We have had 6 Balloon Juice angels ?, and angel #6 ? has added his match amount in the Four Directions Wisconsin Native vote thermometer!
In 8 days, with big boosts from our angel donors, we have raised $18,000, including 1 paper check from angel #1. ?
That’s a lot! Thank you so much to our Balloon Juice angels ?, to everyone who has donated, and to every person who has provided support and encouragement.
Our external match amount is $36,000 so far, for a total of $54,000.
With $7,000 more in Balloon Juice donations, we can raise a total of $75,000 to give the Native vote a major boost in Wisconsin.
?
Enough about numbers!
?
Our efforts will help give a voice to a people whose collective voice has long been denied.
Because of what we’ve accomplished already, Four Directions now has firm plans for early action in Wisconsin that they did not have before – that they could not have without us and without the double-matchers. $54,000 for early planning, early hiring, early organizing. We should celebrate that!
Just $7,000 more gets us to our goal of $25,000 for early efforts in Wisconsin – $75,000 with the double-match – and with that amount Four Directions can ramp up their Native vote efforts more quickly and more broadly.
We can do this! We can help remove the obstacles.
We’re 3/4 of the way there – and there are nearly 2 weeks left in November – let’s keep up the momentum!
Every dollar you donate is double-matched. Just multiply your full donation amount by three, and that’s how much goes to the Native vote effort for Wisconsin. You are welcome to list your donation in the comments to inspire others, but every dollar with no upper limit gets multiple by 3.
FOUR DIRECTIONS – WI
Double-Match Fundraising
Anyone want to share why this particular effort is important to you?
rosalind
if still possible to donate by check, who do i make it out to and where do i mail? thx (unable to donate the other ways at present…)
WaterGirl
@rosalind: Yes, you can donate by check!
If you do, please list Balloon Juice on the check or in an accompanying note so that your donation can go toward the $25k goal
And if you would, please list the donation amount of the check so I can track that so it can help us reach the goal. Letting me know by email or in a fundraising thread would be fine.
Address:
Woodrow/asim
In for $70, because my ancestors out-organized shit that was a hell of a lot worse than gerrymandering.
Nothing worth doing, is easy.
WaterGirl
@Woodrow/asim:
Thank you for that. As Obama used to say “if it was easy it would already have been done.”
I just added the block quote comment as a rotating tag.
edit: intentionally encouraging a sense of helplessness or hopelessness on your own side is enemy action.
Yutsano
I’m in a bit of a lean period while I try to get some back pay restored. Hopefully that decision won’t take until the new year. Once I have some kind of answers there I can relax some and start throwing around some scratch. New project in the next year is apartment, so I’ll be needing funds there. But again we’ll see.
WaterGirl
@Yutsano: Not everyone has discretionary income to spare. But you can provide inspiration. If you think this effort is important, if you’re willing, tell us why.
skerry
Just threw another $50 into the pot.
rodwell
Donated another $25. The reason being that I lived in New Jersey, so my money can have more of an impact. I am supporting Andy Kim (NJ-3) although he is not my representative because he will be in a tough fight and need support. More importantly Congress needs good people like him if we are to go forwarded.
WaterGirl
@skerry: Thank you!
In the next few days, I’ll be putting up a post about Voces de la Frontera. Not to ask for funds (!) but to share information about the field organizer they were able to hire with our funds and what the organizing plans are.
If BJ peeps are interested, we can have a Q&A with the new field organizer and others in Voces, and a zoom. I’ll share some details so folks can let us know if they are interested in the blog Q&A and/or the zoom with Voces.
Kalakal
$25 more from me
WaterGirl
@rodwell: Andy Kim is good. He showed his true colors on Jan 6, just as many on the other side did.
But in his case, he was an inspiration. And I don’t mean an inspiration to engage in violence.
WaterGirl
@Kalakal: Thank you!
I’m hoping we can get this done by Thanksgiving. Wouldn’t that be appropriate?
Chris
In for $25!
WaterGirl
@Chris: Yay! I think we can do this.
Woodrow/asim
@WaterGirl: Oh, wow, thanks! In fairness, I’m sure I swiped that quote from somewhere. :|
WaterGirl
@Woodrow/asim: It’s okay, I didn’t attribute it to anyone in particular, just included the sentence itself. Thanks for the reminder.
Patricia Kayden
WaterGirl
@Patricia Kayden: I hope that leaves a mark. I’m glad she can say that out loud in no uncertain terms.
Omnes Omnibus
Come on, kids. Let’s do this. WI is close and getting Native American voters out is something that can really make a difference here. If we do this, we are that much closer to making Manchin and Sinema just another couple of senators instead of the arbiters of our fate that they are now. Go ahead and hate donate if that works for you.
Magrat Garlick
In for $50
UncleEbeneezer
We are never in a financial situation to donate, so just want to say major thanks to all of you who can and do! You all ROCK!!!
MomSense
In for $10 in addition to my recurring donation. I’m in a bit of a pickle having missed a lot of work. I wish it could be more and I’m so grateful to our jackal angels for stepping up the way they have.
It is an honor to be a small part in lifting up our Native American family especially when their voices and their wisdom and knowledge are exactly what is needed for our life on this earth.
SiubhanDuinne
Okay. Another $25.00 from me.
This so refreshing after some of the less than encouraging comments in the last couple of threads. Thank you, WG.
sixthdoctor
Threw in 50. Because Republican politicians are assholes. This has been my reasoned editorial. Edited only to correct the spelling of “editorial”.
Almost Retired
OK, I’m in again for another $100. These BJ campaigns are both inspiring from a moral standpoint, but brilliantly targeted from a strategic standpoint. Take Wisconsin, for example. It’s a salvageable state, politically. And if we target the Native American (Four Directions) and Latinx (Voces) voters, it won’t take many votes to make a difference. This just seems like the best, smartest and most strategic use of my political donation budget. Same with Four Directions in Arizona. The Native American vote could absolutely tip that State. So I find these campaigns a very realistic and efficacious use of our contributions in this cycle. I can’t fix Texas this year, but the Native American and Latinx communities in Wisconsin and Arizona could damn well make an immediate difference.
realbtl
In for $100 in memory of my late Comanche wife.
WaterGirl
@UncleEbeneezer: You do the work, which is just as important. We all do what we can. At least I hope so!
Fair Economist
Just happy to support a great, deserving, and effective organization.
MomSense
@realbtl:
❤️?
WaterGirl
@Almost Retired: Thank you for all of that!
They think there are about 235,000 unregistered Native folks in AZ.
There really isn’t a good feel for what that number is in Wisconsin, because organizing the Native vote in Wisconsin isn’t nearly as far along as it is in AZ.
With this effort in Wisconsin, I kind of feel like we are helping to start the process for the Native vote in Wisconsin just like Stacey Abrams did for communities of color in GA 10 years ago.
In addition to building infrastructure, we can likely get enough Native voters registered and voting in WI to tip the state.
So this will help building infrastructure in WI. Four Directions does the same relational organizing with the Native vote that Voces does with Latinx voters.
rodwell
@WaterGirl: Yes Watergirl, Andy Kim was an inspiration on how good people will can be on January 6th. This is why I believe we will prevail. There are just so many good people in Congress on our side. I watch the Paul Gosar debate on C-Span. The difference between the Democratic and Republican speeches was so stark.
WaterGirl
@Magrat Garlick: Somehow I see your nym and I think of Merrick Garland, which is never a bad thing.
thank you.
WaterGirl
@MomSense: I feel the same way.
Six Balloon Juice angels for Wisconsin, truly amazing! Between our angels for Voces and our angels for Four Directions AZ and Wisconsin, and all the people who helped meet the matches, it really is an honor to be part of this.
WaterGirl
@SiubhanDuinne: Maybe I should add the thermometer in a comment in Adam’s threads? :-)
SiubhanDuinne
@WaterGirl:
?
Ann Marie
Just gave $100.
WaterGirl
@sixthdoctor: You could throw in $1 dollar for every awful and disgusting Republican politicians. You might have to win the lottery in order to throw in a dollar for each one of them!
WaterGirl
@realbtl: That’s touching, in a lovely way.
WaterGirl
@Ann Marie: Thank you so much for that!
UncleEbeneezer
@WaterGirl: Aww, thank you :)
H.E.Wolf
Amen to that.
sab
@Omnes Omnibus: Okay. In for another $25.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: Next time there’s a thread about Manchin and Sinema, I’ll add the thermometer in the comments with the note that says “Go ahead and hate donate if that works for you.”
Steeplejack
@WaterGirl:
Lose the comma. Chipping in $20 for that.
WaterGirl
@Steeplejack: Comma is gone. My hand is out: $20 bucks please.
edit: How much do I get for a whole post where I single space between sentences? :-)
WaterGirl
@sab: Go you!
dkinPa
Just donated another $25. For all the good people out there who deserve better. And for what Sixthdoctor said . . . because Republican politicians are assholes. Thanks for doing this, WaterGirl!
WaterGirl
Okay, I am going to bail on this post until morning. I was up at 2:40 this morning playing catch-up for the clients I got behind on because I didn’t do much the week I was down with the bug.
So I’m heading for bed even if it is just 7pm.
So please allow me to pre-thank everyone who pitches in and contributes to the cause!
Thanks so much, everyone.
WaterGirl
@dkinPa: Thank you. Who knew hate donating was so popular?
And now I’m closing the computer for real.
Steep, I will check back in the morning to see what a single-period post is worth to you! :-)
Middlelee
In for $20.
wombat probability cloud
@Steeplejack: Thanks for the editorial comment; couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Another Scott
In for some more.
“Spend the angels money!!” :-)
Thanks for doing this, everyone.
Cheers,
Scott.
Steeplejack
@WaterGirl:
Don’t push your luck. ?
Dan B
Help! PayPal is fubar. It can’t find ActBlue or Four Directions. It wants an email. Could I get an email for ActBlue please.
Another Scott
@Dan B: Might be a state issue.
ActBlue Support:
Is that a possibility in your state?
:-(
Cheers,
Scott.
Kristine
In for $25
Dan B
@Dan B: I sent a request to Act Blue. Their sign up, at least on Mobile is useless. They gave categories for me to sign up as a Candidate or several types of organization like 501 C3. No individual option. Sigh.
Steeplejack
@Dan B:
Click “Contribute” on the ActBlue thermometer at the top of this page and then select PayPal as the payment type when you get to the ActBlue page. I just did it about 30 minutes ago.
Dan B
@Another Scott: Thanks but I donated before and ActBlue is listed in my history but they can’t locate ActBlue. WTF? Nuts!
Steeplejack
@Another Scott:
I think the state restriction affects the recipient organization, not donors.
Dan B
@Steeplejack: Thanks! I’m on mobile and some things don’t exist but I’ll look for it.
Barbara
I gave $250. HTH
Dan B
@Dan B: I think it worked if they used an active credit card.
$50
Thanks for the advice everybody!
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
In for $20
eclare
@Dan B: I just used the ActBlue site and put my information in there and paid with a credit card.
Another Scott
@Dan B: ✨?✨
Cheers,
Scott.
Steeplejack
@Dan B:
I just checked the mobile version of the site on my (Android) phone, and the ActBlue thermometer graphic is just before the last sentence of the post.
StringOnAStick
I’m in for $25 in top of my usual monthly donation.
Leslie
Another $25 from me because, as noted above, these are extremely practical and efficient ways to target our spending. And because empowering the Native American vote is a profoundly right thing to do. And because helping members of other marginalized groups vote is a small step in the direction of justice.
And also, f*** negativity and doomsaying.
TEL
In for another $25. Much prefer these threads taking action over the BJ doom threads.
persistentillusion
In for $25 again. This is important work and it’s helping lift the doom cloud from my personal sky. Thanks.
Martin
Man, I wish the House would call me to testify on Navarro. I have no factual knowledge of how badly he fucked over the country working for Trump, but I could go on forever as a character witness. Just a colossal fuckwit and massive asshole.
mvr
Okay. In for another $25.
CAM-WA
In for $100
DanielsBob
Another $100
frosty
I just pitched in another $25. I can’t believe how much the thermometer jumped today!
stinger
@frosty: No kidding! It was stuck at 16,050 for more than a day. Now there’s only $5K and “pocket change” to hit the target!
This is a great place.
buggrit
$50.00 because, why not?
emrys
In for another $25
evodevo
Chipped in $25 – I donate via Balloon Juice almost exclusively nowadays…I like the targets…
WaterGirl
@Steeplejack: ha!
WaterGirl
Wow, you guys. You totally outdid yourselves. How wonderful to wake up to this.
We are already halfway to the $7,000 more we needed to meet our goal!