PUT ON YOUR RADAR: Yes, There Are Elections in 2017!

This weekend there was a special election in Delaware for State Senator.  It was a huge turn out for a special election which certainly suggests people are paying attention to every race.    What made this race also important is that we are now in Post Trump Era since he took the office last month.    What do elections look like now?   A lot of volunteers and donations from outside Delaware...and it worked, Stephanie Hansen the Democrat in the race won.   Let's here it for a united Democratic front & teamwork!  

Hansen’s campaign received huge support. More than 1,000 volunteers worked during the course of the campaign, and about 500 ― many from nearby states ― showed up Saturday for Election Day. Hansen received more than 14,000 contributions of less than $100 from small donors spread all over the country.

In 2017 there are many elections and in order for a Democrat we will need to volunteer time, energy and money...along with creativity.    

Here is the list of elections for the rest of 2017.   Do you live in these states?  Do you have family in these states?  Do you have friends in these states?   And can you help in these elections?   Let's get this list on our radar and start musing, "What can I do?"   Begin this process immediately!

Our Next Move: It is CT

All eyes are on the Greg Cava race in the state house for CT.   His district is in the northwest corner of CT.   Can you call?   Can you canvas?   Can you ask your friends?

Go HERE for all your information!

Yes, Trump is awful.  Yes, his press conferences are crazy.  Yes, his relationship with Russia appears treasonous.   And we will fight it. But sometimes we will have to get super micro and help a state election.  And this is one of those times.  Let's do all we can to help Cava.

Time To Reach Out

We are about to begin the fourth week of the DJT administration.   For those of us who knew his choices from executive orders to nominees would be awful, well, we were correct.     And there will be more awfulness.     So, here is our reality check.    We will be calling representatives for the next four years.   We will be marching for causes important to us during the next four years.   We will be donating to many organizations.     You have probably already done some of the above.  But there is, beyond all that, something we must ALL do.    We must join a grassroots group.    It is simply impossible to effect change in a real meaningful way without working through grassroots.  

So question....Have you begun your grassroots reach out?

I have posted many groups on this blog but instead of reposting my stuff, let me give you this link to Bill Moyers site that has a great write up.     My experience with Indivisible & Swing Left has been very positive.   I define positive as "organized and informative and action oriented. "  No one wants to waste their time, especially me, so I like groups that mean business.

Along with grassroots, have you gone to your local Democratic Club?  Have you googled to find your local chapter?   I have been going to many meetings.   The only way we are going to effect change in our candidates and in the party is by filling up the local chapters with new blood.    At these meeting be sure to share what you are learning from your grass roots.   Do not be afraid to ask questions.

And a note to those who are shy or "not joiners"....I am afraid politics is no longer a spectator sport.   Please put your shyness in the closet and reach out.  We need you.  

Going Forward: Things to Consider

Let Me Plant A Few Seeds

There is Some Wise Advice Circulating:
1. Don't use his name;
2. Remember this is a regime and he's not acting alone;
3. Do not argue with those who support him--it doesn't work;
4. Focus on his policies, not his orange-ness and mental state;
5. Keep your message positive; they want the country to be angry and fearful because this is the soil from which their darkest policies will grow;
6. No more helpless/hopeless talk;
7. Support artists and the arts;
8. Be careful not to spread fake news. Check it;
9. Take care of yourselves; and
10. Resist!

Keep demonstrations peaceful. In the words of John Lennon, "When it gets down to having to use violence, then you are playing the system’s game. The establishment will irritate you - pull your beard, flick your face - to make you fight! Because once they’ve got you violent, then they know how to handle you. The only thing they don’t know how to handle is non-violence and humor."

When you post or talk about him, don't assign his actions to him, assign them to "The Republican Administration," or "The Republicans." This will have several effects: the Republican legislators will either have to take responsibility for their association with him or stand up for what some of them don't like; he will not get the focus of attention he craves; Republican representatives will become very concerned about their re-elections.

(Copy to paste to your wall - wider than sharing)

Worst Hump Day in Awful Week --And Yet We Still Work to Resist

Hump Day Feb 8

We are half way through this third week of the 45^th president’s administration.    And it has been tough.   No kidding. 

Betsy DeVos was confirmed which is awful.

Jeff Sessions was confirmed which brings more awful. 

Scott Pruitt is awaiting his vote to be nominated to be in charge of the EPA ---something he has worked his whole life to dismantle.   And he is  triple awful.

 

If  you don’t know about Pruitt here’s something from Action Group Network

•  Video: Why Scott Pruitt is a Dangerous Nominee for Head of the EPA

•  Downloadable via Vimeo: Why Scott Pruitt is a Dangerous Nominee for Head of the EPA

•  Facebook: More on Pruitt via Fisher Stevens

You can use 5 calls to push back on Pruitt.

And we are still calling our senators to push back on Puzder for Labor Secy.  By the way, those workers in the rust belt will not have bright days with this putz in the cabinet.  Let's keep pushing so they don't have to learn the level of skankness in Puzder.

The folks at 5calls also remind us that Congress will be in recess for the week of February 20 - 24.  You should go to your Congressperson’s website for information on town hall or in-person events, or use this crowd sourced document:

Town Halls by Congress

Question: 

Have you been invited to a huddle group?  Or to an Indivisible online group? Or Indivisble meeting? 

The Womens’ March 100 Actions page has a cool “huddle” feature, and is encouraging groups to form and get together. Here’s the link to their page, where you can enter your zip code and find a group near you. 

Here is the Indivisible Guide page, where you can also find groups (just enter your zip code). Hey, we’re on there so maybe that’s how you found us! Woot!

Indivisible is also launching a nifty new tool that publicizes local meetings and actions. You can check it out here, and post your own meetings or action items.  Bookmark it!

Planned Parenthood: On February 11,  You need to call your local PP office to see if they will welcome ‘anti-choice protests.    Don’t just show up with your sign.   

Tell your Senator “Stop Gorsuch, Don’t Nuke the Senate”: Donald Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. But this isn’t Donald Trump’s vacancy to fill. Early last year, President Obama nominated Merrick Garland, a distinguished jurist, to fill this vacancy. Senate Republicans refused to hold hearings, let alone a vote, on Garland’s nomination.

Now, they want Gorsuch to receive the consideration Merrick Garland was not allowed. What’s more, if Gorsuch can’t get 60 votes, Donald Trump wants Republican leaders to deploy the “nuclear option” and do away with the filibuster for Supreme Court nominations. Going nuclear would destroy a critical check and balance in our democracy—we can’t let that happen.

And if  you want to read something really good.  And gooey.   Like a resistant brownie?  Go read this.   If only I can have one.... Love love love it.

Tuesday February 7: Call and reject Andrew Puzder

Andrew Puzder should be called Andrew Putz-er.   Where does Donald Trump find these losers?
A bit more on on this jerk can be read in NYTimes. And also HERE.

Call your senator,  call other senators.  We have to do all we can to stop this nominee.

This is Tuesday's task.

I'll come back with more after Tuesday.