So being the magnanimous kind of soul who unfailingly repays generosity at least two years after the fact, I decided to pay it forward as a way to spread some joy among the Community and do a solid for a site that, all jokes aside, has been a godsend for me and my mental health throughout Donald Trump’s hostile takeover of liberal democracy.
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Here I need to give a hearty hat-tip to Community member CameronProf, who on March 9 asked his readers to give a shoutout to other Kossacks who’ve had a positive influence on them. CameronProf, a 2022 Koscar Congeniality Award nominee (along with side pocket), has frequently gone out of his way to spread cheer among the Daily Kos Community—particularly through his fun, buzzworthy “audience-participation” diaries. I’m not in danger of winning any congeniality awards anytime soon, but I figured I could do a pale side pocket/CameronProf imitation and help make this world slightly better by boosting my very favorite place on the World Wide Web—while marginally enhancing the well-being of a fellow sentient, carbon-based organism. (You can see why I’ve never been nominated for a congeniality award.)
So I thought about who I’d like to give a gift subscription to—and then I gave that gift subscription. The lucky winner was Matthew Braunginn, a very talented (and congenial) young writer who, after a year in the Daily Kos Emerging Fellows program, recently joined the Daily Kos Community Contributors team—both creations of the fabulous Jessica Sutherland.
He’s also, like me, a Wisconsinite—though, unlike me, he didn’t abandon the state just because Scott Walker and Ron Johnson live there. If you’re unfamiliar with Matthew, I invite you to acquaint yourself with his work. He’s off to a great start, and I expect there’s a lot more greatness to come. (But hey—no pressure, man.)
Now, I’m not a natural leader. Any halting efforts I’ve made toward spurring communal action have tended to fizzle and flounder. And though I love and super-like many folks, I’m not exactly what you’d call a people person. So pretend for a moment that I’m CameronProf or side pocket or someone else with an uncorroded soul and think about hopping on this bandwagon.
If you can, send one of your favorite Community members a Daily Kos gift subscription today. It’s a way to truly transform the way they experience this site we all love so much. And if you feel comfortable doing so, let me know about it in the comments. When side pocket signed me up, he included a very nice note that had me smiling from ear to ear. To be honest, that note, and the fact that I got an unexpected gift, probably delighted me more than the ad-free experience I’ve enjoyed for the past two years. It was also nice to hear back from Matthew after I surprised him with a subscription—and it felt great to know I was doing a little something extra to help Daily Kos, which we all know could use our support right now.
So what do you say? Think we could start a Daily Kos subscriptions campaign? I’m sure I’m not the first person here to think of it, but maybe I’m the first to promise that I won’t ask anyone to dump ice water over their heads—nor will I stand in the way if you think that might help.
Let’s spread some side pocket-style joy and CameronProf-worthy love to our fellow lovers of this orange playground. It’s a win-win-win. I’d add more “wins,” but I can only assume you’re already tired of all the winning. After all, it’s been a harrowing several years—and I honestly don’t know if I could have endured it without y’all.
Here’s the Daily Kos subscription link, which includes an option for gift subscriptions. Now go do that voodoo that you do so well.
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