This is the last reminder diary I'll be posting about the
Great Howard Dean Birthday Card Project of Ought'6, although I'll post reminders in Open Threads and Dean-related diaries until Wednesday. If you want to participate, I strongly suggest you mail the cards by Wednesday at the latest.
To recap, the goal of this particular project is to heap mounds of thanks on Dr. Dean and the DNC in the form of birthday cards and contributions by Friday, November 17 (Dean's birthday). Although if they get there by Saturday, that's kewl. We want his desk covered with cards! Just like in the original "Miracle on 34th Street" (accept no remakes) when the postal workers dumped bags and bags of letters to Santa on the judge's bench. I don't actually expect us to do that well, but you get the idea. Birthday donations to Dean was first suggested by Cherisse. If you can send a contribution, make it for any amount you like, and tack 50 cents on, to show our appreciation for the 50-State Strategy, which despite being a long-term project, already showed signs of success in the 2006 elections.
IMPORTANT! - In order to donate the icky old-fashioned way, LOL, you will also need to fill out and enclose the form found at this link:
Democratic Party: Donate by Phone or Mail
The mailing address is on the form, but you may want to add Dr. Dean's name at the top. Then stick it all inside the card, affix stamp, mail, and voila! It will be a happy birthday for Howard and a nice "Thank You" to the DNC staff for the kick-ass job they did and will continue to do, James Carville notwithstanding. :-P
It's been suggested we write in our cards "From your supporter in the blogosphere" or something similar, so Dean will know it originated here. You can say you're a Kossack if you want, but I'm sending this around to several other blogs hoping for more participation, so hopefully the cards will come from more than just Kossacks.
To head off questions I've been getting from people who missed earlier diaries and comments on the subject:
Q. Why send paper cards by snail mail instead of make online donations?
A. The reason for sending cards, first floated by gnutpnut, is to hopefully make a big photo-op-worthy splash, akin to the 4,500 roses Barbara Boxer received from grateful netrootsers on Valentine's Day 2005.
Q. Why any amount with 50 cents added? Why not $20.06 for this year's election success, or $20.08 for 2008 elections, or....
A. In diaries posted both on DailyKos and MyDD, I ran a poll, and the top choice was any amount plus 50 cents (same with the birthday cards). First, because the general idea is to highlight the success of the 50 State Strategy. Second, "any amount" allows people short on cash at the moment to send whatever they can afford. (Although you probably should send at least $5 to make the donation worth the cost of processing it.)
Q. Why not tell people to sign up for Democracy Bonds or make online donations?
A. Because I can't make anyone do anything. If only! LOL. If people want to do that, great. But it's outside the scope of this particular project.
Q. Ack! I have no more money! Please stop asking me to send money!
A. No worries! Send just a card, letter, fax, or email to Dr. Dean wishing him a Happy Birthday and thanks. Trust me, we're all probably short on cash at this point.
One final note: while I really appreciate the Thank-yous I've been getting regarding this project, my only part in it was to get a handle on all the great ideas floating around and try to find a consensus. None of the ideas were originally mine, just the organizing part. Which is ironic, considering I'm terrible at both idea-forming and organizing. Heh.
Okay, I think that covers it all. Happy card mailing!