Want More And Better [Real] Progressives? We Can Do That.

cherche da lucre arose out of this comment. It will be a project designed to identify all candidates' donation money sources, right down (eventually) to city councilperson levels. For a start, the project will try to set up for federal and state/territory legislative/judiciary offices. What I envision after setup is an online location where any voter can look up how a particular candidate is funded. A data base like that will both inform voters and put a microscope on candidates who corporo-fund instead of people-fund.
This will be a big undertaking, but one well worth performing. It will require the input from (eventually) hundreds of reporting activists, a couple dozen research activists, two or three data-collating specialists and a few writers. I only hope to get other, more qualified people involved; I'm hoping some younger activists will take it up and carry it forward. I'm posting the official announcement here at c99, and will cross-post it at dk. Week after next I'll be prepared to open a blog site for the database.
I need immediate feedback on this idea, and volunteers, and suggestions for funding information sources. I've bookmarked the links below, but I know this is just a getting-started list. Additional suggestions will be appreciated.
The Campaign Finance Institute
NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures
Open Secrets
Federal Election Commission
Pennsylvania Department of State
Please private-message me if you are interested in joining the project/group.

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Hillbilly Dem's picture

it's great to see you over here, davidincleveland.

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"Just call me Hillbilly Dem(exit)."
-H/T to Wavey Davey

davidincleveland's picture

Thanks, I'm glad to be here. I looked over the membership list a couple days ago and realized that almost all of the kossaks I read over there are here. Why go anywhere else?

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gulfgal98's picture

that you are here, my friend. Smile

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

Yohannon's picture

Damn it, I miss that man. Can you imagine what he'd be saying about this presidential race? Blum 3

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Just another refugee from the Daily Chaos. Wink

gulfgal98's picture

I am not sure how I could help since I got the tech deficient gene. But this is a good idea.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

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Sea Turtle

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

davidincleveland's picture

This looks very much like what I'd envisioned. Looks like part of my idea isn't needed, but I'll check them out. Thanks so much.

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It should save you a lot of time. Welcome, btw. Glad you posted here.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

shaharazade's picture

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davidincleveland's picture

Thanks, good to see you again.

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More daylight is definitely needed.

I think we also need to see some of the underdogs winning. Bernie is showing that people will open their wallets for a real person. We need to do the same for people like Tim Canova, who is challenging DWS.

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davidincleveland's picture

Yes, now that Bernie has proved it can be done, we can insist on it and we can make it happen. I hope this project will help make that a reality.

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'Well, I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years, Doctor, and I’m happy to state I finally won out over it." Elwood P. Dowd "

TheOtherMaven's picture

et aussi cherchez la femme - Hillary Clinton and Money go together like ham and eggs. Biggrin

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Ravensword's picture

With a side of hash browns. You should've said "flies and shit."

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poligirl's picture

in that it revolves around supporting down tickets, no matter how far down ticket, for anyone running on the Bernie issues, as a GOTV/donation/promoting outlet... i'm still mulling over how to best work it...

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davidincleveland's picture

That was definitely in my future plans but I decided not to mention details like that up front, until after this primary season. Let us know what you come up with.

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pswaterspirit's picture

Not much of a computer geek but I could certainly collect info.

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http://www.populistcaucus.net
He's another dkos refugee with a progressive point of view. He's just getting started with his blog as well.

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"What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you." - Ralph Waldo Emerson