Comments on: Replacing the DSCC with the Blogosphere?

By: Mi

Mi — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:19:51 +0000

“…I can raise money for a candidate just like that,” snapping my finger into the phone.

You can be funny sometimes … when you are not annoying GOD.

By: eric z

eric z — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:01:37 +0000

Loosing the Kennedy seat did take special effort. Loosing it at the end after an early great multi-percentage-point lead in polling numbers, that took more insight than normally is shown. Loosing it to a documented paid “poseur” was the cherry on the sundae.

Was it the wrong candidate at the wrong time, what?

Minnesota’s Sixth District, Tarryl Clark, earlier comment. A great candidate. Another great candidate, same race, Maureen Reed.

Last cycle against Michele Bachmann, neither stepped up. Now there is a great choice between two excellent, honest, and talented people.

The voters in the district may not deserve it, nor honor it, given how they have favored Michele Bachmann time and again, and GOP regulars before that.

But this time, it is a bonanza.

Not having to write in Aubrey Immelman in order to have a sound candidate to vote for, this cycle, will be refreshing.

By: boygenius

boygenius — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:02:06 +0000

Is that a picture of him up on the lake? What lake?

Lake Vermilion. The bestest lake in the state, IMHO. (And yes, that's him in the picture.)

By: daedalus2u

daedalus2u — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:20:08 +0000

Of course they say it like it is an after thought. They can’t come right out and say they are scamming the donor or they wouldn’t get any donations.

Always ask what percentage goes to the charity. Usually they won’t tell you, and refer you back to the charity.

By: Stephen Downes

Stephen Downes — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 10:46:34 +0000

Never say, “Do you know who I am?” in a sentence.

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:58:10 +0000

Is that a picture of him up on the lake? What lake?

By: boygenius

boygenius — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:55:29 +0000

I strongly urge all Minnesotans reading this to support Tom Bakk for governor in 2010. Our families have been friends for generations, and I've known the man since I was in diapers. Tom is not a typical politician. An ox of a man with a robust personality, he's down to earth, strong on labor issues, strong on the environment, has sponsored GLBT legislation, supports family planning and women's rights, and I'm willing to bet good money that if a medical marijuana bill came across his desk, it would get signed.

By: Mike Haubrich, FCD

Mike Haubrich, FCD — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:16:24 +0000

Yep, true story. I was sitting at a bar talking to a professional fundraiser who gets hassled by his fellow professional fundraisers for only keeping 85% instead of the normal 90%.

But if you want my advice on who to give money to this year:

Tarryl Clark, 6th dist. Minnesota.

Yes, straight to her campaign, and not to the DCCC.

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:47:09 +0000

Interesting. She said it like it was an afterthought.

By: daedalus2u

daedalus2u — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:40:55 +0000

Greg, the important question to ask is how much of your donation actually goes to the charity that funds are being raised for.

Professional fund raisers are in it for the money. They take a cut, often a big cut, often more than what the charity gets. The charity thinks of it as “free money” because they don’t have to do anything for it.

There was just a scandal about the president of the Boy Scouts making over a million dollars a year. Why? Because he can.

The bit about the professional fund raiser isn’t to impress you, it is to inform you so they don’t get hit with charges of fraud if you find out that 90% of your donation is going to the professional fund raiser and not the charity.