In the beginning I just thought I’d go see the different candidates at the campaign events in New Hampshire. Four years prior, not long after I moved to New Hampshire from Massachusetts, my sister was volunteering for Senator Kerry’s campaign. She’s a loyal and active Democrat; our parents are Republicans. We talked on the phone after the Iowa caucuses when Howard Dean screamed during his concession speech. She hadn’t heard it called the ‘I have a Scream Speech’ yet, and I said that I felt for him. I figured if I were in politics that would be the sort of thing that would take me out. It wouldn’t be scandal or corruption; I’d simply do something so embarrassing that no one would take me seriously again.
My sister told of a news clip she had just seen of a woman who had met Senator Kerry, then fainted. The video looked like a shot from the Wizard of Oz with Senator Kerry standing over a pair of feet. I was starting to realize that I had missed quite a show by not attending Primary events, so I simply thought this time it would be interesting to see. I certainly had no plans of picking a candidate early, and no interest in joining a campaign. I thought it might give me something to write about on my website, but basically I was just curious.
Your Impact: Give Yourself A “Thank You”, I’m Giving You One.
I wanted to take the time to sincerely thank any and all of you out there that participated in this election cycle.I thank those that were with us from the start, those that joined us in the end and everyone in-between.
I am saving my comments and thoughts regarding the outcome of the election, the future of our cause etc for a later post.This is simply a straight forward THANK YOU.
(for the record when I say we throughout this post I’m talking about YOU!)
In the past two years I have been lucky enough to meet folks all across this nation from every conceivable ethnic background and walk of life.I’ve communicated with you via, phone, internet, TV, Radio and even in person.Overall I am better off for it.
Often throughout this process doubts were present.Doubts about our abilities, or focus,
Our agenda, our purpose, our impact and practically everything else.I can assure you from the bottom of my heart there is no doubt.
For those that questioned our impact and all of the aforementioned let me just give you a bit of info to digest.
Collectively we posted 345,621 blog posts. (related to the mccain campaign etc)That is the most accurate number I have (and trust me I’ve done my best to keep close track) however I am quite certain the number is higher.Our first month in operation we increased McCain’s over-all online presence by 524%.It never fell again.We had articles, stories etc picked up by the Main Stream Media, TV, Print and Radio etc that otherwise never would’ve appeared there.Often we completely took over tracking sites such as Technorati, Wonkosphere and several others . . .we retained a strong presence on all throughout.
THANK YOU.
Before we lost the ability to directly track our contributions (as of January of 2008) we had contributed $116,000.00 dollars directly to the McCain campaign.Since we only grew and put forth stronger numbers and efforts from that point on I can safely assume that number rose dramatically.We also raised $4309.64 for various conservative/republican candidates around the country directly through slatecard, Along with another $3625.00 for candidates above and beyond that.
THANK YOU.
Over 64,400 people from around the country clicked on our link to make phone calls on behalf of the campaign.Many of us held phone banks periodically in our homes, made calls on our own or went to HQ above and beyond that.
THANK YOU.
Many of us were interviewed by or asked to write for or speak to the Main Stream Media,
Including FOX news, NBC, CBS, Columbia News Journal, Medill News, Hundreds of collegiate and high school news services, MSNBC, CNN, ABC, Dozens and dozens of radio programs, the BBC (many times) and the list goes on and on.
THANK YOU.
When the campaign was low on resources WE WERE THERE.In the NH primary we literally put 500 boots on the ground.These volunteers did everything a paid campaign normally covers.We single handedly won the NH primary for McCain which of course resulted in his attaining the nomination of the party.
When McCain began the no surrender tour it was from our ranks he pulled the veterans and volunteers, many of us road on that tour with him when he need us.
THANK YOU.
We contributed THOUSANDS of dollars directly out of pocket to cover expenses of our efforts, to help others etc. (I will not give the dollar amounts to protect those that wish to remain private etc).
THANK YOU.
We traveled around the country to battleground areas and areas in desperate need of additional support, typically on our own dime.
THANK YOU.
When the campaign was lacking in signage we took up the cause.We raised money for signs around the country.We shipped over 3000 signs in a two month period to states, areas that needed them.We shipped them in most cases without charging the receiving party.Often we even covered the shipping charges.Not including all of the stickers, hats and pins we sent out.
The campaign on numerous occasions implemented ‘our’ ideas and took ‘our’ advice.
(had they done it a lil’ more often perhaps we would’ve won . . . lol)
We also ran 21 Television commercials in KEY battleground areas around the country thanks to direct donations from YOU!
THANK YOU.
We created ‘groups’ in every state on facebook, google and other platforms. (over 800 affiliated groups, most set up by us directly!)From these groups 15 individuals were directly hired by the campaign (several others had offers and turned them down, but continued to volunteer anyhow!).Of those 15 directly hired 2 were at our request, 8 at our suggestion.One of these folks became part of McCain’s official personal advance team another one of Sarah Palin’s handlers.
The google groups (which ended with 745 members) were utilized directly by the McCain campaign for several months and we received several written messages thanking us for that use and the amazing results they achieved when using them. Often they found their ‘area’ leaders or boots on the ground folks directly from those groups.They stated that they always had a positive response and that every time they reached out via that avenue those folks ALWAYS showed up for them.
THANK YOU.
We had an amazing force of numbers and effort. Our contact list grew to over 700,000 during the course of this campaign. AMAZING! That is just staggering!That is from members of our various sites/blogs/groups/subscriptions etc.Millions upon millions of ‘hits’ and ‘visits’ to our sites,blogs,platforms.Hundreds of thousands of readers (sometimes for one blog). . . you truly reached the masses my friends.
THANK YOU.
Now I could go on and on boring you with details and numbers but I won’t.I just wanted to make sure you had at least a slight idea of the tremendous impact you had.We may not have won, but ultimately our accomplishment was astounding.We impacted the process.We insisted our voice be heard and succeeded. NEVER forget that.
The ‘battle’ may be over however the war rages on.The war for the heart and soul of our country has begun.Don’t start whispering now, do not hang your heads in shame, or storm away in anger and frustration.The sun came up on November 5th, I saw it.
I am proud of what I did for the past three years.I am proud of all you have done.I am proud of the McCain family and am honored to count them among my friends, just as I do many of you.
So once again I offer you my most heart-felt and deepest thanks.I wish I had the time and energy to list and thank you all by name . . . I can not.Before I end however, I would like to give a special thanks to just a handful folks that went far above and beyond their call of duty . . .(there are many more, but bare with me)
Kathy Morrisson, Michael Schuyler, Brad Marston, Jeff Vath, John Barnhart, Bill Smith,
Branden Folger, Samantha Folger, Brad Hansen, Andi Card, Debra Aldinger, Yomin Postelnik, Jean Avery, Andrea Snell, Ian Droste, Sharon Caliendo, Oliver Ditch, Jonathan Tallman, and many many many many more.
More important than our own ‘feelings’ or even more important than congratulating the new President-elect is to give our advice on how our nations needs to be guided.
It is our duty as citizens, it is our obligation to our country to press on and do so.The democrats and Obama may indeed not listen, however we may still benefit our nation by speaking up.
As promised -- LGTR is still here and in the battle for conservative ideals and principles. Thank you for all your efforts getting ready for the 2008 election.
LGTR also values you, your friends and others who are in this fight and commend yours and their efforts. Starting immediately, LGTR will begin work towards taking back control of the Congress in 2010. Ronald Reagan told his supporters upon the election of Jimmy Carter, that the time would be ripe for a major change in four years because America cannot abide socialism for long and to prepare immediately. The same effect happened with the Clinton Administration who lost control of Congress.
Also remember you can form groups on the LGTR website and start communicating and preparing for the future by addressing conservative values and principles right now.
I'd like to invite you to join the "JohnMcCain2008" room on FriendFeed, a place for us to share and discuss things. I hope you'll join the room. You can check it out here: http://friendfeed.com/rooms/johnmccain2008
UPDATE: SHERIDAN FOLGER, THE MADIRISHMAN WILL BE JOINING MEDIA LIZZY AND BRAD ON HEADING RIGHT RADIO TO TALK ABOUT USING THE SOCNETS AND OTHER ON-LINE PLATFORMS IN SUPPORT OF JOHN McCAIN.
Brad Marston of McCain Now and McCainVictory08 will be a guest on Heading Right Radio on the Blog Talk Radio network on Wednesday, May 7th at 3 pm. He will be interviewed by author and talk show host, Elizabeth "Media Lizzy" Blackney to talk about the growing volunteer on-line presence of the McCain Campaign.
Senator McCain and members of his campaign have appeared on Heading Right Radio numerous times in the past year to discuss the campaign. You can access the show on line by clicking the link below. Heading Right with Media Lizzy Please join Brad and Liz on Wednesday May 7th at 3pm. Sphere: Related Content
I met Dan early on during the McCain Campaign. If anyone ever thought I was a passionate McCainiac . . .well I can tell you first hand I stood in Dan's shadow. Dan was very involved in our local politics here in NH. Dan believed strongly in organizing those with common beliefs and protecting them, he did a damned good job of it. From updating the http://www.nhstaterep.com/ Website, or editing the Elephant Prints News Letter to running for office, from sign-waving to walking door to door Dan was there. Dan and I worked on several projects together for McCain. I remember well waving signs with him in front of the Governors Inn.... PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTIRE POST.
McCain Momentum and McCain Online Presence are growing steadily. New Members and New Sites Are Popping Up Left And Right.
If you have not already done so PLEASE visit McCain State Google Groups Find Your State And Sign Up! It is a great way to stay involved on the grass-roots / net-roots level in your state.
Also the new McCain Network on Ning Has literally Tripled Membership Overnight. It is a FANTASTIC place to be involved. Both of these sites and groups are filling up rapidly with some GREAT people and tons of great information.
The Waumbec Mill 250 Commercial Street Suite 3007 Manchester, NH 03101 Phone: 603-369-4944
Friends,
Just like the national press called Senator McCain's race over last summer, they are now calling NH blue. Well, the race was surely not over, the voters are supporting our campaign, and you are the leadership that is going to insure a McCain general election victory in NH in November. For many of you who remember the incredibly small margin and the difference that our very few electoral votes in NH made in the 2000 election; we're here again.
We have heard from so many people who have had withdrawals since the January 8th Primary ended, and are ready to get going on the general election. Well, now it’s time to build an even stronger organization than we had for the Primary. Even though NH went for Kerry in 2004, it will be a "battleground" state in 2008 and we need to get organized now to ensure a McCain Victory in November. We need your presence for a general election organization meeting for John's campaign where we can map the course going forward and determine where we need our resources (people, time and money).
Please plan to attend Saturday, April 12th, at 1:00 pm in Manchester at the McCain headquarters. The McCain County Chairs and Coalition Chairs should arrive an hour earlier.
Please bring your own hydration; we will have pizza from Manchester's best on hand.
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