United Liberty
Martin Avila
Recent Posts From Martin Avila
MoneyBomb 101: Successful Fundraising Drives through your Campaign Website
Thu, 02/04/2010 - 2:32am | posted by Martin Avila
I know many United Liberty viewers are considering kicking off campaigns this cycle, so I wanted to share some thoughts I’ve gathered since our big success with various moneybombs over the last few years.
What is a Moneybomb?
“Moneybomb” is a term for an online donation drive managed through a campaign website and attached to a predetermined financial goal; a time limit is placed on the event to add a sense of criticality, often 24 hours but potentially as much as a week.
The first such event completed by Terra Eclipse was during Constitution Week of Ron Paul’s 2008 presidential campaign. This set the stage for later single-day drives which were timed to meet quarterly financial targets and immensely successful in doing so.
Setting a Plausible Goal
The first thing I tell anyone about a moneybomb is that 95% of them are doomed to failure at the hands of overzealousness. Politics is largely a game of expectations — setting an unattainable goal and missing the mark can destroy supporters’ confidence in your campaign. Conversely, vastly exceeding expectations makes your campaign appear much stronger and more capable. Think of it this way: when considering your public image, a house party spilling over into the streets will play much better than a football stadium only one quarter full.
Setting an attainable goal — even if it seems less significant — is far better than attempting to shoot for the moon and raise an impossible sum. Even for established political figures, setting a modest initial goal of $50K allows for supporters to easily throw their hat into the ring and fuel measurable success. If something sounds easy, people will gladly participate; if it sounds completely implausible, they will instinctively shy away from it.
Congressman First Insults His Constituents, then the Country
Mon, 09/07/2009 - 12:23am | posted by Martin Avila
Here are some videos from a recent town hall where Sam Farr manages to insult his constituents by stating, rather plainly, that they have no regard for those who are less fortunate.
Sam Farr: “One thing that really strikes me, because I know alot of people here aren’t sympathetic to anybody who is less fortunate…”
Wow.
Apparently Sam Farr thinks that only the government, with it’s massively wasteful programs can help the less fortunate.
Moving on…
Congressman Farr is then absolutely torn a new one by a well-spoken constituent. Rather than answering her main question however, he proceeds to make excuses for not saying the pledge of allegiance prior to the townhall meeting…
Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal frankly, I doubt very much many congressmen do.
The interesting (and insulting part) is that right as he is making his excuse, half of the room rises to begin the Pledge of Allegiance - and he doesn’t participate.
What a jerk.
Tea Party Poster: Obama Hood
Thu, 04/09/2009 - 2:11pm | posted by Martin Avila
When Obama first rolled out his tax policy during the election, we were inspired to create this graphic. It’s more relevant now, and I have had more requests than ever to use it for the Tax Day Tea Party protests.
Feel free to make whatever you would like out of it for next weeks festivities. I’ve included the PSD below. Have fun.
We hope you enjoy it. Feel free to run with it yourself by downloading the PSD, please just toss a little credit our way when you do.
You are about to owe $6,500 to stimulate the economy.
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 4:05pm | posted by Martin Avila
As many regular readers of this site know - I’m a big fan of Rep. Tom McClintock. He’s one of the most consistent fiscal conservatives I’ve ever known, and has a deep, profound and expressed reverence for the principles of the founders.
Yesterday Rep. Tom McClintock gave a floor speech where he outlined, quite clearly, the cost of Barack Obama’s stimulus plan to each American.
That’s $6,500 of new debt for every man, woman and child in the United States today – or $26,000 for an average family of four. This is not a theoretical number. That family will have to repay that $26,000 – plus interest – from their future taxes just as surely as if it appeared on the bottom of their credit card statement this month.
Grover Norquist on Obama’s Stimulus
Fri, 02/06/2009 - 4:14pm | posted by Martin Avila
From Politico’s Arena on the Stimulus Package
Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform:
I notice that the question today is about the “recovery” plan. As I told the Bush folks when they were demanding support for their $750 billion “recovery” plan, it is only a recovery plan if it makes the economy stronger. The “million man march” wasn’t and the “stimulus” plan won’t. But credit for clever spin.
For the present, Obama is waving around a massive government bureaucratic spending plan written by Reid and Pelosi with Obama’s participation being that of the vermouth in a dry martini.
RNC Staff Axed by Steele
Fri, 02/06/2009 - 2:57pm | posted by Martin Avila
According to Ben Smith over at Politico, Michael Steele has begun his overhaul of the RNC by asking for the resignation of all current staff at the RNC.
A Republican source says newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has requested the resignations of the entire RNC staff and signaled a dramatic turnover at the party organization.
Some aides may be retained, though Republicans are under the impression that Steele will lead a large-scale changeover in the institution, which has about 100 staffers. Obama’s new team at the Democratic National Committee also requested mass resignations.
When has a bailout ever worked?
Fri, 01/23/2009 - 3:45pm | posted by Martin Avila
Tom McClintock did a great job today breaking down exactly why the bailouts have been such a complete and utter disaster. Thank you Tom for not allowing Washington to simply brush this failure aside as they do with every other attempt at “rescuing” us.
Text from his floor speech:
John McCain Starts His Post-Partum PAC
Wed, 01/07/2009 - 3:11pm | posted by Martin Avila
Yes, I’m still thinking about the ‘08 Election. No, I’m not bitter.
John McCain blasted an email out to his list encouraging them to join his new PAC - usually a no-brainer move after any national election these days.
The problem? I don’t think many people are going to be all that excited about it.
Blago is Going to Appoint Senate Seat Anyway
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 3:35pm | posted by Martin Avila
Will the Democrats fight amongst themselves this close to the inauguration? I expect that we will continue to hear less on this story - and more of the Rick Warren daytime TV drama.
CHICAGO (AFP) — The corruption-tainted governor of Illinois was expected to appoint a replacement Tuesday to the senate seat of president-elect Barack Obama, a source close to the governor told AFP.
A defiant Rod Blagojevich, who is accused of trying to sell the seat to the highest bidder, was expected to name former Illinois attorney general Roland Burris, 71, to the seat, the source said on condition of anonymity.
Family’s House Raided by Officials Over Food
Thu, 12/18/2008 - 2:42pm | posted by Martin Avila
Apparently, a family in Ohio was operating a co-op where they were reaping a healthy storage of food and supplies. Unfortunately, they didn’t have a permit it seems and on Dec. 1st, the government came knocking on their door.
“The Stowers, parents of eight children (including one son [in-law] serving in Iraq), have been accused of violating retail food establishment licensure laws.”
