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KEEPING OUR FOCUS
I don't know about you, but I feel like I'm being inundated with an increasing number of horrific things the Radical Republicans have been dumping on us, and via the media. Look over here! It's Lindsay Graham trying to pass a national abortion ban! Wait, look over there! It's Trump et.al. trying to weasel their way out of a DOJ indictment! No wait! Right here, it's Gov's DeSantis and Abbott (both impending 2024 Presidential candidates, oh joy) trying to one up each other with their across-state lines trafficking of immigrants! But wait, there's MORE! Always so much more absolute stinky dung to throw on the growing GOP heap. I'm dizzy from the stench.
With all of this crap swirling around us, it's easy to get distracted. Instead of a "shiny shiny," it's a "shitty shitty" (pardon the poo).
I was going to write about how we need to tune that mess out, keep our focus on Getting Out The DEMOCRATIC Vote, and then, I got an email from one of my favorites, Jay Kuo this morning. I loved what he wrote, so I am sharing it with you.
What Do We Do When They "Flood The Zone?" - Jay Kuo, "The Status Kuo"
There’s so much “criming” going on with the GOP and Trump that it’s becoming very hard to know what matters, what to focus on. From coup plots to the Big Lie grift to stealing top secret documents, it’s a big tangled mess. And now add to that governors like DeSantis who want a piece of the press attention, too, and are willing to exploit innocent people, even illegally, to achieve it. Perhaps they believe they can render us too numb, distracted, and exhausted by it all to deal with them effectively.
Steve Bannon had a phrase for this: “Flood the zone with shit.” He was talking about how to deal with his number one enemy, the media, but it could apply just as well to law enforcement and the patience of the public. Republicans are exploiting the fact that our justice system moves slowly and deliberately when it comes to big political crimes—precisely because any mistake will be pounced upon by the other side as evidence that one party has politicized law enforcement.
Merrick Garland certainly understands the game that these politicians are playing, just as Fauci understood how he was being set up just for doing his job, too. That’s where leaning into professionalism, process, evidence and facts comes in. All the shit flooding in the world is not going to stop a slow moving boulder, grinding down those who seek to oppose it.
We should understand that the Justice Department cannot respond publicly to each and every shenanigan that some Trump ally throws. They can’t be announcing charges every week. That would lead precisely to what Bannon wants: so much shit in the zone that no one can move at all. Rather, we need to push back in the public sphere against these perpetrators so that they pay a political price, even while the authorities assess whether to launch investigations and bring charges. The Justice Department must make a calculation based on limited resources and time. So in the meantime, we can do our part by raising the political costs of bad behavior high enough to deter more shit flooding.
When the public raises an outcry over a judge who seems loyal first to Trump, other judges are listening. Some of those judges may sit on an appellate panel deciding whether to go along with her or stop her. When the public raises a cry over the illegal kidnapping of legal asylum seekers from Venezuela, there are a lot of voters in that community who will be motivated to turn out against such cynical exploitation. While it’s fine to call for investigations, we only further the goals of the Bannons and DeSantises of the world when we also call for Merrick Garland’s head because his Department hasn’t immediately jumped into the fray. That’s not how the Department works, especially in a charged political environment. If they step into this shit zone, they simply can’t keep rolling the boulder forward as well.
So while it might feel cathartic to decry—incorrectly by the way— that there have no legal consequences for anyone doing all this criming, it's best to pause a moment and ask whether you are playing right into the Bannon playbook. They flooded the zone, and they really, really want you to say, “I have zero faith that anyone is ever going to deal with all this!” Instead, we can each help by doing our part. We can call them out and shovel it all right back at them, rather than toward the FBI and the Justice Department.
The authorities, who are among the best we’ve ever had in charge, will get to it. Yes, it will take an infuriating amount of time. But through it all, we need to be on their side and have their backs.
So, let's have faith that the wheels of justice, even though it feels like they're moving at a snail's pace, will get there. In the mean time, tune out the GOP noise. Let's FOCUS.
We ALL need to focus on doing ALL that we can to Get Out The Democratic Vote (GOTDV), whether it be through writing postcards, sending texts, making phone calls, canvassing, and/or donating to organizations that do all of it, both here and across the country in all the critical Congressional and Senatorial and Gubernatorial and Down Ballot races that America will be voting on in less than 50 days! This is your chance to Be a Part of the Solution.
"The wheels of justice grind slowly, but exceedingly fine." - Sun Tzu
"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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PHONEBANKING, TEXT BANKING, AND POSTCARD WRITING FOR LOCAL CANDIDATES
Postcarding Queen Hortencia Cabral has kickstarted her weekly postcard writing parties for KCDCC endorsed candidates for the 2022 midterms, including Rudy Salas, Marisa Wood, Leticia Perez, Eric Arias, Manpreet Kaur, and more!
This is a fun, informal and easy way to engage with your fellow Kern County Dems and make a real difference! The Postcarding Party will meet at 6pm every Tuesday until the midterm elections in November at the KCDCC HQ, located at 330 H Street in Bakersfield. There is ample parking both in the lot and on surrounding streets.
And this week I received an email from KCDCC Secretary/Candidate for Greenfield School Board Hortencia Cabral regarding helping to support Text Banking efforts. Hortencia writes:
Our friends over at Santa Clara County are once again stepping up to the plate in helping our community GOTV. I am emailing you today because I want to encourage you to donate money for texting efforts towards CD22. No amount is too small.
Please donate for texting efforts at the following link: https://act.myngp.com/Forms/-389482136855508224
Election day is right around the corner and we need to turn our community blue. Let me know if you have any questions.
Much love to all of you.
Hortencia Cabral
Secretary for KCDCC
But wait, there's MORE! Remote Phonebanking for CD22, Rudy Salas' campaign for House of Representatives is happening now! We can join Team Salas every Thursday at 6pm to participate in a phonebank that they will lead.
To register, volunteers can easily sign up on mobilize using this link: https://www.mobilize.us/dashboard/rudysalasforcongress/event/499322/?created=true
Upon signing up, our team will reach out with a direct link to the Zoom event. After a brief training with our organizers, they will receive a link to access the PDI Phonebanking Data!
This list will specifically target Kern County where and the Phonebank script will prompt volunteers to engage voters about Rudy Salas for Congress, Leticia Perez for Assembly and other Democratically-endorsed candidates in overlapping districts.
Remember, EVERY SEAT COUNTS! Prevent Kevin McCarthy from becoming Speaker! Save Democracy and help Democrats Keep the House and Take the Senate!
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VOLUNTEER OR DONATE TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS HELPING TO GOTV IN 2022 AND BEYOND
Join Planned Parenthood on the Campaign Trail This Fall
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We need leaders who will trust YOU to make the best decisions for YOU. Period. This is why we're committed to helping our endorsed candidates cross the finish line and win in November.
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Sign up today to join us on the campaign trail this fall!
In the June Primary Election, we contributed $34,000 to sixteen candidates in targeted races, mobilized volunteers in ten races and knocked on nearly 3,000 doors.
We trained candidates and campaign staff how to talk about abortion access in their races.
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Of our endorsed candidates, not including incumbents, 80 percent made it out of the Primary and onto the General election or won their races outright.
This November we need to:
- pass ballot measures in California and Nevada
- re-elect Nevada’s Governor, Attorney General and U.S. Senator and
- hold our reproductive freedom majority in the California legislature.
All of this is possible with your help.
Join our October road trips to Reno, or canvassing in California, or both.
Together, we can create the political landscape needed to support patients and providers in every corner of the affiliate.
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See you on the campaign trail!
Cheri Greven
Executive Director
Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte
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HOW TO HELP VOTE SAVE AMERICA / NO YEARS OFF FUND
Forwarded From Dan Pfeiffer's Message Box
Vote Save America is launching a new “Midterm Madness” program to mobilize volunteers to protect and grow our progressive majorities. Sign up HERE:
Vote Save America @votesaveamerica
East! South! Midwest! West! Join your region and go! Whether you live in a purple, red, or blue state, we’ll help you get involved with at least one Senate race, the nearest House race, and important local races! votesaveamerica.com/midterms
Click HERE to Learn More, Volunteer and/or Donate to VSA / NOW
HOW TO HELP FIELD TEAM 6
From the FT6 website:
Against all odds, we won the White House, House, and Senate – saved America’s life – and bought ourselves two years of oxygen. Yet our democracy hangs by a thread. History says we will lose control of Congress in the midterms. So there’s only one thing to do... Defy history. To do that, we need to save the Senate – save the House – and win down-ballot along the way.
The solution is as simple as it is powerful: talking to strangers. It’s the proven #1 way to win elections. Did you know that 60% of unregistered voters have never been asked to register? To win in 2021-22, we register Democrats where they’ll make the most impact – in the most flippable states and districts, where small numbers of Democrats can swing elections up and down the ballot.
We meet people where they are – via phone, text, postcard, social media, and soon at in-person, Covid-safe voter drives!
In 2022, FT6 is targeting key Congressional Districts in California, like CA27 (formerly CD25), CD21 and CA22 that have become much more winnable thanks to redistricting. They are also amassing voter drives for Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Click HERE to Learn More, Volunteer and/or Donate to FT6.
HOW TO HELP GRASSROOTS DEMOCRATS
It is such a thrill to share with you that thanks to your hard work, we have written nearly 329,000 postcards since the start of this election cycle! Your postcards in support of Josh Harder (CA-09), Rudy Salas Jr. (CA-22), Jay Chen (CA-45), Katie Porter (CA-47), and a special campaign for both Rep. Katie Porter and Supe. Katrina Foley (CA-47/BoS D5) are reaching voters.
Pat yourselves on the back-- your hard work is helping us to make an impact this November! |
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| Postcards are also available for pick up and delivery in West Los Angeles! We have both non-candidate-specific postcards, and special postcards for Christy Smith. Please select the button for whichever postcards you would like and fill out the appropriate form. |
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Click HERE to Learn More, Volunteer and/or Donate to the Grassroots Dems.
HOW TO HELP SWING LEFT
Elections are our thing. To build the future we want to see, Swing Left is committed to helping elect Democrats to strengthen our democracy. We believe that action towards a goal is the antidote to anger and despair. Our entire community is brought together by a focus on what we can all do to effect positive change in the near and long term. In 2021 and beyond, we're focused on protecting the Democratic majorities in Congress and strengthening our democracy by winning key races and gaining majorities in the states. We help people make better decisions about how to spend limited time, effort, and resources to help Democrats win. We prioritize impact today and impact tomorrow, ensuring that our team, community, and campaigns have the internal and external resources they need to succeed, now and sustainably over the long haul.
Click HERE To Learn More, Volunteer and/or Donate to Swing Left.
HOW TO HELP FAIR FIGHT
From the FF website:
We promote fair elections around the country, encourage voter participation in elections, and educate voters about elections and their voting rights. Fair Fight Action brings awareness to the public on election reform, advocates for election reform at all levels, and engages in other voter education programs and communications.
Voter suppression, particularly of voters of color and young voters, is a scourge our country faces in states across the nation. Georgia’s 2018 elections shone a bright light on the issue with elections that were rife with mismanagement, irregularities, unbelievably long lines and more, exposing both recent and also decades-long actions and inactions by the state to thwart the right to vote. Georgians and Americans are fighting back, and Fair Fight Action was founded to organize collective efforts to expose, mitigate, and reverse voter suppression. We engage in voter mobilization and education activities and advocate for progressive issues.
Fair Fight PAC has initiated programs to support voter protection programs at state parties around the country and is engaging in partnerships to support and elect pro-voting rights, progressive leaders.
Click HERE to Learn More, Volunteer and/or Donate to Fair Fight.
HOW TO HELP COMMON CAUSE
From the CC website:
Since 1970, Common Cause has been working to hold power accountable through lobbying, litigation, and grassroots organizing. Our non-partisan, pro-democracy work has helped pass hundreds of reforms at the federal, state, and local levels. Our more than 1 million members and more than 30 state organizations around the country work to strengthen our democracy by empowering the voices of everyday Americans in government.
Working together across party lines, we’re building a democracy that works for everyone. Common Cause is a nationwide network of skilled advocates, organizers, activists who are working every day to strengthen our democracy and the people’s right to speak, assemble, and critique our government to level the playing field for everyday people.
In recent years, Common Cause helped pass groundbreaking anti-gerrymandering ballot measures in Colorado, Ohio, Michigan, and Virginia. We succeed when we show voters that there’s something fundamentally wrong with letting politicians pick and choose their voters. Once this happens, in state after state, voters have clearly demonstrated their willingness to translate this concern into action at the ballot box.
As I write this, our action teams are preparing to employ every tool in our toolbox. From the ballot initiative process to local and state referendums, lobbying state legislatures, litigating, and organizing… wherever and whenever maps are being drawn, we must be prepared to respond.
This is a historic opportunity for us -- right now -- to fundamentally move the way our government represents us in a more fair and equitable direction. But we’ll only be able to get it done if Common Cause supporters like you can step up to make it possible.
Click HERE to Learn More, Volunteer and/or Donate to Common Cause.
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UPCOMING VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON EVENTS
Kern River Conservancy September Clean Up Schedule of Events
September is National Cleanup Month and we're gearing up for a busy volunteer schedule. With Labor Day behind us and the summer camping season ending, it's time for us to roll up our sleeves and bring our rivers back to clean and enjoyable.
From the Kern River to the Kaweah River, we've got you covered.
Saturday September 24 - Kaweah River: National Public Lands Day.
These events will be outdoors, so please dress according to the days weather. Bring daypack, water bottle, hat and sunscreen.
Do YOU have an organization or candidate you would like to include here? Please send me your event details in an EMAIL or FACEBOOK MESSAGE no later than Tuesday and I will make sure it gets into this weekly newsletter.
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