Your questions: answered.
Sawbuck Patriots? What’s with the name?
Sawbuck: slang for a ten dollar bill. Patriot: person ready to defend their nation against danger.
We’re using our sawbucks to defend our country against the rising tide of fascism, authoritarianism, and untruths that combine to threaten our democracy.
Who’s making money off this thing?
Just the campaigns to whom we donate, I promise. Nobody else.
Hello. I’m Alex Clemens, the guy who started this effort with a hundred aware, far-flung, angry friends who viscerally understand that we need to fight back against those who would damage our democracy beyond repair. I’m doing this as a volunteer, and this is costing me more than it’s costing you, I promise! (Alongside those who are contributing $10/day, I’m investing $100/day in our candidates. And time. Lots of time.)
And, because you were going to ask, no, I don’t ever touch any money. I point our members at the donation link for a candidate, and each of us donates directly.
Who’s picking these candidates?
I am, along with help from the excellent data analysts at Blue Ripple Politics, and the folks at Donor Organizer Hub. (Yes, they’re all volunteers like me, and no, they also don’t touch your money.) I’ve worked in politics for 30 years in the Bay Area and DC, I’ve got a network of smart and tough political operatives around the country, and I’m doing the hard deciding about who needs the help, where the help will make a difference, and whether I see a path to victory for the candidates who need that help. I’m talking with people on the ground, at the national organizations, and who have actual polling data about what they’re seeing and hearing.
Donor Organizer Hub is bringing together groups like Sawbuck Patriots. They are advising Sawbuck Patriots (and others!) on best practices in this space. Blue Ripple Politics do innovative, focused data analysis, and are assisting Sawbuck Patriots (and others!) with statistical insights on the winnability of the races we select.
We’re all being clear-eyed here - the stakes are too high to invest in races where there’s no practical path to victory or even where a race is a long-shot to win. There are several candidates I absolutely LOVE that we will not be sending group money to, because they’re really unlikely to get over the finish line in first place - so I won’t recommend them to you as worthy investments.
At this particular point in history, we need to invest in blocking and tackling and doing what wins. PERIOD. I’ll never propose a candidate to you for the investment of your hard-earned money where I don’t see a real and realistic path to victory.
Why should I trust you with my money?
You don’t have to, as I don’t touch your $$$. I research candidates, say “this person can win and needs help,” and point you at that candidate’s donation page.
Why should I trust you to pick the right candidates?
You shouldn’t if you don’t know me. I started this effort with a hundred people that I knew, and it’s been grown by those folks vouching for me. Asking people to donate to a candidate you’re researched works when vouching or direct trust is present, and not so well when you have no idea about the person behind the curtain. I get that. It’s cool if you don’t trust me.
Even so, you can decide that I’m doing what I say I’m doing (I am indeed doing what I say I’m doing), or you can decide against joining. But if you like this idea but aren’t ready to join, please START YOUR OWN GROUP. Really. Please. I mean it, and I’m begging you. Get your gang together, research your favorite candidates who can win, and start making an impact.
Nobody’s got a monopoly on good ideas, and I really hope you steal this idea and run with it. I won’t complain, and I might even join your group if you tell me about it!
Why are you doing this?
Our nation is in danger. There are far too many elected leaders who have abandoned a focus on truth and facts. Many in the GOP have decided that their party must consolidate power at any expense - even if that includes jettisoning democracy altogether.
In 2022, we’ll set the stage for the 2024 Presidential race. And yes, Donald Trump wants back in, but he’s not the only problem - his disease has spread to most of his party. If you’re here, you already know why we’re doing this. We have to stand up for the truth, for fair play, and for the rule of law.
I’ve voted for Republicans from time to time. I count a number of Republicans as friends and allies. But they, and I, believe that truth in public discourse is essential, and the Constitution is still a magnificent guiding document for our republic, and that there is legit and dire threat to the nation.
I don’t wanna be on any lists.
Neither do I - nobody does! That’s why I’m recommending that you set up an email just for this effort. If you follow my plan, the campaigns will only ever see that email, and not your primary one - after November, you can just delete that account. (Everyone who signs up with Sawbuck Patriots will receive a step-by-step How To document.)
But about the master list: I’ll keep it under lock and key, and WILL NOT SELL/LEND/USE/LOAN/ETC it to anyone, for any reason. I haven’t since I created it in 2020, and I take this responsibility seriously. Should I ever feel there’s a good reason to share it, I’ll get permission from you and others before I do anything with it. I promise.
How do I join?
Email me at the link below. I’ll send you one action email each weekday until the election,.