December 5, 2005

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Frank Koughan and Sheila Kaplan continue their investigation into allegations that Boeing is using unapproved and unsafe parts for its 737s and other aircraft. The latest in the series reports on how FAA investigators have failed to examine the jets in question. (link).

Michael Schwartz debates against the top ten most commonly-offered reasons to stay in Iraq (link).

Mark Engler interviews three editors of a new book on American war crimes in Iraq (link).

In the news today, the 9/11 Commission released its final report today, calling overall progress on the government’s response to the 2001 terrorist attacks “disappointing.” Last year, Gail Sheehy profiled Commission Chairman Thomas Kean for Mother Jones, explaining how he “refused to be Bush’s patsy” (link); earlier Sheehy had wondered why the 9/11 Commission says nothing about the inaction of Bush and Rumsfeld on 9/11 (link). Also, last September Matthew Brzezinski investigated the problems with the Deparment of Homeland Security (link).

Meanwhile, here in California, the execution date for Stanley “Tookie” Williams, the founder of the Crips turned peacemaker, draws nearer, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is debating whether to grant clemency or not. Venise Wagner interviewed Williams for Mother Jones in March, 2001 (link).

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WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

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