FreeRepublic Pledges (Vanity)

TheHound

[TheHound]

Why do these pledge periods have to take so long? For a measly $66,000, I would think the pledge period would only last about a week. If everyone who used this cite for longer, in a year, than they do reading a magazine subsciption, pledged the price of a magazine subscription, I believe the pledge amount would be met in about two days. I certainly hope the day never comes when I have to see "Cialis" ads blinking on the right side of the FR page so they can pay for bandwidth!

[brazzaville]

Good evening.

The Terri killing popped up in all sorts of threads. It was a life-or-death event that appealed to the essentially libertarian/conservative bent of most FReepers.

It seemed to bring out the extreme in many people and some took it personally and left while others are quietly holding a low level grudge that we see evidence of in the slow FReepathon. The Border war is doing the same thing in a different way. Basic issues do that because we recognize the importance of the issue in our gut.

I considered going back to lurking, as I did for most of the eight years I've been learning from you good people, but I've come to enjoy speaking my mind too much to shut up now.

I like this place and what it provides too much to leave. Maybe some of those who left will feel the same way, maybe not. Michael Frazier

[Miss Behave]

Thanks, zip...and you're welcome.

[Dan from Michigan]

I do think there's a little defensiveness going on here.

I've treasured several organizations over the years. I haven't researched all the laws since I haven't dealt with that recently(I never dealt with feds, only state and county.)

1. FR is a LLC. As far as I know, it's not a 501C organization (non-profit), and it doesn't have tax-exempt status.

2. Being a private org, that means the books are private. Whether that's good business practice or not is open to debate.

3. Outside of the committee I answer to, I don't have to show one of the political accounts I treasure. That said, if a potential donor asks, I show them my records to gain trust. I won't show an adversary that account, since it's none of their business. By adversary, I'm refer to a George Soros type. They won't help me anyway. That's just how I do things.
4. As for FR, I look at it for what it is. It's a website with a lot of visitors and activists. Many of them are extremely generous when it comes to helping others on political projects. Several have helped me before. If there's important news items, I can usually find it here, even when there is a ton of hype on one or two dominant issues. I can find the stories, and some good, and not so good commentary on it.

And I try to avoid the office politics like the plague.

[TheHound]

I was a lurker for a year or so before, that event turned me.

[highlandbreeze]

Ruh Roh. Incoming, general_re.

[Miss Behave]

Thanks for all the good info, Dan. Hope all is well with you. I like your last line:

"And I try to avoid the office politics like the plague."

[general_re]

I don't think FR could ever be a 501(c)(3) or (4) - the restrictions on the sorts of political activities that 501's are subject to would pretty much kill it.

Just to reiterate, I never asked for the balance sheets, or detailed expenditures, or anything like that - just a general sense of where that money was going. Anyway, hard to disagree with anything you've said here, Dan. Thanks.

[general_re]

LOL. Well, I'm still here. ;)

[Dan from Michigan]

I know C3's are restrictive to no politics. C4's can lobby but not "endorse".

[Happygal]

General is a Freeper of good stead, Miss Behave.
If he ever needs someone to vouch for him, he need not look further than I.

But then again, I'm not a US Freeper. I'm just an Irish girl, who enjoys this forum, and contributes (yes, financially too) because I enjoy it, and want to see it continue, and flourish.

[general_re]

I believe you're correct - neither of which would serve FR very well.

[Dan from Michigan]

Thanks for all the good info, Dan. Hope all is well with you. I like your last line

That's from experience.

Things are going well. We got a tax millage election on May 3, and I think we're going to win it. (I'm voting no)

[TheHound]

Mea Culpa. I am sorry for having made this post. You see, I was getting tired of the Freepathon ads, I always do; but this time I looked up and we were at 12% of the way there and I said to myself: "This is going to take forever". So I wrote my very first "vanity". Today I look and see we are 85% there and I feel like a fool.

[Miss Behave]

Happygal, I have been speaking to, and sticking to, the issue at hand, from an unwavering perspective. I believe it's clear in my posts on this thread, and on this subject matter in general, elsewhere on the board. I've been consistent. You are free to read anything I've written (of course.) I encourage it, Happygal.

And I'm glad to know that you enjoy and support this board and its true future success, financially and otherwise.

This news site it truly unique in so many ways, not least of which its cause and mission, and we, as its guests, are afforded great opportunity and leeway to learn and discuss/debate ideas and ideals. Take Care, Happygal.

And the drive fulfillment is now at 86%, which is excellent. LOTS of red across the top of the FR screen. ;-)

[Miss Behave]

Hey Hound, just say that you fell asleep...just like every good hound between tiring hunts. ;-)

[Miss Behave]

Heck, I could even post a Vanity that I just cut the cheese. :-)

Not that I would...I don't think.

[Happygal]

You forgot that the dollar a day people, and monthly contributors are 'held off' until the end of the Freepathon. It's a means of making newbies contribute, I guess.

[Antoninus]

Maybe it has something to do with longtime Freepers being called Nazis, pro-death, etc.

Riiight. The whining "Greer-brigade" babies took their ball and went home.

Who cares. The Freepathon will still reach its goal even without them. If it takes an extra week--so what?

[Antoninus]

I know..The Schiavo thing was a disaster around here...

Nah, not a disaster. An example of natural selection at work. The goats were separated from the sheep. Personally, I'm glad of it. A lot of masks came off and an incredible number of individuals revealed themselves to be politics over principle cheap Democrats.

FR is better off without 'em. Their void will be filled by better newcomers. Happens all the time.

[Antoninus]

It has obviously affected this site in disastrous multi-faceted ways and many are in complete denial about that fact, forever perhaps.

You people are such drama queens. The Freepathon goal will be reached. The babies who took their bat and balls and went home will be forgotten, and new Freepers will take their places.

This too shall pass.