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Be a traveling stable for those who can’t find room at the inn.

This blog will pay for itself.

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President Biden is doing good where he can, and getting it done.

There is one struggling party in US right now, and it’s not the Democrats.

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Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / An Angel Match for Virginia! (Match is Complete)

An Angel Match for Virginia! (Match is Complete)

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On Friday, we put up our first thermometer for Virginia to kick off our 2023-24 fundraising.  And we have our first Balloon Juice Angels!  We’ll have this Angel Match today, and another one tomorrow.

The first Angel is anonymous, and she will match up to $25 per person, for a total of $500. Starting amount is $5,341.

The two Virginia candidates we are supporting are:

  •  Michael Feggans
  • Kimberly Pope Adams

I bring you…

 Episode 1 of:  Horrible Opponents

Meet Karen Greenhalgh, who currently holds the seat that Michael Feggans wants to take back from this Republican.  She ran a “fake clinic” to trick pregnant women. She’s gotta go!

Meet Kim Taylor, who currently holds the seat that Kimberly Pope Adams wants to take back from this Republican.  She has ties to the “fake clinics” to trick pregnant women. She’s gotta go!

Planned Parenthood Advocates Of Virginia: Kim Taylor “Has Ties To Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Which Are Fake Clinics Designed To Mislead Patients About Their Reproductive Health Care Options” And “Is An Anti Abortion Extremist.”  According to Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, “Kim Taylor won’t stop interfering in Virginians’ health care. Kim Taylor has ties to crisis pregnancy centers, which are fake clinics designed to mislead patients about their reproductive health care options.

The American Medical Association has called these centers unethical. Now, as a legislator, she has already supported two anti-abortion bills: One mandated biased counseling before an abortion, and the other threatened to criminalize health care providers. Kim Taylor is an anti-abortion extremist. We can’t trust Kim Taylor with our reproductive health and rights.”  [Facebook, @PPAVirginia, 3/15/22]

(Click the link below to see all the details about who we’re funding and why.)

Let’s Get Started in Virginia!

Let’s get this Angel Match started!  As we kick off the match, the thermometer is at $3,626.

Reminder:  To be matched, let us know about your donation in the comments.

RevRick took us over the top at 5:55 pm. Thanks everybody!

Reader Interactions

98Comments

  2. 2.

    Jesse

    Just chipped in $25. Thank you for doing this (and, of course, to the angel)! Fired up and ready to go.

  4. 4.

    WaterGirl

    @Another Scott: Can I just say that we looked at many of the people that are on that list?  Many of those races are REALLY well funded, and that means they will likely win without us.

    I think it’s fair to say that we are more strategic in our approach, trying to give to candidates – not just whose races are close, but who can really use the help – and we also consider other factors as well, that I suspect they do not.

    But of course people are free to use Gaba’s list if they prefer his approach.

  7. 7.

    BlueGuitarist

    In for 25 today, for the start of this marathon.

    Thanks Angel, and WaterGirl, and Balloon-Juice!

    Wrote first 25 postcards for Michael Feggans, will do another 25, then postcards for Kimberly Pope Adams next.

    Loved lots of stories, links, and comments in the Postcards & Music thread last night, but I especially wanted to highlight this comment from H.E. Wolf

    EVERYTHING we do is valuable.

    Every postcard to an unknown recipient. Every music link that lifts someone else’s spirits. Every donation. Every flower photo. Every story.

    It may seem small – that’s the point. Taking a small, concrete action is meant to be a low enough bar to clear that it can actually be done. And our actions add up. We’re making a difference for the better, and everyone who joins in is a welcome participant!

     

    Love all y’all

  8. 8.

    Alison Rose

    I like that ad for using the phrase “radical agenda”. Usually it’s the right using it against the left because we want to, I don’t know, give kids food at school and call people by the pronouns they ask us to. THEIR agenda, especially when it comes to LGBTQ and repro rights, is the radical one, and not in the fun 1980s sense.

  9. 9.

    WaterGirl

    @Another Scott: I admit to being soured on Gaba because last election season he was taking a cut on all the thermometers, without acknowledging it publicly.  You had to go to a list of, say, 27 candidates and then see his entity at the bottom of the list, getting an equal cut.

    It appears that he is no longer doing that this year, but that’s a lot of money that did not go to the candidates in his list, and I haven’t seen any acknowledgement of that or that he realized that wasn’t exactly kosher and he went back and donated that money.

    So I may not be ojective on Gaba.

    If we had taken the % he appeared to take, Balloon Juice would have netted nearly 100,000 in 2021-22.

  11. 11.

    EarthWindFire

    In for $25. Writing postcards for a candidate closer to home and glad we’re contributing to other VA candidates. The candidate I’m writing for, Russet Perry for State Senate, has quite a bit of money. Unfortunately, her opponent has unlimited rich daddy funds.

  12. 12.

    Another Scott

    @WaterGirl: Thanks for the backstory.  I always make sure to check who is getting what by default in thermometers.

    To be clear, I was using it as a list of close races for possible donations.  (BlueVirginia.US has had several stories about close races in VA, but without direct links to the candidates donation pages, so it took quite a bit of work to track down how to donate if one were so inclined.  I spent about 30 minutes last night tracking down donation links for races in my area…).

    I appreciate all you do here.  :-)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  13. 13.

    H.E.Wolf

    @BlueGuitarist: ​
     Thank you! It’s an honor to be quoted – and to last night’s list, I’ll add BJ artists doing things that matter. Three examples, of many:

    BlueGuitarist’s stellar postcard art (the art of uplift):
    https://balloon-juice.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/blue-guitarist-postcard-Michael-Feggans-600×290.jpg

    The latest painting from schrodingers_cat (the art of stretching further each time):
    https://twitter.com/ManyWorlds1Cat/status/1708481308094029831

    The generosity of Ajabu, expressed in the gift of music (in more than one sense):
    https://balloon-juice.com/2023/10/01/sunday-open-thread-and-ajabu-update/

  14. 14.

    WaterGirl

    @EarthWindFire: Thank you!

    When I was 30 or so, I got called for jury duty, and I joked about wearing a t-shirt that says “you, too, can buy justice”.  I would have another virtual t-shirt for this instance.

    We’re at $100 for the match!

  17. 17.

    EmbraceYourInnerCrone

    @WaterGirl: glad to help where I can. Probably less than my contributions across the board in 2020 through 2022 but being more careful now that retirement is staring me in the face I want a chance at a better government though. More good reps is really important

  19. 19.

    kindness

    I’ve kicked in $100.  Virginia is worth fighting for.  I gave early to Tester, Reuben Gallego & Adam Schiff.  One or all of them have sold my data and now I’m getting deluged with requests for money.  I’ve pulled back for the moment.  It’s going to be a long election year.  I’ll start up again when the pic is clearer.

  21. 21.

    lowtechcyclist

    Related to the topic, has anyone ever tried to sue ‘crisis pregnancy centers’ under ‘bait and switch’ laws, given that they pretty much fit the definition?  From Legal Information Institute:

    A “bait and switch” takes place when a seller creates an appealing but ingenuine offer to sell a product or service, which the seller does not actually intend to sell. This initial advertised offer is “the bait.” Then the seller switches customers from buying the advertised product or service that the seller initially offered into buying a different product or service that is usually at a higher price or has some other advantageous effect to the advertiser. This is the “switch.”

  24. 24.

    WaterGirl

    @kindness: Thank you!  That’s $175 for the match.

    Just as a reminder, all thermometers on Balloon Juice default to NOT SHARING YOUR INFO with the recipient, unless you actively click to say it’s okay to share.

    Hoping that helps!

  26. 26.

    Mousebumples

    @lowtechcyclist: are expectant mothers paying these centers? I’m not saying they shouldn’t be sued out of existence, but the lack of $ to purchase not what was advertised might be an issue? 🤷‍♀️

  27. 27.

    Mousebumples

    @WaterGirl: all thermometers on Balloon Juice default to NOT SHARING YOUR INFO with the recipient, unless you actively click to say it’s okay to share.

    I appreciate that! I still get multiple texts per day asking for $, but may be from other donations or early days of thermometers.

  28. 28.

    Alison Rose

    @lowtechcyclist: Yes, The Center For Reproductive Rights has attempted in the past to use bait-and-switch laws against CPCs’ advertising. But I think the centers weasel out of it because their advertising doesn’t specifically say they offer abortion services. But I know Elizabeth Warren had a recent bill to crack down on them, though I’m not sure where it is now

    ETA here it is, but I can’t find any info on if it has actually become a bill and what’s happening with it. Also LOL Menendez is one of the cosponsors.

  30. 30.

    kindness

    I pretty much use ActBlue for all my donations.  Tip them every time to keep ’em around.  I don’t think ActBlue shares/sells data but I could be wrong.  I’m not pissed about all the requests.  It’s the times we live in.  Oh yea, I forgot.  I gave to Mary Peltola too.  Alaska needs more Democratic reps.  It’s not easy for us up there.

  32. 32.

    WaterGirl

    @Mousebumples: Yeah, I only discovered that partway through the 2021-22 season.  But I am careful to set that now!  And I went back and changed all the old thermometers, too, just in case we ever wanted to use one again.

  33. 33.

    WaterGirl

    @kindness: Let’s say that ActBlue only shares your data with Candidate A, who you donated to, and doesn’t actually sell your data to anyone.

    Candidate A gets information from ActBlue by default, unless the thermometer was set up to NOT SHARE with the person you donated to.

    Candidate A shares their data with Candidate B, or maybe shares with their caucus, or whatever, and then you get a million requests for funds.

    But with our thermometers ActBlue does not share their info with the person you donated to, so it can never be shared by them with other “friendlies”.

  36. 36.

    Honus

    As a Virginian, I thank you all.

    I’m helping smoke 100 lbs of brisket and pork for the Albemarle County Democratic Picnic today.

  41. 41.

    Wolvesvalley

    I just put in $25. Both of these candidates look great (and their opponents are horrible).

  46. 46.

    Czar Chasm

    Hey y’all,

    I’m running in a a local election in Central Virginia:

     

    https://linktr.ee/bryan4treasurer

    I’m in the final stages of my campaign, but any donations can help with a couple of last-minute ads or GOTV actions.

     

    Local elections matter:  This is where many of our state legislators begin, who become our federal representatives.  My partner won’t allow me to go past the local level, however (which is fine by me).

     

    Anyhoo, thanks for y’all’s time!

  50. 50.

    TXSwede

    Contributed $25. It is frustrating to live in Texas and have so much less impact than when we lived in Northern Virginia, so that felt good.

  52. 52.

    Memory Pallas

    David Brooks (who I do NOT support) recently quoted the statistic “In 2000, two-thirds of American households gave to charity; in 2018, fewer than half did.” as an indicator that Americans are “getting meaner.” I think it’s more likely an indicator of how much more of our spare $ goes to political fundraising. My husband calls our family fundraising efforts “tithing for Democracy.” I think of it as a substantial tax increase on the middle class.

  53. 53.

    Alison Rose

    @Memory Pallas: Also, and I don’t expect David “Why Is This Fancy Bourbon So Expensive” Brooks to understand this, but people have less money! Cost of living has increased way out of proportion to wages for most people. I used to donate to a lot of charities throughout the year. Starting with my last job and now on disability, I can only afford to give a few bucks here or there to the most important issues.

    I’d love to see what percent of his income he donates to charity, and not like, an alumni fund at the University of Chicago or whatever.

  55. 55.

    zhena gogolia

    Just saw this:

    There have long been whisperings about Meghan Markle’s alleged political aspirations. Now, the Mail on Sunday reports, phones “lit up” within minutes of 90-year-old California Senator Dianne Feinstein’s death with speculation that Meghan “could throw her hat in the ring to serve out the remaining 13 months of Feinstein’s term.”

    Back to work now.

  58. 58.

    Another Scott

    Meanwhile, …

    southpaw
    @nycsouthpaw
    19h

    The pizza birds got more engagement on bluesky than on here, when in theory I have more than 10 times the reach here. Feels like a milestone of sorts.
    Sep 30, 2023 · 11:28 PM UTC

    Melon’s genius plan is proceeding…

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  60. 60.

    tobie

    Thanks for putting this up. I’ve been so busy at work that I haven’t been able to do much in the way of volunteer efforts this cycle, and I feel guilty about this. I put in $50 today hoping it will do some good and will see if I can sign up to phone bank on Tuesday.

    Onward to victory!

  61. 61.

    Redshift

    @Memory Pallas: Brooks also (unsurprisingly) ignores how his party raised the standard deduction, making it charitable contributions don’t result in a tax deduction for most people. Removing that nudge at tax time definitely had an effect.

  63. 63.

    Eyeroller

    @Memory Pallas: I’d like to know how much of that “charity” was donations to churches, all of which is counted as “charity” even though most of it goes to the church’s expenses.  One trend we know about is declining church attendance.  My impression has been that most of Americans’ “charity” has historically been church-related, and my suspicion is that is why conservatives supposedly donate more to charity.  But I haven’t seen any data lately.

  64. 64.

    Redshift

    @zhena gogolia:

    Now, the Mail on Sunday reports, phones “lit up” within minutes

    I’m sure they did. A real news outlet would know there’s a whole racist troll army dedicated to harassing Markle online that is almost certainly behind this too.

  65. 65.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Memory Pallas:

    I am in no way going after you (or anyone, really), but it suddenly occurred to me that over the last several weeks? months? I’ve noticed a number of comments with the parenthetical phrase “who I do NOT support,” and I wonder if it refers to something in particular.

    Perhaps I am not aware of all Internet traditions. I suppose it’s possible.

  67. 67.

    wjca

    @Memory Pallas: David Brooks (who I do NOT support) recently quoted the statistic “In 2000, two-thirds of American households gave to charity; in 2018, fewer than half did.” as an indicator that Americans are “getting meaner.”

    Numbers giving to charity going UP, which is what he says happened, would seem to indicate Americans getting more generous, not meaner.  (Yes, it might be political contributions.  But since he didn’t include that caveat, his comment is just flat wrong.)

  70. 70.

    Redshift

    @SiubhanDuinne: It often features in DougJ’s NYTimesPitchbot tweets parodying people like Glenn Greenwald. Things like “Donald Trump (who I do not support) says…” followed by approvingly quoting TFG.

  78. 78.

    wjca

    @Baud: Baud! 20XX!

    Forgive me if someone mentioned this before.  But since XX is Roman numeral 20, wouldn’t this amount to 2020, i.e. some time in the past.

  80. 80.

    Baud

    @wjca:

    As everyone now knows, X is the universal designation of a master genius visionary.  Two X’s means I’m twice as smart.

    Also too, this is America. We don’t speak Roman.

  84. 84.

    wjca

    @Baud: Also too, this is America. We don’t speak Roman.

    Nonsense!  Americans have been roamin’ since we got to this continent.

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