Dear Indivisible Friends,
There are few words to adequately describe the rollercoaster of emotions and events over the past week. Let us instead pause to remind ourselves of what we are all about. We are Indivisible. We are focused on keeping our representative government in check.
Indivisible: in·di·vis·i·ble
/indəˈvizəb(ə)l/
adjective
- unable to be divided or separated.
We the people are the rightful masters of both the Congress and the courts not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution – A. Lincoln
|
|
|
“Boy, you all want power. God, I hope you never get it."
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Senate Judiciary Committee
September 27, 2018
STOP THE MADNESS. SAVE SCOTUS AND THE JUDICIARY. TURN THE SENATE BLUE. The only legislative body that can save the Supreme Court and the judiciary from Trump’s extreme and unqualified appointments is the Senate. To win the Senate we must hold 5 endangered seats and flip at least 2 more.
What We Can Do: Check out the campaigns below, volunteer to phone bank, urge friends and family in these states to register and to vote Democratic. Please, donate if you can by clicking on the candidate’s name which will take you to their website.
Toss-up Democratic Seats:
FL: Bill Nelson. Running against gun loving, climate denying, red-tide Gov. Rick Scott. This is an exceptionally close race.
IN: Joe Donnelly. Running against conservative businessman Mike Braun. Although Donnelly has voted with Trump 60% of the time he strongly supports Social Security and Medicare, programs under attack by the Republican majority. This race is a toss-up.
MO: Claire McCaskill. Running against Trump loyalist, Josh Hawley. This race is officially a toss-up.
ND: Heidi Heitkamp. Running against conservative, anti-regulation, pro-life, tax cutting Kevin Cramer. Heitkamp’s is one of the ten most seriously endangered senators.
WV: Joe Manchin. A blue-dog Democrat running against Trump fanboy, wall lover, and ACA hater Pat Morrisey. The race leans Democratic but we are not home-free yet.
Traditionally Republican seats that can be flipped:
AZ: Kyrsten Sinema, is in a competitive position against Representative Martha McSally, her Republican opponent, as they seek to replace Senator Jeff Flake. Sinema is endorsed by Planned Parenthood, the DSCC, and Emily’s list. Join a local fundraiser for Kyrsten on October 8.
NV: Jacky Rosen. Running against Dean Heller. Rosen was elected to the House in 2016 and is a member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. This race is now in a dead heat.
TN: Phil Bredesen. Running against Trump supporter Rep. Marsha Blackburn for Senator Bob Corker’s open seat. As a popular former mayor and governor, Bredesen stands a real chance of winning in a state that leans Republican.
TX: Beato O’Rourke. Running against Ted Cruz. O’Rourke is running as a real Democrat, and supports Democratic priorities including public education, strengthening the ACA and Medicaid, protecting Title X and a woman's right to choose. Recent polls show this race a toss-up.
POSTCARDING IN SANTA BARBARA
The Pen Connection is making postcards in support of Democrats in tight congressional races through http://PostcardsToVoters.com. They meet every Sunday from 2-5pm at a private home in Santa Barbara. Get Out the Vote by making mail art to send whomever you want.
For more information contact Ethan: ethanseye@gmail.com
(805) 570-9439
VOLUNTEER TO DO VOTER REGISTRATION AT UCSB
The UCSB Voter Registration Volunteer Coalition will have voter registration events on campus almost every day until October 22nd. Sign up here if you are interested in volunteering.
|
|
|
“The good news about all this bad news is that now, more people know.”
Buffy Sainte-Marie, Songwriter/Singer/Activist
(NPR Weekend Edition, Sept. 29, 2018)
RESOURCES FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND VIOLENCE
1. Finding Help and Getting Support
The National Crime Victimization Survey has estimated that 77% of incidents of rape and sexual assault were not reported to the police in 2017. Here are some resources available for those who have been recently victimized as well as for those who have lived with the effects of an attack for many years. It is never too soon or too late to get help.
RAINN has a 24 hour National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-HOPE / 800-656-4673) that is confidential, free, and provides support, information, advice and referrals to local resources. (RAINN experienced an unprecedented 201% increase in calls after Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony.)
RAINN (en español)
Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center
UCSB Sexual Violence Prevention And Response
North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Service
2. Helping a Survivor
It is not easy to know what to say and how to comfort someone who has been the victim of sexual violence and abuse, especially if he or she is confiding something that has remained hidden for a long time. Here is a useful resource that offers some helpful guidance and language you can use when speaking and listening to a survivor.
3. Teaching the Next Generation
We live in a college town where frat boy culture is prevalent and the “boy-will-be-boys” excuse rationalizes away date rape and sexual assault. As parents and caregivers, we have an obligation to start a conversation with our sons and daughters about the important issue of harassment, misogyny, and consent. Read about how to broach the subject here.
4. Showing Our Gratitude
Senator Feinstein has been pilloried in the press and on the Judiciary committee for adhering to Dr. Ford’s initial request to remain anonymous. Senator Harris is being criticised for using the hearing to advance a private agenda to become a Presidential contender in 2020. They need to hear our thanks for their support of Dr. Ford. We should also thank Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake (1-202-224-4521, email, @JeffFlake) for his request that there be an FBI investigation of Kavanaugh and of the allegations against him before a vote in the Senate.
More info
NATIONAL SECURITY
5. Saving the Mueller Investigation
As last Monday’s national fire drill reminded us, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the one man preventing Trump from ending the Mueller investigation, could be fired at any moment. The bipartisan Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act (S. 2644 and H.R. 5476), which would protect the investigation has not been brought to the floor of the House or the Senate for a vote, and neither Feinstein nor Harris are co-sponsors. We must call them and ask them to sign on.
More Info
Sample Script: I’m calling from [zip code] I want Senator Feinstein/Harris to co-sponsor S. 2644 – Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act. We must protect the Mueller investigation.
|
|
|
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Washington, DC: (202) 224-3841
San Francisco: (415) 393-0707
Los Angeles: (310) 914-7300
San Diego: (619) 231-9712
Fresno: (559) 485-7430
Email
Senator Kamala Harris
Washington, DC: (202) 224-3553
San Francisco: (415) 355-9041
Los Angeles: (310) 231-4494
San Diego: (619) 239-3884
Sacramento: (916) 448-2787
Fresno: (559) 497-5109
Email
Congressman Salud Carbajal
Santa Barbara: (805) 730-1710
San Luis Obispo: (805) 546-8348
Washington, DC: (202) 225-3601
Email
|
CALIFORNIA:
Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson
Santa Barbara: (805) 965-0862
Oxnard: (805) 988-1940
Sacramento: (916) 651-4019
Email
Assemblywoman Monique Limon
Santa Barbara: (805) 564-1649
Ventura: (805) 641-3700
Sacramento: (916) 319-2037
Email
|
|
Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced that 209,577 pre-registration transactions have been completed by California 16- and 17-year-olds since the program launched in September 2016. More than 104,000 have turned 18 and are eligible to vote in this November’s election.
Gov. Brown has signed a number of common sense gun laws, including restricting sales of rifles and shotguns to people 21 years of age and older. He also signed the Social Media Disclose Act (AB 2188), which mandates that sponsors of political ads on social media be properly identified.
Our local public broadcasting radio station, KCLU, chose to suspend its fall fundraising drive to broadcast gavel to gavel coverage of the Kavanaugh hearings for their listeners. As a result, they missed reaching their funding goal. Show your appreciation here.
GOP declares moral bankruptcy.
|
|
A note about our local recycling: plastic recycling is changing. Only #1 and #2 Plastic containers can be recycled. That means all other plastics must be thrown away. Why is this? Historically, our recycled plastic has been shipped to China for processing. China is no longer interested in anything except the #1 and #2 platics. This will have a huge impact on plastic bags, which were previously recycled and will now be thrown in the trash. How can you help? Favor reuseable bags and reduce un-necessary plastic packaging.
|
|
|
|
|
