Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

America is going up in flames. The NYTimes fawns over MAGA celebrities. No longer a real newspaper.

An almost top 10,000 blog!

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

“But what about the lurkers?”

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

We still have time to mess this up!

He really is that stupid.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

The unpunished coup was a training exercise.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

You are here: Home / Politics / Political Action / Irons In the Fire

Irons In the Fire

by | 107 Comments

This post is in: , ,

I have a lot of irons in the fire related to political action and fundraising.  I’ll share some details below.

But first I have to ask you all something.

Is Balloon Juice imploding, are we coming apart?   Or are we gonna pull together as we have in the past and do everything we can to get good people elected?

Because I already have meetings set up – for this week and next  – with candidates and organizations we have supported in the past.

I set those meetings assuming that we will be the fundraising powerhouse we have been in the past.

We have 2 Democratic senators in Georgia that we might not have had without Balloon Juice.

The Virginia state legislature now has a slim majority (instead of minority) because we supported a couple of key races in VA.

A lot of good things have been happening in Arizona, with victories that were so close that it’s hard to see how those would have been wins without Balloon Juice support for the candidates for AZ governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State.

Even in November 2024, we supported groups in the 3 states where the Democrats kept their senate seats.  I could go on, but I think my point has been made.

But I can’t go into those meetings and talk about what we might be able to do for them unless I know that we are indeed hanging together, and not hanging separately.

Irons in the fire:

  • The Civics Center works to register the 4 million kids who turn 18 every year.
  • North Carolina Black Alliance
  • Four Directions, who will soon be in Virginia for the governor, attorney general and secretary of state races  in November.
  • Jon Ossoff’s campaign in Georgia, where I hope we can make a big difference in what is likely to be the most contested senate race in the country in 2026.

Balloon Juice raised $788,460.91 for Jon Ossoff in 2020 – no, that’s not a typo – $788,000!   But since we don’t generally give directly to campaigns as much, and support boots on the ground instead, we are in touch with the Ossoff campaign to see if we can make an “our funds go to boots on the ground arrangement” like the one we had in Nebraska.

So I have to ask.  Are we gonna fight with each other?  Or are we going to fight the Nazis?

Are we the wolves fighting each other to be the alpha male?  Or are we the school of little fish that take on the bigger fish?

 

Reader Interactions

107Comments

  1. 1.

    Lobo

    Here as an ally, advocate and accomplice for all.  Let’s all remember who are our friends and who are our enemies.

  6. 6.

    Professor Bigfoot

    I got my income tax refund, so is the WI State Supreme Court Seat the best place to put some of that loot?

    Thanks, WG, for everything you do here.

  7. 7.

    zhena gogolia

    Thank you, WaterGirl, I think we will survive.

    I’m sorry I do my contributing privately — I do appreciate your efforts here.

  9. 9.

    JMG

    Count me in for whatever you have going on. The more we can do, the less time and energy we’ll have for the stewing, fussing, and feuding that has erupted and which I find profoundly distasteful. This is not the time for takes, no matter how heartfelt.

  10. 10.

    JerseyBeard

    It sure what I missed, but I’ve been here since Shrub the Lesser and have no intention of leaving. I’ve always respected the fundraising and outreach that you and others here have coordinated.

    Im here to fight Nazis and figure out how to drive wedges in the wingnut world. That’s it.

  12. 12.

    jimmy higgins

    I am a lurker, but a regular reader. I’ll back anything arrived at by the traditional consensus process that has prevailed here.

  13. 13.

    Softail

    mostly a lurker here. I don’t have much to say and generally not into the zooms but I read every day and donate frequently. please keep on there’s nothing else like this place

  14. 14.

    WaterGirl

    @Professor Bigfoot: I think that donating to the Wisconsin Dems would be your best bet for the Wisconsin Supreme Court race.

    We are also looking into options for the 2 Florida House seats on April 1, but those are more of a long shot than the WI Supreme Court seat that would keep Wisconsin to reverting to gerrymandering and Republican control.

    Thank  you.

  15. 15.

    WaterGirl

    @zhena gogolia: If you wanted to to privately support any of our efforts here, you could write a check and mail it directly to the organizations, with a note about Balloon Juice.

    A couple of our other BJ peeps do that.  And one even uses the check amount for Angel matching.

  19. 19.

    Miss Bianca

    Actually, it’s looking more and more evident that as far as wolves go, the alpha male is a myth. If anything, there’s more likely to be an “alpha female” who is the matriarch of the family group.

    Like you, Water Girl! :)

    Please keep on keepin’ on with the fundraising efforts and the curating of groups/issues to donate to. I can’t always contribute at the rate some commenters can but I always deeply appreciate the time and effort you’ve devoted to it.

  22. 22.

    John Cole

    every family has fist fights and says shitty things to each other after a few drinks on the holidays

    my goal is to not be the fucking heater asshole I normally am and say shit that will alienate more people

  23. 23.

    TxTiger

    I don’t generally have time to read the comments so I have been pretty oblivious to what is going on. But I love your leadership WG in finding and elevating candidates and organizations where we can make a difference. Four Directions in particular impresses me. In for what is to come. I love and appreciate this community  and will do what I can to show my support.

  24. 24.

    WaterGirl

    @John Cole: If only you had someone you could talk something through with before writing something you might regret. :-)

    Though personally, I kind of liked what you wrote in the first post you pulled.

  25. 25.

    dc

    I’m in the fight and really hope this blog can continue to pull our individually small amounts of $$ together so we can make an impact.

    I

  26. 26.

    azlib

    Good post.  I will be contributing to the Dem candidates on 2026 including the Governor, Attorney General and whoever the Dems put up to get rid of Schweikert. I am already giving a monthly donation to the Maricopa County Democratic Party. However I can raise BJs profile just let me know.

  27. 27.

    WaterGirl

    I will mention something that came up toward the end of the 2024 donation season.

    At least a few of you guys work at places that will match donations up to $5k or $10k in a given year.  A lot of the organizations we support are doing the 501(c)3 work that would be matchable.

    So if you are someone who has an employer like that,  who can match $1k, or $2k or $5k or $10k, and you would like to consider taking advantage of that matching to support our Balloon Juice fundraising efforts, please send me an email message.

  28. 28.

    Percysowner

     

    I’m not quite a lurker, but close. I comment occasionally, mostly linking to news articles I find appropriate to the subject, or in an open thread. I drop my opinion once in a while. I also don’t read most of the comments. If I post, I see if anyone has answered and that’s about it. I have no idea what comments were so bad that MisterMix left, but I am sorry he is gone

    Anyway, I visit every day. Always read the fund raising and pet bleg entries. I always kick in something to the fundraisers. That isn’t going to change. When you need cash, I’ll pitch in.

  29. 29.

    BellaPea

    I love this place, and hope everyone can get together and move forward. I understand what it is to feel frustrated, angry, and scared. We all feel that way. John and Watergirl are great leaders on this blog and will help us get through these awful times.

  31. 31.

    eclare

    You can count on me.  Maybe not quite as many $ donations, but my handwriting on my postcards to swing states was legible!  I hope a group does postcards for Ossoff.

  32. 32.

    Another Scott

    Balloon Juice raised $788,460.91 for Jon Ossoff in 2020 – no, that’s not a typo – $788,000!

    Big number! Seemed to be impossibly big!

    Made me look… Let’s Get To Work Georgia:

    Jon Ossoff, Georgia Senate Runoff! (starting at 311,771, hoping DougJ can do a new BJ thermometer for the recount)

    That thermometer says $790,687, but might include the tips for ActBlue.

    The runoff was January 5, 2021, so almost $480k was raised, for that race in less than 2 months!

    We’re the little engine that can. When we pull together!

    Thanks.

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  33. 33.

    Josie

    I must admit that I have pulled back a bit due to rancor in some of the comments, but I will always support your organizing efforts, WaterGirl. I don’t have a lot of extra money. What I can afford, however will go to those places you deem important. That way I can feel I am making a difference. I am grateful for the research and planning you do to make things happen.

  34. 34.

    WTFGhost

    Watergirl, let me call out the weird kind of issue I sometimes do.

    Sometimes, you can turn something that might feel scolding-ish, into an aspirational goal, and make it feel like “yes! I’m joining the band!” or whatever.

    So, were I writing it, it would suck. No, seriously, remember, language processing goes bye-bye. But I’d try to rewrite it aspirationally. This is just a random example of the rewriting style – *not* a criticism.

    Is Balloon Juice imploding, are we coming apart?   Or are we gonna pull together as we have in the past and do everything we can to get good people elected?

    “Balloon-juice is not imploding, though I know it’s a bit scary sometimes – we’ve weathered tough storms, and in the end, we pull together as we have in the past.”

    If you get the right mix of “we’re all heroes here” along with just the right spank of “you’re not all acting like heroes,” you get a more powerful response, because you’re evoking the hero, to overcome the minor villainy. It’s something the right wing doesn’t really understand, which is why they only have heroes and vile, vicious, villains. That makes it a hidden strength that can be exploited.

    Um. Just as a periodic reminder, I’m ND, nerdy, and “sharing thoughts/information” is my love language, so if I’m annoying, well… yeah, ND folks are sometimes, let me know when (did you read “The Martian”?) I’m being difficult. (Also terror of people is high today, so I may have too many apologies throughout. Meh. It happens.)

  37. 37.

    Prairielogic

    I’m a lurker… have been reading this blog every day (visiting perhaps several times a day) for probably 20 years. I rarely comment or even read the comments… don’t have the time to dig in.

    Don’t know for sure what has transpired here… but this reminds me of a story from back home in the Dakotas where four brothers were always fighting amongst themselves, and one time were in the local bar and they got into an argument. Several guys from out of town were passing through and they foolishly got involved; one thing led to another – it was a bar – and one of the strangers punched one of the brothers. The brothers united, one of them hollering “you shouldn’t have hit US!… you’re all gonna be sorry now…” as all hell broke loose as they beat the shit out of the strangers….

    This group may squabble like these brothers… but I’m damn sure we all know who the real enemy is right now.

  38. 38.

    Professor Bigfoot

    @WaterGirl: No, thank you.

    My contact info is on someone’s mailing list and I’ve been getting beg texts constantly… and replying STOP to all of ‘em.

    I don’t trust ‘em.

    YOU, I trust, so my donations will be going through this joint in future.

    Much obliged to you, WG. 🙏🏾

  40. 40.

    Mel

    I’m in. Thank you, Watergirl.
    You bring calm determination, kindness, clarity, and inspiration to fight the fight to the forefront in everything you do here.

  41. 41.

    WaterGirl

    @Professor Bigfoot: I have the box checked that says your info will not be shared with the organization unless you click on something to say something “yes, share my info!”

    So if it’s an organization in a BJ thermometer, you are safe.

    For candidates, I think they may be required to know something about who is donating, even with that box checked.

  42. 42.

    WaterGirl

    @Another Scott: Here’s what I show from the ActBlue site, so I think you’re right that tips are in the thermometer itself.  This is everything I found related to GA in ActBlue when I put the info together a couple of weeks ago, hoping to be able to talk with someone from the Ossoff campaign.

    Irons In the FireI’d say we have been pretty good to GA, and to Jon Ossoff in particular!

  43. 43.

    goldengirl

    I’ve been in for a long time and will remain in for the long haul.
    I’m ready to support whoever and whatever organizations you decide.
    I’m a big supporter of Native American engagement, which you’ve done in the past.

    I’m also hoping mistermix will change his mind and come back. He’s been so valuable. We need him.

  44. 44.

    hrprogressive

    I’m a virtual nobody who’s been here since 2009. I started reading this blog along with Daily Kos and FireDogLake (yes, that’s a throwback) way back in the day as the Obama Presidency took hold and the battles over the ACA and so on happened.

    I am a boring-ass white guy who’s still got another year and change till he hits 40.

    And while I don’t really know what compelled Mistermix to finally say goodbye (which sucks, I really liked his posts in particular) it kind of doesn’t matter.

    I had never used the “pie filter” until within the last year or so, and I’ve now used it on multiple commenters. I’m not naming names because that’s not important.

    It is one thing to have dissenting opinions and differences in “how we unfuck our environment, if it can even be unfucked”.

    And what I’m about to say next may sound inappropriate, and I promise I do not mean it “in that way”, but I’m going to be straightforward about it.

    I definitely get the vibe from this place these days that the opinions of people my age or younger just don’t seem to hold any water or “matter” much. I’ve seen a number of people basically go “Welp, I’m old and tired, and I’m just gonna let whatever happens, happen”.

    And I guess that’s fine, but if that’s the case, why are you still here participating in what is ostensibly an “activist” blog?

    It boils my blood that the generations ahead of me have done their best to pull the ladder up behind them, and me, and the whippersnappers behind me, don’t get to inherit prosperity, but we instead now get The Fourth Reich, Take 2, and probably the collapse of this planet as a widely habitable place to, you know, live, in our lifetimes. Assuming we aren’t actually obliterated by Mutually Assured Destruction, or killed in Civil War 2, Fascist Boogaloo.

    The fundraising efforts are solid. They are. And the focus on state, local, as well as Federal Races matters.

    Being an outlet to “vent” matters.

    But it’s getting harder and harder to see what good is actually going to come out of any of it.

    I have kept coming here for things like the COVID/H5N1 news because virtually everyone else stopped giving a shit about it.

    I have kept coming here for Adam’s Ukraine Updates. I desperately wish he’d use his expertise to maybe focus on our fascist domestic issues, but he’s already got one foot out the door too, as he’s made it abundantly clear to me in particular he’s only still doing the UKR/RUS threads “because he promised Cole he’d do it” and he doesn’t participate in anything else because in his own words, he felt it was clear his views and opinions weren’t welcome here.

    Now mistermix is leaving/gone.

    And the thing is, I think Adam is right in the sense that there has absolutely felt like a real strong strain of “head in the sand” occurs here.

    I’ve been saying things that, when they do get replied to, often get disdain.

    I am sorry that hearing that the Democratic Party writ large doesn’t give a shit about you, me, or the country in a way that materially would challenge their insular wealth and power is distressing to hear, and that our institutions have all been infiltrated and taken over is scary, but “not wanting to hear it” isn’t going to make those things magically stop being threats against us.

    I don’t know what “the answer” is.

    Unfortunately, “the left” such as it is – for being a quote unquote “big tent” compared to the MAGA Cult, means there are tons of disparate opinions, which in peaceful, heady times would be just fine, but we’re all staring down the barrel of – at best, super difficult and scary times, and at worst, annihilation.

    So we do need to “come together”, but I don’t really know how you do that.

    When people immediately dismiss legitimate criticisms of those in power – it’s tough to see how there’s a way forward.

    I’ve seen ‘VOTE BLUE!!!’ for several lifetimes. I don’t need to hear it any more.

    I have been voting since I was 18, so just met my 20th anniversary last year. I’ve never skipped any election where there was a viable race to be had. I’ve never, ever, voted for a GOPer in a General, and only a single time in a primary when there was no Dem Primary and there was one single reasonable GOPer in 2010 running against a bunch of lunatics I thought deserved an extra vote.

    I’ve done my “job” as it were.

    And I’ve gotten next to fuck-all to show for it.

    So.

    I’m sorry this comes across as hostile, but I am mad as hell that what passes for the rest of my adulthood has a real chance of being a true, living nightmare, one which those who are closer to shuffling off this mortal coil may blissfully not get to experience.

    If that’s how anyone feels about the situation, you probably need to pass the torch and give the rest of us a chance to get something done, anything.

    If all this blog is now is a place to do a little fundraising and also commiserate about how everything sucks until the gulags happen or the ICBM’s fly, well. I’d say that’s a damn shame, and a waste of what could be a powerful tool.

    Again, no, I don’t have any concrete answers.

    If I had my way, I’d primary every single Democrat over the age of 60 with someone my age or younger, with the simple message of “Time to retire before the country implodes” or some such.

    But I don’t have that kind of voice, or megaphone, nor the independent wealth to make it happen.

    So I occasionally still scream into the void on this blog and others because to the extent it “matters” or “can help someone”, I hope that it does.

    I acquired defensive hardware because if they come for me, I’m not going quietly.

    I hope they don’t come for any of us, but they have explicitly said they want to do that, so, you should believe them.

    Be ready to defend yourself, your family, and your loved ones.

    “Not wanting to hear it” isn’t good enough anymore.

    This shit is dangerous, and this shit is real.

    Good luck with whatever comes next.

  45. 45.

    HopefullyNotcassandra

    What you do is wonderful.

    Nonetheless, this half hidden wolf has a quibble.

    In the wild there is no “alpha wolf”.  There is only mom and dad.

    https://phys.org/news/2021-04-wolf-dont-alpha-males-females.html

    Alpha males and females wolves are caused by captivity.  This fact makes me think.

    Don’t let anyone imprison your mind lest they turn you (willingly, if not intentionally) into the omega wolf, or worse into the angry, insecure, unnaturally cruel alpha.

    Thank you for all of the real, tangible good you have helped accomplish in this world.

  46. 46.

    Glidwrith

    I am here, though I limit my online time severely now. I boast about BJ fundraising prowess in the hopes of recruiting more people to help. Not quitting the most effective grassroots fundraising organization around.

  47. 47.

    VFX Lurker

    Recent cash flow has been tight, and I didn’t donate to the most recent fundraiser because I had just donated to a Charles Gaba fundraiser. However, I will donate to current and future Balloon-Juice fundraisers soon.

    Thank you for directing our energy towards positive change.

  51. 51.

    Mousebumples

    I’m still checking in, but I’m engaging way less in comments. I’m still interested in postcards, activism, and fundraising, as finances allow. Email coming your way, WaterGirl.

  52. 52.

    Another Scott

    @WaterGirl: I appreciate your checking.  Made me check some more.

    April 12, 2017:

    You all know about Jon Ossoff in GA-6. You can donate here.

    That thermometer shows $7,577 – matching your table.

    Wikipedia says he didn’t run for the House in 2018.

    So, it does indeed look like the ActBlue table for the 2020 races is correct.

    We really, really wanted Ossoff to win in 2020! :-)

    Thanks again.

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  53. 53.

    KBS

    I’m a lurker, but I’ve been reading this blog for 20-some years. I love the fundraising and I’ll keep donating. I’m sorry the comment sections have gotten so toxic, but I think that’s true in most liberal organizing spaces right now. We’re all so raw and so angry all the time, and we’re taking it out on each other. I don’t know how we fix it, but I really, really hope we keep trying.

  55. 55.

    AM in NC

    Thank you for this post.  I have been here since Tunch was John’s only pet, and I do not ever recall a time like this when a handful of regular commenters seem determined to be RIGHT, rather than being kind when we disagree about strategy or tactics.

    We cannot lose the plot. We must not turn on each other. And sometimes it is OK to just keep quiet and not keep stirring the shit just to stir the shit.

  56. 56.

    Annie

    Thank you for all your efforts, WaterGirl.  I read the posts but don’t always follow the comments, so I missed whatever happened there.  But I read this blog every day and I am always happy to get fundraising information and I donate as I am able.

  58. 58.

    Emily B.

    I’m not going anywhere. There’s a lot I value about this site, but what has made me recommend it to friends are exactly those positive initiatives like postcarding, fundraising, suggestions for activism, etc. Thank you for all your hard work.

  60. 60.

    Bryan S.

    I am out of the loop. I just visit on occasion, follow Cole and send him like $5 a month to keep the site rolling, and I have no idea what happened.

  61. 61.

    David_C

    As someone who thanked those who were pedantic, I’m probable among the guilty. But I do remember a postcard back when at cinched we were all on edge, and someone (WaterGirl?) pointing out that the knee-jerk reaction to lash out against Democrats wouldn’t be helpful.

    And insults? I’m a federal worker* and hear more than my share from people with large platforms (and our new management) but I also know who is standing up for us – our elected Democratic officials, who are more than willing to listen to whatever problems we’ve faced. I’ve talked to staff and the local party knows me from past activism. I am grateful for officials speaking out, but also got those doing the unsung work, including Democratic AGs suing the federal government.

    Just my perspective as someone who’s not bugging out or quitting the fight – I still go into work each day.

    * During my mainly remote days, I’ve written enough scientific stuff to be a “writer in our midst.” LOL

  63. 63.

    glc

    @hrprogressive: Personally, I’ve taken to using the pie filter freely, without animosity.  That’s what it’s for. I don’t think arguing about ideology in the comments section of this site is terribly productive, but at the same time there are certainly people turning up with interesting things to say.

    I’m one of the old guys. I really don’t think that when we’re gone the systemic problems are going to be any easier to deal with, though it always seems that way. But you’re welcome to the phrase “Don’t trust anybody under 30,” – we never got a trademark on it, and it continues a hallowed tradition.

    I admit, I thought we’d made some progress,  in some respects, in the interim.

  64. 64.

    Geminid

    @WaterGirl: A lot of this controversy stems from a post yesterday afternoon. I think people can better understand what happened today if they read that one too. It’s not too long.

     

    @Bryan S.:

  67. 67.

    frosty

    I’m with you for the long haul. You’ve focused my donations better than anyone else I’ve run across. Let’s keep it going.

  68. 68.

    frosty

    @John Cole: my goal is to not be the fucking heater asshole I normally am and say shit that will alienate more people

    A worthy goal! And you’re better at it than you think you are.

  71. 71.

    different-church-lady

    I’m not seeing squabbling that’s any worse than the Bernie Wars or Snowden Mania.

    OK, I guess some shit went down while I was away today. Losing Mr. Mix is a huge loss. I haven’t yet seen what caused it, but it couldn’t have been right.

  72. 72.

    Redshift

    I’m not going anywhere, especially for these posts. In addition to your work being really effective, what I personally need right now more than anything is to do something, so I’ll always be happy to pitch in.

  73. 73.

    BlueGuitarist

    @frosty:

    Do you have an opinion of James Malone, Mayor of East Petersburg, the Democrat running in the special election for PA Senate 36, northern Lancaster County?

    Summarizing what I posted earlier today:
    A tough district:  Harris -15,
    but narrowly carried by Josh Shapiro in 2022.
    More favorable than the Harris -21 district that Democrat Mike Zimmer flipped in a few weeks ago in an Iowa State Senate special.
    Unlike that IA district, which shifted sharply right since Obama carried it in 2012, in PAS-36, Democrats have improved from Obama losing the district by 25 points in 2012….

    Maloneforsenate.bsky.social could use some more followers!

  75. 75.

    Virginia Thibeaux

    Have not read all the comments yet. Majorly lurkering. But very vocal irl.
    I am in it to do whatever I can to fight the nazis. So bring it, WG, you will find me there, along with everyone else.

  76. 76.

    kalakal

    I think we will get through this.

    Thank you Watergirl for all you do

    The Sturm und Drang is exhausting, at the moment we are all flailing. Practical actions such as those you are talking about in this post will help keep us together

  79. 79.

    glc

    @different-church-lady: In the interim I came across this.

    I’m not going to familiarize myself with the details, though I regret the loss, as it leavened the mix. Rather more than I expected, and from that perspective, it’s not terribly surprising it didn’t work out.

    (I suspect the comment moderation tools in use are ineffective, and that this is less a social problem than a technical one.)

  81. 81.

    cursorial

    Just a lurker popping up to say, rancor in the comments is just noise to me. I am thrilled to be able to steer my donations to places where it makes a difference, recommended by someone with no vested interest. When I give non-locally, I give through the fund drives here, and would love to continue to do so.

  83. 83.

    Tenar Arha

    Thanks WaterGirl.

    I was busy earlier today doing my bit to enjoy beauty in the world too right now. No idea what’s been happening exactly, except it’s probably been in the comments?

    Anyway, I’m still here. I intend to be here. I do want and need to help, and you guys have a record of good ideas.

  84. 84.

    mvr

    I’m not reliably here every day, and feel on the one hand like this place has kept me sane when I felt alone starting 20 years ago when I lurked and on the other hand like I don’t post in such a way as to draw much interaction. Which is fine.

    As a result I missed whatever happened in the last 48 hours here, but I have noticed people being crankier than usual.

    I think many of us use this place as a place to cope. Since these are hard times that leads to a kind of feedback loop that amplifies the edge as we each sometimes respond more harshly than we otherwise would, only to draw the same response from someone else. Probably conscious dialing back a little will keep things manageable. But I’m not a front pager and I don’t have their aggravations to deal with.

    In any case, I’m here for the post carding and here for the donating, though I kind of went past what’s prudent this year. I do think it is safe to talk the place up as a source of donations to, for example, Ossoff. Maybe we won’t get to $700K. But even one tenth of that is not nothing.

    Thanks for all the work you do WaterGirl. And thanks to everyone else for whatever you do.

  85. 85.

    bbleh

    @rk: boy this me too!  From this and John’s post-post-deletion post and MM LEAVING (?!?!), I clearly have some catching up to do!  (WTF happened?!?  Ok, I DON’T want to know, not because I don’t want to actually know but because I don’t want anyone to have to rehearse it.)

    To answer WG’s question though, NO WE ARE NOT COMING APART.  BJ is a WONDERFUL, INTELLIGENT, CARING community, with many actually recognizable HUMANS!! (Find another near-top-10,000 political blog like THAT I dare you!)  As noted, we have raised MILLIONS ($$$!!) for various GOOD actors and causes, and I don’t get the sense that anyone is tired of that, neither the donating nor the results thereof.  And less tangibly, I think it’s a wellspring of inspiration and hope, the same way a volunteer community is: it’s a place you can go and remember yeah, there ARE good people out there and the monsters have NOT taken over.  It’s refreshing.  It’s a refuge.

    We probably don’t do enough for the front-pagers.  We should have an Appreciation Day, and maybe crowdfund a big-ass party, or three or five.  Just a suggestion.

    Meanwhile NONONONO PLEEEEASE DON’T GO AWAY PLEEEEEEASE!!!

    Thank you.

  87. 87.

    TadoDad

    Lurker who reads the blog daily and always donates for the political fundraisers.  Vote for ‘hang together’.

  88. 88.

    NeenerNeener

    I don’t comment often, but I’ve spent entire days just reading this blog so please don’t shut it down.

  89. 89.

    Juju

    I’m here for it too. If we don’t try for Florida we will definitely lose. Stefanic’s seat is another we should help out. I’ve been getting texts from both WisDems and Crawford.  I was wondering if it’s better to do both or one or the other?

  90. 90.

    Juju

    @Professor Bigfoot: I do stop if I’ve never heard of them and it’s not officially associated with the candidate that I want to support. Others I delete and if I eventually want to donate they have my number.  I’m not sending money to candidates who are running in 2026 yet. I delete them for now. When it’s elections are closer I’ll send funds.  I had 12 things I deleted today.

  91. 91.

    Noskilz

    I have no plans to stop paying attention to Balloon Juice – it has been and continues to be a valuable source of information on what is going on in this often needlessly wretched world.

  92. 92.

    WaterGirl

    @Juju: I don’t know Crawford, but she is very well thought of.  But always, with an organizing force like Ben Wikler and Wis*Dems who is on it, I suspect the money is better spent on Wis*Dems.

    That said, I have no insider knowledge.

  93. 93.

    PatrickG

    Mostly lurker here but also of the mind that we’ll get through this. Almost 800k didn’t come solely from the people who comment here most :) though I’m sure they did their share!

    since it’s a fundraising post, I’ll plug my friends and family discount for Apple products that I offer to all juicers. Money saved on overpriced tech is money that can go to a thermometer! If you’re interested email WaterGirl for connection!

  94. 94.

    Joy in FL

    Balloon Juice is very important for me. I get most of my news here, and on the rare occasions when I’m in a political conversation, I do not feel ignorant. I think that says a lot about the depth and quality of our front-page writers and also about a lot of the thoughtful (even if I disagree) commenters.

    I appreciate this blog and the people who keep it going.

    I’m pretty easy-going, and it isn’t hard for me to move on when I see negative, mean comments. (On very rare occasions, I have written a reply that I intended to be helpful or positive.) However, mean comments have never been directed at me, so I wouldn’t know how that feels. (That is not a boast; it’s more like I don’t have the guts or the writing prowess to write something that would get a mean response.)   My point in this little post is to say that I hope we will continue to speak our minds (or write them) and respond with honesty and without meanness or malice. As others have said, we are surrounded by unprecedented betrayal of our shared democracy, and it’s easy to become angry, easy to respond from that anger. It’s easy to see anger and/or offense where passion may be what prompted a post.

    We may get through this horrible time. When we do, I want to still have this blog to be part of.

  95. 95.

    PatrickG

    Lost edit button but fyi discount is 15% off any product. Don’t pay list price for Apple products! I need a snappier slogan, best I have is don’t be a sapple and pay full price at Apple!

  96. 96.

    Ivan X

    Is it? I don’t know. I am. Coming apart. I need hope in my life, and, at least politically, I don’t feel any. Zero. I’ve donated, I’ve volunteered, I’ve been a part of this community for the better part of two decades. I did what I was supposed to in our democracy, and it didn’t work.

    We live in a country where one of our political parties have become unrepentant liars, assholes, traitors, and cheaters, and the other party seems incapable of dealing with that reality; in which our news media are beyond useless and of little influence anyway in the age of social media; and, most critically, where there are apparently millions and millions of people who are fine with voting for an obviously corrupt, violent, dangerous, and indecent person.

    What can I say to that? Is it possible that we could take the House back in a couple of years? Sure. But, and this has really been true since 2010, it just feels like forestalling the inevitable. The bastards might get slowed down, but they’ll just keep wrecking and burning everything every time they have the opportunity, like now, and they can wreck and burn so much faster than we can build. We need a leader who will bring the fight, and I can’t see who that is.

    Obviously, there is no choice but to keep voting for and supporting Democrats, but I now feel we’re voting for an institution that has rotted out, with its only protectors impotent. My heart is broken by it. It’s not the Democrats’ fault; I don’t know what you do when you have a system premised on good faith by both sides, and one side abandons it. We’re just in a brave new world. I’m grateful that you’re continuing to fundraise; I’ll continue to donate. But I don’t think I can do more. Not without hope, which I find to be in short supply for myself.

    I’ve dealt with this state of mind by mostly avoiding it here, not because it’s “toxic” or anything, but because the fucking world is. Because the country is. Because my fellow citizens are. Because I can’t handle the reminder that the America I knew and took pride in, is, for all intents and purposes, officially in the past.

    But, it’s a community here. I feel fondly towards many of you, and like what you have to say, so I still lurk from time to time. I am not at all surprised that everyone’s on each other’s last nerve, and that everyone has short fuses, because most of us are grieving, despairing, angry, and afraid. It’s not a good basis for community. We can still joke around and talk about other things, but it’s a community whose first bond is (roughly) shared politics, and the elephant in the room is that, in some sense, it’s Fucking Over. We lost the big one, and it might take a fucking generation or century to recover, if ever.

    I apologize if I’m projecting my perspective in a way that doesn’t speak for you. If you feel more hopeful than I do, not only am I happy for you, I need you in my life. But I think a lot of what’s going on around here is that many of us have had our hope robbed for a good long time, and there’s no way that’s not going to leak out negatively in our interactions with each other.

    I apologize for all the doom. Those of you who know me know that it’s not how I normally roll. And it’s why I don’t come around much now. I’m just gonna feel more doom. And why I don’t post. Why say something if you don’t have something nice to say? Hopefully I’ll get done licking my wounds and find some fight in me. Right now, I’m still in the ICU when it comes to being an American.

    With all that said, thank you so much, Watergirl, for your fundraising efforts and all the hard work you do to keep this community alive and Democrats in office. They’re all we’ve got.

  97. 97.

    YY_Sima Qian

    Thank you WG! I look forward to donating to worthy causes here, & I love BJ for pointing out the less famous ones.

  100. 100.

    There go two miscreants

    I am usually too late to posts to bother commenting, but I am still reading the site. The targeted fundraising and other actions are important to me.

  101. 101.

    pabadger

    Mostly lurker, I’ve been reading since before John went to the good side. I still think of Tunch once in a while. What a cat.

    i understand why so many people are down and feel hopeless. That said, and I know it’s a very small victory, in my state of Pennsylvania thousands and thousands of additional seniors now get a refundable credit on their property taxes (or rent). That happened only because Shapiro got elected and Dems took the PA house by a single seat. It’s not much but it is a victory.

    I love four directions. I’ll be helping out when the link goes up.

  102. 102.

    Sphex

    I mostly lurk, but read every day. I donate when I can. I appreciate this community, and the many different and insightful perspectives, more than I can say… especially now. I’m all in to continue to hang out with everyone here, and to fight the Nazis.

  103. 103.

    Mousebumples

    @Juju: I’ll echo what WaterGirl says. I don’t have any personal knowledge of how the money will be spent, but I figure Crawford will buy ads, and WisDems will work on turnout/GOTV.

    Nationally, this is the only race that matters, and I expect there will be plenty of big money coming in for both SCOWIS candidates.

    I’m local (in Wisconsin), and I prefer to support WisDems so that we can hopefully reelect the current Superintendent (vs the Moms For Liberty supported challenger) and public school supporting school boards, etc. WisDems can take a holistic approach and turnout people who care about other ballot items… And hopefully get them to vote for Crawford as well.

    Reminder – Postcards to Voters has addresses in Wisconsin, if that’s your jam!

  104. 104.

    WaterGirl

    @Ivan X: No apology needed, and I’m glad to see you comment.  We have to keep hanging in and keep doing what we can.  Because rolling over and giving up is not an option.

  106. 106.

    mvr

    @Mousebumples: How does postcard to voters screen writers of cards?  It seems like it would be easy for someone to pretend to have good intentions about writing but then either just not send any or send cards that undermine the project.

  107. 107.

    ErikaF

    (Mainly lurker but very occasional commenter) I’m in. I’ve found the BalloonJuice analysis by WaterGirl to be invaluable to determine what to donate to. If I can’t donate money, I do postcards for the campaigns. And I’ve directed others to BJ just so they could review the campaign analysis as well.

Comments are closed.