Okay, so I just finished stuffing 500 envelopes with ITMFA buttons and lapel pins—my arms are hurtin' (fucking carpel tunnel), my eyes ache, and my butt is sore from sitting in the same position for seven hours. So what do I do now? Why toss up a long blog post, of course.

I mailed out the first big batch of ITMFA merch earlier this week—folks should have been receiving their buttons and lapel pins on the same day that they were learning that Bush authorized leaks of classified intelligence to reporters. Talk about timing.

Your pin arrived just in time for me to wear it on my spiffy suit! No one knew what it meant until I told them (I got some funny guesses though).

Thanks!

Beckie

You're welcome, Becky, and your ITMFA pin looks lovely on your suit. (Digging the hoolahoop too.) I'd love to hear from more folks who've received their ITMFA merch—and send in pics (camera pics are fine), and I'll post them here.

Hey Dan,

I'm the guy who initially sent you a letter (which you printed in Savage Love) against going forward with the ITMFA campaign. I have to report my conversion to the cause. After hearing on the news that TMF had actually personally (PERSONALLY!) permitted the outing of Valerie Plame, I think any thinking person must back the removal of such an unrepentant criminal from his position as "leader of the free world.� Even if the effort is doomed to failure, the people must speak. So go crazy !

Also, how can I contribute substantially to your efforts without having to buy a boxful of buttons ? Can you put a Paypal link on the ITMFA site ?

Johnnyboy

I'm glad you've come around, Johnnyboy, and it's sweet that you want to toss me a couple of bucks. But there are folks out there who need your money more than I do—for instance, Ned Lamont. Lamont is the Dem challenging psuedo-Dem Joe Lieberman in Connecticut. If you want to buy a lapel pin or a button, I'll take your money. (All profits will go to to the ACLU.) If you want to make a donation to someone who not only wants to see Bush held accountable, Johnnyboy, but can actually do something about it if he gets elected, send those dollars to Ned. Click here to make a donation to Ned's campaign.

Moving on, a Canadian who feels our pain writes...

Up here in the Great White North, we have our own Motherfucker, Steven Harper. He's crafty, smart and a real bitch. I've attached an impression formed after his "secret visit" to Afghanistan to "support the troops", telling them that Canadians, don't "cut and run" and about six other bushisms.

In other art news, Iko wanted to share this design with ITMFAers. He writes...

I'm an artist with the Cell Division collective, and put this image together recently for our use (I work at a sign shop, so I can make some nice cut vinyl stickers among other things.) They're popping up on our vehicles, water bottles, laptops, local business' bathrooms, etc. I wanted to offer it up for any use you or your readers can put it to use. Best of luck with the continuing effort!

Andrew writes...

I did a quick ITMFA design and slapped up a cafe press store here: http://www.cafepress.com/itmfa

I have to say, I was surprised the ITMFA cafepress site name was available. If someone more productive wants it, let me know, I'd be happy to give it up. Also, I'm not upcharging at all (spreading the meme), but if someone wants to take over the design they're welcome to use for one of the ACLU beneficiating sites.

Keep doing the Lord's work!

Thanks, Andrew, I will. Okay, we're going to close with Stacy...

I wrote a letter to the editor about Wisconsin's referenda about bringing the troops home and tried to sneak in a reference to ITMFA. Nearly got in too. Read it here.

Stacy from Madison

Thanks for doing your part to spread the meme, Stacy. I liked your letter so much that I'm going to run the whole thing here, if that's okay with you...

Dear Editor: This is a letter of thanks to everyone in the Madison community and the places across the state who voted in support of the "Bring Our Troops Home Now" referendums.

Those who opposed this grass-roots campaign to allow voters to have a voice on this issue might argue that there weren't a lot of people who showed up or that the votes were too close to have a clear mandate on the issue. Haven't we heard that recently? They and our elected officials must understand: The majority of the people who voted want the U.S. out of Iraq now.

The best thing that we can do is to impeach that massive failure of a president. America needs a leader who can build an international coalition of support to rebuild Iraq from the shocking and awful mess that we've made. We need a leader who can apologize for George Bush's mistakes and fix them with true humanitarian rather than corporate interests at heart.

Families want the troops home. Citizens want troops home. Voters want them home where they can get real support.

Stacy Harbaugh
Madison

Okay, I've got to go order some more buttons and lapel pins—we've gone through 2,000 buttons and 500 lapel pins, and now the cupboard is bare. I'm sorry that some folks are going to have to wait a bit longer, but, shit, my arms need the break!