Speaking of encouragement. I wanted to share something that happened this weekend.
I have been speaking with various people in my life about what advocacy looks like and how important it is in the election.
I have a neighbor who pretty much said she couldn't do anything because it was too stressful. I received a text from her the other day thanking me for the work I do and she said - "this is getting scary." I told her "it's all hands on deck. We have a democracy to save!” She texted back that she has one night a week to make phone calls to register voters. She is meeting with me on Sunday morning to learn how.
Moral of the story - it's not just what we say - it's our example.
At some point, many will have their limit - something hits them and they are ready to change their vote or to volunteer. Apparently, she reached her moment.
This truly floored me. I did not expect this response. So happy to get it.
Five years ago, I asked some of my local postcarding friends to commit to a weekly meet-up in a popular coffee house, which was supportive of our mission. What started with three people at a table became a regular community of committed activists. It also seeded groups in other locations.
I have recently found some local in-person postcard groups, although we don't have an established routine (yet). I do keep up with several groups that operate over Zoom and draw from all over the country:
The theory behind our commitment to a weekly time and place was that the routine would draw in more people. This proved to be the case and allowed us to publicize more easily. We also created interest as people walked by and saw what we were doing. Some would stop and write a few postcards while they waited for a friend, we collected emails for our reminder list and people came. We will start adding another day for this election cycle soon. Thanks for your dedication!
We are in West Seattle for anyone in the area who would like to join us. We have outposts in Burien and Capital Hill as well.
Way to go! I'm a big postcarder and also write letters for Vote Forward and now VoteRiders- see below. I like the flexibility of doing it on my own time, but phonebanking is great (and cheaper, too!)
In addition to Robert's substack, I also read Hopium Chronicles by Simon Rosenberg and Jessica Craven's Chop Wood, Carry Water. I live by Simon's motto "Do More, Worry Less!".
I also highly recommend sharing Jessica's New Years Resolution column:
Another group I can recommend is BigTent USA (https://www.bigtentusa.org/) especially for their "Tent Talks" that highlight other grassroots groups that promote voting and democracy. They archive videos of past talks and I highly recommend these recent ones:
Yesterday I held another of our bi-weekly postcarding events. Seven people showed up, but interestingly 3 I had never met in person, but on a zoom call I attended and spoke about our efforts. The third was from a 55 plus community across from ours ( one of three adjacent to each other with 2100 homes among them. The conversation was lively and included listening to the correspondent’s dinner on replay. We got 120 postcards written to Congressional District 1 in NC to register Democrats in a newly gerrymandered district. So far we have sent out 1000 to that district and District 13. Today I join with Durham Senior Democrats who are on the verge of getting 4500 GOTV cards ready to send out in October with more to come. People from all over the City are helping with this effort. Seniors Rock.
If I were in your area, i would join you, but I'm in Charlotte. Currenly we are writing postcards for Nicole Sidman (NC HD-105). She is running against the turncoat, Tricia Cotham who flipped from (D) to (R) ad gave the GOP a (veto-proof) super Majority and allowing many bad things including a 12-wk abortion ban. Dems in Mecklenburg county desparately want to take back that seat!
Hi Cheryl. I have people writing in other areas of the state. Since we work through FieldTeam6 you can download the addresses from our seniors taking action partnership account and either use your register cards or order off their site. Please contact me and I’ll tell you how to get involved. Of course what you are doing is also VERY IMPORTANT. Babsfree5@gmail.com
I started postcarding last year, only to discover it's been a thing at least since 2017. And you are right, Robert. As I write in the hundreds, I think of that one person who may be swayed to get out and vote. Right now I'm part of an effort to register voters. Different campaign, same thought.
yes, I started back around 2018, and though I've not written anywhere as many postcards as you have, I figure each person I can reach might make a difference, 20 at a time while I was working 60-70 hrs/week.
Good going, JR! My very small business partner/friend and I co-opted the saying "million dollar spit in the ocean." Who knows, you may have reached more than those who send hundreds or thousands. We'll never know, but that's not why we do it, is it.
It's all about collective action and doing the best we can based on our own circumstances! I didn't do much when I was working, but I retired in 2018 and really amped up my activites during Covid - it definitely helped my mental health to be part of a group with a common purpose even though we met mostly over zoom!
I love postcarding. To me, it's like sending a love letter to a fellow citizen saying we're in this together and we need to save our country. I was stunned to learn that the AZ attorney general, who is prosecuting the fake electors, won her election by just 280 votes--out of millions! Maybe those 280 people received postcards encouraging them to vote. Every day I think: Surely I could write 5 or 10 more cards today. What if that person loses by 10 votes and I could've made the difference? :-D
Thank you, Barbara for that example. We should all keep "280" in our minds as we turn aside those killer questions: "Who cares? Why bother? What difference does it make?' Especially the last demon, "What difference does it make?" What difference does it make if I give another 20 bucks or write another postcard or letter to the editor or send an email or take on that awkward discussion with friend or neighbor." Tonight my wife and I are sending money in answer tow some of those (at times annoying) appeals -- do I really want to hear from candidates' dogs? Or hear again about how James Carville is going to implode if I don't send money right away? (Don't get me wrong, I love James Carville, but he gets cast too often as a ragin' Cajun.) It's the end of the month and we want to help fuel isolated campaigns (Force Multiplier!!) and add one more coat of paint to the general work.
Send 2 postcards to SCOTUS. Tell them they are an illegitimate bunch of corrupt criminals. Just to let them know you’re paying attention. Sister District started doing postcards for state legislators in 2017. They are still at it. My hand writing has become illegible.
It’s actually been a thing for many, many years. What is new is the scale and the ability to mobilize across the country. One of the benefits of the internet.
I am a retired data analyst and I absolutely love they fact that we can use "Big Data" to accurately target lists and then combine it with grassroots, handwritten postcards or letters (i.e., Vote Forward). The best of both worlds.
I recently attended a Markers for Democracy session with Jason Berlin, founder of Field Team 6, as the speaker of the day. He was talking about how they target unregistered by likely Democrats. His humorous example was Prius drivers, who do hot yoga, and shop at an organic grocery store. Stereotype? maybe, but it is amazing how disperate characteristics can be clustered together and improve the odds of reaching the audience you want!
If you want to learn more about Field Team 6, check out this episode of PoliticsGirl:
Register Democrats, Save the World - a conversation with Jason Berlin from FieldTeam6
That’s a great interview! When I started with Field Team 6 I asked Jason that same question and he said drives a Prius and eats kale! It’s a great group to work with. We’re doing a text bank this morning into Florida.
For anyone who is on social media at all, there’s a social storm happening using #TrumpsFloridaAbortionBan. On whatever platform you use, search for that #, then comment and repost it to amplify and get the message to more people.
Kristi Noem. Really? You shoot a dog because it's not easily trainable? How many people have heard the old saw: a dog reflects its master? In my experience, it's true.
I read this morning that the breeder who sold Noem the puppy, said he would have "happily taken the dog back and refunded her money". When I see photos of "Cowgirl Barbie" and her chilling, cold, fanatical eyes, I have to wonder: why did she choose such an execution style demise for that poor pup? I get the feeling that when she wrote that she hated the dog...that was THE reason and everything else was excuses or justifications. Ms. "Grinch" Noem is a mean one.
Dogs are so great. And such great friends. So Loyal to their pack. Hard to imagine shooting it rather than returning it. I quail at the thought that she did it as a political stunt. One more effort to ingratiate herself with the notoriously pet hating Donal Trump. And if that is true, what a sorry excuse for a human being she is. I hope the MSM tells the story again and again.
The incident, which is evidently detailed in her book, apparently happened twenty some years ago--not that it makes the event any less repugnant than it is. I get the distinct impression that "Ranchgirl Barbie" is controlling, exacting, impatient and has about enough compassion to fill half of a very small thimble.
I wonder if the kids knew the real reason for the death of the puppy or if they are only finding out about it from the book. (According to Wikipedia she has 3 kids and 20 years ago they would have been pretty young since she married in 1992).
Robert Hubbell many thanks for your constant encouragement to participate in our democracy. You have been so successful by inviting us to events around the country and on zoom, by highlighting activities we can join, ways to support all levels of candidates, promoting groups that do voter registration, phone banks, canvass and post carding. You explain the political backstories so that we can better understand why calling our representatives is effective. You share your fears AND show us how to get involved. I appreciate that you do BOTH.
VP Harris will be in Jacksonville ,Florida tomorrow, May 1st. Jacksonville, nicknamed “The Bold City”, is our largest and youngest city with an average age of 36. May 1st is the day our draconian 6-week abortion ban will be in effect.
Tony at Postcards To Voters told me that Floridians for Reproductive Freedom, the org behind Amendment 4, has not yet requested a postcard campaign. Let’s contact them to request a campaign and get this postcarding party started ! ✍️
You can send postcards to Florida right now! Fieldteam6.org is sending postcards to likely Democrats in flippable districts there. The message also urges #YesOn4.
With Jacksonville’s average age of 36, there are a lot of people of child-bearing age who won’t be able to wait for Amendment 4 to pass. Happily, there is a network of providers who mail abortion pills to ALL 50 states. They're safe, accessible, low cost, and sometimes free (the latter is true for Florida). For more info, check out Plan C (https://www.plancpills.org/), which provides up-to-date information on accessing at-home abortion pills online.
Get in some good trouble. Spread the word about Plan C in Jacksonville, throughout Florida, and anywhere else in the U.S., by buying or downloading stickers from their website (https://www.plancpills.org/stickers) and pasting them everywhere--public bathrooms, women's dressing rooms, music venues...be creative. Give them to teenagers and have them distribute them wherever they go. Note that the need isn't limited to red states: abortions can be hard to come by in blue states, too.
Thanks, Robert, for the link to donate to help Dr. Hook vs Chip Roy in Texas, and as always, for your synopsis of key news events - no matter how bad the news may be, you always offer ways that we can make a difference towards mitigating some of those events. Your Substack is priceless!
I really enjoyed meeting Dr. Hook via Zoom last evening. Thanks for promoting this fundraising event for her. The more of these candidate events I attend the more hope I garner for our nation. Dr. Hook is bright, youngish...40 :) energetic, and compassionate. She spoke about her humble republican upbringing and how that helps her to engage with "both sides" when meeting voters in her district. She gets the rural voter and is promoting policies that will uplift their lives. She like so many new and young candidates are the future and it looks bright amidst the din of today.
Thank you for the news on the case. I had not read about the testimony of Walter Nauta elsewhere. I would like to give a shout out to Jodi, my precinct captain of our local branch Democrats Abroad Germany (DAG). She ran the Hamburg marathon on Sunday to raise money for the DA, which is going towards recruitment of Americans abroad to register to vote and to vote Democratic. We are also working on organizing help for American students and others abroad who do not know how to sign up to receive their ballot via email, or manage their mail in ballot, or how to fill it out. Normally, in the USA, you go to a voting place and they explain it to you, if you have never voted before it is not always clear. So, people feel unsure and then they don't do it. We are trying to organize in person support for those in our area. This is true of all college students who are away for the first time, they are navagating a lot of things. My daughter is studying in Germany in a different city and needed me to walk her through voting online. Also, registering for DAG, and getting her voting ballot mailed to her when she is dealing with a lot of bureaucracy here that she needed to deal with as well as classes and other things. So, I recommend everyone reach out to younger voters and offer to help if they need it. Explain how to get a ballot, what kinds of things will be on it, and how they can prepare for that. Also, the logistics of voting. Bring them into the Democratic fold and anyone else who might need help. New Americans might need help too. We Do Better With Biden!
Hi, Linda. Thanks for your note about Democrats Abroad (Germany). I would be happy to promote the organization. Have someone in leadership reach out to me and I will coordinate. Thanks!
We’re announcing a new letter writing campaign unlike any previous Vote Forward campaign: writing letters to U.S. voters living abroad! Letters will be available May 1st.
Since this campaign has different instructions than our other campaigns, we're hosting an information session to answer all your questions. We'll be joined by our partner organization, the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad, to go into detail about the campaign's design and impact.
There are hundreds of thousands of voters living abroad who can make a real difference in elections, but they receive almost no election outreach. That's why we think this letter campaign may be able to achieve a very high-impact.
Join us to learn more about the campaign and instructions on how to write and send letters to these voters.
Trump gets a $1,000 penalty per contempt of court violation… as if he cares about $1,000 per violation, per abuse that he doles out.
Truly, what is wrong with our legal system? How can one abusive person get away with so much and not be held accountable by the courts, including SCOTUS? All it does is validate and encourage his behavior.
Yeah, that was my thinking this morning when I read that he had been fined a measly $9,000 for his gag order violations. That's just chump change for him.
trump dislikes dogs intently. Thus, I'll end this one's life to prove my fealty to my scumbag idol, Orange Droolius. MAGAts.....The Lost Mind Society. Robert Hubbell is a powerful force which serves to insulate , as well as equip us with coping tools like hope, and faith our efforts will be answered in droves in November. Insulate, as well as educate. It seems as if you've trained and prepared for this role all your life sir! I plan to support Dr. Hook in sweeping house in her district. Keep hope alive folks, and your eyes on the prize, Democracy!
Robert: I'd like to organize folks who advocate for SSI recipients. Republicans want to kill it but ironically some are even registered Republicans and many are MAGATS who metaphorically slit their own throats at the polls. These lawyers, medical providers, social workers, care givers have to be influential in their lives.
Daniel. can you send me some backround on Republican efforts to target SSI? I know they talk about cutting Social Security but was not aware of an effort to cut SSI. If there is something I can write about , I will do so and try to connect interested readers to you.
Robert’s reference to Run for Something moves me to note that yesterday I submitted what i devoutly hope will be the last ballot with my name on it—for town meeting. We have a bit over 60,000 people in our town, so we elect members; if we had an open town meeting we’d need to rent Fenway Park. I first ran for town meeting when Clinton was president. He’s a year younger than me, and I used to say that if he was at the top of the electoral pyramid, I was at the bottom. When Osama bin Laden was alive, I also would note that if the came to an American voting place and saw the citizens giving their time for almost no money, 12 or 13 or more hours on Election Day, he might—just might—have got a tiny hint of just what he was up against. I suppose we could say pretty much the same for Trump.
Spinning out your thought experiment, the question was asked in oral argument: “[if the] president decides that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military, or orders someone, to assassinate him -- is that within his official acts for which he can get immunity?” The response from Trump’s attorney was that it could be. If the Court’s decision goes that far, would Biden be immune from prosecution if he were to order Trump’s assassination? Would Biden similarly be immune if he ordered the assassination of a Supreme Court justice he deemed corrupt? Would a Supreme Court decision that went that far be considered “textualist” or “originalist”? (I think neither, since there is no wording in the constitution addressing presidential immunity and none can be found in English common law assumed to be inherited by the colonies — at least since Cromwell executed the King in 1649.)
I'm afraid that the Stench court is going to kick the can (granting immunity) down the road just far enough, so that IF their darling djt does, by some horrible mischance of fate, get elected, they would, at that point grant him the immunity he craves...but play "keep away" by not granting it to Biden. They are certainly capable of such underhanded foul play.
Speaking of encouragement. I wanted to share something that happened this weekend.
I have been speaking with various people in my life about what advocacy looks like and how important it is in the election.
I have a neighbor who pretty much said she couldn't do anything because it was too stressful. I received a text from her the other day thanking me for the work I do and she said - "this is getting scary." I told her "it's all hands on deck. We have a democracy to save!” She texted back that she has one night a week to make phone calls to register voters. She is meeting with me on Sunday morning to learn how.
Moral of the story - it's not just what we say - it's our example.
At some point, many will have their limit - something hits them and they are ready to change their vote or to volunteer. Apparently, she reached her moment.
This truly floored me. I did not expect this response. So happy to get it.
Five years ago, I asked some of my local postcarding friends to commit to a weekly meet-up in a popular coffee house, which was supportive of our mission. What started with three people at a table became a regular community of committed activists. It also seeded groups in other locations.
Purpose and community: powerful stuff.
I agree 💯percent!
I have recently found some local in-person postcard groups, although we don't have an established routine (yet). I do keep up with several groups that operate over Zoom and draw from all over the country:
* Markers for Democracy (https://www.mobilize.us/?is_virtual=true&org_ids=34072) - postcards
* Swing Left Inland Valley (https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/602312/) -letters & postcards
* Do The Most Good (https://www.mobilize.us/votefwd/event/443970/) - letter writing
Yay you!!
The theory behind our commitment to a weekly time and place was that the routine would draw in more people. This proved to be the case and allowed us to publicize more easily. We also created interest as people walked by and saw what we were doing. Some would stop and write a few postcards while they waited for a friend, we collected emails for our reminder list and people came. We will start adding another day for this election cycle soon. Thanks for your dedication!
We are in West Seattle for anyone in the area who would like to join us. We have outposts in Burien and Capital Hill as well.
So happy for this story, Theressa, and what it means to you...woohoo!!
Yay!
Fabulous! Way to go Theressa. A great example indeed.
Writing postcards is pretty easy and also therapeutic! Share https://markersfordemocracy.org with your neighbor.
Way to go! I'm a big postcarder and also write letters for Vote Forward and now VoteRiders- see below. I like the flexibility of doing it on my own time, but phonebanking is great (and cheaper, too!)
In addition to Robert's substack, I also read Hopium Chronicles by Simon Rosenberg and Jessica Craven's Chop Wood, Carry Water. I live by Simon's motto "Do More, Worry Less!".
I also highly recommend sharing Jessica's New Years Resolution column:
https://open.substack.com/pub/chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions/p/2024-new-years-politics-resolutions?r=1aiy5t&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Another group I can recommend is BigTent USA (https://www.bigtentusa.org/) especially for their "Tent Talks" that highlight other grassroots groups that promote voting and democracy. They archive videos of past talks and I highly recommend these recent ones:
* Galvanize Action (https://www.bigtentusa.org/event/galvanize/)
* VoteRiders (https://www.bigtentusa.org/event/kunis/)
* Vote Forward (https://www.bigtentusa.org/event/launch-voteforward-bigtent/)
* The Civic Center (https://www.bigtentusa.org/event/brill-tapper/)
Yesterday I held another of our bi-weekly postcarding events. Seven people showed up, but interestingly 3 I had never met in person, but on a zoom call I attended and spoke about our efforts. The third was from a 55 plus community across from ours ( one of three adjacent to each other with 2100 homes among them. The conversation was lively and included listening to the correspondent’s dinner on replay. We got 120 postcards written to Congressional District 1 in NC to register Democrats in a newly gerrymandered district. So far we have sent out 1000 to that district and District 13. Today I join with Durham Senior Democrats who are on the verge of getting 4500 GOTV cards ready to send out in October with more to come. People from all over the City are helping with this effort. Seniors Rock.
Ilene Freedman
Seniors Taking Action, NC
seniors taking action.org
It’s seniorstakingaction.org
Weekly zooms 11 AM Wednesdays.
Thanks for this, Ilene. I sent the site to two of my friends in NC. One is in Raleigh and the other, Hendersonville.
These reports by readers like you are so, SO uplifting and inspiring.
If I were in your area, i would join you, but I'm in Charlotte. Currenly we are writing postcards for Nicole Sidman (NC HD-105). She is running against the turncoat, Tricia Cotham who flipped from (D) to (R) ad gave the GOP a (veto-proof) super Majority and allowing many bad things including a 12-wk abortion ban. Dems in Mecklenburg county desparately want to take back that seat!
Hi Cheryl. I have people writing in other areas of the state. Since we work through FieldTeam6 you can download the addresses from our seniors taking action partnership account and either use your register cards or order off their site. Please contact me and I’ll tell you how to get involved. Of course what you are doing is also VERY IMPORTANT. Babsfree5@gmail.com
I started postcarding last year, only to discover it's been a thing at least since 2017. And you are right, Robert. As I write in the hundreds, I think of that one person who may be swayed to get out and vote. Right now I'm part of an effort to register voters. Different campaign, same thought.
yes, I started back around 2018, and though I've not written anywhere as many postcards as you have, I figure each person I can reach might make a difference, 20 at a time while I was working 60-70 hrs/week.
Good going, JR! My very small business partner/friend and I co-opted the saying "million dollar spit in the ocean." Who knows, you may have reached more than those who send hundreds or thousands. We'll never know, but that's not why we do it, is it.
JR, you should check out Jessica Craven's New Years resolution column:
https://open.substack.com/pub/chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions/p/2024-new-years-politics-resolutions?r=1aiy5t&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
It's all about collective action and doing the best we can based on our own circumstances! I didn't do much when I was working, but I retired in 2018 and really amped up my activites during Covid - it definitely helped my mental health to be part of a group with a common purpose even though we met mostly over zoom!
I love postcarding. To me, it's like sending a love letter to a fellow citizen saying we're in this together and we need to save our country. I was stunned to learn that the AZ attorney general, who is prosecuting the fake electors, won her election by just 280 votes--out of millions! Maybe those 280 people received postcards encouraging them to vote. Every day I think: Surely I could write 5 or 10 more cards today. What if that person loses by 10 votes and I could've made the difference? :-D
Thank you, Barbara for that example. We should all keep "280" in our minds as we turn aside those killer questions: "Who cares? Why bother? What difference does it make?' Especially the last demon, "What difference does it make?" What difference does it make if I give another 20 bucks or write another postcard or letter to the editor or send an email or take on that awkward discussion with friend or neighbor." Tonight my wife and I are sending money in answer tow some of those (at times annoying) appeals -- do I really want to hear from candidates' dogs? Or hear again about how James Carville is going to implode if I don't send money right away? (Don't get me wrong, I love James Carville, but he gets cast too often as a ragin' Cajun.) It's the end of the month and we want to help fuel isolated campaigns (Force Multiplier!!) and add one more coat of paint to the general work.
A few years back a seat in the VA House of Burgesses was tied. They flipped a coin and the Democrat lost and the GOP kept control of that chamber.
https://www.npr.org/2018/01/04/573504079/virginia-republican-david-yancey-wins-tie-breaking-drawing
I remember that! It keeps me writing more & more postcards.
Send 2 postcards to SCOTUS. Tell them they are an illegitimate bunch of corrupt criminals. Just to let them know you’re paying attention. Sister District started doing postcards for state legislators in 2017. They are still at it. My hand writing has become illegible.
Will do, Oldandinthe way!
We’ve done these too
It’s actually been a thing for many, many years. What is new is the scale and the ability to mobilize across the country. One of the benefits of the internet.
I am a retired data analyst and I absolutely love they fact that we can use "Big Data" to accurately target lists and then combine it with grassroots, handwritten postcards or letters (i.e., Vote Forward). The best of both worlds.
I recently attended a Markers for Democracy session with Jason Berlin, founder of Field Team 6, as the speaker of the day. He was talking about how they target unregistered by likely Democrats. His humorous example was Prius drivers, who do hot yoga, and shop at an organic grocery store. Stereotype? maybe, but it is amazing how disperate characteristics can be clustered together and improve the odds of reaching the audience you want!
If you want to learn more about Field Team 6, check out this episode of PoliticsGirl:
Register Democrats, Save the World - a conversation with Jason Berlin from FieldTeam6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVUsBHUBvS8
That’s a great interview! When I started with Field Team 6 I asked Jason that same question and he said drives a Prius and eats kale! It’s a great group to work with. We’re doing a text bank this morning into Florida.
For anyone who is on social media at all, there’s a social storm happening using #TrumpsFloridaAbortionBan. On whatever platform you use, search for that #, then comment and repost it to amplify and get the message to more people.
It actually might have been "drive a Prius, do hot yoga, and eat kale". I couldn't remember the third characteristic but knew it was food related ;-)
I’ll have to ask him. I used to drive a Prius but hate kale and wouldn’t get near hot yoga. Regular yoga only. 😆
Kristi Noem. Really? You shoot a dog because it's not easily trainable? How many people have heard the old saw: a dog reflects its master? In my experience, it's true.
I read this morning that the breeder who sold Noem the puppy, said he would have "happily taken the dog back and refunded her money". When I see photos of "Cowgirl Barbie" and her chilling, cold, fanatical eyes, I have to wonder: why did she choose such an execution style demise for that poor pup? I get the feeling that when she wrote that she hated the dog...that was THE reason and everything else was excuses or justifications. Ms. "Grinch" Noem is a mean one.
Dogs are so great. And such great friends. So Loyal to their pack. Hard to imagine shooting it rather than returning it. I quail at the thought that she did it as a political stunt. One more effort to ingratiate herself with the notoriously pet hating Donal Trump. And if that is true, what a sorry excuse for a human being she is. I hope the MSM tells the story again and again.
The incident, which is evidently detailed in her book, apparently happened twenty some years ago--not that it makes the event any less repugnant than it is. I get the distinct impression that "Ranchgirl Barbie" is controlling, exacting, impatient and has about enough compassion to fill half of a very small thimble.
I'd hate to be her kid
I wonder if the kids knew the real reason for the death of the puppy or if they are only finding out about it from the book. (According to Wikipedia she has 3 kids and 20 years ago they would have been pretty young since she married in 1992).
Robert Hubbell many thanks for your constant encouragement to participate in our democracy. You have been so successful by inviting us to events around the country and on zoom, by highlighting activities we can join, ways to support all levels of candidates, promoting groups that do voter registration, phone banks, canvass and post carding. You explain the political backstories so that we can better understand why calling our representatives is effective. You share your fears AND show us how to get involved. I appreciate that you do BOTH.
VP Harris will be in Jacksonville ,Florida tomorrow, May 1st. Jacksonville, nicknamed “The Bold City”, is our largest and youngest city with an average age of 36. May 1st is the day our draconian 6-week abortion ban will be in effect.
Tony at Postcards To Voters told me that Floridians for Reproductive Freedom, the org behind Amendment 4, has not yet requested a postcard campaign. Let’s contact them to request a campaign and get this postcarding party started ! ✍️
⬇️
https://floridareprofreedom.org/contact-us/
Vote Yes on Amendment 4 !! 📣
You can send postcards to Florida right now! Fieldteam6.org is sending postcards to likely Democrats in flippable districts there. The message also urges #YesOn4.
👍Texting to Fl with FieldTeam6 today !
With Jacksonville’s average age of 36, there are a lot of people of child-bearing age who won’t be able to wait for Amendment 4 to pass. Happily, there is a network of providers who mail abortion pills to ALL 50 states. They're safe, accessible, low cost, and sometimes free (the latter is true for Florida). For more info, check out Plan C (https://www.plancpills.org/), which provides up-to-date information on accessing at-home abortion pills online.
Get in some good trouble. Spread the word about Plan C in Jacksonville, throughout Florida, and anywhere else in the U.S., by buying or downloading stickers from their website (https://www.plancpills.org/stickers) and pasting them everywhere--public bathrooms, women's dressing rooms, music venues...be creative. Give them to teenagers and have them distribute them wherever they go. Note that the need isn't limited to red states: abortions can be hard to come by in blue states, too.
👍
Thanks, Robert, for the link to donate to help Dr. Hook vs Chip Roy in Texas, and as always, for your synopsis of key news events - no matter how bad the news may be, you always offer ways that we can make a difference towards mitigating some of those events. Your Substack is priceless!
I’m super excited to have gotten this published! https://ctmirror.org/2024/04/30/ct-protect-election-officials/
Wow! Great op-ed! Nicely done!
Thanks! We have until 5/8 at midnight to get this passed
Keep us posted on the bill, please!
It’s an op ed on the importance of protecting election workers: Protect CT election officials against harassment
by Carol Rizzolo and Jonah Minkoff-Zern
I wanted to bring it to your attn but this was the only way I could think of!
Well done, Carol and Jonah.
Excellent, Carol and so badly needed in so many states!
Thank you and absolutely! Public Citizen is working on assisting citizens in states across the nation to get this done in each of the states
I really enjoyed meeting Dr. Hook via Zoom last evening. Thanks for promoting this fundraising event for her. The more of these candidate events I attend the more hope I garner for our nation. Dr. Hook is bright, youngish...40 :) energetic, and compassionate. She spoke about her humble republican upbringing and how that helps her to engage with "both sides" when meeting voters in her district. She gets the rural voter and is promoting policies that will uplift their lives. She like so many new and young candidates are the future and it looks bright amidst the din of today.
Thank you for the news on the case. I had not read about the testimony of Walter Nauta elsewhere. I would like to give a shout out to Jodi, my precinct captain of our local branch Democrats Abroad Germany (DAG). She ran the Hamburg marathon on Sunday to raise money for the DA, which is going towards recruitment of Americans abroad to register to vote and to vote Democratic. We are also working on organizing help for American students and others abroad who do not know how to sign up to receive their ballot via email, or manage their mail in ballot, or how to fill it out. Normally, in the USA, you go to a voting place and they explain it to you, if you have never voted before it is not always clear. So, people feel unsure and then they don't do it. We are trying to organize in person support for those in our area. This is true of all college students who are away for the first time, they are navagating a lot of things. My daughter is studying in Germany in a different city and needed me to walk her through voting online. Also, registering for DAG, and getting her voting ballot mailed to her when she is dealing with a lot of bureaucracy here that she needed to deal with as well as classes and other things. So, I recommend everyone reach out to younger voters and offer to help if they need it. Explain how to get a ballot, what kinds of things will be on it, and how they can prepare for that. Also, the logistics of voting. Bring them into the Democratic fold and anyone else who might need help. New Americans might need help too. We Do Better With Biden!
Hi, Linda. Thanks for your note about Democrats Abroad (Germany). I would be happy to promote the organization. Have someone in leadership reach out to me and I will coordinate. Thanks!
I just ran across this Zoom on Mobilize while looking for something else. Very serendipitous!
Vote Forward Information Session: Voters Abroad Campaign
https://www.mobilize.us/votefwd/event/622092/
Tomorrow 8 - 9 pm ET
From the description:
We’re announcing a new letter writing campaign unlike any previous Vote Forward campaign: writing letters to U.S. voters living abroad! Letters will be available May 1st.
Since this campaign has different instructions than our other campaigns, we're hosting an information session to answer all your questions. We'll be joined by our partner organization, the Center for U.S. Voters Abroad, to go into detail about the campaign's design and impact.
There are hundreds of thousands of voters living abroad who can make a real difference in elections, but they receive almost no election outreach. That's why we think this letter campaign may be able to achieve a very high-impact.
Join us to learn more about the campaign and instructions on how to write and send letters to these voters.
Thank you for posting this Cheryl!
Trump gets a $1,000 penalty per contempt of court violation… as if he cares about $1,000 per violation, per abuse that he doles out.
Truly, what is wrong with our legal system? How can one abusive person get away with so much and not be held accountable by the courts, including SCOTUS? All it does is validate and encourage his behavior.
Think of the fines as a necessary pre-condition to detention for the next violation.
From your mouth to God’s ears!
I wonder whether Judge Merchan has the guts to imprison DFT.
Per Judge Merchan, NY law restricts him to fining Trump a max of $1K per incident, but he adds that jail is next if the behavior continues.
Yeah, that was my thinking this morning when I read that he had been fined a measly $9,000 for his gag order violations. That's just chump change for him.
“Lie for Me and I’ll pardon thee, I have Immunity, I own the Supreme Court, don’t you see?”
trump dislikes dogs intently. Thus, I'll end this one's life to prove my fealty to my scumbag idol, Orange Droolius. MAGAts.....The Lost Mind Society. Robert Hubbell is a powerful force which serves to insulate , as well as equip us with coping tools like hope, and faith our efforts will be answered in droves in November. Insulate, as well as educate. It seems as if you've trained and prepared for this role all your life sir! I plan to support Dr. Hook in sweeping house in her district. Keep hope alive folks, and your eyes on the prize, Democracy!
Robert: I'd like to organize folks who advocate for SSI recipients. Republicans want to kill it but ironically some are even registered Republicans and many are MAGATS who metaphorically slit their own throats at the polls. These lawyers, medical providers, social workers, care givers have to be influential in their lives.
Got any thoughts?
Daniel. can you send me some backround on Republican efforts to target SSI? I know they talk about cutting Social Security but was not aware of an effort to cut SSI. If there is something I can write about , I will do so and try to connect interested readers to you.
Robert’s reference to Run for Something moves me to note that yesterday I submitted what i devoutly hope will be the last ballot with my name on it—for town meeting. We have a bit over 60,000 people in our town, so we elect members; if we had an open town meeting we’d need to rent Fenway Park. I first ran for town meeting when Clinton was president. He’s a year younger than me, and I used to say that if he was at the top of the electoral pyramid, I was at the bottom. When Osama bin Laden was alive, I also would note that if the came to an American voting place and saw the citizens giving their time for almost no money, 12 or 13 or more hours on Election Day, he might—just might—have got a tiny hint of just what he was up against. I suppose we could say pretty much the same for Trump.
Thank you for your inspiring service, Jon!
We all fight our own corners so we win the match together.
Spinning out your thought experiment, the question was asked in oral argument: “[if the] president decides that his rival is a corrupt person and he orders the military, or orders someone, to assassinate him -- is that within his official acts for which he can get immunity?” The response from Trump’s attorney was that it could be. If the Court’s decision goes that far, would Biden be immune from prosecution if he were to order Trump’s assassination? Would Biden similarly be immune if he ordered the assassination of a Supreme Court justice he deemed corrupt? Would a Supreme Court decision that went that far be considered “textualist” or “originalist”? (I think neither, since there is no wording in the constitution addressing presidential immunity and none can be found in English common law assumed to be inherited by the colonies — at least since Cromwell executed the King in 1649.)
I'm afraid that the Stench court is going to kick the can (granting immunity) down the road just far enough, so that IF their darling djt does, by some horrible mischance of fate, get elected, they would, at that point grant him the immunity he craves...but play "keep away" by not granting it to Biden. They are certainly capable of such underhanded foul play.