The Fresh Maker
2012 Respew
Abyss Island
Results: Finito. I won. Lost 9.6% of total body weight.
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Shouts from the Abyss 
Your grasp of math astounds me. Want to do my taxes? 😉
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Yeah, I have a degree of calculus in calculators. Those come with a memory button but that still hasn’t helped me find my car keys in the morning.
This “presidential candidate lotto” feels a bit irksome to me. I don’t remember when they started this, maybe a cycle or two ago, but it rubs me the wrong way.
The candidates have their own stores. Back on May 18, 2011, I received an email from Barack Obama hawking his “Made in the USA” t-shirt, re: the birther stuff. Meanwhile, more recently, Mitt Romney had a “Cyber Monday” sale on his website.
Then Obama came up with the “grassroots match.” (June 1, 2011.) If you made a first time donation of $10 or more your gift would be matched with a “real person,” I was promised in an email. “You’ll be able to see their name and town, and even exchange a message with them.” Wow. A presidential campaign was turning into Craigslist.
The first presidential candidate “lotto” message I saw came on June 16, 2011. It offered “Dinner with Barack.” It would be a cozy affair between the President and four supporters “sharing their thoughts over a casual meal.” And it only required a $5 donation.
It even came with it’s own fine print:
What the hell? Travel and lodging for one person and only a single meal? What are they trying to do? Break families apart?
Luckily the most recent offer from Michelle (Dec. 1, 2011) is more decent. It’s a four-way dinner with Barack, Michelle, you, and a guest. The prices are two round-trip tickets good within the United States, hotel accommodations and dinner with the President. (Michelle being present isn’t actually mentioned in the fine print.) The approx. “retail value” is said to be $4,800, but really. Can you put a price on dinner with the President? “Priceless.”
It’s not just Obama. Romney has been at it, too. As recently as Nov. 30, 2011, I received an email from Gail Gitcho seeking $5 contributions for a chance to “grab a bite” with Mitt Romney. His prize only includes a single winner. You have to go solo. “Hey, honey. Look! I won a contest. See ya later!”
As with any contest that claims “no purchase necessary” my imagination runs wild. Do the people who enter by mailing a postcard rather than a donation really have a chance? Due to my negative nature, I’m decidedly skeptical.
That’s why I’m offering Dinner with Tom for donations as little as one dollar! (No purchase necessary.) I can’t afford the costs of travel, lodging, or even food, so it will have to be by webcam on Chat Roulette. Retail value: $0.00.
You can’t afford not to.
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So the Obama administration can say no to bringing along your spouse but they can’t say no to Republicans. This post explains so much. Thanks Tom!
On dinner…that sounds like a steal of a deal. How can I refuse? 😉
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At least Obama has upped the ante to include a “guest.” The “Grab a Bite with Mitt” promotion is still only for a single person as of Nov. 30, 2011.
Breaking up families! I do not travel without my wife.
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