After you give to the Aaron Walker/Stacy McCain “Anti-Molestation of Free Speech / Anti-Fluff the Domestic Terrorist” Defense fund, please consider throwing a bit of seasonal cabbage my way. Last month’s fundraiser fell a bit short I’m afraid, and I’m really beginning to feel like I’m just not cutting it any more in the eyes of my readers.
I have self-esteem issues, you see.
So. Whaddya say? Help heal me?
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Tuesday update: Go, Scott Walker!
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Friday update: Last day today. Thanks to all who’ve contributed (or attempted to). My son and I leave today for his wrestling camp, run by Ken Chertow. Rulon Gardner will be coaching as well, I’m told, so it should be a neat experience. Father/son re-bonding time after all the attention lavished on the new baby. Other posters I hope will pick up the slack in my absence.
Also, as many of you know, a lot of blogs will be going silent today save for a protest post about Brett Kimberlin. Now that Sen Chambliss has written the Justice Dept and ABC News is covering the story — at least temporarily — I’m not sure what effect such a protest will have: either it will prove a redoubling of our efforts or else it will signal that we can be cowed into covering our own mouths.
I think it important that we keep up the pressure, so what I’d say is this: if you have the time and the inclination, shoot a quick email to your Congressional reps today urging them to join Sen Chambliss in the call to investigate (literal physical) threats to speech.
I also encourage you to write to each and every “Civil Rights” organization and ask why it is that they’ve remained silent on efforts by white, well-financed Democrats to threaten physical harm on a black man and his family in order to intimidate them into political silence. You might care to remind these “Civil Rights” groups and individuals that, for many of them, their stated raison d’etre is to fight such efforts — and that they seem to be choosing who comes to count as a victim and who as an aggressor based entirely on political ideology and affiliation, and not really based on anything like racial identity or skin color.
— Meaning, they’re less a “Civil Rights” organization than they are an offshoot / enabler / protector of a political ideology that seems willing to look away when the relatively powerless are under assault from the politically connected.
Would they care to comment on that?
At any rate, I leave it to you all to do what you think is best. As I told some other folks who pitched me the day of silence idea, I understand the motivation, but it still seems to me like announcing you’re going on a hunger strike for a day. I’d rather use the time to pester a statement out of some of these Civil Rights groups — or else show that, despite a massive write-in campaign by conservatives, these Civil Rights groups simply ignored the threats against a black blogger, allowing a well-funded cabal of whites to try and rob him and his family of their political autonomy.
Healing on its way. Keep the faith, baby.
Thanks, geoffB!
Thanks, RI Red!
Thanks, McGehee!
Thanks, Pablo!
I dropped my land line to do this.
Thanks, Diana!
Thanks, cranky-d!
Thanks, BT!
Thanks, Squid!
Thanks, John B!
Bet you pulled more in with your fundraiser than I made at my construction job I’ve had with the same company for over twenty years. Last time it was this bad was the eighties, and even then I could get a job waiting tables. Where I made more money than I am now as a highly skilled operating engineer with 30 years experience.
I’m beginning to suspect that Obama feller ain’t working out.
Thanks, Christopher W!
Thanks, William F!
Thanks, Terry H!
Thanks, SDN!
Thanks, di!
I put in little extra — please use it to fund the anvil-dropping feature described in an earlier thread.
Thanks, Fred W!
Thanks, Sarah R!
Be the anvil.
Thanks, Darleen!
Heh. I’ll do my best.
We are the anvil we have been waiting for.
Thanks, bh!
I still like my idea of having the ‘dillo invite himself over to Speedway Bomber Boy’s House. Take a look at Edward Gorey’s “The Doubtful Guest” for inspiration. Darleen could do the illustrations….
Thanks, Tim!
Thanks, John H!
Thanks, serr8d!
Thanks, William P!
Thanks, Silver Whistle!
Did you ever receive your Ontario Rat 3?
Bones —
Yes, I did! I mentioned it last month (or the month before) during the fundraiser. It arrived with no notice of who it was from. I put out the word, but I never heard from anyone.
Thanks so much! Mystery finally solved!
It’ll go nicely with the Kabar
Indeed. And the Cold Steel San Mai Recon Scout, too.
Thanks, Patrick C!
Thanks, Ella!
You’re welcome. :)
The card I’ve always used (and I tried another) says “can’t be used for this payment’.
And before all you jokers start giggling, yes, they’re paid up/ linked, etc.
Went through “Donate > Pay Pal” as usual.
Dunno.
Anybody else have hiccups with this?
Check the expiration date.
Did that. ’14 & ’16 (across two cards).
Maybe they’ve bought into the Mayan thing and don’t think I’ll pay off.
I’ll make somebody holler “calf rope” at the bank tomorrow.
I’ll pony up eventually Jeff. Keep letting me say stupid things amongst smart people.
I’ve had that problem before, LYBD. Tried it again later and then it worked. No idea why.
Thanks, Kevin K!
Jeff, I think you know I’m good over the years at tossing a few good bucks for the righteous cause.
No card works for me on Pay Pal.
Bank is all, “we don’t know why”.
It’s fair to ask my dumb ass, “Did you fart up the entry fields? Screw up an expiration date?”
I didn’t.
PO Box? Mail a check?
I’m good with watever.
Thanks to Stephen L, Evan C, Joe S, Bill R, Patrick D, Michael S, and Don H!
thanks, guins!
Hiya LYBD —
Appreciate the thought. Email me and I’ll give you the mailing address.