Anyone up for funding Andy Stephenson?

[Must_B_Free]

I was very impressed with the interview with Andy Stephenson (god_bush_n_cheney) I heard the other day. I thought he was very well spoken; articulate, to the point, didn't go into negatives.

I'll tell you what, I'd be interested in paypal-ing a few bucks his way to keep him going. I wouldn't want anything back. I feel that what he has done to date is deserving enough. I wouldn't expect him to run a non profit, nothing; who needs to get that complex and involve all the accounting/legalities? Keep it simple...

I did a little research and found that he gave up his business interests to run for office in Washington State and has worked extremely hard for the cause. He was part owner in a Subway, which is the #1 franchise - no slouch of a business to give up. So he is STILL out there working for the cause even now when he is unemployed.

I do not feel that I am the person to organize it, but I would gladly participate. Maybe it would help keep him active until he can get into another situation.

I'm just throwing this out there. Any thoughts? Is it possible to do this?

[Wiley50]

1. I was gonna start a thread like this

a couple of days ago. I pm'd Skinner to see if it was ok to do it and never got a reply. So I figured it wasn't.
I spoke with Andy by phone on Saturday. He's super level-headed ( as opposed to some of his past associates ), super-dedicated (left Sunday for Ohio to work on the inquest, Super- knowlegeable on vote fraud stuff and super-broke ( said he had a buck twenty to his name ).
Just an all around super guy!
I told him he would be fine once he got his feet back underneath him and his confidence back. Saw him posting here Sunday looking for someone to help him set up a list-serv with his 8000 name e-mail list from when he ran for office. I'd say he's bouncing back.
Seems an ex-buisness ASSociate (caps intentional) ( who I guess shouldn't be named ) fired him very publicly (using bogus charges),owes him $4000 back pay and has his laptops.
So, all in all, a very fine candidate for some assistance as helping him is also doing a whole lot to help the cause.
As to your question,count me in for $50. I'm unemployed myself and living on my creddit cards, but, what the hell, might as well charge them up some more for a great cause.
Let me know how to do it.

Wiley

[Must_B_Free]

2. The "How To" is what I'm wondering about also

I don't know what all is involved. I vaguely know of some law that you can gift up to 10,000 tax free. So I would hope he would be able to receive a ton of small donations with no tax ramifications.

I was thinking the easiest thing would simply be Paypal. Then noone has to process transctions, (I think). Plus no corporate crap bogging down efforts. I would think of it as Angel gifting, (but just a whole bunch of really tiny angels.)

Ideally, he would have funds to continue and not be overburdened with accounting, etc.

Also, I would like to figure a way for it to be done in such a way that he is not held up to some expectation of some results and then criticized for not delivering. My donation would be with the understanding that there are no strings attached.

at $50, it only takes a thousand of us to keep him going at his BBV salary for a year, in that time, he would have probably joined forces with an organization. I was thinking more like $5 if there were enough of us. I guess I was inspired by Randi Rhodes raising money for BBV. Although DU s a much much smaller sphere, so it might need to be $25 or $50 to add upto much. Even if we can raise a couple of thousand, it's that much more than none.

Obviously, after midnight near Xmas eve is probably not the greatest time to pose the question, but I'll try to kick the thread to keep it alive until everyone comes back. I could see it being against the rules, because then everyone might start doing it, but I suspect that the cause is exceptional this time.

[nascarblue]

5. IS this Andy who worked with Bev Harris?

He's seems OK to me. Way more level headed than Bev, thats for sure. I'm down for it. It's just so pathetic that Bev Harris had all this oppurtunity to really make a difference, but she's sooo selfish, she wants all the attention.

Isnt he a youngster?

[Must_B_Free]

9. Yes, same as was working for Bev

Yes, level headed. Likes Kucinich.

Youngster, no.

I got my info on him at the site for his former campaign http://www.andystephenson.com/
and from the interview by Sscoop - Alistair - althecat on DU
and from DU posts.

[Pastiche423]

3. Hey, Andy!

Is your same PayPal account at http://www.andystephenson.com/ still open?

[Must_B_Free]

4. kcik

[Kelvin Mace]

6. I am trying to help him set up

his web site on a new ISP and picking up the tab. I'll talk to him soon and see what we can do. I'll ask about PayPal.

David Allen
www.thoughtcrimes.org

[eridani]

7. Let's make sure that Andy doesn't wind up like Bev

Andy--if you are reading this, then you know that a large part of the problem was that Bev doesn't have a clue about running a large organization, particularly one that went from small to big very rapidly. Were you a small business owner because you didn't really want to be part of a big business? Think this over, and start out your project with the express intent of staying small for the time being, and dammit hire someone with serious NGO administrative experience if you decide that getting big is the way to go. Lay out a six month plan before you ask anyone for money anyway.

[Must_B_Free]

8. Actually, Andy is not asking for money at this point, as far as I am aware

He has had ample opportunity to pipe in on one of these threads, but he has not asked for any money and has not provided a way for anyone to donate any to him. All this is is a few people who are concerned for his ability to continue his efforts unfettered by a 9 to 5 job.

So to avoid any false impressions, so far he has nothing to do with this discussion :). This is just some "thinking out loud" by people who are impressed with the potential he has demonstrated as a progressive activist.

So, I and others would like if something is in the works, but none of us can speak for him, and I want to be careful not to give the impression of speaking for him, especially considering how Bev got called a money grubber once the funding got involved.