What a great week for the DU fund drive... The site keeps crashing and the Democrats caved!

[Skinner]

There's a headline that hopefully will get everyone's attention. I'm only half joking.

First of all, I want to thank all of our monthly subscribers and everyone who has already donated this fund drive. Thanks to all of you, we're halfway to our goal.

This fund drive is going a little slower than usual (not alarmingly so, but slower nonetheless). This seems to be a typical pattern during the second quarter -- I suspect it is either because lots of people donate during the popular first-quarter "valentine hearts" fund drive, or else because everyone is out enjoying the spring rather than hanging out on DU. Or else it might have something to do with the fact that I am apparently -- to borrow a phrase from a particularly colorful private message I received this week (I swear to you this is absolutely true) -- "a cowardly party-line goose-stepping little shit." Another satisfied customer!

But seriously.

I understand that people are disappointed in the Democratic leadership in Congress right now, and I suspect that donating to anything with the word "Democratic" in the name is not at the top of your list.

Furthermore, stability and performance on this website have both been downright annoying as of late. Thanks to a number of configuration changes and upgrades, the site is a lot faster and more stable than it was a few weeks back when we were limping along on "Level 1" even in the middle of the night, but it is still not working as well as you all deserve. We have a plan in place to identify once-and-for-all the remaining problems, and get them all sorted out in a timely manner.

But despite these temporary frustrations, I hope you will take a moment to reflect on how much Democratic Underground means to you, and how important it is to nurture and support independent media in a time when the mainstream media have completely abandoned their responsibilities to anyone other than their corporate paymasters.

There really is no other community on the Internet quite like Democratic Underground. Yes, it's crazy sometimes (okay - most of the time) but where else can you find such an active and diverse group of smart, funny, and above all passionate progressives?

Please take a moment to donate right now. It only takes a second. Just click this link to get started:

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

Thank you so much for your support.

David Allen
Democratic Underground Administrator

[chimpymustgo]

1. We'll show our wonderful DU all the love it needs.

Let's give it up, people!

[William769]

2. What can I say? I'm a glutton for punishment.

Keep up the good work Skinner, If it wasn't for DU, I don't know where I would hang out.

[kimmylavin]

73. Exactly!

DU is the first place I go every morning.
Then I visit it 20 more times a day.
Where else am I going to go for news and discussion - CNN? :)

[IChing]

3. I donated 2 days before your fund drive cause you took away my star

can hardly afford it, but the place is worth it.

I don't get credit for contributing on this drive.

[BrotherBuzz]

14. Me too!

only, I sent my contribution 'snail mail' on Friday, so I may just get credit for helping the drive when my star finally arrives (hopefully SOON!)

[muriel_volestrangler]

31. That happened to me last year

so this year, when my star ran out on Saturday, I looked up the date of the 1st quarter fund drive in EarlG's journal, and reckoned the 2nd quarter fund drive would probably start on the Sunday. So I delayed it for a day. Some times, plans do work out.

[EFerrari]

4. It's all good, Skinner. Thank you for the venue.

:kick:

[some guy]

5. I don't hold you responsible

for the Democratic leadership in Cngress.

And the fact that the site has been having problems, should be reason for people to contribute, to help alleviate the problems.

Y'all do run a very fine web site, and I thank you for it.

:hi:

[tandot]

6. I get my paycheck on the 1st of each month.

Maybe a lot of DUers have the same problem and wanted to wait?

Can you schedule fund-drives closer to paydays?

[Richard Steele]

7. Yeah, you know what? "Whatever."

I'm still hoping to be able to donate by the end of the week anyway!

Even an occasionally-offline DU is still better than ANYTHING else out there.

[Horse with no Name]

10. Amen to that.

:)

[rasputin1952]

8. ROFLMAO.."a cowardly party-line goose-stepping little shit."

Glad to see you got my e-mail...:rofl:

:hi: :D

[EFerrari]

24. LOL!

:)

[BlooInBloo]

9. lol! Rock on!

[blogslut]

11. Dems are doing just fine today @ Judiciary

Arthur Davis may have just struck the fatal blow to the career of one, Alberto Geneva-Conventions-are-quaint Gonzales. :)

[WilliamPitt]

12. Done.

[NMDemDist2]

13. ahhh Skinner

:hug:

I love this site and you Admins are a large reason why. I even did an extra donation for a starless fellow DUer to help it along.

:loveya:

[UrbScotty]

15. Hey everyone! Don't forget to post in my Lounge thread!

If you can't donate money at this time - and even if you can/have - post in my thread in the Lounge (link in my sig line)! Each post raises the amount of my donation, which I will make soon!

No cost to you, and DU makes money!! DO IT!!!

[Madspirit]

19. Today is the Last Day, right? n/t

[UrbScotty]

26. Yep (nt)

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

16. No Thanks Needed IMHO. DU Is Worth Far More Than I Can Give.

Even when slow or even when the Dems disappoint us, there's still no more of an addictive and informative place to be than right here on DU.

I truly hope that those regular members who haven't donated yet, but can afford to, think deeply to themselves that if one day they signed on and DU was gone for good, if they wouldn't kick themselves and think "goddamn it I should've donated; they deserved it".

Not that that's bound to happen any day soon (DU disappearing), but I think some may take for granted just how much DU's existence means to us at the end of the day and that throwing 5,10, 20 bucks out per quarter is more than warranted.

I know some don't like to be guilted into donating and I'm not trying to do that, I just think that it should be a no brainer that using DU for 3 months is more valuable than 2 gallons of gasoline.

C'mon DU'ers! Say your thanks with your wallets! :)

[graywarrior]

17. My donation will be in on Friday...payday.

[Madspirit]

18. k&r

"a cowardly party-line goose-stepping little shit."

:rofl:

I'm sorry Skinner but that is funny. It just seems so much the opposite of you and what you stand for. It's always funny to hear delusional people rant.

...and you have too much integrity to even let us know who so we could mock them properly.

Good luck on the fund drive. I hope we get what we need.
Lee

[question everything]

67. I've always admired the creative writing skills of DUers (nt)

[catmandu57]

20. You'll have to take an iou until the first

I knew the fund drive was coming I'd held back money just for the occasion, unfortunately gasoline kept rising and rising and my wife is very skilled at finding any money that I've got squirreled away, so, the first thing the first of June I'll honor my iou.

Maybe you could do a seasonal promotion along the heart line, giving out poppies would have been good, if it wouldn't infringe on the vfw.

[lazyriver]

21. Done. As bad as I'm feeling about the Dem's today,

I still know any hope for the future will come from them. As for DU and it's occassional 'issues' as of late, they rarely affect my enjoyment of your fine site.

Peace,

Bob aka lazyriver

[Beausoir]

22. Done. You can't get rid of us that easily.

[irish.lambchop]

23. Am new to DU and made

my first contribution (sorry it couldn't be more!). Love the experience (for the most part) here and will be posting info/pics re "Impeachment Summer" from Ireland, France and Spain. General Election in Ireland is tomorrow (Thursday) and there are candidates running on the platform that they have signed a pledge, if elected, to no longer allow extraordinary rendition flights to refuel at Shannon Airport and that NO troops be allowed to stop over in Shannon.

[Irishonly]

25. Not as much as I would have liked

Being on a fixed income has disadvantages. I am sure you will reach the goal. DU is much too valuable to lose.

[Lugnut]

27. I love my DU

If I have to squeeze the life out of my piggy bank to contribute I will and have. If I can manage a donation on my putrid fixed income (SSDI) others can too. :)

[truedelphi]

28. Skinner I have been thinking of donating

But after yesterday - don't cha think it should be "Somewhat Democratic Underground"

Or "Very Pissed Off Democratic Udnerground" ??

I am only half joking

[Blue_Roses]

29. I'm going to donate because

I'm proud to be a Democrat (on payday Friday) no matter how "disappointing" some leaders in the party may be. This is a great site and I'm so glad it's here, but days like today make me wonder if I spend too much time here. I'm all for expressing our disappointment, but I can't go the bashing. I think people thought that with our wins in 2006, all the misery would be gone. Pretty naive. Did they really think Bush would just roll over and say "yeah, I'm a fuck-up." This man is one stubborn, MFer and it just makes him dig his stupid, redneck boots in even deeper to try and make himself not look like the failure he is--and by damn, if that doesn't work, he'll bring all those who oppose him down with him--one way or another. He's gonna make damn sure, he's the one who comes out smelling like a rose through all this, while we attack our own.

This war has been a nightmare from day one. It's a b**** and the frustration that we all feel is making us --well, batshit crazy. Everyday that I hear of one more soldier being killed, a sense of overwhelming hatred for this administration sweeps over me--again.


So, yep, you can bet they're having a hearty laugh right now in the oval office, at our expense. The really funny thing would be if people would just support the Dems--no matter what, while continuing to give Bush the "universal sign" of dislike.

One can wish.

[Alamom]

30. AND, I'm having cable problems here...it takes a page 15 minutes to load

& it stalls & I lose it. The tech's came yesterday and said it was an outside cable problem and they will send their "Cable Guys" out....but they're not sure when???? Maybe today, maybe someday.

I made a donation after several tries, regardless. (I hope it shows up) Please, please, please....something go right.




Good Lord, I'm in withdrawal.


edit to add
Y-E-S...I made a post and my star is back....and it only took 30 minutes.

[Suich]

32. Thanks for the pep talk, Skinner!

It inspired me to send e-mails to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and make a donation to DU!

Susan

[gaspee]

33. How about because

Gas is 3+ bucks per gallon. I'm sure I'm not the only one with $0.00 discretionary spending these days.

[karlrschneider]

34. I don't know how you stay sane running this zoo, I'd be a raving lunatic if

I had to put up with the likes of me! :D

:kick:

[BlooInBloo]

35. You go into the week with the site you have, not the site you wish you had. :)

[lonestarnot]

36. Waitin' for payday.

[Bucky]

37. Hang in there, Skinner. If donations are slow, it's just cause most of us are waiting...

...to see if they can be the magic 666th donor.

[corkhead]

38. I feel like you are apologizing because we came over to your house and ran you out of beer

glitches and all, I took stock in what DU means to me so even though things are a little tight right now, I sent some coin on Monday.

Thanks for all you do. We need DU more than ever... Again.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

39. Is it just me...

...or does Party-Line Goose-Stepping sound like it could be a hell of a lot of fun at a party, with the proper music.

-Yib (who is very bad for not having donated yet :spank:)

[Bluzmann57]

40. I'll donate next time

The booming bush economy is taking it's toll on me, so the money is a bit tight at this time, but since I'm living the American dream and working lots of overtime, I should have some extra $ next fund raiser.

[pinto]

41. kick

[Lone_Star_Dem]

42. Skinner, I kid you not. I was trying to donate and DU crashed for me.

I think the powers that be are out to get you this fund drive. ;) I have a gut feeling that the person who sent you the "a cowardly party-line goose-stepping little shit," message wasn't the donating type anyway. Don't sweat it, you can't please everyone all the time. That is all the more true when you're catering to is a bunch of Democrats. We're like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike.

I'd have donated before now but I was waiting for a check to clear. I imagine I'm not the only one on DU that feels the crunch of this booming economy we're having. Hopefully everything will even up for you fellows by Saturday.

[Cameron27]

43. It's a setback...

as a Democrat, that's what I keep telling myself. Anyway, I'm happy to to be part of DU no matter how many technical gliches pop up.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

44. It seems the Democrats misunderstood the difference between Fund Drive and Take a Dive.

[DemExpat]

45. I have a weak spot for all that DU is.....

So of course I support its Admins in keeping this place up and running so that we can enjoy our community of craziness. :D

:kick:

DemEx

[noonriser]

46. Done

Bumped up my monthly subscription. DU keeps me sane! Keep up the good work.

[tammywammy]

47. Sorry.

:(

I'm buying a house, so I'm broke at the moment, well until after closing next month.

BTW, I'm definitely not disappointed with DU. While it makes me a little sad when it's down, it's still great. I'll donate when I can.

[samdogmom]

48. HA! I got "guilted" into donating and then my post about it got eliminated

because the site crashed! Oh well, I'm trying again. As I said before--DU is a lifeline for me. I don't get real news from the newspapers and magazines I pay for regularly. This is my "real" news source--so it's worth a lot to me.

I would hate to see DU cease to exist!

[Zandor]

49. What about the Google ads?

I recall being told they would bring in enough revenue to ease up the pressure on fund raisers.

[EarlG]

54. They do ease up the pressure

For our very first fundraiser we asked for 500 donations, then we had to go up to 1,000 for a while, then to 1,200. Since we've had the Google ads we've been able to come back down to 1,000. If we didn't have the ads, we'd probably have to ask for 1,500 or more by now.

[question everything]

70. You need to add a dating forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=242x14360

[intheflow]

79. A dating forum?

Egads! I would hate to be mod assigned to patrol that forum! The dating games in the Lounge are enough drama as is!
:rofl:/:cry:

[Breeze54]

50. I turned down the DNC yesterday when they called...AGAIN!!! argh!!

But I won't turn you down and didn't! ;)

:kick: & Recommended!

PS. And the guy that called agreed with me!! :rofl:
He said a lot of people were saying what I was saying!

[kimmylavin]

83. I did that too!

I sent in one of those surveys that the DNC always sends me, and that I always send back with a donation.

But this time I sent no money.
Sent a note instead.
Basically saying that the Dems will not get one more dime from me until they stop caving to Bush's every demand. Said there's no reason for it, and they've got the American people behind them. Said that as long as they continue to ignore the people, I'm not paying.

I'm wondering how many times they're going to be hearing that in the next couple of days/weeks...

[Breeze54]

89. Good for you! Stick to your guns!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[blondie58]

51. Thanks for all you do!

I love DU! I have learned so much from this site.

[Catchawave]

52. And a shout out to ih8 over at the Lounge

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=6531321&mesg_id=6531321

[MissWaverly]

53. Skinner, I am still having tons of problems with DU

sometimes I only come on here for 10 minutes that's all I can tolerate becuz everytime I click on a thread or try to open my mail
I get an error message, maybe that's why the drive is slow. Good Luck with your drive, bring on the Grovel Bot, too bad
he's not a computer tech.

[Breeze54]

55. Clear your cookies!

Clean the cache - use Disk Clean Up ...

click --> Start/ Programs/ Accessories/ System Tools/ Disk Clean Up

Then reboot! Use Spybot S & D too! It's free! ;) at: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

[MissWaverly]

56. Okay, but I really don't have a lot of cookies

My hard drive failed a month ago, but I will give it a try.

Thanks

[Breeze54]

57. You may still have an OLD DU cookie that is

trying to load and blocking any new ones created with the last board update.

[MissWaverly]

92. old DU cookie, I never knew computer cookies got old

Thank you for the update.

:-)

[tavalon]

58. Bring back Grovelbot!

I miss him.

[EFerrari]

61. Me, too.

On edit: Why can't we buy a t-shirt with Grovelbot on it? :)

[Gamey]

59. Very important.....

"...and how important it is to nurture and support independent media in a time when the mainstream media have completely abandoned their responsibilities to anyone other than their corporate paymasters."

[rasputin1952]

60. unabashed kick...

:kick: :D

[Hekate]

62. KnR, Skinner. We love what you do. The Party, not so much just now...

...But how lucky we are to have DU at all!

Hekate

[Laurab]

63. Already done

I'm glad there are no hearts this time - I couldn't afford THAT again!

[piesRsquare]

64. Ahhh, Skinner...

How I envy your wife...:loveya:

[Triana]

65. I somehow don't identify DU with the cowardly Dems in Washington...

...I donated because I visit DU EVERY DAY and I get a LOT out of it - no matter what pantywaist Do-Do-bird Dems in DC do. If they're being stupid and spineless (again) then I know I have a place to can come to and GRIPE about it! Heck, that's worth a few bucks at least right there! I'm not even registered as a Dem anymore - consider myself Indy/Progressive or whatever. I STILL donate to the DU fund drives when I can.

As far as server / website issues I can sympathize. I do that sort of thing for a living and I know what it's like to try to keep things running with duct tape and some string (and when things get really bad, maybe a thumb full of bubblegum). Disk space issues, bad disk issues, caching issues, memory and CPU usage issues, connection and I/O issues, database issues, hosting provider issues, and on and on and on.

I donated this time BECAUSE of the server issues and BECAUSE of the damn idiots in Washington. I figure we need this community and this website now more than (or at least as much as) ever.

DAMN the website issues and the idiot, dopey Dems in Washington - FULL SPEED AHEAD, DU!

[assclown_bush]

66. I have been shamed into donating....

well, not really, but I could only donate a small amount. I love this site and I hope you keep up the great work.

[solara]

68. I couldn't donate the last time around, but a kind-hearted DU soul

did it for me and I got a star!!...so this time I made sure I had extra money to donate right away.. and next time, maybe I will have enough to donate for someone who can't. That is my goal anyway.

I would be absolutely lost without DU...I don't care if it crashes now and then.. as long as I know it is gonna come back. Maybe my small donation will help. Without cable or newspapers, DU is my pipeline to the truth.. Thank you DU Admin and thank you DUers.


:kick: & R

INVESTIGATE IMPEACH INDICT IMPRECATE INCARCERATE :patriot:

[Jamastiene]

69. I come from a long line of Democrats, but after this much

back stabbing they have been doing to us lately, I may just go independent. If we can't fire them for not doing their jobs and if we can't bill them for wasting our time, then maybe it's time to go find candidates who mean it when they say they'll stand up to the Republicans.

[Spiffarino]

71. I continue to be a happy monthly donor

DU is home-base. It's where I look first for news, opinion and good times. I HIGHLY recommend becoming a regular "tither" to DU. Since I started, my credit card statement gives me a warm feeling inside every time I open it.

Come on, kids. It doesn't have to be a lot...just as long as you keep it flowing. You'll feel good knowing that you make DU great.

DU, :yourock:

[avrdream]

72. Done

And thank you for this place. It may indeed be crazy most of the time but the craziness comes from those who care deeply for our country and who wish things could be different.

[DemExpat]

74. This is worth a grovelbot kick.

:kick:

DemEx

[LoZoccolo]

75. As a regular monthly donor, can I suggest one thing?

I think you at least need to bring back the Ask the Administrators forum. I think that people would feel a bit more respected, and thus a bit more willing to reciprocate that respect, if you showed some accountability in your decision making. I realize the pitfalls of such a forum, but realize you can always fall back on what you're doing now in particular cases if you want.

Again, I give every month, so this is not a demand of mine; I'm just saying that it's something you might find helps get people on your side.

[gademocrat7]

76. Thank you Skinner

After yesterday, my only refuge is DU.

[NastyDiaper]

77. After yesterday's capitulation, I see that it's best to focus on our own voice.

New star, notched the fund drive. Thanks for everything.

On theories for slowing, speaking for myself i balked some in preparing for a big primary contribution.

Yesterday reminded me not to forget that keeping a progressive voice withing the party is no less important than supporting progressive candidates.

[intheflow]

78. Even when crashing DU is still the best thing on the web.

Thank you for being here for us, usually 24-7-365 (unless glitching and crashing, which is still remarkable rare considering the amount of traffic you get).

Just donated and wish I could have given more but finances don't allow for it this month.

[Le Taz Hot]

80. I would just like to go on record as saying

even though it does sound suspiciously like my verbiage, I am NOT the one who called you "a cowardly party-line goose-stepping little shit." :evilgrin:

[Locrian]

81. well this is annoying

I try to donate "one time payment"


Hit the button to proceed to https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr
and I get

The page cannot be displayed
The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your browser settings.

[Skinner]

82. I just tried it, and it seems to be working for me.

Perhaps there was some sort of temporary problem.

[Heidi]

84. DU being occasionally down reminded me how much I care about this community.

:kick:

[StrictlyRockers]

85. Some of us would rather donate to sites which promote and allow open discussion.

DU is not the site it once was.

[Skarbrowe]

86. I donated BECAUSE of the errors!!

I check the DU the first thing when I get on the computer. If it is down..I..AM..LOST. I realized if a site meant that much to me, I should donate when I can. I'm trying desperately to save money right now for something that is very important, but this place is important to me too. I can't give much or as often as I like, but I don't even read a newspaper anymore because I get my news from the DU.

Thanks Skinner and everyone who posts just about everything there is to know on this site.

[Catherine Vincent]

87. When will Grovelbot make his appearance?

:loveya:

[Zandor]

88. VICTIM OF THE SHRUB ECONOMY!!

I'll be earning my donor start again soon, a couple of job prospects are on the horizon.

Keep up the good work!!

[9thkvius]

90. I donated what I could

I wish I could do more. I am waiting for my raise now that I graduated from college but it hasn't come yet.

[PATRICK]

91. Remembering what the party is 2007

We have re-introduced a shot in the arm to a more progressive faction, at least on current critical issues. However high levels of the party and certain organizations remain mired in the GOP game of "survivor" and the Clinton "glory" days. The rest of the public, less knowledgeable of party factions(in a government that by fraud does not represent the majority will anyway) might see the odd picture the media is giving them when it switches from "fractious Dems" to the monolithic "Dems" using tons of language about timorous political calculations lacking any real conviction.

The grassroots is not like the hard tight. There was no purge or smackdown, but at least an accommodation with Dean and elements of new growth. The people who should have been smacked down however have an inbuilt, ingrained philosophy that all populist interests, advocacy groups, constituencies etc should be kept at arms length like the great unwashed so as not to trouble corporate sponsors and a bean counter 2% to gridlock strategy that is the best they think anyone can do until the magic Big One falls into their soulless laps.

We think that one election(lessened in reality by losses due to fraud)is a simple cure all. Many candidates were selected to toe the establishment line, especially regarding jello confrontation methods and "working with the WH" for legislation. And the absolute belief that a conservative wing in the Dem party must always back Bush on key issues- and picking some red state candidates accordingly.

We have made progress while Rome burns, the same in general as the groaning party has made in fighting back to its partial due in representation. In JFK's speech about party trajectory it might be remembered that the rabid strength of the party was mainly only seen in the Civil War. And those Dem types are now typical GOPers. In JFK times we had real horrors that make Lieberman truly look liberal and other conservatives as milquetoasts. Those were the remnants of southern defection who stayed probably because they enjoyed the strong majority power that FDR had given the coalition. We realize the fight now is more precisely the corporate, soft, anti-liberal power elites in the party and that moderates and liberals and traditional bases won't knock them down for fear of ruining the nation's only hope in the process. Plus it is not in the party nature-now oddly- to react aggressively against our own on general principles.

We are party building while America circles the drain. Most don't want to revisit the reality, the horror of this actual state of progress when milestone votes and "cave-ins" show the power of our weakest links. Again we hear that Congress must be led from the bottom of an unprotected, underrepresented, constantly misinformed public that never really had to do such a thing before. Minimally at least the Congress and the MSM came through to make things work. Now they don't and people
are not ready to react as they "should" as determined by a morally gutted leadership and faux establishment nor as they must be a deflected, absolutely betrayed, common sense and trust.

Building and meeting crisis with truth is what DU is about. There are a lot more angry Congressmen out there than before. the real obstacle is impossible for them to deal with Constitutionally. The power of the GOP and the MSM to depress truth and the public will. If one can't do the job with legislative courage and brilliance, then some political challenge directly to the problem neutering democracy in the commons- from top and bottom- is required.

And ceasing to reward in any way the self anointed leaders who lead by retreating at every turn, beginning this worst of all eras with the submission to the outright theft of 2000.

If this party or some healthy offshoot (as has happened in the past) is to grow, oases like DU must continue to flourish. Yet we have the right to be scandalized, angry, sad and extremely concerned because the times and the crimes demand so much right now- and we don't have the leadership or the vote numbers to make it all happen.

The ticking clock is the sound of falling soldiers and the hour of death is approaching for Iran. No politician can have a future in top leadership who fails the nation now. But "now" is still a grain of falling sand and not a firm line drawn in it.