I've never donated a penny to any politician, but I do regularly write my representatives (and make it very clear my vote hinges on their responses). As a result I receive these kind of mailers. I have found every one to be obnoxious and most to be an insult to my intelligence.

They rely on crass pandering and cheap salesmanship, and manage to make a negative impression in the short amount of time it takes them to wind up in the trash. And I'm on their side. One time I wrote a lengthy letter in response and mailed it back to the RNC at their own expense in the prepaid envelope…sans donation.

It's a huge turn off, and makes me very cynical about the goals of the party. This is the kind of thing that drives moderates away and causes the base to stay home. While my vote doesn't hinge of such superficial things, it makes it clear to me that the Republican Party has no clear attachment to conservative principles.

I'd burn that thing in the same fire I throw mattress tags.

If it comes return postage paid, I send it back. Empty. :)

Yup. Mail it back with everything shredded and stuffed in the postage paid envelope. I'm getting so many now that I'm thinking of taping the return envelopes to a brick. That kills two birds. 1) It _might_ get their attention. 2) It gets rid of some unwanted bricks. Maybe I'll include a note indicating how they can use the brick to get started on the wall they promised us.

John, don't worry. The NRSC will pretend to respect you starting early next year and keep up the charade until early November. Just don't expect them to respect you after November 2, 2010.

It sounds like the Nazis.

I used to receive these all the time. In about year 6 of the Bush Admin, I sent a letter to the Chairman of the RNC resigning from the party* and told them to cease and desist all of the solicitations and mailings. After about eight weeks, they did.

Well, they did until last year. I got about twenty mailings from the McCain campaign.

*Immigration, budget deficits, increases in government, etc. You know the reasons.

It sounds like the Nazis.

Posted by D-Vega

2009-10-07 11:05:24

You sound like a Nazi.

It sounds like the Nazis.

Posted by D-Vega

2009-10-07 11:05:24

You sound like a Nazi.

Posted by Bildo

2009-10-07 11:15:21

You're both fascists. :D

This sounds more like what the IRS or DOJ might send.

My only thought on receiving this sort of garbage is that they must think I'm a complete and total imbecile. "Oooh it's official Republican mail. It even says 'census'. I better be extra special careful to follow all of its directions to the letter (including the donation)." Their phone techniques are about as bad. The Republican party needs to realize that it is not a particular privilege to send them my hard-earned money, and treating me like a simpleton is only going to discourage me from doing so.

Yeah, I liked the fact that there is an option to sign off on telling them that you don't want any more of those mailers. But, you have to send in $11 for that privilege. Please. Whatever. **rolls eyes**

I get so much serial mail crap from the NRCC and the CA state Repubs… I've had Kirby Vacuum Cleaner salesmen @ my door who were less aggressive.

The only group from which I got more junk mail than the Republicans during 2008 was the Democrats. So much for "going green."

It sounds like the Nazis.

Posted by D-Vega

2009-10-07 11:05:24

I think that's unfair.

I did support the state troopers and the other charities that came after.

It took them all a long time to recognize that I wouldn't support any of them before my family.

All it took was a "no, I can't help….I used to be able to, but things change."

Over and over again.

Doesn't mean they are nazis.

I always go down to the little boxes they have for you to check off how much money you are going to donate, cross out those amounts, and pencil in the reasons I am crossing them off.

$50 = No Child Left Behind

$100 = Medicare Rx

$500 = Support for RINOs like Charlie Crist.

$1000 = TARP

etc…

Then I send it back to them.

I got something like this from Heritage, who has never gotten a dime of my money.

I emailed them my answers, which you can bet they didn't like, especially given that the questions they asked required real answers, and their questionnaire was all basically yes/no.

In addition, they betrayed their true hidden liberal agenda with certain questions based upon premises that conservatives would reject.

I asked to be removed from their mailing list as well.

RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com

It's obvious this is a StormTrooper recruitment application, rmiller.

You're not even allowed to throw it away, it smacks of the Gestapo tactics and forced entry into a single party system, like Stalin's Russia.

I'm just kidding, of course. That kind of talk is nonsense.

You guys should all be very careful. I didn't send one of the mandatory return forms back to the Republicans, and the next week… they sent me a picture of Nancy Pelosi – naked!!!

I still wake up screaming. You just don't mess with the VRWC.

Then I send it back to them.

Posted by President_Friedman

2009-10-07 13:54:22

No feelings of guilt?

"No feelings of guilt?" -by rmiller

For what, exactly? If anyone should be experiencing twangs of guilt in this exchange, it is the NRSC.

For what, exactly?

Posted by President_Friedman

2009-10-07 15:36:41

Honestly…I often do feel guilty for not supporting the policemen or firefighters.

The only reason to turn them down is because I need the money for my own family.

And I would feel guilty because I haven't squeezed enough.

Posted by rmiller

2009-10-07 15:42:19

Well, I was specifically speaking about the NRSC's profuse junk mail campaign. I don't usually donate to police or firefighter fundraisers either (beyond what I pay in taxes, which is a lot), but I don't rub thier noses in it as I do w/ the NRSC.

Posted by President_Friedman

2009-10-07 16:24:51

Perhaps its my liberal guilt…:)

What I know is that I do support when I can.

Thank you for your honest response.

"What I know is that I do support when I can."

You support whenever you get a paycheck. Nothing wrong with giving extra if that is your prerogative, but nobody who is compelled by threat of force to give money to a cause should ever feel guilty about not giving more.

Postage-paid envelope = Empty envelope mailed back. If they want my money, they can get it in an honest way without "surveys" etc. If they base their campaign on deception, they don't deserve a dime, doesn't matter what party they're from.

Be careful with a lot of those "firefighter", "policeman", and "disabled blind children of fallen firefighters" charities. A great deal of them are only barely legit. That is, while standing on the line between charity and scam, they lean just slightly toward the charity side.

Many of these "charities" use all sorts of tug-on-the-heartstring words in their names, but often as little as 10% actually makes it to those in need.

Research everyone before you donate, especially those that are not widely known. If you have already donated to a few, at least one is likely a borderline, if not outright, scam. I have personally donated to several firefighter and policeman funds over the years, and only later found out that 80-90% of my donation never made it past the pockets of the charity "management".

Even in the vast morasse of dimwittery inside the Beltway, the morons at the RNSC stand out. I always send back any of the "imperative" missive with an instructional note, though, of course, they only shake out the envelope and look for a check. The fake survey and anything you write are ignored in any case.

I must have told these chuckleheads a dozen times that I will not contribute following their meddling in my Florida primary by endorsing RINO Charlie Crist, but they continue to send me this junk a couple of times per week. My money will go to conservative candidates, not to party aparatchiks.

belacuse! The horror. The horror!