Welcome To Our Annual Holiday Pledge Drive!
Welcome once again to that very special time of year when we ask you to send us money! Sorry, is that too unseasonably honest? Um... let me start over...
Welcome once again to that very special time of year when we try to mesmerize you with kitten photos to the point of getting your wallet out! No wait, that's not right either... hang on...
Welcome once again to that very special time of year when we all reflect on what is important in life and what we treasure most about each other!
(OK, I think that last one will do...)
Kidding aside, we do welcome you back to our annual Holiday Pledge Drive, that once-a-year time when we try to raise enough money to keep the lights on here at ChrisWeigant.com. Hitting our donation goal each year means guaranteeing the site will remain ad-free for the next calendar year, so it is important both to us and to you, our readers.
But first, as is traditional for us, here is a cute winter cat photo:
It's pledge drive time again already!?!
Indeed it is, and we shameless await seeing the donations pouring in, as usual.
Keeping watch
Let's start with the basics on how to give. For the rest of the month, you will see our pledge drive thermometer graphic at the top of every article and the main page, so everyone can see the progress being made. This has to be updated manually, which I will do periodically as donations come in.
Clicking on the thermometer will take you to our 2023 Holiday Fundraising Drive page, which helpfully explains (with just a few more kittens) the various ways you can donate (PayPal, credit or debit card, or by sending in a check). Or you can just click on the Donate button at the top right of every column, which will take you directly to our PayPal donation portal:
They have updated this link, so it is a lot easier to use. You will be directed to PayPal, where you will be asked to enter an amount to donate to "Pamphleteering Press," our corporate overlord (so to speak). There are buttons to donate from your own PayPal account (if you have one) or to donate via debit or credit card. And they've even added a little check box if you want to cover the PayPal fees that otherwise get deducted from your generous donation.
If you are old-school and don't truck with all this new-fangled nonsense, then you can always just mail us a check. Again, all of the information on how to donate is covered in that 2023 Holiday Fundraising Drive page link.
Leaping to click the Donate button!
Next year, of course, is going to be a big one in politics, being a presidential election year. And although it is shaping up to be a rematch of the last presidential election, the stakes are still going to be sky-high.
As mentioned, we run our pledge drives looking forward, meaning we'll be committed to blogging here all year long, throughout all the twists and turns of 2024. And it could be a rough year to come, we fully realize that!
Looking for a way out of this mess
Throughout the ups and downs of both the election cycle and the epic legal gantlet that Donald Trump will be running, we will be helping everyone (as the Swifties say) successfully shake it off.
I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake...
We have also committed to (finally!) upgrading this site so that it works a lot easier on smart phones (but without impacting the experience for those who use browsers on actual computers, never fear). This is tentatively scheduled to happen in January, and we'll be reporting our progress as it goes.
So this year's pledges will have effect tangible changes here, while still allowing us the budget to keep the lights on -- to pay for the server space and all the other bills that come in throughout the year. Which is all (as PBS continually reminds us all) made possible by donors like you.
Our donors are all angels!
So as you all get ready for your long winter naps, we're hoping you'll consider sending a few sugarplums our way.
Dreaming of Santa
But whether you are in a position to donate this year or not, we sincerely wish everyone a happy end to the year, as we all look forward to 2024. We hope everyone out there has a wonderful holiday season and a happy and productive next year!
Many paws make light work... or just lots of mischief, at times!
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Very nice. I'm still in bad financial straights but still working hard, too. So, I'll get mine in as soon as I find time to go card shopping. :-)
And, still same snail mail address, I am assuming ...
Dunno, Chris. Maybe I missed it but I didn’t see any assurance that no kitties were frozen in the making of these photographs.
Down goes Santos.
Okay, so I've gathered some information on the Newsom debate and I've had time to rethink my comment on the previous column since I can't actually delete it. Heh.
What that comment demonstrated is merely my belief that there needs to be a change of running mate on the Democratic side. The reasons for this are numerous and include Biden's age which so many Dems seem to be obsessing over.
However, if such a change is to be made, then it has to be serious and Newsom is decidedly non-serious, on second sober thought.
I can't think right now who Biden's new running mate should be but my thinking on the need for Biden to make this change has only grown since the Newsom-DeSantis debate. (by the way, why anyone who enjoys debates between the candidates running for president wouldn't love to see more of these one-on-ones is completely beyond me ... I'm talkin' to you, Chris!)
There has to be someone out there - besides a Jerry Brown type person who is also burdened by the ageism criticism who can round out the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket and create some real excitement and energy ... and reassurance of the kind that actually WOULD have a serious chance to create a Blue Tsunami!
Can anyone around here think of such a running mate? Don't take your time, 'cause that ain't on our side. Ahem.
Joshua[4],
Now, THAT was funny!
Liz
Your finances are likely in 'straits' rather than "straights".
Yeah, I know.
one never knows, it's not unheard of to have 12,345 or 6,789. 234,567 would be a significantly less dire straight.
In any case, I still have enough for some live music, every now and then. So, all is good! :)
LizM -
Same snail-mail address, I haven't gone anywhere!
:-)
MtnCaddy [3] -
I dunno, some of them look supremely pissed off to be in all that frozen water, but I'm sure they got home ok! I mean, they had someone right there snapping their photos, right?
LizM [5] -
Funny, I read an article about that very subject today and thought it was a really good idea... maybe I'll write about it tomorrow...
:-)
C. R. Stucki [7] -
I salute your pedantry. No, seriously...
:-)
What's the old saying? Don't draw to an inside strait? Something like that... heh...
-CW
(thermometer updated...)
:-D
@[6]
wish i could take sole credit for the phrase, but someone seems to have beat me to it. word is that santos wasn't expelled for fraud, hypocrisy or lack of ethics. he was expelled because he literally stole from other house republicans!
Elizabeth Miller
5
However, if such a change is to be made, then it has to be serious and Newsom is decidedly non-serious, on second sober thought.
Newsom is definitely serious.
There has to be someone out there...
Of course, there is.
Can anyone around here think of such a running mate?
Yes. Merrick Garland announces his retirement and President Biden holds a press conference stating he's filling the vacancy with the best person for the job: The badass former Attorney General of the Great State of California, our Vice President, Kamala Harris, explaining he needs her there now to do what she does best... protect the people and make criminal heads roll.
Assuming the role of Vice President and Second Gentleman: Michelle Obama and her husband, what's his name.
Seriously, though, Biden could not replace his VP without this type scenario playing out... lest he wanted to create more problems than he was attempting to solve.
Wouldn't it be tons of fun to watch the Righties whining hysterically about a vote for Biden being a vote for Obama? Heh. :)
Y'all are cracking me up talking dire straits and money...
forcing me to post this ;)
Dire Straits - Money For Nothing