I love Netroots Nation and had a blast at NN08. This year would be even better. Bill Freakin' Clinton. Awesomesauce!
But I have decided to stay back. Why?? Because I am managing the campaign for the very cool Colorado State House Representative Andy Kerr.
That is him in the photo, but he wears bike gear as often as ties. In fact, he pedaled to Denver on 1/3 of the days this past session.
We have a re-election campaign kick-off party later this week, and I am going to have to pry my hand off from around my ticket.
You want it? Give away time! Enter for free by recommending this diary.
If it makes the list, then everyone who has recommended it between now and noon Eastern time tomorrow has a chance to win.
How to win even if it doesn't make list, and how to improve your chances if it does, follows.
UPDATE: BDsTrinity you're going!
This is the fundraisy part.
Like I said, rec this thing up, and you could get my ticket without even having to contribute to a good cause. But if you want to support a good candidate in Colorado, then by all means toss some cabbage this way. I will look for the donations that end in .09 and for every buck you donate, that is another chance to win.
AndyKerr.org
Let me tell you about why the donation is worth it even if you didn't want the ticket.
- He is a good Representative.
Some of his successes this year: He sponsored a bill to allow parents leave from work when their kids have parent-teacher conferences. He sponsored another that gives loans to K-12 schools for renewable energy infrastructure upgrades. He wrote a new law that protects workers when their employer writes them a bouncing paycheck.
And even when when he was on the losing side, it was the right side. He voted to abolish the death penalty, to evaluate universal single-payer health care, and to make sure that every vote is counted.
- Helping him helps him to help others.
Andy is the Assistant Majority Leader. The Majority Leader and the Speaker are facing term limits. There is going to be a gap in leadership and the Democrats have a very weak hold on the Assembly. The caucus needs Andy to be raising money for the new candidates, appearing at their events, and talking to the media on their behalf. The Republicans would like nothing better than to keep him at home, fighting to save his own seat. If we can get out ahead early, then he will be a lot safer in a district that is closely divided between Ds, Rs, and Us.
- It spreads the conversation about NN09.
Any time a local candidate gets any help at all from the national netroots, that empowers us. It makes candidates across the map start to think that ignoring the bloggers and sucking up to corporate media might not be so bright afterall. That is when they start hiring more bloggy staffers, and once we are in the room we are very hard to get out.
So, that is my pitch. I am donating my NN09 ticket to the cause, and staying home this year. Cough up $20.09, and take my ticket. Use it yourself or assign it to whomever you like.
AndyKerr.org
Disclaimers and Details:
At noon tomorrow I will randomly select from the people who donated giving them each one chance to win per dollar donated. If this diary makes the rec list at anytime, then all recommends get a bonus chance. There is a $400 donation limit in Colorado, so anything given in excess of that will be refunded, and no extra chances will be assigned for that portion above $400.
Shortly after I draw a winner, I will post an update, and then I will need a name, email, and phone number of who to tell NN09 is going to be taking my ticket. If you win, catch me in the comments and I will let you know how to get that info to me.
Void where prohibited by law. Participants indemnify Citizens for Andy Kerr from any damages due to violations of any rules, laws or regulations. All donations must comply with Colorado law.
Also - I want this to be a very positive, kick-ass, win for everybody sort of thing, but I am doing this on the spur of the moment, so if there is something here that makes me have to pull the plug, I reserve the right to change anything on the fly at anytime, and in any event all decisions and interpretations of these rules are to be made by me and final.
Good luck, and thanks!