Wholeheartedly recommended! I don't even open the emails anymore because I'm sick of the pressure. We have a deadline! I made a speech! Whoo-dee-do!

Don't get me wrong - I still drop off a donation when I get a pay check (after the bills are covered, of course). But, I do wish the emails were a little more meaningful. I totally agree, Francesca - I feel like a human ATM, too.

I get email updates/messages that don't ask for donations (of course, most do). So, probably every one does and just deletes assuming they are all asking for $$. I especially enjoy the ones that ask to send in suggestions for various issues.

I disagree with the post. The Democrats plan a 50 state strategy, which in the current environment, is brilliant, because many states are going to be in play, and it will stretch the Republicans very thin. However, a 50 state strategy will cost a lot of money.

The election of Barack Obama will transform this country in a myriad of ways. We must keep our eyes on the goal of getting Obama elected. This is not the time to look to the campaign for pleasant emails. Obama will get savaged by the Republican attack machine, fueled by the racists in this country. It is going to be a tough, ugly election. There will be lots of time for pleasant, chatty emails after we get this man into the White House, IMHO.

This may surprise those who know my postings. I'm saying this as a staunch Obama supporter:

At the outset of the "bitter" controversy, I tried to contact someone high enough in the campaign to hear out my advice on how to deflect it — a course of action the campaign actually followed in part, eventually. No, the campaign flailed around a few days first, because the only people I could speak with were those bouncy, front-office call takers who switch you into the campaign's suggestion-line oblivion, there for your wisdom to rot with the other 5 million recorded suggestions.

I declined and asked for a supervisor. I was hung up on. I repeatedly tried and got the same result. They taped my name to their phones so that I could be put on endless hold (they finally admitted this) while they laughed about it. Eventually, I got very angry and called one of the staffers an effing moron.

And the last time I called, I actually got to speak with Steve H, who threatened to turn me over to Secret Service and local police if I ever called back.

This tale is all true. For a candidate who promises to make our voices heard, his Chicago staff operation cares damn little about listening. The operation is a one-way street when it comes to communication. Its top-down style is anything but grassroots-up.

Now it may be that I thought too highly of my input. I'll take that as given so that no one has to say so. But ...

On the other hand, I've given a ton of money to the campaign, was a state convention delegate, and did a hell of a lot of work for the campaign. On top of that, my advice was spot on. You'd think they might care enough to put me through to a mid-level supervisor (I wasn't expecting Axelrod).

So if there's anything I don't like about Obama's campaign, it's the slick, internet veneer over the old political machine.

I get lots of emails that are not outright appeals for cash. I'm assuming most people do and just dump them not reading them. That's a shame. It's not like an email from the DSCC that's always asking for money.

Honestly, I'm appreciative of those links. It's not a flashing sign. I do understand the concerns about how to get info to the campaign. But for me I usually read the email and save it for a bit, in case the mood to donate strikes me. Often I've donated out of anger. Sometimes out of happiness. But I have to admit, usually it's some "emotion" that gets me going. And then I know I have a link to quickly allow me to express my emotion with a donation.

Has anyone noticed how quickly the trolling dropped off after we all agreed to donate to Obama when we see a troll comment? (doesn't have to be a monetary donation, of course. could be time)

Dear Next President of the United States of America, Barack Obama;

As a past donor to your campaign and a future donor, I want you to know that I decided to donate, not due to your emails, but because of the "fierce urgency of now".

Please give us a personal message from you regarding the kinds of things happening in the campaign, how we can help other than just sending money, and most of all an overall "Pep" talk to keep us inspired. Yes we can!

I also wanted to share, while I have your attention, that I decided to register people, hopefully Democrats in Doolittle's district to help Charlie Brown contend and register even more Democrats in California. I also will travel to Nevada to also register more Democrats to assist in turning Nevada blue in November. If gas prices don't make it too difficult I will also travel to Oregon to do the same.

But just a little personal encouragement would go a long way in inspiring me to spend money (I am retired on a low fixed income) traveling to other states on your and our behalf.

i don't know what email list your on, but i regularly get emails from the campaign informing me of events and opportunities to volunteer.

and yes, almost every email does have the "donate" button, but you can't really blame them for that can you?

its not ALL about raising money like your post suggests.

I think Fran just won the Most Recommended Post prize. Congratulations!

I believe in what Obama has to offer and am glad to donate as often as I can. But, I must admit that it would be nice to get something non-money and a little more personal from time to time. It would also be nice if there was a suggestion box on line that you knew someone actually read and passed on the good ones to higher ups. I know that would be a big job, but it would also make people feel more involved. I bet there are volunteers who would read emails for a couple hours a day. They could probably even be forwarded on line to the readers.

I don't mind the emails and I don't mind the "donate" (I almost typed "donut").

I know we all fancy ourselves as better strategists than DPflouffe, "Axe," Steve Hildebrand (could that have been your Steve H.?), Bob Gibbs, Bob Burton and the rest of the crew. But they seem to have done okay so far.

I'd suggest going to -- all together now -- www.barackobama.com (LOL! that was for the former Hillary supporters!) and look for other news and info about what is going on there.

I'd rather have the real skinny -- videos, pictures and news -- from the campaign than contrived emails.

But hey... that's just me.