Two fundraising drives

So far we're off to a great start on this cycle's Blue Majority effort. It's just March, but we have already helped replace Dennis Hastert's ass with Democrat Bill Foster in the conservative IL-14 district -- a victory that paid immediate benefits as Foster cast the deciding vote on new House ethics legislation, and a victory that proved without a shadow of a doubt that Democrats could stand tough on immigration and FISA and still win in the most conservative corners of the country, a message heard loud and clear by the party establishment in DC.

We helped Donna Edwards oust corrupt Democratic incumbent Al Wynn. Edwards is now assured of going to Congress next January. That's two victories, and we haven't even gotten to November.

We helped great progressives Al Franken and Darcy Burner win contested primaries without a single vote cast -- their opponents looked at the depth and breath of their grassroots support and decided to hang it up. In fact, Burner's opponent called it quits in direct response to our $100,000 fundraiser last year in response to a Bush fundraising visit.

So that's four victories, and the cycle is still young.

As of this writing, we have 5,536 contributors to ActBlue. Our goal is 6,500 by the end of the quarter a week from today.

Incidentally, ActBlue now allows you to create a profile so that you can do one-click contributions, as well as track your activity for the cycle. And -- this is HUGELY appreciated -- they listened to feedback from you guys and me, and now allow you to check off this very helpful box:

Please tell recipients of my contributions that I wish to be contacted only by e-mail, not by postal mail.

Individual campaigns can still ignore that request, of course, but the smart ones will save some money (and the environment) by following donor wishes.

--------

On a more somber note, many of you know that I am an alumni of Northern Illinois University, which suffered a horrific shooting massacre three weeks ago.

I was back in DeKalb two weekends ago for an alumni event of the Northern Star, the school newspaper which I ran as a junior at the university back in 1995 (or so). One of the students killed, 20-year-old Dan Parmenter, was an employee of the Star. He wasn't even supposed to be in the class targeted by the gunman. It was Valentine's Day. He had accompanied his girlfriend to her class in order to spend a little more time with her.

At the alumni event, the newspaper announced a new scholarship in Dan's name and is aiming to raise $25,000 for it.

I've got about $550 sitting in my PayPal account right now, which is money from site subscriptions. I am pledging that, and every dollar raised from subscriptions through the end of the month to that scholarship fund. You can also contribute here.

Update: For those of you who'd like to send a check directly to the scholarship fund for tax purposes or whatever, here it is:

Northern Star
CLB 130
NIU Campus
DeKalb, IL 60115

Check written to: NIU Foundation

•  I love it

  when a plan comes together.

  Democratic White House
  Democratic Congress
  Democratic Country.

  Mission Accomplished!

  by Patriot4peace on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 10:47:04 AM PDT

  •  First day

    without ads.

    364 more to come. Best donation I've made this year.

    by Patriot4peace on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 10:50:38 AM PDT

  •  That's what we need.....

    Democratic White House, Democratic Congress, and a Democratic Country. And this can start in LA-01 where our fellow Kossack Gilda Reed is running for the seat left vacant by Bobby Jindal.

    And on this topic, we need to support recovery in New Orleans and in the rest of the Gulf Region which felt the impact of the federal flood, Katrina, and Rita and is now suffering from Bush Administration neglect.

    There will be a blogathon help on this topic in April. For more information or to sign up, see this diary.

    by Louisiana 1976 on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 10:58:21 AM PDT

    •  Go, Louisiana 1976, go!

      What happened to my district should never happen to any other.

      by gildareed on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 08:26:34 PM PDT

      •  Geaux, Gilda! n/t

        by Louisiana 1976 on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 11:13:31 AM PDT

  •  But just IMAGINE if all that money which will be

    wasted in Penn, etc etc in Dem-on-Dem destruction was being spent on these contests instead?

    by Last Best Chance on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:24:15 AM PDT

•  So I'm giving $4 a month now to the campaigns?

  Cool...I'm no longer a deadbeat...thanks, Kos!

  by darthstar on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 10:47:41 AM PDT

•  Well, apropos of Act Blue

  fundraising... and front page material here...

  click the sig.

  by ogre on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 10:49:14 AM PDT

  •  heh....I like my sig line better

    and gave $50 each to Darcy Burner and Gary Trauner this time! Plus the $30 the STFU fund...!

    Okay...back to work for me...enough spending for one morning!

    by SallyCat on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 10:53:01 AM PDT

•  Consider me signed up, kos.

  I don't care if the MSM never gives us the time of day, the kind of targeted action you highlighted above is the only way we will save our planet from the corporate bastards who seem determined to screw over even their own children.

  You've done so much, and $100 is nothing compared to the feeling of knowing that someone is finally going to do what it takes to actually get at those fuckers and take them down.

  by racerx on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 10:52:39 AM PDT

•  so we can track progress

  how many losses would you say we've had in the same period?

  help keep me motivated.

  by holder on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 10:55:10 AM PDT

  •  One

    by kos on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:17:13 AM PDT

    •  thanks - that's a great record.

      the times it seems,
      they are a changing.

      by holder on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:49:41 AM PDT

    •  okay markos,

      i finally subscribed!  thanks for supporting the NIU scholarship fund.  

      i attended UNI until i was married.  

      by jlms qkw on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 05:37:00 PM PDT

•  Wonderful post, kos

  Really one of the best things about this site, and the one I tell my friends about most often. Both the way it supports progressive candidates, and the way it points to other worthy causes.

  Thank you.

  I'll subscribe as soon as I'm at a computer with a decent connection.

  by JoeW on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 10:56:58 AM PDT

•  Can we get a direct link to the scholarship

  fund?

  Donations to you are not tax deductible, no offense Markos. I'd like to make a large donation to the scholarship fund but being a CPA, and tax season, my brain says tax deduction. If you have a link or address we can send money direct with info that we were referred by you.

  Hugs and prayers for all the students, staff, and alumni of NIU.

  by SallyCat on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 10:57:56 AM PDT

  •  SallyCat, this might help

    Northern Star Alumni Website

    There's a link lower down on the right to send an inquiry into them.

    by kfred on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:05:24 AM PDT

    •  Thanks kfred!

      I'll do that today...

      by SallyCat on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:11:37 AM PDT

    •  I'm making my donation to the fund

      in honor of Ilona and in memory of Julianna [Julie] Gehant. I attended the visitation for Julie with Ilona. Man, did we ever lose a great kid there.....

      by llbear on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 10:41:35 AM PDT

      •  llbear

        just saw this comment - my thoughts are with you and Ilona and Julianna's family.

        by kfred on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 03:46:16 PM PDT

  •  No offense taken

    Thanks! m

    by kos on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:17:41 AM PDT

    •  I'm getting that info

      directly from them and will update this post with that info as soon as I have it.

      by kos on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:20:04 AM PDT

      •  And done

        by kos on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 12:07:36 PM PDT

        •  Got it...thanks...

          by SallyCat on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 12:15:18 PM PDT

    •  You know, you've done a good thing here, Kos

      I've made a donation. Of course I'm a subscriber to Daily Kos and have been from the moment I discovered the site. So, my contribution will go by check. I'll write a note on the stating that I learned about it from you.

      One of the current Northern Star columnists could use a little personal pat on the back from you right now. She "grew up" here writing diaries about PTSD. But now, she rarely makes an appearance.  That's too bad.

      The real effects of this shooting are just now being discovered. Her involvement as a bystander just out of immediate danger compares to that of most students on campus that day.

      by llbear on Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 10:58:41 AM PDT

•  Unfortunately some @NIU act like Al Qaeda attacke

  instead of a person that snapped. Now an admin wants to investigate how shooting was handled and the shooter's psychological profile. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems very over-reactive for what obviously and unfortunately happened.
  I won't gush over Foster either. Rich Dem's candidate as far as I saw in debates.

  by Skid on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 10:58:35 AM PDT

  •  Yeah, but how much better

    than having Oberweiss?

    by mkfarkus on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:01:21 AM PDT

    •  Would've had better Dem in '06 v Hastert

      if DCCC etc got off their asses and supported him. Guess we'll just have to settle for what our handlers decide we can have.

      by Skid on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:04:23 AM PDT

      •  Anyone who saved my district from Oberweis

        is fine with me.  Give him a chance.

        by chicago minx on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:10:47 AM PDT

        •  He has his chance now.

          I voted for him too over Oberweis, but regardless I wasn't impressed with him in the least bit during primary debates. Foster outspent his primary challenger 15:1 and won by only 300-some votes. In '06 Hastert outspent same Dem 17:1 and won 60%/40%. The true grassroots Dem gets killed by big money interests of either party.
          Foster can prove himself then.

          by Skid on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 12:50:45 PM PDT

  •  And this comment is relevant how?

    What an offensive comment in a diary about helping NIU and fund raising for progressives.

    by SallyCat on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:01:43 AM PDT

    •  How is it offensive?

      Both are relevent in that we do these things right instead of getting carried away. Sorry you took it that way.

      by Skid on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:07:58 AM PDT

•  3 months for children

  everywhere. Peace.

  by Spoonfulofsugar on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:00:13 AM PDT

•  I love the new option

  on ActBlue requesting only email.  I've had to call campaigns to ask for that.  

  by mkfarkus on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:03:28 AM PDT

•  The scholarship is a great idea n/t

  by mystic on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:04:34 AM PDT

•  NIU

  I graduated from EIU (Eastern Illinois) and I had many friends who went to NIU...we'd road trip some weekends up to NIU.  I always felt the Northern campus was one of the most beautiful in the entire state of IL...maybe the US.

  This tragedy may change the face of that campus, but it will never change the memories we have for this fine institution and for the young lives that were lost there.

  by ThunderHeart on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:05:50 AM PDT

•  My husband and I met at the Northern Star

  in the summer of 1976.

  by chicago minx on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:07:44 AM PDT

•  Hold your horses!

  You state: "We helped great progressives Al Franken and Darcy Burner win contested primaries without a single vote cast -- their opponents looked at the depth and breath of their grassroots support and decided to hang it up."

  But you're wrong.  Al Franken is not the endorsed candidate.  Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is still in the race.  As a supporter of Jack's, I recognize that his candidacy remains an uphill battle, but let's not bury him yet.

  by djmiklethun on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:10:37 AM PDT

•  did anyone else get their MoJo whacked...

  ...for no apparent reason?

  I had and lost TU so many times I cant count, but I usually understand why, and mainly its because I hadn't been posting enough.

  This time it seems that I was Whacked.

  Anyone know why?

  by Silence Do Good on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:12:53 AM PDT

  •  approx 180 recommends in the last week..

    ..and no pootie pics, actual comments.

    Hmmmmm  

    I must have pissed off one of the made men/women.

    by Silence Do Good on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:24:59 AM PDT

    •  email ct, at the contact link

      i lost mine once and freaked out, even though i am a mojo friday regular.  

      by jlms qkw on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 05:39:40 PM PDT

      •  the first time I lost it...

        ...I "lost it" I emailed Kos and asked why etc.

        I take it a lot better now, but this one is strange.

        by Silence Do Good on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 06:01:24 PM PDT

        •  ct replied to me very quickly.

          try it!  you'll feel better.

          if it doesn't come back, visit mojo monday later tonight, rec every comment in cheers and jeers for 3 days, and/or visit mojo friday at the end of the week.  you'll have it back in no time.  promise!  

          by jlms qkw on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 06:08:24 PM PDT

•  Oh THANK GOD!! for the no postal mail option

  There's nothing I hate more than donating money to a campaign and then see them waste money and paper on sending me a letter that goes straight in the shredder.

  by Marc in CA on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:18:33 AM PDT

•  $24 bucks added just now...

  6 month subscription-- good deal for a good cause!

  by mommyof3 on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:19:17 AM PDT

•  You're a good one Kos

  re: the donation to Dan Parmenter's scholarship fund. Good onya.

  by KenBee on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:24:07 AM PDT

•  Google Checkout for Political Contributions?

  As I diaried today in "Google Checkout for Political Contributions":

  techPresident reported in "Daily Digest: Google Announces Political Checkout". That service is now in direct competition with ActBlue and other services that facilitate small contributions. And it puts Google right smack into the political ecosystem at perhaps its most important checkpoint. How will the political landscape evolve with Google so active in it?

  What has Google already achieved with its "Checkout" service applied to political campaigns?

  by DocGonzo on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:36:09 AM PDT

  •  See Republished Diary Instead

    I have republished this diary at a new entry, because of a glitch in the DKos diary publishing system. Please comment there, not in the original diary to which I linked in the previous comment.

    by DocGonzo on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 12:01:24 PM PDT

•  Franken not nominee yet

  "We helped great progressives Al Franken and Darcy Burner win contested primaries without a single vote cast -- their opponents looked at the depth and breath of their grassroots support and decided to hang it up."

  Kos, last August you insulted Mike Ciresi, a great Democrat, by endorsing Al Franken without even checking out his competition. Now you're ignoring Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, another great Democrat, by assuming the victory even though the DFL nominating process still has over two months to go.

  Would you please just stop? Your Franken endorsement was premature, and this gloating about driving good progressive Minnesota Democratic candidates out of the race is also premature. Ciresi, a great candidate who is arguably more progressive than Al, did drop out. Nelson-Pallmeyer, who makes both Ciresi and Franken look like Bushies by comparison is still running.

  Show some respect for the process and stop assuming the win.

  And yes, I am still very pissed about the super early Franken endorsement by netizens where ZERO effort was made to contact anyone on the ground in Minnesota before hand. From last August on, it seems as if netizens have been on a calendar that's at least three months ahead of the actual news. What are you going to do when everyone collapses in an exhausted heap along about September? The election's still in November, last I checked.

  Yes, Franken will probably win the endorsement (and then later the nomination in the binding primary), but no, he's not unopposed and he never has been. And now, thanks to the DFL's bizarrely regressive nominating process, 1,400 Democrats will get to endorse the DFL's choice to be the nominee this June. Until they do, Franken's not the endorsed candidate, and he's promised to drop out if he's not. Would it kill you to wait on that decision, or is it really that important to you that you take a victory lap now, months before the endorsement and half a year before the primary? Franken hasn't, and is still working to shore up his endorsement votes.

  by Mark Gisleson on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:43:20 AM PDT

  •  Also, Mike Ciresi didn't drop out without..

    "...a single vote cast."

    Ciresi dropped out after voters chose fewer delegates for him than for Al Franken and Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.

    by Eric J in MN on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 01:38:24 PM PDT

    •  That's a little misleading

      The DFL endorsement process is like going back to the days of white male property owners only, except in this case the only "voters" are those who win TWO elections and commit to a bare minimum of a dozen hours invested in the process, and potentially twice that. More to the point, all of that time is invested into navel-gazing Democrats only politics, without one tiny bit of all that energy being invested in anything remotely resembling GOTV.

      You can call that votes cast, but the 90% of all Minnesota Democrats who didn't caucus might disagree with you, just as the 99.9999% of all Minnesota Democrats who were not consulted about the netroots endorsement of Al Franken might still have something to say about that. But most galling is the conceit that once the insiders have spoken, the process is done and everyone else has to go home, even though the actual primary isn't until September, THIRTEEN MONTHS AFTER THE NO VOTE WHATSOEVER NETROOTS ENDORSEMENT OF AL FRANKEN.

      Seriously, I thought all the A-list bloggers had already had this conversation with Messers Moulitsas, Bowers and Stoller. This election isn't over until all the candidates but one drop out, or the voters speak in the September primary. So far the only loud voice I've heard is that of out-of-state money.

      by Mark Gisleson on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 03:05:37 PM PDT

•  Al Franken

  We helped great progressives Al Franken and Darcy Burner win contested primaries without a single vote cast -- their opponents looked at the depth and breath of their grassroots support and decided to hang it up.

  No offense, but Al Franken still has an opponent, one who is considerably more progressive than Al.  Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer  He was one of Paul Wellstone's advisors.

  I'd have to admit that Al does have the edge in name recognition and polls, though.

  by kingdave on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 12:20:20 PM PDT

•  A really good reason to join

  Been putting it (joining DKos) off as I always expected that I would end up enjoying R&C Fridays (and joining in them) a bit too much and spout off something that would get me banned on the spot. :)

  I'm glad you're doing this. I'm in...finally.

  by Hedwig on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 12:47:17 PM PDT

  •  oh my friend the snowy white owl!

    greetings and salutations!

    by jlms qkw on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 05:42:28 PM PDT

•  Contributions and mailing lists

  Here is the main concern I have about any political contributions, and I would be happy for someone to school me on how this works.

  For me, it is not enough not to receive any paper mail.  I don't want any contact from any political group.  I don't want to be pestered down the road for further contributions.  I want to make contributions when I want for the reasons I want, with no direct solicitations in the future.

  (Appeals on the dKos site are fine.  I just don't want 'em in my mailbox or Inbox.)

  If I can be assured that I can donate and be left alone, then I'll send some money to Act Blue.

  I bet I'm not the only one with such reservations.  Perhaps a front-page entry addressing this issue is in order?

  Thanks.

  by dwicks on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 04:03:01 PM PDT