I really don’t know what I’d do without you guys.

I feel a group hug coming… :)

2007? I thought you’d been here longer than that.

Joined on the original thread. Now I’m a founding member of Firedoglake and St Pete for Peace. Calls for a button, nametag, sumpthin.

I just want a “Professional Left” card.

Edit: Oops! Just got an email from the membership coordinator who tells me that somebody has paid for a membership for me. Now I feel humbled and very much appreciative. Soon I’m going to write a diary outlining the help I’ve gotten just from FDL members and though I can’t thank you all properly, I’m going to try anyway.

Seems like only yesterday to me. But my first post was in November, 2007.

I already have one of those, it’s called the IWW membership card. Not a founding member though. I ain’t that fuckin’ old.

This brings up another good point from the previous thread on membership.

Jane, Ryan, Michael, BT, anybody:

Is there a way we can contribute in the name of someone else, or for those members that can’t afford to participate right now? Certainly Margaret shouldn’t be left out. I’ll step up for her.

Your memory is better than mine. I remember bein’ here before the Lamont campaign but that’s the best I can do.

((I’m in.))

Long-timers who can’t afford to join at this moment should contact Ryan (see Jane’s earlier thread for phone number.) I’m in and want to sponsor some of our long-time commenters. I want us all in the pool/lake.

Hugs to Margaret …. and continue to hope for success in the job market.

I’ve been mulling that over meself.

Thanks BT.

I saw on Jane’s original post on this subject this morning that CBL was comment #1 claiming that “we” are in. So I suppose I will handle that when I get home from work. Honored to have the opportunity.

Hello to some of my favorite pups upthread.

I send $10 a month to FDL and have done so since January 2010. I am a founding member, benefactor, if I read correctly.

Outstanding.

Thanks so much, oldnslow.

(Already had that in mind. Shhhhh, doon’t tell)

Oops, cbl spent the butter ‘n egg money.

Somebody already did Kris but thank you…ALL of you so very much. I’m humbled but no longer surprised at the generosity and huge hearts of the FDL community,

That’s fantastic — thank you so much.

(((Margaret)))

Just one of the things that makes us different from the Vichycrats and Regressives.

So much for the quiche those damned libruls are eatin’ all the time (in their pajamas with Cheetos).

Speaking of the job market, out of the blue this morning I got a call from the interview that I thought was really good a couple of weeks ago and I’m getting a second interview. He told me that I was “obviously a huge candidate” and took the time to call me personally, not to schedule the second interview but to make sure I’m going to be around for him to schedule it. Good signs I’d say. Should be Thursday or Friday if he gets the time. Sounded like he didn’t want me making any other plans.

Quiche and Cheetos? Oh, lordy, gag me with a spoon.

Indeed and why I’ll always be a DFH, (and soon a card carrying one).

oooooo, that sounds verrrrrra good.

That’s great news!

(((oldnslow))) (((FDL)))

WOOO HOOO!

(sorry for yellin)

Look out Vichycrats and Regressives. We’re comin’!

Good for you Margret. You deserve it. :)

If I get this job, I am so going to pay every bit of help I got forward and then some!

OT – cast my vote for an anti-establishment candidate for Gulfport City Council an hour ago. We’re weedin’ out the hidebound fogies, one by one.

I certainly will!

Back to work.

Namaste

(((Margaret)))

Totally spectacular, Margaret! Your membership is a requirement as far as I am concerned. Take care!

(((SouthernDragon)))

My thanks goes out to everyone here. You have allowed me to be me and that means something. Again I am so impressed with the way you accept people here and the knowledge you possess. Keep up the good work and fight till the end.

Founding member of FDL.

Or, as Rahm might say, “fucking retarded professional left.”

Now how can anyone not jump at the chance to be that????

Oh, and fuck you Rahm Emanuel. Too. Glad I don’t live in Chicago. Asshole.

Interstellar, Margaret!!!!!!!!

Awesome!

Way to go, SD!

But the hard truth is, FDL doesn’t have a Sugar Daddy like the Brothers Koch.

And you don’t want one, either. That blade cuts only one way, and it ain’t the pretty way, either.

I’m in. Now let’s kick some ass and take some names…

“fucking retarded professional left.”

Maybe that should be printed on the cards…A badge of honor if you will.

Good news, Margaret! Tell ‘em you know all about that sciencey stuff. Go git ‘em…

A badge of honor if you will.

Copy that.

I gotta get going too. Thanks to all of FDL and thanks especially to my anonymous benefactor(s).

BBL.

Margaret left and took everyone with her. :)

Thanks much. But make sure you contact Ryan to make sure your ongoing contributions in the future actually receive membership status. Previous or current donations that are not done through the membership sign up won’t trigger that. And to do the membership via monthly payments, you need to contact Ryan, because that option isn’t automated yet. Thanks again.

Email him at members@firedoglake.com, or call him at (202)506-3907.

Is my membership card in the mail?

W00T, Margaret! I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Yes! the least domesticated flame — could be an X-class flare!

Can’t imagine a better use of a credit card these days…

I joined when Christie Hardin-Smith (then known as Reddhead) was still on. God, how I miss her. I hope she’s doing well.

Thanks for that, Scarecrow. Had been wondering about that.

Knut, pay Christy a visit:
http://homecelebration.blogspot.com/

fyi Christy posts on Facebook – you can friend her there

Ryan’s the man. Helped me out promptly this morning.

If we can’t afford to do it this week…will we be able to do it next week or any time?

I remember 7/05, when some site called Firedoglake was linked in C&L’s old blog roundup – but didn’t really start participating until just before Katrina. – some mensch now going by the name Boo Radley patiently answered my dumbass questions about the Abramoff investigation :D

Fantastic – you should be allowed “behind the wall”

I love FDL – but I see knowledge here beyond my own in all the areas that I might claim some insight, so it is not possible to justify the cost as a “gift to the community” – and while $45 is not a large amount – social security plus a tiny pension provide enough for me and the wife – my outgo needs to be kept low until real estate comes back and I can get some additional wiggle room.

Jane’s comment about NPR’s successful financing via membership fees was confusing in the initial announcement http://firedoglake.com/2011/03/08/announcing-the-firedoglake-membership-program/ (“Craig Newmark of Craigslist said he thinks that by the year 2020, NPR will be a “dominant force” in media because of their membership model.”

Member stations are the “members” in the NPR model and are charged enough for programing to make up 40% of the budget – with about 1.5% of NPR’s revenues coming from Corporation for Public Broadcasting grants – and with 26% of the revenue coming from “commercials” called “underwriting” that can mention product, but they may not advocate product and may not ask folks to mobilize to do anything. The rest is donations and a small endowment.

Within the member stations 6% is from direct government funding, and additional 10% of their revenue from federal funding in the form of CPB grants, and 14% of their revenue from universities, with the rest donations.

I wish Jane and FDL well on this choice of a business model. I have no clue as to what is good or bad in this kind of effort – Initially, putting pundits behind a pay wall did not workout well for the NYT, but maybe that has changed over time – I don’t know. I still like the idea of adding a store to the site – if only to sell personalized “professional left” cards and gear :-) – - and since we will have a pay wall, getting onto the IPAD as an app – even after the 30% rip-off by Apple – might be a winner.

I joined. I get good information here, am spurred to activism, and feel a sense of community. That’s worth $45 a year to me; I’d pay more if I had more.

See Scarecrow at @49.

Blue Texan, thanks for presenting the argument for membership so well. You’ve very clearly laid out the case for Firedoglake: the absolute vacuum in our public civil space for any entity that performs the functions we do. FDL is non-duplicative and it is incredibly important we keep it going.

I’m amazed at the response in comments to the two appeals posted so far today. I think people must realize this is the only way we can get what we deserve: a fiercely independent activist voice to counter the growing corporatism and tribalism in our public discourse.

Thanks to you for making the case so very well, BT.

Thanks. I book-marked it. Glad to see she’s doing well.

She posts about once a day, and it’s usually about home, family, recipes, etc.

Thanks, Teddy. It’s an easy case to make.

Never thought I would join a professional left organization but I did. What next? I want my card.

If we can’t afford to do it this week…will we be able to do it next week or any time?

Yes, you can join any time – thanks

just joined. A big THANK YOU to everyone at FDL, mods, behind-the-curtain miracle workers, Jane, writers, commenters … what an amazing community.

ok, trudging off to my 2nd shift job. Carry on, Firepups!

*poof!*

I started commenting in about 2006 I think, as LS. I can’t afford this now, but I still will consider myself an oldtimer at this point.

Keeping fingers and toes crossed for you!

OK, well that was just too much to get a thank you from Ms. Hamsher herself… thanks, Jane…. made my day!

check out my wife Dale Gottlieb’s art @
http://www.dalegottlieb.com/work/Welcome_.html

Son Blake Hudson @
http://blakehudson.com/

Son Hill Hudson @
http://www.etsy.com/shop/GottliebGlass?ga_search_query=gottlieb+glass&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

As some examples of items that might be sold through the FDL store to keep the cash coming…. locally made stuff.

Both my sons are glassblowers, flameworkers, sculptors… wife is designer, author/illustrator, painter.

I design and build small cider presses currently and am working at building up our urban farmette and working with other local venues like this:

http://www.caretakershouse.org/

I also am a good proofreader if such services are necessary.

Frankly, that’s not good enough. Puts me in mind of the politicians who want my support now and they’ll take care of me later. Reciprocity is all and I only support people who support me. Anyone who has already delivered support deserves more consideration than “ongoing contributions in the future.”

a fiercely independent activist voice

no, actually Teddy, fiercely independent voices get banned and modded into oblivion, to keep firepups from having to encounter perspectives outside of of Liberal, (D) captured consensus.

Did Jane call you??

Wow, maybe I didn’t dream it then.

LOL, I’m so smitten with her, I thought it was a dream, and the details have already slipped my memory exactly like a dream does.

Boy I hope when my blood left my brain I didn’t just stutter incomprehensible jibberish when I was on the phone with her. :) Oh hell, who am I kidding? Incomprehensible jibberish is all that ever comes out of my mouth.

If that really was you Jane, thanks for making an old fat guy’s day!

Jane is the GREATEST! EVER!

It’s late and I don’t suppose you’ll see this, Margaret, but that’s absolutely great! Best of luck.

Yes, I want to be a card-carrying member.