ACTION: The March is Over Now we Push Harder

This weekend’s Women’s March was exhilarating.   Those of us who were in the crowds with our signs and banners and walking or shuffling down the sidewalks (it was tight) will remember for the rest of our lives where we were on January 21, 2017.    Sigh.

But now we are onto the first official week of DJT’s presidency and we must continue to be organized and mobilize and carry that glorious energy from Saturday to the matters at hand:  

Your Local Democratic Club

First order of business:  Have you even found your local democratic club?     It is very easy go to google and plug in your town and the words:  “Democratic Club.”     It is VITAL that we put new blood in the system.   I have been to several meetings since the election and I met a lot of people.  I had never been to a Democratic Club meeting in my whole life  before this winter. I became informed   about issues both locally and nationally.    I also got a chance to vote for 14 candidates who will go to our Democratic State Conventions.  They will determine the face of the Democratic Party in California.    You will have the same opportunity in your state.  But first---go to a Dem Club Meeting!    

And if you are still questioning the importance of your input into the Democratic Party –Read what Robert Reich has to say about your value.

Swing Left 
I'm emailing DailyKos with a few questions.   Will report back later.     

Create a new email?
Do you need to create a new email that is dedicated to resistance and political strategies?  Do you need to have all the groups you hook up with send their emails to that one email?  Would it be easier for you?   Something to consider. 

Senate Confirmations
Do you know how Senate Confirmations work?  Yeah, I barely knew a year ago.  I know more now--crash course.    The  question is what would happen if Trump's picks don't get confirmed?   Here is a write up on the whole process from Marie Claire.  Thanks SmallDeedsDone for the heads up on the article! Trump's Cabinet
From IndivisibleGuide

1) Keep the Heat on Trump's Divisive Cabinet Nominees: Hearings for many of Trump’s cabinet nominees may have occurred last week, but the fight is far from over. Ethical scandals, financial conflicts, and outstanding questions plague many nominees. We’ve got to keep the heat on the disastrous nominees coming up this week---here are the details

Do you know Trump's nominees?  Do you know who is on the committee?  Do you know their phone numbers?   HERE is your handy dandy cheat sheet.  

Today, Monday, January 23rd: The Senate Foreign Relations Committeewill meet this afternoon to consider the nomination of Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State. As long-time CEO of ExxonMobil, Tillerson flouted U.S. foreign policy and befriended anti-democratic leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin. Unsurprisingly he expressed skepticism about the dangers of climate change.   

Here's who you call on the issues of Rex Tillerson besides of course your personal congressman and senators.   Spread the word to your friends in other states to call.   
  
Tuesday January 24.   The Senate will vote on Jeff Sessions for Attorney General.  If confirmed Sessions will be in charge of enforcing civil rights law and protections, despite having been rejected from a federal judgeship in 1986 after former colleagues testified about his history of racist remarks.    Urge your Senators and those on the committee to oppose Sessions. 
Here's who to call on Sessions.   Along with your own senators.  

Ryan Zinke is up for Secretary of Energy & Natural Resources.  He describes himself as a modern day 'Teddy Roosevelt".  He is not.    Here's what the Sierra Club says about him.     Call your senator and tell your friends (especially in Red states) to call their senators and oppose Zinke. Give them the handy-dandy cheat sheet above.  

Betsy DeVos confirmation vote has been pushed to January 31.  But there needs to be another hearing where the committee can ask more questions.   As you know they put her on at 5pm and told the committee they only had five minutes to ask questions.  If you ask me they knew they had a lox on their hands and she did perform badly.      Call all the senators on the committee and ask for another hearing.   Here's the play. 





Also on Tuesday: Confirmation hearings continue for Rep. Tom Price to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Rep. Price is a radical conservative who wants to destroy the Affordable Care Act, eviscerate anti-poverty efforts, and undermine women’s health, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ rights. There are also unanswered ethical questions about profits Price has made trading health care stocks during his time in Congress where he worked on health care legislation


Then there is Health Care. 
Some of you are very concerned about health care and the dismantling of ACA.   If you want your focus to be on that issue, fine, but if you can throw in a nominee when you call that would be great.  But back to ACA----

Tell Your Representative, "Vote No on HR 7, Yes for Women's Healthcare": You would think, in the wake of Saturday's monumental Women's March that Congress might show some respect for women's rights. You'd be wrong. Instead, on Tuesday, January 24th, the House has scheduled a vote onHR 7. This unnecessary and intrusive legislation meddles with the private insurance marketplace and attacks women's reproductive rights. It’s not the first time Republicans have tried to pass this anti-woman bill

Keep the Pressure On: Tell Congress to #ProtectOurCare. One of President Trump’s first acts in office was to sign an Executive Order that could threaten essential components of the Affordable Care Act. But to dismantle the ACA, Trump will need to get repeal legislation through Congress. Keep the pressure on your members of Congress! Tell your Representative and two Senators that you won’t stand by and let 30+ million people lose their healthcare -- and that you expect that they won’t either.

And now the Big Ask.   

Join Us: National Day of Action on Tuesday January 24th

On Tuesday, January 24, local groups across America are visiting their senators’ offices and demanding that they reject Trump’s unqualified, corrupt Cabinet nominees. Thousands of local activists like you have already committed to opposing this cast of racists, cronies, and kleptocrats by taking this in-person action

Go HERE to learn more.  

Note we are running a marathon not a sprint.  So, if you can't make a lot of calls this week, okay.  But can you make one or two?  If can't go on Tuesday to your senator's office can you go to his or her FB page and push back?    And and and...if you can't push back on Zinke this week can you donate to Sierra Club?   If you can't push back on Sessions can you donate to ACLU?  If you can't push back on gutting women's health can you donate to Planned Parenthood.   You see the theme...right? 

And by the way-----Just sayin'