A special campaign appeal for America

Dear (first name goes here),

Thank you for your past support in this challenging time for America and its blogs. Without your help and your cursor clicks, we could not have carried our message of change, national revitalization and unpredictable political news to growing legions of readers in recent months.

Many thousands of you responded with clicks, millions of them. And we sincerely appreciate that. It made our blog's readership appear to be soaring. And two bloggers can only click on their own items so many times in a day.

But this presidential campaign is a long one.

You may have noticed during the recent Super Tuesday primary elections our online competition just kept posting blog item after blog item all during the....

day, as if there was no limit to the amount of online blather people will read. Some of our competitors even blogged after dark.

But it takes more than words for us to keep up, to keep blogging around the clock like this. It takes clicks.

And that's where you come in, (first name goes here).

Frankly, we need your help if we're to carry your message of hope and optimism and real change into the future of political blogging. Our nation deserves nothing less. Our time has come! Yes, we can!

That's why, to be candid, we've recently borrowed 5 million clicks from our own personal resources. It was actually an easy decision because we believe so strongly in our message, We Decide, You Vote.

But today we must ask for your help. Won't you contribute to help pay back those clicks? Any sum you can afford will do -- 25, 50, 250 clicks on our blog.* Just click anywhere you want. And click often. Click on this. Click on that. Click on everything in sight, like this.

In the archives you've got 1,300 more items to click on dating from June 11 when we got our very first click. It's framed right here in the office. Leave a comment down below. There are nearly 16,000 of them. Leave several. Tell us what you did over the weekend. Refresh this page a dozen times. Absolutely nothing will change. But every little bit helps.

Each click represents a piece of ownership in this blog. The more you click, the more of this unique blog you own. Oh, sure, we'll try to convince the new management that we should be paid by the click. But don't concern your busy heads about that. We've got more primaries tomorrow and in March and a national election just a few short months later. Think of the clicks you can accomplish for America in that time.

You know our competition won't let up. We can't either. We live in a violent, constantly changing world. Clicks are also great for national security.

We all need to be concerned about the future of this great nation and this blog that our families believe is so essential to that future.

Thank you, Ticket readers. We approve this message. And God bless America.

--Andrew Malcolm    *Clicks on political blogs are not tax-deductible. And federal regulations limit the maximum number of clicks you can donate to any single blog to 2,300 in a calendar year. But, frankly, who's gonna know if you do more?

Comments

[Tom J]

As Don Frederick knows, I Assume Good Faith in politics. Even in times such as these, which are exceptionally challenging. And clickable. But if democracy is not a spectator sport, then clearly blogging isn't either.

Go bravely forth! Know we are with you, every click of the way!

(I believe at this moment in the Eastern time zone my partner Don Frederick may be preparing to play tennis and work out his disappointment over Miss Kentucky not winning in the recent Miss America contest everybody here no doubt watched.)

[Tom J]

btw - were you aware a Diebold voting machine could easily be adapted to supply you with all the clicks you could ever wish for? I'm just sayin'....

(Great, Tom. Thanks. We'll look into that. But only two comments? It's 2:25 in the morning Pacific time and you can only leave 2 lousy comments? C'mon, Paul pal. Get on the Ticket Team here! You can do better than that. What else more important is there to do at this hour, except mute Billy Mays' annoying voice on the infomercials?)

[Howard Mortman]

I am proud to be part of the effort. Me and Rosie the Riveter. Count us in for 10 clicks today. I've never eaten a better meal than the one served by this blog -- best food anywhere. And I appreciate the Top of the Ticket tote bag, which I will promptly report to the blogging ethics committee.

(Ladies and gentlemen, we have here, one of the world's most creative and funniest bloggers. An inspiration to us rookies. www.extrememortman.com Chck him out.)

[Tony Angel]

I'm here.
I've clicked and clicked.
Answered the call.

Paulite No. 999999999 here and you've made me laugh heartily.
I don't usually get past a cynical snicker when doin politics.

I recall there was a suggestion that you were only writing about RP to get the clicks...
Yes you have done a mighty fine job of filling the space with blahhhh about the election and achieving mighty clicks. That bonus ! click click click.....

Now here's my next question...

Will the MSM be able to keep up the dribble to distract the sheople till liebold tell us who won?
Or to put it more applicably. Will the sheople keep up with the dribble output by the MSM to distract them from Ron Paul?

I doubt it.....
Your funny post hints to the relief that must be felt by the controllers over this round of the election cycle, with the final 3 being effectively decided and the real argument left to it being over hillary or obama.

But also I notice that on google video the third most watched clip this week is the Aaron Russo one recommended by RP.

Hahahaha very funny anyway.

(Thanks, Tony, for your patronage and assistance.)

[Luke]

Would you guys say that you've been a "blog agent" your entire careers? Or are you just part of the tired old media reporting of the past? Are you "caffeined up and ready to go?"

...I'm just not sure I'm ready to endorse any bloggers yet.

(Oh, please! You know we're good guys. We are caffeined for sure (Diet Coke). And definiitely ready to go. Thanks.)

[wearefree]

Andrew, I click here often. I like your twisted sense of humor. If you want more clicks, you could always try covering the candidates’ positions on the important issues. Off the top of my head:

-The endless cycle of world war and imperialist violence.

-The inflation tax that is killing the dollar and bleeding wealth from the poor and middle-class.

-The cruel, ineffective, wasteful, racist war on (non-government sanctioned) drugs.

-Secret torture prisons warrant-less surveillance, the suspension of habeas corpus.

Many of us are interested in human freedom. Vast, untapped reserves of clicks, glorious clicks!

[AKK]

Just post some more Ron Paul stories. That'll drive up traffic. Do a daily report of what he has for breakfast. I'd probably read it.

[Keith Henderson]

If I hire an underling to click here while I work, can I write that off on my taxes? What if that person is an illegal alien?

Keep up the good work. You're on my iPhone home screen.

(As far we're concerned, you bet. We have no way of knowing who works for you and we don't ask if commenters have green cards.)

[Tom J]

I'm pacing my comments so I don't get carpal tunnel syndrome. We don't yet have have universal health coverage, and I don't want to have to sue the LA Times because then they'd probabl;y fire you for being irresponsible and negligent and then where would we be?

Don has my sympathies, but it has always been so for Miss Kentuckies, going back to Miss Kentucky Rural Electrification (sort of):
http://clooneyproject.livejournal.com/4836.html
My point being that sometimes losing a beauty contest (not the Florida and Michigan kind - the other kind) can be a necessary step in the alighnment of the stars so the world can be blessed with George Clooney, U.N. Peace Envoy, defender of Darfur, and supporter of Barack Obama for President. (You see, I wasn't digressing at all!)

(Thanks, Tom. Take care of that arm. We appreciate your sacrifice.)

[Carl Buschmann]

I have a lot of clicking to do just to see everything here. So I will keep on clicking everyday. You do not have any competition as far as I am concerned. These blogs represent freedom to me.

I have contributed some, but have learned much from the others.

This is the most honest give and take I have seen concerning politics.

Keep it up and make it better.

Regards, Carl

(Thanks, Carl. You made our day! Appreciate you reading and returning and, now, commenting. Keep it up.)

[Tom J]

Shouldn't you start a Facebook group? Clicks for Clucks? Hillary managed to repay her loan within days, if not hours, while you I fear....

Fortunately you borrowed the 5 million clicks from your private resources, as we would all be concerned for your future if you had been forced into a sub-prime loan. What would Sam Zell say?

Perhaps you could borrow some Camp Obama graduates after things settle down. They do know community organizing after all, and I'm certain they'd be willing to share some tips on raising clicks from the netroots.

[madison]

fantastic truly fantastic, i love how you incorporated our potential presidents "one liners".

(Thanks for your nice comment and return visit, Madison. I recognize your name.)

[Jack's Son]

I believe most Americans know what issues we face as a nation as we try to decide which candidate(s) will best resolve them. We see in John McCain’s life, past and present a devotion to serve his country. Anyone who knows Senator McCain will tell you that he has passion for what he believes in and a constant drive to serve his country to the best of his abilities with sincerity, truthfulness, and dedication.

Most Americans are aware of the courageous service John provided as a naval aviator and POW . But few can fully appreciate how bad the egregious hospitality of the Hanoi Hilton was .His main concerns were for other POWs’ life threatening conditions and how he could help them is spite of the injuries he had received prior to and during his confinement.

To this day John’s truthfulness and dedication for what he believes in is demonstrated by his sincere and noble service as a Senator of the United States of America. We could do a whole lot worse than vote for John Mc Cain as our next president of the United States for every man, woman and child in our country regardless of their political affiliation.

God Speed John Mc Cain