Burn Bush For Darcy Burner and America, Too

image credit: www.darcyburner.com

I don't do many endorsements, for many reasons. Not the least of them is that I'm not sure if an endorsement from a blog with a name like this one would be much help. Another is that right now I'm not feeling too positive about politicians of either major party. Right now, being a constant pain in their rib cage is what I aspire to. I'll leave pleasantries to those who can still manage them.

What's more, during her last election attempt, the Darcy Burner I kept hearing about didn't resemble the one I saw on TV. What I heard was that she was her own woman, with strong, sensible opinions about the Iraq War, technology policy, and the power of government. What I saw on TV was another warmed-over DLC-bot. All that money from Rahm Emanuel apparently came at the price of Darcy Burner not being Darcy Burner. Since then, it looks like Ms. Burner has found her voice. Watch this video of Darcy discussing the recent FISA amendment and see if you don't agree. Of course, it's easy to talk about what you're going to do when you're not there doing it, but I'd sure like to see if she can back up what she says. If she can, we need about a hundred more of her in Congress.

Last weekend, various netroots websites, including Firedoglake, Down With Tyranny, and Eschaton sponsored a Burn Bush for Burner drive to contrast her with her Republican opponent, Dave Reichert. Reichert was the beneficiary of a $1000 a plate dinner hosted by President Bush tonight, which reportedly will raise $500,000. The goal is to raise $100,000 in small contributions to show that while they're rich, we are many. I think Jane Hamsher put it best today:

Groups like Emily’s List come in with a check for a hundred thousand dollars and can pretty much demand to control messaging on a Congressional campaign. Much of the blogosphere’s ability to get the attention of politicians when they go off the reservation is due not only to the fact that we raised quite a bit during the last election cycle for candidates we support, but also because we made Joe Lieberman raise $17 million to keep his seat.

Yes, a hundred thousand dollars — particularly at this point in the election cycle — does get people’s attention.

Turkee Make Them Lookie

We need their attention. Recent events have made it quite clear we don't have the attention of our representatives in Congress.

So if you can, please give, even if it's five dollars. Do without that grande mocha tomorrow, and help elect a better Democrat.

UPDATE (Aug. 30): Believe it or not, contributions are still trickling into the Burn Bush for Burner page. It's up to $87.7K. Not bad for a fundraiser for a candidate whose election is more than a year away. I'd say we have their attention.

I've mentioned this before, but the Internet has become a wonderful way of making your political contributions go to exactly the sort of people you want running our government. Making Democrats aware of just how much potential support is out there for good people ought to help make more available.