee.
But most reasonable people agree that these numbers are due to the hot contest going on now and once the idea that McCain could win, most of that number will drop. A few might right in, but most won’t.
Lynne
John S:
Go to other threads on this site and look at the number of people saying they’ll write in Obama’s name, stay home, or even move to Canada should the Wicked Witch of Chappaqua somehow manage to snatch victory from the hands of your candidate.
I haven’t called anyone names, and inferring that I, or any other person that thinks Hillary is the better choice, is “stupid” certainly doesn’t elevate the discussion. Shame on you. That was rude.
John Cole
Lynn,
Anyone can omment here, as you are proving. And it is not rejection of my “man,” that makes you an asshole. it is the asshole behavior. This is a site that has never engaged in fund-raising. Other than during the typhoon and Hurricane Katrina and maybe project valour-IT, I don’t recall ever even pushing causes.
But, because a lot of us passionately support Obama, I thought what the hell, and threw up a link to actblue, and am simply shocked at the support we have generated.
Then you enter, and make a bunch of ill-informed and shitty comments, all of which were wrong, all of which were designed to denigrate the people who participated. When pushed to back up your claims, you can’t or won’t. What made you an asshole is not that you have chosen to support Hillary, but that you are being an asshole.
And even with all that, as you can plainly see, you are STILL welcome to comment. Christ, grow up. You make a bunch of shitty remarks you can’t back up, expect to get it thrown back in your face. If you can’t handle that, you are still welcome to comment here, but you might not like it.
And stop it with the “Lynnie” bullshit, zuzu.
John Cole
This is not the Daily Kos. This is not the DNC’s website. A lot of people here are not Democrats. We have a few Republicans, independents, libertarians, some former Democrats, some former Republicans and even some anarchists. I know we have a few DFH’s and as far as I can tell, a few Wiccans.
With that in mind, you can fully expect that more than a few people who comment her probably WILL vote for McCain or not vote at all if Obama loses. That is just how life works when you have a bunch of diverse people with the right to vote in the way they think reflects their best self-interest. Adults learn how to deal with that.
scrutinizer
Cringe.
You come over here, piss all over the carpet, and wonder why we think you’re an asshole? You’re even more clueless than myiqy and pluck.
Zuzu
Since it’s you asking, I will. “Asshole” seems to fill the bill a little better anyway.
Not THAT Barney
$25 from me, 1st time donation. Is Lynne actually working for Obama to drive contributions? It sure seems to work.
Zuzu
I like it a lot. I’m helping a Fijian woman fund a neighborhood store. It may be sort of gimmicky, but there’s something about seeing exactly what you’re investing in – and the difference you’re making for a real person – that’s really satisfying.
Lynne
Genine,
Yes, I agree that tempers seem to be pretty hot, especially here. I sometimes wonder if it is healthy to be so invested in a candidate. While I am supporting Hillary, I am not rabid about it, as so many of the Obamaniacs here are. If Obama wins, oh well, he wins and I vote for him. I also hope that you are right about candidate crossover in the general. Otherwise, we’ll definitely be looking at four more years of Bush’s policies continuing.
Side note to Zuzu – at almost 5’9″, I don’t think anyone would call me diminutive. Although, at a size 8, I am slender! :)
Thelonius
Just gave $50. Missed the entry last night when I gave $100 to the Obama campaign page, or that would have gone here as well.
And Lynne, in just over 24 hours, this site is the #3 ActBlue contributing organization, behind Blue Majority and Obama for America. That seems pretty impressive to me.
Been lurking on the site for awhile, this donation drive and response prompted me to enter a comment for the first time.
Zuzu
I think you’re wrong.
However, I’ll respect John’s admonition, especially as his descriptive term seems more to the point.
Thelonius
That should have said, “in just over 24 hours, this site is the #3 ActBlue contributing organization to Obama.”
Zuzu
I suspect that last would be more likely among those in safely blue or lost-cause red states.
Lynne
John,
I truly was not intentionally denigrating the people donating. I really am surprised, given the amount of support for Obama on this site, that there weren’t more than 106 people in the initial tally. I realize I was probably being a little snarky, and for that, I apologize. As I stated to John S. earlier, I haven’t resorted to name calling, and I would really appreciate not being called an asshole, or being told I am shitty. That is not only unkind, it is uncalled for. I think you are above that.
Zuzu, really, go back to Lynnie. I like it better than asshole.
mrmobi
I’ve heard about this stuff on XM Radio. Micro-finance tries to address the problems of the poor by giving them tiny loans to start businesses in poor countries. Great idea, and very worthy of consideration, I think.
PeterJ
Before Romney left McCain never got 50% in a state that he will win in the GE. Then after Romney left, Huckabee surged due to anti-McCain votes. After Huckabee left, a now uncontested McCain has yet to win 80% of the vote in a primary held in a US state.
Makes me sleep better after thinking about the 19% and 28%…
L. Ron Obama
Congratulations on your promotion to Concern Troll!
mrmobi
In my view, these polls are bullshit. I can’t believe those numbers are anywhere near what will happen, and I’ve been seeing a softening in the rhetoric both at Pro-Obama and Pro-Clinton blogs (here, not so much). I doubt very much that the actual cross-over voters will be half of those numbers.
At least among long-time democrats like myself, It is pretty much impossible to vote for a Republican. Sorry to any Republicans here, but I just think they are a party which has run out of ideas and has no principles. If you like corruption, graft and gross incompetence, they are your guys.
If Hillary is Satan (and she’s not) and she’s the nominee, then I’m voting for the devil I know.
PeterJ
We all know who the Tracy Flick of this primary is.
Krista
See, that’s the thing. If I went over to a pro-Clinton or pro-McCain or pro-Cthulu website and as my very first comment there, twitted them about their earnest efforts to fundraise for their candidate, I would thoroughly expect to be called out on it.
Frankly, I think our little group has done quite nicely. I wish I could give, as do many of my fellow Canucks who lurk or comment here (hope you don’t mind me speaking for you, guys!) And there are evidently many commenters here who have already given, prior to John announcing this campaign.
At any rate, if you want to make fun of the folks at Balloon-Juice, that’s fine. We can take it (mind you, we will certainly not be shy about dishing it right back up, as you’ve seen.) However, it seems to me that a large number of Obama’s supporters are people like us: just average people who, possibly for the first time in their lives, feel something besides the usual disgusted cynicism when looking a political candidate. We’re daring to hope that maybe, just maybe, this guy is different. And we want to see him succeed and are helping however we can.
Mock Obama’s supporters if you like, but you must admit that his candidacy has made a lot of formerly uninvolved people interested in and involved in the political process. How can that be a bad thing?
L. Ron Obama
At a pro-Cthulhu website, you’d be lucky to be immediately eaten, and continually digested for several years.
John S.
Spare me the bogus moral high road. Anyone who still thinks Hillary has a path to the nomination is stupid.
John S.
In case you are confused Lynne, here’s what the bogus moral high road looks like:
No, of course you’re not calling anyone names here. You’re merely implying that most of us here are children who will throw a tantrum in the extremely unlikely case that Clinton wins the nomination.
PeterJ
No, Lynne just want to slap Obama.
KRK
John, if you’re ready to fully embrace the dark side, how about the ACLU for a charity-of-the-month? They deserve some support for actually pushing on the whole torture debacle when our politicians (of any flavor) and media (surprise) are apparently willing to ignore it.
John Cole
I apologize, then. I saw someone coming in and crapping all over the first time efforts by a bunch of us, and reacted accordingly.
Zuzu
Yeah, I also like the fact that it’s really an investment. Not tax deductible, but donations to the organization itself are.
Zuzu
Well, since most people voted for him, or tried to, I guess it did.
Lynne
John,
Thank you for your apology. I appreciate it. I am truly sorry for making you so angry and did not mean to denigrate your efforts. I discovered this site during the SChip battle, via your fellow CDC suffer Andrew Sullivan, and have really enjoyed reading it. I agree with most of what is written here, not only by you, but other contributors and commenters as well. I promise, our outlooks really aren’t that different – we might differ on our choice of a nominee, but ultimately we want the same thing – an end to the Bush nightmare.
While you might be passionate about Obama’s campaign, I don’t share that same feeling for Hillary. I just think she’s got a better chance against McCain, and I don’t think Obama can win in the general. I really feel that there is still too much racism in this country. Sexism is there too, just not in equal measure. I live in the South, in a majority black city, with a large number of black elected officials, and I hear it every day. I’m even willing to put a little money on it. If Obama wins the nomination and goes on to beat McCain, I will donate $100 to any charity of your choice, if you will agree to do the same for me if Hillary gets the nomination and goes on to beat McCain.
John S. – No, I am not stupid – just realistic. To fail to recognize that neither candidate has a clear path to the nomination via the pledged delegates elected in the primaries is to be placing your head in the sand. The reality is that the nomination will fall to the Super delegates, and the majority of them are sitting on the fence, afraid to commit, just waiting to see what happens in the next round round of primaries.
Even you have to acknowledge that Obama has had a tough time recently, due to the Wright controversy and his comments in San Francisco. Were it not for those two things, Hillary could have thrown the whole house at him, not just the kitchen sink, and he would have been teflon. When push comes to shove, the Super delegates won’t care who won the most delegates in the primaries – they’ll pick the candidate they think has the best chance to beat John McCain. My guess is that if anything else like those previous controversies comes out, and if Obama can’t regain the traction he had with white working class democrats (a huge demographic group within the party),especially the older ones, in the early primaries, those uncomitted Super delegates might well deem Hillary the more electable of the two. Historically, older people turn out to vote in larger numbers than any other group, and Barak Obama is just a little too different for them. He’s multi-racial, has an exotic name, and had a multi-cultural upbringing. What they desire is familiarity, and that he is not. Although you might not like it, determining the best dog in the hunt is the purpose of the Super delegates – not to simply parrot the results of the primaries. It’s why that category of delegate was created in the first place. To acknowlege the possibility that they might do just that is not being stupid. It is being pragmatic about the reality of our political landscape.
Lynne
Zuzu-
Forgive me, I guess I must have been comatose for the past eight years, since I seem to have missed all that happened during the Gore administration.
Let’s see – outgoing democratic president with fairly high approval ratings, time of prosperity for most citizens, very smart. What could possibly go wrong? Before you say that Bush stole the election, I’ll save you the trouble. I agree – with the help of the Supreme Court, Bush stole the election. Unfortunately, the popular vote doesn’t matter – just the electoral college count. And on that front, Gore couldn’t close the deal. If he had won a few more of the swing states, Florida would not have mattered. Unlike our current nominating process, there is no proportionality in the general. He, or she :), who wins the most votes gets all the cookies. Gore’s problem was that he came off as the smartest guy in the room (which he was), but it rubbed a lot of voters the wrong way and so they voted for the idiot they wanted to have a beer with. Like it or not, given our mostly uninformed electorate, the Presidency is a popularity contest. Personally, I want a President smarter than I am, but given the last eight years, not all voters feel that way.
Laura Roslin
people keep talking about the “upcoming NC primary”.
Uh, we’ve BEEN voting in North Carolina. Early voting began on April 17, and absentee by mail began Mar 17.
Important Election Dates:
2008 Primary Election May 6th
Last day to register to vote: Apr. 11
Absentee Voting: Mar. 17 – Apr. 29
One Stop Absentee Voting: Apr. 17 – May 3
see http://www.ncvoter.net
ImJohnGalt
From Lynne:
Sorry Lynne. There is not your math and our math. There is only math.
Total # of declared superdelegates: 490
Total # of undeclared superdelegates: 304
Does 304 strike you as more than half of (304+490)?
Source: 2008 Democratic Convention Watch
Also:
…is rude by any standard. That you actually got John to apologize for calling you out on your dickish behavior is appalling.
How many unique visitors do you think this site gets? Among the “commentariat” I’d say there’s only two-three hundred different handles that you might see over the course of several months, many of which are second or third pseudonyms used by spoofers. Who knows how many lurkers there are? Not you, certainly.
Of all those millions of unique visitors you seem to think this site gets, how many do you think have extra money that isn’t being used to put food on their table? Similarly, how many do you think are not US Citizens and therefore not eligible to donate? Plus, just because you seem to think everyone not participating at HillaryIs44 is an obamaniac doesn’t mean that everyone here support Obama enough to want to donate.
Sheesh.
Zuzu
I just noticed Lynne’s comment to me.
Lynne, you can spare me the lecture. I said that most people voted for Gore, or tried to. That includes the thousands in Florida who mismarked their ballots.
So no matter your opinion of his personality, the fact is that it didn’t work against him to the extent you’d like to think.