Kerry Is My Hamster house party, 6/19
Jun. 13th, 2004 06:21 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
https://volunteer.johnkerry.com/mysite/?view=guest&ref=268207
I know that many people who plan to vote Democratic in November are not planning to vote for Kerry so much as against Bush. Without further ado, I present:
(See http://www.livejournal.com/users/staralshain/160557.html for an explanation, http://www.cafeshops.com/kerryhamster to buy a shirt or bumper sticker with this theme.)
WHO: Myself,
kimberlogic,
chhotii,
cos...and YOU!
WHAT: A fundraising party for Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign
WHEN: Saturday, June 19, 2:30 pm - 8:30 pm (to give those with tight afternoon or evening schedules a chance to show up)
WHERE: Generic LSE (ask me for directions if you don't know where we are)
WHY: Because he can't win without money, and it'll take a lot more to catch up with the Republicans.
RSVP: Yes. Really, even if you think you're only a "maybe." You can RSVP by responding to this post.
You don't have to be a hardcore supporter of Kerry qua Kerry in order to attend, you just have to believe, as we do, that Kerry is the best chance we have for booting Bush and his cronies the !@#*$&@*#%^%! out of Washington.
Also, because this is a fundraising effort, not purely a social gathering, we need you to arrive ready to donate money (there is no lower limit, just donate what you can!). Alternatively, you could bring something to sell or raffle to make money to donate to the cause (baked goods, handicrafts, and the like).
NOTE: I am currently researching the FEC regulations on the donation of money raised through sales, raffles, and auctions. It is possible that such monies are easier to donate to PACs (such as MoveOn.org); I hope to have the answer to this before the party.
"But wait!" I hear some of you cry. "I'd love to come to the house party, but I can't make it on that date." Well, I can't switch the date, alas. However, you can donate and have that money credited to this house party's total by visiting this page:
https://volunteer.johnkerry.com/mysite/?view=guest&ref=268207
Your hosts will provide some refreshments, some door/raffle prizes, some fun activities, and lots of useful information on Kerry, Bush, and the erosion of civil rights in the USA. You will provide whatever donation or help you can afford, your enthusiasm, and your desire to reclaim the US
from its current madness (assuming you agree with us). Please feel free to bring friends, or to forward them this message.
We hope to see you this Saturday!
I know that many people who plan to vote Democratic in November are not planning to vote for Kerry so much as against Bush. Without further ado, I present:
The KERRY IS MY HAMSTER House Party.
(See http://www.livejournal.com/users/staralshain/160557.html for an explanation, http://www.cafeshops.com/kerryhamster to buy a shirt or bumper sticker with this theme.)
WHO: Myself,
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
WHAT: A fundraising party for Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign
WHEN: Saturday, June 19, 2:30 pm - 8:30 pm (to give those with tight afternoon or evening schedules a chance to show up)
WHERE: Generic LSE (ask me for directions if you don't know where we are)
WHY: Because he can't win without money, and it'll take a lot more to catch up with the Republicans.
RSVP: Yes. Really, even if you think you're only a "maybe." You can RSVP by responding to this post.
You don't have to be a hardcore supporter of Kerry qua Kerry in order to attend, you just have to believe, as we do, that Kerry is the best chance we have for booting Bush and his cronies the !@#*$&@*#%^%! out of Washington.
Also, because this is a fundraising effort, not purely a social gathering, we need you to arrive ready to donate money (there is no lower limit, just donate what you can!). Alternatively, you could bring something to sell or raffle to make money to donate to the cause (baked goods, handicrafts, and the like).
NOTE: I am currently researching the FEC regulations on the donation of money raised through sales, raffles, and auctions. It is possible that such monies are easier to donate to PACs (such as MoveOn.org); I hope to have the answer to this before the party.
"But wait!" I hear some of you cry. "I'd love to come to the house party, but I can't make it on that date." Well, I can't switch the date, alas. However, you can donate and have that money credited to this house party's total by visiting this page:
Your hosts will provide some refreshments, some door/raffle prizes, some fun activities, and lots of useful information on Kerry, Bush, and the erosion of civil rights in the USA. You will provide whatever donation or help you can afford, your enthusiasm, and your desire to reclaim the US
from its current madness (assuming you agree with us). Please feel free to bring friends, or to forward them this message.
We hope to see you this Saturday!
Re: I'm honestly not trying to start a flame war
Date: 2004-06-13 03:34 pm (UTC)Re: I'm honestly not trying to start a flame war
Date: 2004-06-13 03:45 pm (UTC)But, like I said, Kerry is our best chance for booting Bush out of Washington. It isn't "any asshole but Bush." I understand your feelings, but don't agree with it. Nationwide, what the Bush campaign wants most is for people like yourself to vote 3rd party or not to vote at all. That is in their best interest. Do you believe it's in yours? I do not, which is why, despite the fact that I happen to be a registered Green, I believe that all of us who oppose Bush need to unite around the candidate most able to defeat the Republican machine. There needs to be no doubt that we want Bush to go.
Re: I'm honestly not trying to start a flame war
Date: 2004-06-13 03:48 pm (UTC)I will grant your point of raising money for the swing states with validity.
Re: I'm honestly not trying to start a flame war
Date: 2004-06-13 04:08 pm (UTC)Of course, if you actually like your third party candidate go ahead and vote for them. But don't do it just to be contrary and because you think your vote doesn't mean anything.
Re: I'm honestly not trying to start a flame war
Date: 2004-06-14 07:32 am (UTC)Kerry raised more money from paid lobbyists than any other Senator in the last 15 years (http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/31/elec04.prez.main/index.html). His wife earned $5.1 million in 2003 (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18838-2004May11.html), and has a $500 million fortune. They own five homes, valued at over $30 million, and a 42' powerboat worth $700,000 for casual fun. He also raked in a cool $57 million (http://www.motherjones.com/news/special_reports/2004/04/MJ100_100.html) in campaign contributions during Q1 2004.
John Forbes Kerry is rolling in it. The idea of anyone on a normal income feeling the need to give him even more money is a sick joke. Added to that, he's a fully paid-for corporate special interest candidate who knows exactly how to get cash hand-over-fist, and he's a lying two-faced weasel (http://meta.ath0.com/2004/02/05#2004-02-05-0954).
Sure, he's slightly less of a liar and less of a corporate whore than Bush. Great. In fact, the only reason anyone seems to be able to come up with to vote for Kerry is "He's not Bush". You don't need a major advertising campaign to get that message out to the people.
If the Democrats wanted my time and money they'd have picked Howard Dean.
Re: I'm honestly not trying to start a flame war
Date: 2004-06-14 07:51 am (UTC)If the Democrats wanted my time and money they'd have picked Howard Dean.
As annoying as it was, the people who voted in primaries were ultimately the ones who didn't pick Dean. I would have preferred to vote for Dean myself, but he's not going to be an option, so I'm going to go with the best option we currently have to get Bush out of the White House.
Anyway, I didn't post this invitation to start a political war and am not interested in perpetuating one. I posted it to give people who might be interested a chance to attend. I'll assume you're not interested, then.
Re: I'm honestly not trying to start a flame war
Date: 2004-06-20 11:05 am (UTC)Boy, were we wrong.
In regard to campaign contributions, it's not just the money. There are various restrictions and subsidies, as well as perceived legitimacy, that ride on collecting large numbers of relatively small contributions. In recent years, the Republicans have been far better at getting large numbers of small contributors than the Democrats. If the Democrats want to regain the mantle of "the party of ordinary people", they're going to have to attract contributions from the ordinary people.
In the long run, the Democrats need to regain party discipline. The Republicans have mastered the ability to keep their "big tent" working -- even when a conservative faction disliked their candidate of the moment, they would still turn out to support him, as being the best deal they were able to get. But since the fading of the old city bosses, the Democrats have not been able to do that; many of their factions have been at best lukewarm toward their candidates.
The result is that Republican-leaning people vote in considerably larger proportion than Democrat-leaning people, and now the Republicans have the Presidency, and the majority of the House, the Senate, the governors, and the state legislators. That's quite a change from 1965, when it was openly speculated that the Republicans were "the permanent minority party".
Re: I'm honestly not trying to start a flame war
Date: 2004-06-20 07:31 pm (UTC)Pity they decided to abandon the guy who had broken all records for pre-campaign fundraising from small contributors, then.
Just because they're determined to keep shooting themselves in the foot, doesn't mean I'm gonna pay their medical bills.
Re: I'm honestly not trying to start a flame war
Date: 2004-06-13 06:20 pm (UTC)How does voting third party save my dignity or sense of self?
(Please note: just because my question involved the use of first-person possessive, one should be aware that we're all talking about everyone, here. Do not post a response telling me specifically how this applies to me specifically, but rather, respond as to all readers.)
Re: I'm honestly not trying to start a flame war
Date: 2004-06-20 10:54 am (UTC)