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Shirt-Off for Obama
Since I began writing for TPM, one of the most popular subjects in the comment sections of my posts has been an issue of great national import: my shirt. When it made its monochrome debut at TPM last April, a fierce debate ensued as to the precise color of the collar. Unable to reach consensus, cafe member DF helped me to end the debate by pimping my shirt with technicolor. The animated colors served to further enrage the critics, and I am still asked on a regular basis to change my shirt. Last July, a cantankerous, wise-ass baby known as Allsburg, took the challenge a step further by publicly offering to bribe me into removing my shirt. He promised to donate $100 to the Obama campaign and another $100 to a Senate candidate of my choice if I would permanently change my avatar to a non-animated image. But some of the shirt's supporters came to its defense, offering to donate the same amount if I were to keep the shirt on, creating a stalemate.
Baby Allsburg hasn't been seen around the cafe lately, and I've recently heard a very disturbing rumor that he was eaten by dingos in the deserts outside Seattle. While I have become very attached to the shirt, I feel that I owe it to the memory of our dear be-dingoed ex-baby to fulfill his dream by sacrificing my shirt to help Barack Obama in this final, critical month of the campaign. But to be fair to the shirt's supporters, I would like to give them the opportunity to save the shirt. Therefore, I hereby announce the first ever SHIRT-OFF FOR OBAMA contest. Please donate to show your support for Obama and your love/hate for the shirt at my online fundraiser: http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/ShirtOff. If the sum of the anti-shirt donations is greater than that of the pro-shirt donations, I promise to permanently remove my groovy seizure-inducing avatar and replace it with something innocuous. Maybe a cat. Those seem to be popular.
If you donate, please indicate your vote by including in the message Save the Shirt or Lose the Shirt. The contest will last 24 hours, concluding at midnight tonight. I will publish updates on this thread throughout the day.
Please rec until this post makes the list, for Obama's sake if not that of the shirt.
Regards,
Genghis
This fundraiser is not supported or endorsed by Talking Points Memo. The shirt isn't either.
Baby Allsburg hasn't been seen around the cafe lately, and I've recently heard a very disturbing rumor that he was eaten by dingos in the deserts outside Seattle. While I have become very attached to the shirt, I feel that I owe it to the memory of our dear be-dingoed ex-baby to fulfill his dream by sacrificing my shirt to help Barack Obama in this final, critical month of the campaign. But to be fair to the shirt's supporters, I would like to give them the opportunity to save the shirt. Therefore, I hereby announce the first ever SHIRT-OFF FOR OBAMA contest. Please donate to show your support for Obama and your love/hate for the shirt at my online fundraiser: http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/ShirtOff. If the sum of the anti-shirt donations is greater than that of the pro-shirt donations, I promise to permanently remove my groovy seizure-inducing avatar and replace it with something innocuous. Maybe a cat. Those seem to be popular.
If you donate, please indicate your vote by including in the message Save the Shirt or Lose the Shirt. The contest will last 24 hours, concluding at midnight tonight. I will publish updates on this thread throughout the day.
Please rec until this post makes the list, for Obama's sake if not that of the shirt.
Regards,
Genghis
This fundraiser is not supported or endorsed by Talking Points Memo. The shirt isn't either.
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the deserts outside seattle. that's funny.
October 6, 2008 12:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
Not if you're a baby pursued by dingos. Poor little Allsburg.
October 6, 2008 12:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
I saw him run by the other day - he looks older and not nearly as gullible. I mean sweet.
I mean I am less likely to fall for his tricks.
Something.
October 6, 2008 1:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
Glass houses, baby 2. Stay out of the desert.
October 6, 2008 8:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Like Abe Vigoda, the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. Mark Twain, however, is definitely deceased.
I just donated $100.00 to kill the shirt. Anyone who wants to save it had better pony up now.
And bonus incentive: if this fundraiser tops $1000, I will donate $100 to the democratic candidate in the toss-up senate race of Genghis's choice.
October 6, 2008 12:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sweet, Allsburg!! You're alive!! Huzzah!!! Oh joyous day!!
You know, if I didn't know myself better, I would suspect that I had made up the whole dingo episode as a publicity stunt.
October 6, 2008 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
You should put it into Mississippi or Georgia, Baby.
And they did pop Abe Vigoda, right at the end of The Godfather.
October 6, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. I hope that Genghis doesn't wimp out and make me donate to Oregon or South Carolina. We should have our sights on 60 (not including Lieberman).
October 6, 2008 6:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I woulda thought you had already lost that shirt in the market meltdown.
October 6, 2008 12:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Your first link is broken.
I think you should leave the contest open for a week. It's the beginning of the month. Lots of bills.
Just saying.
October 6, 2008 1:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Damn spaces. Here's the link:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/07/an-obama-fundraising-challenge.php
24 hours is the limit. After that, it's off the list, and no one will come back anyway. But if someone feels passionate about the shirt and needs some time to scrape the cash together, I will accept an IOU.
October 6, 2008 8:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Shirts vs. Skins! (Although that might generate even bigger avatar controversy. Cats are not only a popular but also a safe choice.)
October 6, 2008 2:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
I use it to send me into seizure and then a soothing catatonic state at the end of a long day. Keep it on.
(Plus I'm frankly scared what's underneath)
October 6, 2008 2:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you require my shirt's calming services, it will cost you. The shirt is down by $35.
October 6, 2008 8:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's less than what the Dow's down. Seems almost like a bargain.
October 6, 2008 10:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
um, we've seen what's underneath. I found a grey hair on my virgin head that evening. So please, keep it on!!!
October 6, 2008 5:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think it would be a violation of the spirit of the contest to replace my avatar with one even more noxious to viewers (who don't appreciate a robust hairy chest).
October 6, 2008 8:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
You could always replace your avatar with an old baby picture.
October 6, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nooooo!!
We want a cat. We want a cat. We want a cat. We want a cat. We want a cat. We want a cat.
October 6, 2008 3:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Or something even better than a cat...
Two cats!
October 6, 2008 7:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Buck the trend. Make it a dog.
October 6, 2008 8:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was not robust and hairy. It was bony and hairless and sweaty. That's what I remember from that pict you flashed us with on the first Crankypants blogpost. It was so eeugly, my eyes bled for days. Seriously.
October 6, 2008 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
It most certainly was neither hairless nor bony. The trauma has affected your memory. Sorry about the eye-bleeding.
October 6, 2008 5:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I didn't see that. I thought he was taking the shirt off. And I voted, dang. I don't want another stupid cat!
October 6, 2008 6:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
We wants a cat. We wants a cat. We wants a cat. We wants a cat. We wants a cat. We wants a cat.!!!!!!!! Meeaaoowwwrrrrr!!!!
October 6, 2008 8:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
And yes, cats are very popular. Specially when we clatch and converse together on top of threads at EC. ;)
October 6, 2008 5:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
I cite "Genghis And The Amazing Technicolor Shirt":
Genghis' shirt was elegant, the cut was fine,
The tasteful style was the ultimate in good design,
But this is why,
We say bye-bye,
The shirt goes to the big Dry Cleaner's in the sky....
October 6, 2008 7:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Current Score
Save the shirt: $65
Lose the shirt: $100
October 6, 2008 7:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
If I wasn't broke, I'd bring it up to a tie. I'm afraid if you lose your shirt, I might have to shave my head.
October 6, 2008 8:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Color-wheels of the world unite.
October 6, 2008 8:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is looking like the famous donation contests of the Dean campaign.
I love this post!
October 6, 2008 8:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm voting for shirt off. It's change we can believe in.
October 6, 2008 8:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
The shirt falls further behind. Will no one come to its aid?
Save the shirt: $65
Lose the shirt: $150
October 6, 2008 8:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you like this, I give you permission to use it on bumper stickers, T shirts, etc.
John McCain:
The Original Mav-Erratic.
October 6, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, that's very generous and on-topic of you liam. Thanks. I'll crank up my bumper sticker production facilities right away.
October 6, 2008 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
In the wake of Baby Allsburg's miraculous return, the anti-shirt forces have surged:
- Save the shirt: $65
- Lose the shirt: $250
The incredible fundraising capabilities of the Anti-Shirts has broken a new Shirt-Off record. The Pro-Shirts better put some cash behind their passions they're to have any shot.
October 6, 2008 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't help but wonder what Thomas Jefferson would think of this direct pay-to-play form of democracy, whereby the political viewpoint with the most bucks wins. On the other hand - who gives a shit? Come on, NO SHIRTS! Daddy needs a new pair of... shirts.
October 6, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not over yet. The Pro-Shirts have rallied, but they're still playing catch-up.
- Save the shirt: $115
- Lose the shirt: $250
$136 would but the pro-shirts in the lead and meet the fundraising goal of $500. And now, a word from my shirt:
"Help, me, please. I want to live!"
October 6, 2008 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Though leaning no-shirt, I am willing to entertain the idea of playing both sides of the clothing aisle...
Does your shirt have a 'lipstick' shade?
October 6, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting. I like the twist. If you save the shirt, I'm willing to add whatever color you suggest or at least to beg a friend to add it for me. But you know, if you put lipstick on a shirt, it's still a shirt.
October 6, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can put lipstick on the shirt, but it's still a pig, errrrr, hideous shirt.
October 6, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
As the animator of the shirt, I feel that I must capitulate to the fierce urgency of now.
$136 to save the shirt. Take that, baby!
October 6, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Keep your shirt on.
October 6, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Save the shirt! I'd rather not see Genghis banished from the Isle of Manhattan for flouting our very strictly enforces manscaping laws.
October 6, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Elegant humor, that.
October 6, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
aaaaahhh manhattan. It's the manscaping that keeps me there.
October 6, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sometimes I think the manscaping may draw me back to NYC. ;)
October 6, 2008 6:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
You may want to stay where you are. There may not be enough scapedmen to go around.
October 6, 2008 7:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
I've renounced all men. I'm now a hermit living in a hut in the barren heartland. I escaped from NY and NJ. ;)
October 6, 2008 8:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
But... did men renounce you?
October 7, 2008 7:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps the good baby's resurrection was an allegory for the fate of the shirt. Pro-Shirt forces surging but still behind:
- Save the shirt: $165
- Lose the shirt: $250
October 6, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Keep your shirts on folks, this competition has turned a corner. The results aren't in yet from my.barackobama.com, but early exit polls suggest that Pro-Shirt party may have pulled into the lead.
October 6, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Damned Diebold (a.k.a. PES) machines.
October 6, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dropping in from foreign country to check on the state of TPM and I see I am here just in time to weigh in on an important debate.
I am going to make a donation, on behalf of Genghis losing his shirt. When do we get to vote on his pants?
October 6, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey AM. See if you can shore up the financial markets out there. As for the pants, stripping isn't really Obama's thing:
http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/01/strippers-barack-obama-john-mccain.php
Apparently the feeling is mutual:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2TSYAjuekI
October 6, 2008 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I suppose if Obama doesn't like strippers then the rest of us will have to learn to behave ourselves. It's all for Obama!
Not sure I can shore up the financial markets enough to make it a good idea for me to donate $102 to lose the shirt.
Wait... is the shirt not changing colors anymore or is there something wrong with this computer?
October 6, 2008 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's still changing. For now.
October 6, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, it's working now... still blinking. I just had to try to explain to my cousin about the shirt situation. It makes so much more sense when you don't try to explain it out loud.
October 6, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ladies and gentlemen, it's official. Save the Shirt has now taken a commanding lead of $101.
- Save the shirt: $351
- Lose the shirt: $250
But with AM already committing to donate against the shirt, the tide could change quickly.
October 6, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi Everybody!!!
What's all this talk about taking shirts off?
xoxoxo,
Sarah (2009-2010ish).
October 6, 2008 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
no, no, no!!!!! Not the pants too!
*eyes are tightly closed while keying*
SAVE THE SHIRT DONATION = $75
I like the shirt. Seriously. I've come to look forward to the flashing avatar and the skull and bones name. TPM would not be the same without Dr. ☠enghis being exactly who he does now - dark, handsome, flashing, charming and debonair. ;)
October 6, 2008 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Correction -
*exactly who he is now.
October 6, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shucks, ma'am. Your infrequently displayed left eye is pretty too.
October 6, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply |