We don’t do this very often — it’s a big deal

Regular Eclectablog readers will know that (a) I’ve only brought on a new writer one other time (LOLGOP) and (b) lately Amy Lynn Smith has been guest-posting some dynamite content at Eclectablog. Today I’m extremely pleased to announce that we have brought Amy on as a regular contributor to Eclectablog. This means she will share in blog revenues with me, Anne, and LOLGOP and, more importantly, you’ll get to enjoy her excellent writing on a regular basis.

Amy and I have followed each other on Twitter for quite awhile. However, our mutual friend and organizer extraordinaire, Sarah Burris sent me and email last February saying, “If you ever need someone who is very very well versed in health care policy to write something for the blog [Amy would] be a genius at it. I think she should start blogging in more high profile places. She’s brilliant!”

This connection led to Amy guest posting a few pieces, much of which was about Medicaid expansion in Michigan, something near and very dear to my heart. Amy’s style fits in perfectly at Eclectablog. She brings a unique voice while at the same time fitting into our overall vibe absolutely perfectly.

I’m thrilled to have Amy on the team and I know that you’ll all enjoy her creative content as well. In addition to her writing here, you can learn more about Amy’s professional writing by visiting her website ALSwrite.com and following @alswrite on Twitter.

Our interview is after the jump.

I had a terrific conversation with Tony Trupiano last week on Night Shift with Tony Trupiano talking about the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, the State Policy Network and Lee Fang’s terrific article on the corporate front groups that are shaping our public policy and laws.

You can listen to it after the jump.

Helping people frame the progressive message is what we’re all about

Welcome to Day 5 of our Second Quarter fundraiser. We’ll keep it short and sweet. The tip jar was pretty quiet yesterday so I’m hoping you’ll consider making a contribution today. Although we run ads on the site, they bring a scandalously low level of revenue so your direct contributions are extremely important.

Click through for details.

It doesn’t ALL go for beer

Hi, folks. Welcome to Day 4 of our Second Quarter fundraiser. As I have said in the past, we make scandalously little money from the ads on this site, despite our rather healthy level of traffic. Much like public television and public radio, our main source of funding comes from “Viewers Readers like YOU!”

Please consider making a donation. Details and some exciting examples of how we use your donations are waiting for you right after the jump.

Although, if a free tote bag would get you to donate…

As it happens, this week is also the week of Michigan Radio’s spring fund drive. There’s a bit of irony in that because I donate several hundred dollars a year to them. Why? Because the news I get from NPR is invaluable. The reporting is excellent and I feel like I can rely on them to give me the full story. I also sometimes utilize their content and feel like they should be compensated for that.

During our quarterly fundraisers, we ask you to make the same calculation. Do you get value from what you find at Eclectablog? Is what we do here something that helps you understand the political world around you a little better or to debate an issue a little bit more effectively? If so, please consider making a contribution.

You can do so with the handy Paypal link after the jump.

Citizen journalism DOES make a difference

Hi, folks. Welcome back to our second quarter fundraiser. It’s not something on I love doing but I have to if we’re going to continue to expand Eclectablog and bring on more writers and artists who I can pay at least something for their efforts. I did a quick calculation this morning while I was laying in bed and discovered something rather amazing. Eclectablog gets between 150,000 and 250,000 pageviews a month and around 100,000 unique visitors. I just ten percent of those visitors gave $20/year ($5/quarter), I could quit my full-time job and pay all the contributors a decent wage on top of it.

Sadly, we’re far from that. So, I’ll keep making my pitch. If you value the work we do here — whether it’s the citizen journalism that we do, LOLGOP’s brilliant essays, or Anne’s incredible photography — please consider making a contribution to help us achieve our goal.

Details and a couple of bonus videos await you after the jump.

Attention, mid-Michigan Democrats! Just a quick note to let you know that I’ll be speaking to the Eaton County Democratic Party at their general membership meeting this Thursday at the Log Jam Restaurant, 110 West Jefferson Street in Grand Ledge. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. I’ll be showing a slideshow of some of Anne’s amazing photographs, talking about the […]

Beer and bloggers — it doesn’t get any better than that

As we did last year, Mark Maynard of the inimitable MarkMaynard.com and I have organized another Beer With Bloggers event. Click that link to RSVP.

This is an event for bloggers and blog readers. In other words, you don’t have to be a blogger to attend. We hope you’ll join us.

The event will take place at the Corner Brewery (720 Norris St, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48198) from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9th, 2013.

The current list of bloggers who will be in attendance is after the jump.

Here we are, hat in hand…

Hello, Eclectablog fans. It is that time of year again where we come to you, our loyal readers, and ask you to support what we do here at Eclectablog. In the past quarter, we were proud to be selected as “Best state-based progressive political blog” by the Washington Post. The reason is clear: at Eclectablog, you can get the important news and analysis you need to stay informed about what’s happening in Michigan and across the country.

Your donations help to pay for our server costs and make possible the trips we take to cover events across the state and across the country.

Please contribute whatever you can to help us continue to bring you the top-notch reporting and writing that you’ve come to expect. You can use the handy Paypal link below and you can change the amount to whatever level you’d like to contribute. If you’d rather send a check, use the contact button at the top left of every page and I’ll send you my address.

Details are after the jump.

Beer and bloggers — it’s a match made in heaven

Exactly 10 months and few days after our last Beer with Bloggers event, Mark Maynard of the transcendent MarkMaynard.com and I have set the date and reserved the room for Beer With Bloggers 2013 (well, at least Spring 2013.)

Last year we had about 75 people (you can read about it HERE) and this year we’re pretty sure we’re going to get 76 or maybe even 77. One of those witty, attractive and highly intelligent people could be YOU.

Click through for details.

See you on the radio I’ll be on The Marc Unger Show on WBAL 1090 AM out of Baltimore tonight at 10:30 with Marc Unger to talk about the Rand Paul filibuster, the Jeb “No Bush Baggage” Bush run for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination and maybe even a bit of Paul Ryan delusional thinking thrown in, as well. You […]