I'm going to ask you to donate to DU. But first, click this link:

[Pale Blue Dot]

www.freerepublic.com

I'm sorry. I promise that I won't make you stay long. Just check out the site for a couple of minutes and then come back. I'll wait for you.














Done? OK. "Finnfan," you may ask, "why did you have us visit that cesspool?" It's a fair question, and it has a simple answer:

FreeRepublic has not changed one iota in six years.

Forget the rancid political ideology. Did you notice how ugly the site is? How hard it is to navigate? How very nearly impossible it is to find anything?

Lots of conservatives pay Jim Robinson good money to sit on his ass and give them the same confusing, jumbled, non-intuitive experience he has given them for over half a decade.

Skinner, EarlG, and elad could do the same. They could let this place stagnate while they continue to collect money from desperate Democrats starved for conversation. Instead, they work countless hours upgrading and modifying this place for us. Look at just a few of the things they have done recently:

1. Upgraded servers and equipment to try to deal with the increase in traffic that DU sees daily;

2. Created a new home page that is both jam-packed with information, yet still easy to navigate and aesthetically pleasing;

3. Created countless sub-forums (all of which need to be moderated, by the way) so that Democrats with special interests have a place to talk about their pet causes and ideas.

There is another huge difference between FreeRepublic and DU (besides the obvious, of course). Jim Robinson makes no secret of his candidates and ideologies of choice. But I'd bet a week's salary that you couldn't point to anything that indicates which candidates have the support of Skinner, EarlG, and/or elad. Sure, there will be those who claim that "since they deleted my thread attacking candidate Y, they must be closet Y supporters", but that's the closest those people are going to get, and since supporters of candidates A, B, C, Q, and X can all claim the same thing, they really haven't proven anything.

In short, Skinner, EarlG, and elad, continue to deliver a dynamic, good-looking, open forum in which Democrats of all stripes can debate about anything they please. In fact, I'll bet that Freepers secretly wish that their site looks and acted more like DU.

I think that's worth a few bucks, don't you?

[MissWaverly]

1. Ick, I donated but prefer Grovel Bot to Freepers any day!

He has a certain groveling charm.

:-)

[tavalon]

13. All you donations belong to us?

Heh heh.

[MissWaverly]

33. donate or you will be assimilated

:-)

[annabanana]

2. DU is definitely an upscale forum.. The view is fantastic,

the amenities are first class... Even the dungeons are sparkling! I love this place.

[PCIntern]

3. Agreed! And I'll see you and raise you..

Without doubt, we have made a difference. The dissatisfaction with the asymptotically-approaching curve of fascism was recognized by many and promulgated at home, the workplace, and the leisure site. DU played a great role in that spreading of the Truth.

Much of what I read here I was able to pass along to literally hundreds and hundreds of others in direct face-to-face exchanges in my practice, and in my social venues. I know that it was passed along in turn, and those of us who are involved can take great pride in our accomplishments. Far from complete in this endeavor, we can donate with the knowledge that for once, we are contributing to a great enterprise which will make a difference for millions. Onward and upward...or as we say in Craniofacial Growth and Development: Downward and Forward!

[rasputin1952]

4. You know...They call us Progressives for a reason...

:P

JimRob is a conservative, for him, it is all about the money that he can pocket. Here, the Guys are not afraid to spend some of their donations on upgrades, new and interesting items, and my favorite, SPELL-CHECK! You'd think JimRob would at least add spell-check, if for no other reason than to try and make the Freepers not look so damn stupid...:D

[EFerrari]

5. I will not go there, but thank you for the reminder. Done.

:toast:

[nadine_mn]

6. Aww I donated before going to the Dark side's site

really - out of kindness...should have had a warning not to go on a full stomach :puke:

[newyawker99]

22. Hi nadine_mn!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Clark2008]

7. Shoot. I donated before the second quarter drive - by just days!

I don't get the pretty red thingie. :(

[proud patriot]

8. I'll give this thread a kick

:kick:

[Pale Blue Dot]

9. Just to kick this, may I say

that candidate Y really has no chance, no matter what the polls say. :D

[piesRsquare]

10. Really? "Y" is that?

I'll go away now... (snicker)

[EFerrari]

14. Enough with the asparagus!

[tavalon]

11. I contribute every quarter and I contribute monthly as well

It is money well spent, IMO. This site is well created, well maintained, frequently updated and the servers have been upgraded many times in the years I've been here. I've met two of the three founders of this site and like them both. I suspect if I ever meet Elad, I will like him too. I get way more than I give.

[tavalon]

12. Weird thing though

I haven't donated yet for this quarter and yet I have a donated note. I guess it's my once a month thing.

[NMDemDist2]

17. I think so, I have one too so it must be the monthly donation

I'm just so grateful to be in the position to be a monthly donor to my favorite site in the Internets

DU rocks!

[troubleinwinter]

15. I dunno. I've gone there to read Bev Harris's enthusiastic claims that Bush is in her corner,

he bought her book & had it overnighted; how she tried to help Rossi(R), not Gregoire(D) in WA; how the freepers have helped her with so much of her "research"; her giddy, flirty note of appreciation for offer to send her FTD flowers from chief Andy Stephenson attacker/Scamdy administrator freeper.

Interesting site for those with an iron stomach.

[SaveAmerica]

16. Dude, I thought we were AGAINST torture?

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

18. Sorry Finnfan, I won't even click to get to that cesspool.

My very old computer from 2000, running Windows 98 has enough problems, let alone even going near that...

My paltry contributions to DU since I discovered it in January, 2004 is the best money I've ever spent.

[northofdenali]

19. Already did, Finn, and what a bargain it is.

I spent part of the day in various home improvement/garden stores, then the rest messing about in the lawn and washing windows, etc.

When it came time for breaks, where was I? Right here, with DU on screen. Didn't post much, but this just makes me realize how much I depend on DU for everything from latest news to opinion, for laughter and tears, for friends, for excellent debate and occasional commiseration.

Our Admins are the best - which is why I've supported every fund drive since joining, even when it hurt. Hell, if I can't give up a couple of 6-packs, what's my life worth, anyway?

K&R

[Hawkeye-X]

20. hey finnfan

Saw "rookie of the year" again and thought of you. I bet you miss your grandpa. I will make a donation later today in his memory and in honor of you. Smile. :hi:

Thanks for reminder why we should continue to support DU!

Hawkeye-X

[Rhiannon12866]

21. Great post. K&R. Thank you.

And where is Grovelbot? I'd donate again just to see him, LOL.:D

And I sure agree with you about FR, since it's about the most difficult to navigate that I ever ran across, while DU has more bells and whistles, every day, thanks to elad. And DU is my home. :-)

As for candidates, we all have our favorites, but we're free to express ourselves here, pro, con, or undecided. And we're also free to debate the issues. As a mod, this term, I know. And I am honored just to have the privilege. Thanks, Finnfan!:hi:

[Hawkeye-X]

24. Psst...

He's up there :)

[Rhiannon12866]

25. Grovelbot? I thought he only signed on at 25 posts...

I congratulated him on making 1000, on one fund drive, LOL, since he made it just before I posted. Thanks for the head's up. :-) :hi:

On edit: Now I see him, on Beth's post...:loveya:

[trotsky]

23. Excellent post.

All great reasons why I am proud to continue donating to DU.

[kiteinthewind]

26. and a Kick!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

27. Absolutely! Everyone (For The Most Part) Should Be Able To Scrape Up A Few Bucks! DU's Worth It!

[Pastiche423]

28. And those that can't?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

29. Can't.

Not sure what you're lookin for.

[Pastiche423]

30. Of course you don't

Your personality doesn't allow it.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

32. Your Reply Made No Sense. The Answer Was "Can't". As In, If Ya Can't, Then Ya Can't.

Not sure what in the world you're objecting to, other than merely to object.

[bamacrat]

31. The Homosexual Agenda link is funny, didnt click it but just funny.