Holiday Fundraiser Kickoff (And Kitten Parade)!
Yes, folks, it has been a whole year, and it is time once again to launch our annual holiday pledge drive!
As usual, we are employing a tactic known as "soften them up with kittens," in order to convince our readers to open their purses and wallets wide, in our once-yearly effort to pay the bills here at ChrisWeigant.com. Because even kittens love presents...
How can you resist those baby blues?
Last year, I regret to announce, we fell just a wee bit short of our fundraising goal, making it the first year in a long stretch where the site wasn't fully self-supporting. We did get awfully close, though, so we were able to tighten our belt a bit and get the bills paid on time. Our fundraising, I should mention, only covers the costs of doing business (computer and ISP fees and office expenses), and not fancy trips to national conventions and Netroots Nation (neither of which actually happened this past year, for unrelated reasons). We're just trying to cover the basics, in other words, with these pledge drives.
This year, hopefully, we can return once again to meeting our goal, so that we can continue bringing your reality-based political blather fully free of advertising. Those readers who have been around for a while might remember our "banner ad" period, and nobody really wants to go back to that, right? So we heartily encourage everyone to donate what they can so we can continue to avoid looking at ads here.
We'd all rather look at kittens instead, right? Even when they're broadcasting a monumental guilt trip...
Not getting your donation makes me sad.
Now, we realize that 2014 wasn't a fun year for progressives or Democrats. But the midterm election is now behind us, and 2015 will be a very interesting year to come. The presidential race will be getting up and running, which promises to be a free-for-all on the Republican side. And our guess is that Mitch McConnell is going to have just as much problem keeping his caucus in line as John Boehner has been having for years now, so Congress should provide some entertainment as well.
Quick! Look ornamental!
Hopefully, though, things will get done in Washington and not completely fall apart into nothing more than a gigantic blame game. Because we've all had enough of excuses, right?
Politics as usual?
Not from our loyal readers, of course. We pride ourselves here that even commenters who radically disagree with our views care enough to give generously to keep the site going.
Throughout the holiday season, our "thermometer bar" graphic will be appearing at the top of all articles, just to remind you if you haven't sent in your donation yet. This is updated when donations come in, so you can see how close we are to reaching this year's goal as time goes by.
For full instructions on the mechanics of how to donate, we've posted a 2014 Holiday Pledge Drive page with all the details. The quickest way is to use the PayPal button to send funds via either credit cards or PayPal accounts.
Hey, if a kitten can figure it out, so can you!
Boy, that was easy!
So while doing your end-of-year holiday shopping, take a moment or two to give a gift to keep the political pontificating rolling along. What is the site worth to you? Fifty cents a week? That'd be a $25 donation for the year. A dollar a week?
Whatever your answer to that question is, now's the time to send it in. We are committed to keeping this site free for all (no paywalls!) and -- hopefully -- free of advertising as well. That's got to be worth something, right? So donate today!
Settling in for a long winter's nap, after making a donation to CW.com...
To get a bit serious here at the end, I would like to personally thank everyone for supporting this site, whether through donations or through just reading the articles or following me on Twitter (oh, hey, that reminds me -- if you hurry, you could become my 500th follower!). Our traffic at CW.com has increased enormously this year, and we got a real spike during the elections (over 500,000 page views that month -- a first!). I started blogging on a whim, almost, eight years ago. I never expected this site to grow into what it has become, and I sincerely thank everyone for making it possible. If economic circumstances prevent you from donating, I completely understand, and I thank you for your readership just as sincerely. It's been a great ride so far, and I for one am looking forward to continuing our extended conversation into 2015 and beyond.
Waiting for Santa to appear...
In any case, I hope everyone has a happy holiday season this year in their offline lives, and hope Santa brings you everything you wish for.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
And awaaayyyyy we goooo!!!!! :D
As per usual, I will be donating 50 cents per comment between Thanksgiving Day and New Years Day... Since we're already a few days past the start, I don't think anyone will begrudge me to start the counter at 050.. It is so ordered...
:D
Dig deep, people.. It's for a worth cause... If ya don't give and give til it hurts, the GOP will sweep the 2016 elections!!! I read that on the Internet, so it HAS to be true!! :D
Michale
051
Oh, just a reminder...
A comment got stuck in the NNL filters in yesterday's commentary.. It's so worthy a comment that I wanted to call attention to it..
http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/12/01/opw1411/#comment-54988
Michale
052
Again, as per usual, in conjunction with the annual CW.COM Fundraiser, we have the Michael Give Back Program..
To whit....
I am a certified computer technician of some (local) renown, if I do say so myself.. (and I do!! :D)
"Would you say you got a better shot of them going in but not so much of them coming out?"
"You could say that.."
"I DID say that. Would YOU say that."
-My Cousin Vinny
:D
Anyways, for the duration of the CW.COM fundraiser, I will fix any laptop, PS3 or XBOX360 free of charge. All I ask is that shipping and parts be covered..
Common problems that I can repair:
Laptops
Lights Power On, But Nothing On Screen
No Power
Virus Or Slow Running
PS3
Infamous Yellow Light Of Death
Doesn't Read Blu Ray or Games
XBOX 360
Infamous Red Ring Of Death
Doesn't Read Games
It's my way of making up for the pain in the arse I have been all year.. :D
If anyone wants to avail themselves of this, they can contact CW via email and he will relay my direct contact email address..
Hope everyone has a great holiday season..
Michale
053
"the midterm election is now behind us, and 2015 will be a very interesting year to come."
You got that right. The fun has already begun. Just this morning, I was listening to NPR and they aired a story about a confirmation hearing for Obama's nominee for ambassador to Hungary. John McCain had the gall to call the nomination "disgraceful". That's right. MacThuselah. The guy who picked Sarah Palin for VP. He should be too ashamed to criticize anybody for making bad picks, but he clearly has no shame. So, NPR airs a story about bad picks and they pick a sound byte from the most hypocritical sore loser available. They should wise up at NPR. Maybe BHO won't veto The Defund NPR Act of 2015.
You got that right. The fun has already begun. Just this morning, I was listening to NPR and they aired a story about a confirmation hearing for Obama's nominee for ambassador to Hungary. John McCain had the gall to call the nomination "disgraceful".
Of course you ignore the fact that the ONLY qualification that the nominee had was that she was an Obama sycophant...
Facts.. They are such pesky things...
Michale
066
I am also constrained to point out that Sarah Palin had, yunno, actual executive experience..
Something that even the great Messiah, Obama himself never had...
Certainly more relevant experience than the bimbo who was selected for Ambassador to Hungary...
Perhaps, she would have been better suited as the ambassador to Turkey... Because she obviously IS ONE...
Michale
067
John McCain had the gall to call the nomination "disgraceful". That's right. MacThuselah.
I also find it hilarious that you would slam McCain yet worship Obama..
McCain has more honor and more love of country in his right pinky than Obama has in his entire body....
Michale
068
I hereby pledge to donate 50 cents for every Michale comment that doesn't significantly raise my blood pressure ...
... to a maximum of $200. Heh.
Of course, I'll be working on a minimum threshold, as well. :)
Who can resist the kittens!?
I hereby pledge to donate 50 cents for every Michale comment that doesn't significantly raise my blood pressure ...
That is a high bar indeed... :D
But I will do my best... :D
Michale
069
Michale
069
"hehehehehe '69'...."
-Billy Madison
:D
Michale
070
General Announcement
We have already reached one-fourth of our pledge drive goals! Woo hoo! You can see the updated thermometer on the top of every page now (you may have to "reload" the page to get rid of your cached copy). Keep your eyes on the thermometer throughout December to see how things are going.
I've tried to keep up sending personal thank-yous to everyone who has donated, but just wanted to publicly do so again. We've got a goodly number of first-time donors this year, for which I'm especially thankful, as it shows the site is growing. I'd also like to invite any first-timers to join us here in the comments as well (Michale's bark is worse than his bite, promise!).
Anyway, keep those cards and letters (and donations) coming, folks -- hopefully we'll hit our goal before Christmas!
:-)
-CW