Last week I received a dozen or so fundraising emails and texts, several from newly elected officials. I'd hoped these emails would reflect a change in communications strategy from the tired old drumbeat, but that was not the case. What I got was worse than the same-old same-old: consultant-driven emails without the slightest evidence of donor awareness. Here are two examples:

Are you still with us? We need your gift before midnight in order to make our fourth quarter goal!

My fundraising team says we need $2700 more this week to hit our target.

If you're a candidate, an elected official, or a consultant, PLEASE STOP this nonsense. I don't care and have never cared about your arbitrary targets and end-of-quarter shortfalls. I know those numbers are pulled out of thin air and have zero relationship to reality. It's a stupid game and I don't want to play. Every time you communicate, you're digging the hole deeper.

If, on the other hand, you we're able to tell me what you're doing and why, I might be interested. If you could deliver even a hint of thoughtful messaging, I'd gladly help the cause. If you could say something -- anything -- that hasn't been watered down into nothing of significance, I'd just about drop my teeth.

But none of those things are happening. You're losing me.