Please donate to DU -- Still the best online community on the Internets.

[Skinner]

I hope that you have all noticed that this week we are having our second quarter fund drive. Once again, our goal is to bring in 1000 donations before midnight on Sunday.

If you have already donated during this fund drive, or if you are a monthly subscriber, I want to thank you for your support. Thanks to your early and ongoing support, we are on track to make our goal. But we still have a way to go, and we need more people to help us out.

If you have not yet donated during this fund drive, please take a moment to donate right now. I know that many of you have been planning to donate all week, but you just haven't taken the time to do it. Believe me, I understand. This place can be so interesting and entertaining and irritating and thought-provoking that sometimes it can be extremely difficult to tear yourself away, even for a moment. You think to yourself, "I'll donate later," or "I'll donate tomorrow," or "I'll donate on Friday, when I get my paycheck" (hint, hint). If you've been meaning to donate all week, but just haven't done it yet, I am asking you to please donate now.

The fact that you are sitting in front of your computer, reading this message should be proof enough that this place has value. Where else on all the Internets is it possible to find so much useful information, engage in discussions about important issues, and interact with so many smart, friendly, like-minded people? Where else can you get The Truth about what is going on in our country? I have always believed, and I continue to believe, that this is the best online community, bar none. Democratic Underground: there is no other place quite like it.

Sure, you might not approve of everything that gets posted here -- no one does. Sure, you might not agree with everything that the moderators and administrators do -- no one does. In fact, there are probably times when this place makes you downright angry -- it happens to all of us. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. Here's why you disapprove and disagree and get angry: Because you care about this place.

Democratic Underground is not perfect, not by any stretch of the imagination. But all things considered, it's pretty darn good. If you are sitting there reading this post, then you know deep down that it is true. Can you imagine what your life would be like without DU?

Fortunately, you don't have to. Please donate now, to help insure that DU will always be there for you, and for all of our members.

Thank you so much for your support.

David Allen
"Skinner"
DU Administrator

[indy_azcat]

1. And the bumper sticker is cool too

Way to be Skinner
:yourock:

[Misunderestimator]

2. Kick

[bear425]

3. The site is invaluable. Thanks for being here! n/t

edit: this thread needs another vote.

[Lex]

4. "Can you imagine what your life would be like without DU?"

Nope. And I don't want to, either!

So I donate!

Thanks Skinner.

[Al-CIAda]

17. Done, Thank you for this site.

:thumbsup:

[stellanoir]

5. please check your P.O. Box soon. . .

There are more than a couple ridiculous throw backs like me who still prefer to not do financial transactions online.

Keep up the even handed great work & thanks.

[Skinner]

6. I stopped by the PO box this morning.

I'm going to go through the mail this afternoon. Thanks. :thumbsup:

[stellanoir]

24. yay I got my star back !!!

WooHoo. . .of course Murphy's Law applied. . .and I've wanted to do more searches in the brief period (one week) where I had lost it since ever before.

Thanks for processing it so quickly and I've made a note of when I sent it so I hopefully, will be able to contribute more often and won't ever let it lapse again. Phew.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

7. Done!

Thanks for all your hard work.

DTH

[ultraist]

8. kick!

:kick:

[katinmn]

9. Kick! Thanks for DU

[EFerrari]

10. Where's grovelbot? There's something funny going on here.

http://scd.mm-b.yimg.com/image/1243890911

:)

[Tinoire]

11. Hi Skinner! I am unfortunately "over-extended" at the moment

and am going to miss this fund drive, however, come next month, I will go on a monthly donation plan to DU!

Does a pledge count?

It will be my way of saying thanks to the awesome community we've built here- a community that's been here through thick and thin whether they knew it or not.


And no, I cannot imagine what my life would be like without DU. I tried last year but this place sucked me right back in ;)

It's a "Baltimore Love Thing"!

[EFerrari]

34. Oh, we knew it.

:loveya:

[CabalPowered]

12. More than happy to donate..

Glad it's payday! Keep up the good work Skinner, Elad and EarlG!

[merh]

13. On my list of things to do!

:hi:

Thank you Skinner, et al, for DU and all you do! :grouphug:


:grouphug: :patriot: I DU Believe! :patriot: :loveya:

[Triana]

14. I did already!!!

Sheesh!

:patriot:

and

:hug: <--- for Skinner, Elad, and all the DU people 'back there'

:)

Oh. And bytheway. KICK. Dammit.

[DanCa]

16. SSDI

I am scrounging to find a few extra dollars. SSDI only goes so far and 350 of that is ear marked for parkie drugs and rent. I really like it here and I want to contribute so what I am going to do is "try" to rebudget my finances and send something saturday if possible. Question when is the next donation stretch so that I can budget myself for it? Thanks Danny.

[Skinner]

20. Hello, DanCa

We have a fund drive every three months. Usually it's the middle week in February, May, August, and November.

We understand that some of our members are unable to donate for a number of reasons. If donating requires difficult sacrifices for any member, we do not expect you to donate. We need money to cover our expenses, but we do not need it so badly that any member of our community should be required to sacrifice.

[DanCa]

47. actually

I want to help and do my part its just that am caught a little off gaurd. Hopefully I ll be able to scrounge something up for you this weekend if not I promise a twenty dollar donation in august.

[karlrschneider]

15. Kick.....wish I could afford more!

:kick:

[Lannes]

18. Ill be hopefully sending some do re mi soon

Just spent my cash on a trip Ive been planning for years but as soon as Im able I will.

[catmandu57]

19. Next month, promise

You guys schedule the fund drive at the wrong time, if it would fall in the first week of the month that would work great. Of course I could always try to keep a little back just for the fund drive, but money lasts about as long as ice on a hot sidewalk around here.
So, take my pledge that early next month I'll kick in to the kitty.

[Pool Hall Ace]

21. Donated.

'coz DU is a great site.

and 'coz I'm really tired of looking at Assface up in the corner.

[bobthedrummer]

22. I mailed a money order this morning.

I wish it was for more.
It's on it's way.

[Roland99]

23. ^----- gave at the office

;)

[Mandate My Ass]

25. the third "donate now" link was the charm.

Done and :kick:

[Greylyn58]

26. I know this is cliched...

but the checks in the mail and should be there any time now. :)

[Sequoia]

27. How about a physical address?

I only have a computer at work and would rather not use it. Thanks for being here!!

[Skinner]

29. At your service...

Instructions for donating by snail mail are here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/donate_by_mail.html

:thumbsup:

[Sequoia]

44. Thanks!

[Ang_TX_LIB]

28. donated.

I have been here less than a year and couldn't live without this place...Thanks for this great place.:yourock:

[ktowntennesseedem]

30. Help us wipe the smirk off of Shrub's face at the top of each page!!!

I'm tired of looking at it. HELP!!!

(Keep up the good work you do with DU! I'd go nuts without it!)

:applause: :woohoo: :yourock:

[Chicago Democrat]

31. I agree 100% Skinner! Thanks for all you do!

I doubt anyone is getting rich and the value is much greater than say a magazine subscription to The New Republic.

[vard28]

32. I'm new to posting, but...

... have been lurking and learning for months now! I got a very nice, warm welcome to my first post. Y'all are great, and I don't know what I'd do without my DU! I shook my PayPal piggy bank and clicked on send.

Thanks for all the hard work and having a place for us!



:hi:

[doublethink]

69. Welcome to DU vard28

:hi:

[bpilgrim]

33. This site is truly the best place on-line for progressive news and views

and the participatory discussion boards make it a must for anyone who feels their voices are no longer heard in todays corporate driven world of politics and society.

this place has helped keep me better informed than anyone i know in the real world, even amongst the know-it-alls in the programming industry ;->

anytime i have an opportunity to promote this community, on-line or off i do not hesitate.

Thank you Skinner, Elad, and the mod volunteers for all you do to help make this place what it is, a modern day town-hall that allows all progressives to participate and giving us our voice back.

as i am fond of saying...

Thank GORE he 'INVENTED' the INTERNETs

and thank Skinner, Elad and the rest of the crew that they have CAPITALIZED on it and all the participants who make this place a POWERFUL and LOVING community :toast:


eternally grateful, bpilgrim :loveya:

now lets get back to kicking the neoCONs collective asses :bounce:
(after you donate, of course ;->

http://images.GlobalFreePress.com

peace

[leftchick]

35. I just Donated!! Now can you pulease...

turn off my grovelbot avatar? Pretty please?

:)

[Skinner]

37. He comes and goes.

I'm not sure how long he's sticking around this time. :)

[EFerrari]

39. I'm totally confused

Last I heard, he was expecting.

Is grovelbot on maternity leave?!

[kaitykaity]

36. Kick!

:kick:

[Old and In the Way]

38. I'm a sustaining member.

I really hope all regular posters here can chip in and support this forum. It really is a unique place on the internets. I'll probably up my monthly donation in the next few weeks, because I know I'm getting one hell of a deal for the small monthly outlay.

I probably spend an average of 1-2 hours/day reading and commenting here. At $.25/hour, that'd be $15.00/month. A small price to pay for the best LBN/political commentary/analysis in the marketplace.

My IQ has risen 3 and 1/2 points since I found this place. Coincidence? I think not. :-)

[hunter]

40. Thank You, Skinner.

:yourock:

[marions ghost]

41. donated a couple days ago

via Paypal --did you get it?
marions ghost

[Skinner]

42. Indeed we did.

Thank you. :thumbsup:

[marions ghost]

63. to you too

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: to DU

[anitar1]

43. In the mail today, Thank you

for this great site. I love it.

[ClintonTyree]

45. You got it, big boy....

I try to contribute twice a year if I can. It's not much, but it's the best I can do on a fixed income.
Sincerely, if it wasn't for DU I may have become a homicidal maniac by now. :grr: It gives me a place to vent my anger at those knuckle draggers in the White House.

After the 2000 selection I felt lower than whale doo-doo. I thought I was the only one that thought that way, then I stumbled on a site named "The Unknown News". That was pretty cool, they at least covered news items and told the truth but there was no forum to commiserate with other disenfranchised Democrats. But there was a link on that site to a place called "Democratic Underground"......

That was in the autumn of 2001 (shortly after 9/11) and I've been a denizen ever since (although strangely my bio says I've been a member since 2004?). I'm not a prolific poster, but I say my piece and it gives me an outlet to keep my blood pressure down AND MOST IMPORTANTLY a place to find out THE TRUTH! :patriot:

I love you guys :loveya: and even though you're all young enough to be my children you've got more on the ball than most people of my age.

So keep on truckin' Democratic Underground and a hearty THANKS, to the Admins, the Mods, and everyone else that keeps this place ticking!
:toast:

[Gemini Cat]

46. Skinner, I donated last week.

It wasn't a lot, because I seriously don't have the money.
DU is important to me and as soon as I can I will donate more. However, I don't know when that will be.

Thanks for a great site. DU makes living through the bush times a little easier.

[oasis]

48. C'mon gang, it's best to get it done sooner than later.

[omigabrava]

49. Thanks!!

Donation sent!! :)

[Taxloss]

50. Bit extra this year.

Please buy the mods a beer.

[Skinner]

53. I will.

Thanks. They deserve it. :beer:

[Taxloss]

54. No, thank you. n/t

[tallahasseedem]

51. Skinner...

For some reason the donation counter has been stuck at 339 donations updated Tuesday 2:50. Is there anyway we can have an updated count?

*Edited to say nevermind! Once I posted the updated count came up!

[Vincardog]

52. Done and kick

[Vinca]

55. I donated because . . .

this is my very favorite spot on "the Internets.":yourock:

[Octafish]

56. What Skinner said!

DU is a REAL kick in the pants to the BFEE!

[Longgrain]

57. I already donated but this could use a kick.

No amount is too great or small for such a wealth of information, activism, support, and entertainment.

[splat@14]

58. Great place for news and links - new here and I like it - kick! n/t

[classof56]

59. I was waiting for my paycheck for my second job (it's the Amurican way!)

But when it came the wind and rain and gas prices combined to keep me from getting to the bank--so I just went ahead and did it w/my visa online! Don't worry, the "check won't bounce", but I knew I couldn't wait until Monday to be counted. Keep up the good work, DU. You have been a lifesaver for this--

Tired Old Cynic

[steve2470]

60. Thank you for everything you do and have done, Skinner.

You have "saved my life" politically speaking. :-) And of yeah, I donated today too. It felt soooooooooooooooo good. Almost better than........never mind.

[CabalPowered]

61. kick!

:kick:

[tandot]

62. I just donated. Thanks, DU

I don't post often enough anymore, but I check DU posts at least twice a day.

Thanks to Skinner and everyone who is making DU such a great place. :toast:

[Duncan Grant]

64. Worth every penny.

:thumbsup: :hi:

[marigold20]

65. Done!

Hope my star is back!

[marigold20]

66. Yes, it's back

DU keeps me going - thanks!

[johnnypneumatic]

67. this is my first post

I just donated $25 :)

[doublethink]

70. And welcome to DU johnnypneumatic

:hi: nice first post !!! awesome. :bounce:

[tandot]

72. Welcome to DU, Johnnypneumatic

:hi:

[NMDemDist2]

88. welcome to DU johnny!

:hi:

:bounce:

[benny05]

93. Welcome to the DU

:hi:

I've only been a member since December, but I find the place lively and engaging.

:kick:

[Misunderestimator]

68. .

:kick:

[shugah]

71. it really is an exceptional place on the internets

i was ambivalent about donating again - i don't "hang" here as much as i once did, and so much has changed since i found this island of sanity in a mad world - not that change is a bad thing at all! it's very good. i think there were less than 10k members when i first joined DU. for the 1st year or so i was one of those who could not afford to donate. as soon as i could, i did! i felt pretty damn good about it and have had a star ever since.

as i said, i don't hang here so often anymore. and there have been times when i have wondered what the hell is going on around here. and times when i think "well, it's just not a fit anymore."

but even when i'm ignoring the once beloved lounge, avoiding (both) GD forums, i still come to DU for the real news, cuz you can't find a more succinct summary anywhere than DU LBN. even a scan of the headlines keeps me more up-to-date than anyone i know! ;-)

plus, i missed my little gold star that disappeared for a few days. after all is said and done, i'm actually proud to be a member of this community.

[chlamor]

73. Whose Idea Was This DU Thing Anyway?

Write a book about it.

As a fanatical seeker of info across the Globe I would suggest that DU is the most all encompassing compendium of information and resource guide out there. Following various leads and links from a variety of DU's colorful characters can lead one to all the brain fodder one could desire and also get ones mind into some places it maybe shouldn't go.

Checks in the snail mail. Thanx for your probably tireless efforts.

So shines a good deed in a weary world.
-Willy Wonka

:toast:

[recovering democrat]

74. Donated with pleasure!

BushWorld: This is a quote attributed to our fine Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield, apparently circa 2002.

"There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know."


How could we NOT support DU?????? You help keep me sane! Thanks so much.

[EFerrari]

75. set to music: The Poetry of Donald Rumsfeld

http://www.stuffedpenguin.com/

[recovering democrat]

81. Outstanding!

but Rumsfield quotes are still really scary!

[leftofthedial]

76. still the best!

kick

[merh]

77. kick

:kick:

[mogster]

78. I'm gonna donate som extra bobs

Even though the parking ticketeers of Norway has gone berserk!

You are doing a great job, Skinner :-)

[Skittles]

82. *sniff*.........mogster

I am taken back to my childhood in England; my grandmother would tell me MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A COUPLE BOB FOR THE BUS. :)

[mogster]

97. Lol, bobs is such a cute word for money, Skittles

:hi: And Britain is such a cool place

I have now donated O8)

Not much, but hopefully it helps.

[Skittles]

110. any amount helps mogster

we just give what we can when we can :hi:

[Skittles]

79. HOWDY SKINNER - I snail mailed ya a couple days ago

LOL - why? Get this - because I had to make some other credit card purchases this month and I freak out if there's too many items on it, even though I keep it at a zero balance. I am funny that way! :o

[DemExpat]

80. I look at other sites and news sources to keep an eye on what others

say and do, but DU is my preferred source of commentary AND my cyberspace home - I love it.

:grouphug:

DemEx

[StaggerLee]

83. Well I woke up at 4:30 am this morning

I had gone to bed very early last night and found myself up before the sunrise.

I sat there in bed holding my head in my hands desperately trying figure out what on earth there was for guy to do at that mad hour....

And then it struck me like some celestial epiphany on greased lightning jet skis.

I could donate to DU! Why yes! That's what I'll do!

So I signed up for the Honor System on Amazon.com and transacted some good ol' American pesos to the bestest and wonderfullest site ever!

I feel so good now. I think I'll treat myself to a Tigers game this evening with a stop in Greektown beforehand.

Ta-ta DU! I'm off to the D!

:woohoo:

[EFerrari]

86. Man, some people have all the celestial epiphanies

:)

[Catchawave]

84. LBN is the best news source on the internets.....

...the reason I joined DU in the first place, so I had a place to discuss current events with like-minded people. Priceless!

[merh]

85. kick it for the Skinner man!

:patriot: I DU Believe! :patriot:

:grouphug:

[merh]

94. Let's hear it for the Boys!

:hug: I love DU! :hug:

Thank you Skinner, Elad, EarlG and all mods! :grouphug:

[merh]

96. kick

:dem:

[Spazito]

87. Kick for DU!

:kick:

[elshiva]

89. I Donated! Thank you, Skinner!

:toast:

[merh]

90. And yet another kick!

:dem: :kick:

[merh]

91. kick

:kick:

[merh]

101. kick

:kick:

[merh]

105. kickit

:kick:

[EFerrari]

92. Get back up there!

:kick:
:kick:
:kick:

[gristy]

95. done

[Rainscents]

98. I donated last week, I'll donate again tomorrow... Last day of donation!

I would not never, ever want to go without DU!

Hi Skinner! :hi:

[mogster]

99. This threadeth is now kicketh

:hi:

[Rainscents]

100. I just now donated again!!!

Thanks Skinner for the great DU!!!

:kick: :hi:

[NMDemDist2]

102. another kick 'cuz we're almost there!

Thank You DUers!!

:bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce: :party: :bounce: :party:

[Lisa0825]

103. I donated the first time I saw the banner!

And due to all the commotion y'all have had to deal with recently, I gave double what I gave last time!

:yourock:

[demo dutch]

104. I prefer to mail in my donation, that's still possible right?

[DeepModem Mom]

106. Finally got "a round tuit," Skinner -- thank you for everything! NT

[nedbal]

107. donate right now.

[BeeBee]

108. Done!!!! n/t

[EFerrari]

109. Kick

:kick:

[solinvictus]

111. Next payday...

I just started my job and had TOO MANY bills to catch up this pay period.

[Ladyhawk]

112. We DID it!!!

But if you haven't donated yet, don't let that stop you. :D :D :D :D

[understandinglife]

113. Congratulations ALL!

Peace.


www.missionnotaccomplished.us - Tragically on our way to MNA Day 4

[lilymercury]

114. It will be a couple weeks David "Skinner", and thank you for all of this!!

I guess the fact that we aren't all at "camp" yet gives some hope that things have not totally gone beyond hope.:hug: :yourock:

You qualify as a true :patriot: in my heart!!!