When Meteor Blades asked me to write one of the "Why Subscribe to Daily Kos" diaries, I said yes. Hell, If MB asked me to eat liver, or vacation in Florida, I'd say yes. (As you can see, I've gone all in on my title- even including a poll for extra clicks. Don't worry, I'm getting to the $100 and the naked part.)
MB is one of my heroes, one of my role models. And he's only one of the amazing people I've met here. If you're fresh and new to DK, you might not recognize my name- I haven't posted much in the past three years. I tend to rise up during elections, or baseball playoffs, when I feel that I'm most needed. But I've been here since the beginning. Hell, I'd have UserID # 7 if I hadn't waited a week to sign up for a username when we switched formats in what, 2002? 2003? I just didn't take it seriously, and I DILLY DALLIED, and now I've got the considerably less impressive #4520. We probably had 4521 people here at the time, that's how seriously I took the idea of grabbing that new UID. It's one of my Regrets, actually, and I've noted it for my memoirs.
The Lifetime Subscription that I enjoy is a result of my Old Timer status- when Kos first started taking ads, he gave all of us who'd been here since the beginning lifetime subscriptions. I was touched, I remember. It was like getting a free ticket from Southwest, or a packet of those drink coupons that come in the mail on my birthday. I saw it simply as a way to avoid the ads, which annoyed me. Which it is. But if Kos hadn't given me my subscription, I'd buy one today, simply to support the site. (And I am! I'm buying one for YOU! Keep reading for the naked part.)
I tend to be a reluctant political player. I take things so much to heart that it's difficult for me to accept the gamesmanship that goes on under the hood. I could never be Dennis Kucinich, or Al Franken- I'd simply die of the aggravation, frustration and outright grief at the greed, stupidity, and the lack of historical knowledge that surrounded me. I don't know how they do it. I don't take the pleasure in the political process that Kos does, I can't treat it like insider baseball, like Nate does. When I opposed the election of Duh, or the re-election of Duh, or Duh's illegal invasion of Iraq, or Duh's illegal invasion of Afghanistan, I did it with my whole heart, and then suffered through the failures.
When it was time to tear out our discouraging Shrub and elect a replacement, I threw myself into the process with my entire self. I spent long hours here, as we (the people) we (the media) we (the citizenry) we (the historians) and we (the commoners) attempted to find consensus on our candidate.
I'm not sure we could have beaten McCain and Palin without us (the media) (the people) (the activists).
John Edwards cured me forever of donating directly to politicians, or political parties. Now, whatever money I have (and it isn't much, trust me) goes directly to what I believe in. What my government isn't supporting. What my media won't be. What is actually working for the people. I support independent bookstores, Planned Parenthood, my local community radio station, working artists, the Symphony, the elementary school. A free Internet. Wikipedia. DK has become a community well worth my support, and frankly, I'd fight for it. If anything has really come clear for me in the past decade, it's that I have to stand up myself and vote with both my money and my time- the life and the world I want is not in fact going to materialize without me.
To me, the question over whether or not to subscribe isn't really if you want to skip the ads, or get the ebooks, or the photo upload space. Those are all very nice, but what it's really about is: is DK something that you would like to see continue to exist, and be healthy?
I'm proud of this place. And I cherish the friendships I've made here. $100 is kind of a lot of money for me, but I didn't have to buy my own subscription, and I really believe that when we give what we have for what we believe in (we the media) (we the people) it comes back to us in some sustaining way. So I'd like to step up to the plate myself, and say that I will buy YOU a subscription. Think of it as my Christmas gift to Big Orange. And thanks, from the bottom of my heart, for all of the fish.
Leave a comment. Just to say "hi", because I wish I had more time to hang out. And also, of course, if you want the subscription. (Hint: I'm a sucker for a stupid joke. Make it easy to remember.) If I pick you, and you already have a subscription, then you can be the one to give it away.
Just so you know the terrain, my favorite joke is:
Q: "What did the snail say when he got a ride on the back of the turtle?"
...
A: "Whee!"
If you win, I will also email you a naked picture, absolutely. Sadly, however, William Shatner will not be in it (unless the longed-for standup figure is under my Christmas tree, in which case EVERY photo I take in the future will in some way feature William Shatner).
Kate and Bill (just in case the image isn't working for you.)