They've got CPAC, and they've got Tea Party Conventions, and they've even got something called 'RightOnLine' (which brags about following NN around the country like a lost puppy).
And we've got Netroots Nation! And we need your help with our NN auction so we can keep our liberal voice among these gatherings of the unhinged right.
Before I get into all the great stuff our auction has available, I hope you'll indulge me as talk for a moment about RightOnline. The organization behind RightOnline is Americans For Prosperity. That name may ring a bell to some of you because they're behind nearly every astroturf group on the right. I had written a paragraph trying to describe what AFP is, who funds them and how they do the evil work they do. Then I found this Rachel Maddow clip and it does all that -- and much better than I can
Sorry guys! This should be embed code but I can't get it to work right. In the meantime, here is the link to the video that I'm trying to post here.
So these are the guys we're up against. We grew this annual gathering of thousands out of the pixels on DailyKos five years ago with lots of volunteer hours and hard work. AFP just decided one day they would create an astroturf group to follow us around -- so they did. They never have to ask where the money is going to come from. Well, for all our differences, I do wish we could share that carefree worldview with them. But we can't. And that's why we're asking for you to help and take part in our auction.
We need your help! We need you to bid on the fabulous items in our auction to help us put on what will be the biggest and best Netroots Nation ever!
- My own mother knitted an afghan for the auction. For real. It's really a nice, soft, warm afghan. She gave me one several years ago and it's wonderful. It's just like the snuggies you see on TV except it was hand-knitted in Michigan by my retired mother, not sewn by child labor in China. [Note: the afghan in the photo is green but the one you're bidding on is off-white.]
- Sadly, there will never be another Paul Wellstone for Senate campaign. But we've got a momento from one of his Senate races that is as relevant as ever. You can walk around with "Proud to be a Republican Target -- Wellstone for Senate" on your back, just like Paul Wellstone did for us for so many years.
- And who couldn't use 3 days in Puerto Rico? I sure could! Get 3 days in a Villa in Palmas del Mar, Puerto Rico here now!
- Daily Kos Soup! What more can I say? Soup (including all non-perishable ingredients) from a Kossack, delivered to your door (by the socalist post office)
- This has to be my favorite. Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach has offered his comedic services to the winning bidder. You read that right. A 20-minute comedy show brought to you by a sitting State Senator from the Keystone State. There is not a money-back guarantee on the laughter, but I have a hard time imagining how this could go wrong!
So bid early and bid often, folks.