Once upon a time, I ran for office (some artifacts still exist at http://jdsoor.blogspot.com/ if you wish to delve into the archives from say, Feb thru Nov of 2004). It was against this guy, who has managed to get himself re-elected 3 times subsequently whilst still being a less-than stellar rep. Well, thanks to a tip from walkabout here on dKos, I spotted a Blue Oregon link to Willamette Week and turns out the distasteful still follows Rep Esquivel around like a homeless puppy. (bad simile alert).
Democracy Connection, a new website based in Medford, poses this question: “Have something you want to tell your local Paper, Senator, Congressman or even the President?”
Well, who doesn’t? Thanks to our modern world, we can easily send our thoughts via email to our leaders. In fact, it’s free.
Except that the people behind Democracy Connection want to charge you to do it. Click the “$ Get Connected” button on the site’s home page and pay a $25 annual fee.
For those following along at home: Pay $25 a year for membership at a site which will then 'allow' you (facilitate?) to email your local newspaper and your elected officials.
There is a facebook page and a twitter feed (though when I last looked the twitter feed only had 4 followers, including me). The political leanings are only thinly veiled if YOU happen to be wearing a veil - the facebook page 'likes' FreedomWorks, Dick Armey, Herman Cain, and the local county Republicans... The twitter page plugs a local visit by Dick Morris and notes the appellate court decision on 'Obamacare' ... aside from following the Dem Governor of Oregon and being followed by me, I don't think there is a drop of 'blue' anywhere to be found in the organization (other than the massive use of the color on their main website).
So chalk another one up to scuzzy republicans looking for money and personal gain via the political process, charging people to do something they can do for free. Yay.
Feel free to use your google foo to find Democracy Connection, track them to facebook and Twitter and to pile on however you choose. I've been tweeting about them today and have some acreage on my facebook wall calling them out. Feel free to jump in while the water is warm :)
[UPDATE] Title made a tad more provocative, also to add a poll, and finally, pulled back and republished for more ideal traffic time :P
