Hammer of Truth to Launch Spin-Off Website

liberty fundraising torchWhile we are not yet announcing all of the details, Stephen VanDyke and I are in the process of developing a new Internet presence to benefit the online libertarian community. Some of the particulars are available here. A quick overview provides:

  • A new Internet presence with the weight required to change the results of some elections in 2006 and many in 2008
  • Specialized coding to create a new libertarian Internet community which leverages the content of many existing sites AND makes it easy for newcomers to dive right into the work of persuasion instead of “building it and waiting for them to come”
  • An emphasis on market penetration for the word “libertarian,” and a real understanding of what it means for millions of Americans who now have only a vague recollection of having heard of us and no understanding of what we stand for
  • Utilization of some of the best technological gimmicks the ‘net has to offer, all on one site
  • Creation of a new “media tool” from which all libertarians can benefit
  • Enhanced coordination with significant Internet presences like Yahoo!’s Upcoming.Org, Google News, Flickr and Technorati
  • Significantly increased exposure for libertarian candidates in higher-level elections
  • Local/National citizen journalism with a libertarian slant using a customized portal/meritocracy publishing behavior similar to Newsgrounds.Com and DailyKos.Com
  • Promotion of the best libertarian opinion and commentary on Google News and elsewhere, 24/7 to bring libertarianism to a wider audience.
  • Compensating authors in a manner that reflects real market response — visitor traffic and advertising levels — to ensure and improve the quality of libertarian media

HoT will continue as before, and hopefully also continue its explosive growth as measured both in traffic count and new readers. In order to get the new site off the ground, we are asking for a few (not all that many) bucks to cover some development-related expenses. As believers in the free market, we’d like to offer something in exchange for your donation. For a one time $25 contribution, we’ll provide our supportive friends with a lifetime account with a “preferred” level of access on the new site. You’ll receive Ad-free content, your own personalized subdomain blog, and other features we’re not revealing just yet.

Thanks to your previous (non-financial) support, we are now at a point where we can launch a significantly larger libertarian Internet presence. Just a few dollars now will make a significant difference just a few months down the road. Thanks, in advance, for your generosity.




27 Comments

Please stay on-topic, informative and polite. We reserve the right to remove comments for whatever vague capricious reasons seem reasonable at the time.

  1. Awesome. I sent $25.

    Comment by Jon Engstrom — 2006-01-09 @ 6:08 pm

  2. My broke-college-student ass sent $25 because this was something that I wanted to do but didn’t have the time nor the resources. It’s about time someone organized this; killing two birds with one stone: spreading the Libertarian message efficiently all the while upholding and projecting the success of the free market. My hat’s off…

    Comment by Michael Van Milligan — 2006-01-09 @ 6:26 pm

  3. Hey, if a broke college student, and a broke Sailor can donate $25, then it must be a good idea.

    Comment by Conrad Rockenhaus — 2006-01-09 @ 7:04 pm

  4. Alright, my just-about-broke high school student ass will now procede to donate $25.

    Comment by Nigel Watt — 2006-01-09 @ 7:50 pm

  5. I want to thank everyone who’s hit the paypal link so far. You guys totally rock!

    You have no idea how awesome it is to see the level of enthusiasm after over a year of really sluggish libertarian activism.

    Thanks… Gordon and I are really looking forward to this!

    Comment by Stephen VanDyke — 2006-01-09 @ 7:56 pm

  6. How about a P.O. box, or an alternative address for those of us who refuse to use paypal. Please.
    M.

    Comment by Michael — 2006-01-09 @ 10:11 pm

  7. I think all the editors of Hammer of Truth should get a free pass. Just a thought:)

    Comment by Chris Bennett — 2006-01-09 @ 10:14 pm

  8. If you have the money, put in more than just the bare minimum. Freedom isn’t free, and it’ll take more than just “best wishes” to get the ball rolling.

    I tossed in 100… and I’m also just a college student. I might throw in more later, but I have to look at my current budget before going crazy.

    My only hope is that the Hammer of Truth remains just that… about TRUTH, regardless of how unpopular it may be. We have enough liars, censors, and fluff stories in the mainstream media, let’s not tolerate it in the alternative and blog media!!!

    Best of luck and best wishes

    Comment by Rick Rajter — 2006-01-09 @ 10:52 pm

  9. To be clear before I dash off to PayPal…that’s “libertarian” not “Libertarian”, right? I’d be glad to take the $25 I’m not sending to the RNC this year and use it to promote liberty, but the last thing I want to do is waste the money in an even bigger way promoting the LP instead.

    Comment by Tom Hanna - Election 2008 — 2006-01-09 @ 11:47 pm

  10. *starts looking in the sofa cushions for some change*

    I’ll get back to you guys but I’ll do my best to at least give you $25.

    Comment by Stuart Richards — 2006-01-09 @ 11:48 pm

  11. Rick, of course it’s about truth, which is why nobody wants to see your Holocaust denial crap. You have about as much credibility as Baghdad Bob.

    Comment by Nigel Watt — 2006-01-09 @ 11:51 pm

  12. Tom, small “L”, meaning we can still talk smack about the LP if we don’t like whatever strategy method they’re trying (which oddly enough is the genesis of the project in the first place; their lackluster media outreach in current political news and pop-culture).

    Size dictates agenda, and as have the ability to dwarf the LP with a libertarian site, we will easily set the political agenda simply by doing, not asking.

    Comment by Stephen VanDyke — 2006-01-09 @ 11:55 pm

  13. “Size dictates agenda, and as have the ability to dwarf the LP with a libertarian site, we will easily set the political agenda simply by doing, not asking.”

    Amen to that. I always wondered when the hell the [l v L]ibertarian nerds (not intended as derogatory; I am one) were going to get together to organize a www political onslaught.

    Comment by Michael Van Milligan — 2006-01-10 @ 12:11 am

  14. I certainly hope that National sits up and takes notice and am glad to hear that this is being approached as though we don’t care. It looks like were already 1/4 of the way home at $2,259.08…unbelievable.
    BTW, Stephen, I spoke to you earlier via email. I post and blog under this nom de guerre.

    Comment by Artus Register — 2006-01-10 @ 12:11 am

  15. Welcome to the madhouse, Artus. I’ll google to check out the blog. And thanks for everything.

    Comment by Stephen Gordon — 2006-01-10 @ 12:21 am

  16. Rick,

    That was very noble of you, all things considered. I agree with your controversial posts 100%. It seems too many people are afraid of the truth - which is rather ironic for some. Censorship appears to be the preferred tool of those that despise it.

    I am holding off on donating to a venture I know nothing about.

    Others,

    What is with all the LP bashing? How do you plan on changing the political landscape? By getting the Republicans and Democrats to spew some libertarian talking points during campaigns in order to get elected (if this attempt to awaken the dormant libertarians proves true) only to resort to business as usual once in office? Seems futile to me. I would prefer to see Libertarians elected to office, and that isn’t going to happen unless the LP gets some support.

    Comment by Mike Nelson — 2006-01-10 @ 1:03 am

  17. Swaying the political views of a significant chunk of voters is the reason we’re saddled with the New Deal-about 10% of voters regularly supported the Populist, Progressive and Socialist Parties long enough to get it enacted. We’re hoping to do the same in reverse.

    In all honesty, the LP is getting better, much better than it was. It still has a ways to go, but even just scaring the majors into implementing some of our proposals would be good. The best part is that unlike the parties listed above, we’re not clearly on the left or the right-so the LP won’t fade away with the passage of its demands.

    But we need to be realistic first, and we-as individual libertarians-need to sway people over to our side before this can happen. This new idea looks like it’ll do just that and then some.

    Comment by Stuart Richards — 2006-01-10 @ 1:22 am

  18. Nigel,

    Truth cannot be found if discussion is not possible. I’m not going to hijack this thread to talk about any particular post I have made, so this thread can stay on point.

    To the average American, they see “gun control harms more people” and “legalized drugs means less people in jail” equally as absurd… and if they are also unwilling to discuss, then they can never discover the truth about those topics either.

    Finally, if a particular post is wrong or factually incorrect, the easiest way to shut people up is to show them why they are wrong… not censoring their ability to say such things.

    He who dares not offend cannot be honest. - Thomas Paine

    Cheers

    -Rick

    Comment by Rick Rajter — 2006-01-10 @ 10:01 am

  19. I fully agree with your right to say whatever you damn well please; I just don’t see why you feel the need to quote blatanly biased sources over something that really doesn’t matter in the context: what in the heck did Ahmedajsldfjsldfjs’s comments on the Holocaust have to do with anything?

    Comment by Nigel Watt — 2006-01-10 @ 10:34 am

  20. How exciting, I am in. I’ll send as soon as I get some $$$.

    Can you please tell more details, and and constant updates?

    I’ve long wanted to start such a site but I just had no idea how. I’m glad someone is taking charge. If it’s anything as good as HoT, I’m sure it will be a really great site.

    Comment by putrimalu — 2006-01-10 @ 11:24 am

  21. I’ll be clicking the link and sending some dough in when I get some. My wallet is real thin until the 15th.

    This is very libertarian of both of you. :) I’m kinda lost in my own world at the moment, too many personal goals that have nothing to do with politics or the LP are taking over my life. I got a product to bring to market.
    (and I’ll be the better for it) I blog and write when I can.

    P.S. when the hell is the LP going to release the convention keywords to get the hotel discount? I was looking at costs today and it’s going to be almost 1500 bucks if I stay at the Hilton! *shock* *horror*

    Comment by Timothy West — 2006-01-10 @ 2:57 pm

  22. You’ve got my $25…use it effectively.

    Comment by Bob Thompson — 2006-01-10 @ 5:57 pm

  23. Nigel,

    I guess you want to goad me into hijacking the thread. I will not.

    Mike N,

    Many are afraid of the truth. They also still believe in the left versus right paradigm, that somehow they have totally different ideals and truly care about the citizens of this country. All I can say is…. hahahahahha you fools! :)

    Anyway, I donated because I think that even if the Hammer won’t broach certain subjects (oddly enough, just like the mainstream media outlets that it hopes to replace) it is still, at this point, far better than CNN and Fox.

    Comment by Rick Rajter — 2006-01-10 @ 9:53 pm

  24. Thanks for all of your generous donations. Michael, I put my bidness addy on the page, now.

    Again, thanks everyone.

    Comment by Stephen Gordon — 2006-01-11 @ 12:00 am

  25. $25 on the way…

    Comment by Mike Horn — 2006-01-11 @ 9:45 pm

  26. Sent off my $25 - awaiting further instructions.

    Comment by putrimalu — 2006-01-15 @ 9:33 pm

  27. Are there any updates on the progress of the spin-off website? How far along is it?

    As of 2/9 the money raised was $6100. Is it still around there, or has more been raised since then?

    Do you plan to give an update on the main site, or an email to people who donated on the progress?

    Comment by putrimalu — 2006-03-15 @ 2:55 pm

Say it effectively, not wordily: characters left