You loved Democracy when we filled the Capitol
You loved Democracy when we filled the streets in the dead of winter
But, do you love Democracy in Summer?
This IS What Democracy Looks Like!
Follow me over the jump! I will introduce you to one of the most ardent Democracy Addicts in Wisconsin, @BattiestGrrl and then present you with The @BattiestGrrl GOTV Pledge Challenge!
I've been participating in The Battle For Wisconsin since February 15th. Living in rural Wisconsin, I started using Twitter to exchange news with others across Wisconsin and the country. In the last 6 months I have made many amazing friends in The Twitterverse. I am using this diary to spread a Twitter donation challenge made by my friend, @Spudlovr, to my fellow Kossacks. @Spudlovr is too new on DailyKos to post a diary, so I am posting it for her.
@Spudlovr writes:
I’m a cheerleader, not a quarterback. And when it comes to local efforts to recall Wisconsin State Senator Randy Hopper, one of the rising stars is @BattiestGrrl aka Joanne, an unemployed area resident who has little money but plenty of time.
On a daily basis, she canvasses our hometown in support of Jess King, Hopper’s opponent in the WI State Senate Recall election Aug. 9th.
She has gone out rain or shine, whether its the hottest day in recent history or in the midst of summer shower.
On rollerblades
About 9:30 every night, I look forward to her tweets posting the number of homes she canvassed that day and any interesting or unusual things that happened on the way. Weekdays she visits 40-70 doors, on weekends she can do over 100.
Her efforts are phenomenal and hard to ignore.
Unlike Joanne, I have more money than time, and not much of either. After declining an opportunity to canvass Monday, I decided that evening to contribute to Jess King's campaign and wished for a way to maximize my donation. Then I read a tweet from Joanne, announcing she has just returned from canvassing. Bingo!
So I tweeted a pledge of $1 for every door @BattiestGrrl knocked on Tuesday night, and challenged others on Twitter to do the same.
Less than ten minutes later, I received this tweet from @theadingo:
Challenge? Yes! I'll give $1 for every door rolling @BattiestGrrl knocks on for @jesskingWI tomorrow. #wiunion #wiall
And they kept coming, ten in all!
@ValCleveland:
"I will join U @Spudlovr @bxknits to donate for each door @BattiestGrrl knocks on for @jesskingWI tomorrow #wiunion 25 cents per door, UR ON"
@Shadow_L pledged 10 cents a door and apologized for being on a limited income:
“I wish I could do more.”
And after Joanne squirted some WD-40 on her blades and went to work Tuesday afternoon, others continued to pledge for her efforts.
@Granniegal:
"I will donate a flat $20.00 donation, send details."
By midnight Tuesday, we raised just a little over $500 for recall efforts, with donations made to Jess King and/or other Wisconsin Democratic recall candidates. And $71 were mine, one for each door @BattiestGrrl knocked on that night.
It was an amazing night. And it didn’t stop:
Wednesday I morning I received this awesome tweet from @djvanness:
"I'm in for $5 per door up to $350"
Joanne responded:
“Holy Sugar and Spice, Batman! Makes skating on antibiotics and a bruised knee tonight much easier.”
It continues to spread:
@slouch2geneva::
"I'm gonna take the @BattiestGrrl challenge - I'll split it between @sandyforsenate @NancyNusbaumWI & @MooreforWI today."
@MsHnub::
"Just donated $36.00 for @spudlovr 's challenge & @BattiestGrrl 's awesome canvassing talents."
I’m extending the BattiestGrrl Challenge to you until the Aug 9th Election.
If you care to accept this challenge, please pledge an amount you will donate for every door @BattiestGrrl knocks on tomorrow or every call she makes.
Follow @BattiestGrrl or #wiunion on Twitter for the daily count. I will add the count to this diary as well.
You can donate in Joanne’s name at Battiestgrrl Challenge via ActBlue, through ActBlue, or directly to the candidate(s) of your choice.
Please note, she is entitled to time off and we don’t want her to jeopardize her safety or her health!
Every quarterback needs a cheerleader, whether it’s a dedicated canvasser or a candidate fighting for Wisconsin values. I think they all deserve a deafening round of applause.
Thank you for providing me with this forum!
- @Spudlovr
As @BattiestGrrl's shovel says, There is still work to be done!
There are 6 days of GOTV before the election.
Please help us!
-> If you are in Wisconsin, volunteer for one of the Democratic campaigns!
-> If you can't volunteer in person, consider making calls via DPW's Virtual Phone Bank
-> If you can afford it, pledge a donation for each phone call or door knock that @BattiestGrrl makes. (@BattiestGrrl was asked to phone bank yesterday).
If you want to make a flat donation, @BattiestGrrl suggests:
Consider pledging a penny against my total doors number since I began counting in June:
2,237 doors for Jess King (since June 18)
231 doors for Sen. Dave Hansen (in one day! )
Twitter donations have totaled $1009 and the previous Dailykos diary earned over $351 in donations for the Democratic candidates in the WI State Senate Recall elections.
Thank you for your help!
SHC
Special thanks to @tiffanybrault @meimichan for allowing me to use their photos.