Great post but please don't compare Reagan to Lincoln. They're not even close. Reagan was racist and a right wing extremist; he was just covert about it.
Was also just coming here to say, I think Reagan was pretty freakin' radical, and was pretty successful in setting the foundations for the current toxicity and divorce from reality we see in today's republican party. I would also certainly never put him in the same sentence as Lincoln (not that calling Lincoln a republican even means anything anymore; everyone knows the parties were so different back then).
I recently discovered your Substack and I enjoy it immensely. I apologize if it felt like that's all I took away from it. It was just an observation on my part.
Simon, we need to add getting strong national support for DC statehood to the Democrats’ agenda. Racial justice, representation in Congress for 700,000 citizens and residents of DC, and getting (probably) two more reliable Democrats in the Senate all warrant, if not require, promoting this cause.
1 - May 5, 2023 — 5/5 — is exactly 18 months before the 2024 presidential elections. 18 months is a symbolic timeframe, hope there is something special planned.
2 - Get To 55 needs logos, swag, and merch. No movement can thrive without the cool stuff :-)
So I listened to your podcast interview on DSR. Really good discussion with the David’s. Thanks for giving the heads up about this. I Recommend this as a good 20 mins or so listen for other interested folks.
Simon - what’s the best way to send you some draft infographics as options to broaden awareness of the “With Dems” presentation material. I have a few ppt or pdf versions for you to consider. Thks.
I believe I saw that a couple new polls revealed a pretty good bounce in President Biden’s approval rating too..... I think we’re off to a very promising start 👍
We're in for a busy 19 months, and though I will work my tail off and donate as I can, I'd appreciate guidance in prioritizing both time and money. I'm in Texas. I've devoted much time and money there, and we're still woefully, woefully struggling. My 1st priority is saving the country, and I'm not sure that spending 100% of my efforts here is wise. Please keep folks in my category in mind--the only hope I see here in Texas is young voters--really hope to see some specific strategies for mobilizing young voters in hard to vote states.
You are in my thoughts, Cathy. I have family in Texas and I worry about them. Nevertheless, there are big-hearted folks there, and I hope they will soon prevail and turn a very red tide to purple at least. IMHO, the thing that sets Texas apart is a deep-seated individuality that is unlike any other state. It is neither Confederate nor "coastal." While there certainly are racial divides, there is also pride of place for almost everyone. Good universities and medical centers, good ethnic food, the space, military, and other industries, et al. It's both progressive and conservative. Now to unseat the authoritarian right wingers, who, I suspect, are really in the minority.
Cathy, same thoughts on spending so much of my time/money here in Florida. I am supporting Donna Deegan for Jax mayor( thanks Simon) but thinking my future efforts may be better utilized outside the “freedom” state. StatesProject and Voteriders have been two of my fave orgs to support.
Kathy and Hope, your comments have buoyed me. Thank you. The majority of my volunteer time is registering voters here; I won’t waste your time with details about how these are handwritten applications, often errantly transcribed, with months-long delays in obtaining required IDs. It truly is hard to see a way out of this, though as you suggest, it is a minority vision being implemented expertly. I had thought the reproductive rights issue might be a catalyst, and it still may be, but I will go I record now as saying I think it will be guns.
Cathy, those of you in red states are in my thoughts. I am in Vermont and must use my time wisely in a different way. Heather Boyd in PA is running for a state house seat that determines the balance of power in PA. Given the importance of PA in 2024, that's an important race. Opportunities to text and phone bank from afar are here. I thought I would share. https://www.mobilize.us/boydforpahouse/event/558987/
Donna Deegan's race has been shared by Simon. VA has some important races coming up soon, but PA's race is really important. I hope this helps!
I felt exactly like you did before our last election! After flailing around I decided to follow an analyst who I respected and could direct where my time and money could be most effective. I chose the “down home” guy, James Carville based upon many recommendations and because I like his style. And he still teaches at the University level although he likes to act like an old country boy. I felt like his directions really paid off for me in focusing my dollars where most needed for the win. Based on my experience I recommend you may want to seek your own North Star who does all the footwork and sees through the “ forest” of candidates. I also newly donated to youth voting groups and have been so pleased with how they are engaging! Good luck to you.
Your writings make me hopeful Simon UNTIL I read about the R states moves to capture assignment of votes in their legislatures. I read about these moves in the Democracy Dockets and wonder how will we combat this frontline voter suppression? Very concerned.
Yes, this is scary. I am in NC and so disappointed about SSC ruling yesterday. NoLie BTC breaks it down.https://youtu.be/22rL3YTgkO4. So potentially we could loose 4 dem seats in the house in ‘24. Just cheating at all costs.
Democrats can do - need to do - much better than Republican-lite Bill Clinton. He won in 1996 by 8 points over the Republican Dole because Ross Perot ran as a third party candidate, and Republicans still held onto both houses of Congress. If Perot hadn't run in 1992 as an independent, Clinton would likely not have been President in the first place. Time to move on from those days. With President Biden we have a real Democrat who is rejecting the neoliberal economic paradigm (aka Reaganomics) that Clinton all too happily embraced.
Yes, so very scary as they gear up to their ultimate goal: empower themselves in GOP state legislatures to swivel electoral votes “legally” in 2024. Shudder. This time they could succeed. Hopeful to hear and read like on these Chronicles so many Democrats vigorously alert, unified and deeply resolved to counter their attacks. We held the GOP back last time and IMHO we can do it again.
https://www.termlimits.com/
Ditto! Thank you, Janet, for posting this on Steve Schmidt's 'The Warning' newsletter.
Thank you, too, Daniel.
Great post but please don't compare Reagan to Lincoln. They're not even close. Reagan was racist and a right wing extremist; he was just covert about it.
Hear you but I use Reagan as a foil to the Putin lovers who have taken over the GOP.
Good point. I hadn't thought of that.
Was also just coming here to say, I think Reagan was pretty freakin' radical, and was pretty successful in setting the foundations for the current toxicity and divorce from reality we see in today's republican party. I would also certainly never put him in the same sentence as Lincoln (not that calling Lincoln a republican even means anything anymore; everyone knows the parties were so different back then).
There is a lot of important material in my post today. I am disappointed this is where people are choosing to spend their time.
I recently discovered your Substack and I enjoy it immensely. I apologize if it felt like that's all I took away from it. It was just an observation on my part.
Simon, we need to add getting strong national support for DC statehood to the Democrats’ agenda. Racial justice, representation in Congress for 700,000 citizens and residents of DC, and getting (probably) two more reliable Democrats in the Senate all warrant, if not require, promoting this cause.
About Get To 55 -
1 - May 5, 2023 — 5/5 — is exactly 18 months before the 2024 presidential elections. 18 months is a symbolic timeframe, hope there is something special planned.
2 - Get To 55 needs logos, swag, and merch. No movement can thrive without the cool stuff :-)
So I listened to your podcast interview on DSR. Really good discussion with the David’s. Thanks for giving the heads up about this. I Recommend this as a good 20 mins or so listen for other interested folks.
Simon - what’s the best way to send you some draft infographics as options to broaden awareness of the “With Dems” presentation material. I have a few ppt or pdf versions for you to consider. Thks.
I believe I saw that a couple new polls revealed a pretty good bounce in President Biden’s approval rating too..... I think we’re off to a very promising start 👍
So let's hammer away at R's for holding our economy hostage. I'm on it!
Same!
Really good - thanks
We're in for a busy 19 months, and though I will work my tail off and donate as I can, I'd appreciate guidance in prioritizing both time and money. I'm in Texas. I've devoted much time and money there, and we're still woefully, woefully struggling. My 1st priority is saving the country, and I'm not sure that spending 100% of my efforts here is wise. Please keep folks in my category in mind--the only hope I see here in Texas is young voters--really hope to see some specific strategies for mobilizing young voters in hard to vote states.
You are in my thoughts, Cathy. I have family in Texas and I worry about them. Nevertheless, there are big-hearted folks there, and I hope they will soon prevail and turn a very red tide to purple at least. IMHO, the thing that sets Texas apart is a deep-seated individuality that is unlike any other state. It is neither Confederate nor "coastal." While there certainly are racial divides, there is also pride of place for almost everyone. Good universities and medical centers, good ethnic food, the space, military, and other industries, et al. It's both progressive and conservative. Now to unseat the authoritarian right wingers, who, I suspect, are really in the minority.
Cathy, same thoughts on spending so much of my time/money here in Florida. I am supporting Donna Deegan for Jax mayor( thanks Simon) but thinking my future efforts may be better utilized outside the “freedom” state. StatesProject and Voteriders have been two of my fave orgs to support.
Cathy, I shared Heather Boyd's race with Kathy should you have time. Donna Deegan's race sounds exciting. Here is the PA race should you have time https://www.mobilize.us/boydforpahouse/event/558987/
Kathy and Hope, your comments have buoyed me. Thank you. The majority of my volunteer time is registering voters here; I won’t waste your time with details about how these are handwritten applications, often errantly transcribed, with months-long delays in obtaining required IDs. It truly is hard to see a way out of this, though as you suggest, it is a minority vision being implemented expertly. I had thought the reproductive rights issue might be a catalyst, and it still may be, but I will go I record now as saying I think it will be guns.
There may be hope! I understand that Colin Allred is considering running against Ted Cruz.
Cathy, those of you in red states are in my thoughts. I am in Vermont and must use my time wisely in a different way. Heather Boyd in PA is running for a state house seat that determines the balance of power in PA. Given the importance of PA in 2024, that's an important race. Opportunities to text and phone bank from afar are here. I thought I would share. https://www.mobilize.us/boydforpahouse/event/558987/
Donna Deegan's race has been shared by Simon. VA has some important races coming up soon, but PA's race is really important. I hope this helps!
Greetings Cathy,
I felt exactly like you did before our last election! After flailing around I decided to follow an analyst who I respected and could direct where my time and money could be most effective. I chose the “down home” guy, James Carville based upon many recommendations and because I like his style. And he still teaches at the University level although he likes to act like an old country boy. I felt like his directions really paid off for me in focusing my dollars where most needed for the win. Based on my experience I recommend you may want to seek your own North Star who does all the footwork and sees through the “ forest” of candidates. I also newly donated to youth voting groups and have been so pleased with how they are engaging! Good luck to you.
Your writings make me hopeful Simon UNTIL I read about the R states moves to capture assignment of votes in their legislatures. I read about these moves in the Democracy Dockets and wonder how will we combat this frontline voter suppression? Very concerned.
Yes, this is scary. I am in NC and so disappointed about SSC ruling yesterday. NoLie BTC breaks it down.https://youtu.be/22rL3YTgkO4. So potentially we could loose 4 dem seats in the house in ‘24. Just cheating at all costs.
Democrats can do - need to do - much better than Republican-lite Bill Clinton. He won in 1996 by 8 points over the Republican Dole because Ross Perot ran as a third party candidate, and Republicans still held onto both houses of Congress. If Perot hadn't run in 1992 as an independent, Clinton would likely not have been President in the first place. Time to move on from those days. With President Biden we have a real Democrat who is rejecting the neoliberal economic paradigm (aka Reaganomics) that Clinton all too happily embraced.
Thank you, Simon! You give me hope! 💗
BIDEN BRINGS THE TRUTH in his Jokes! White House Corespondents Dinner https://youtu.be/4EAFovP-LtE
That was excellent. 😎
Yes, so very scary as they gear up to their ultimate goal: empower themselves in GOP state legislatures to swivel electoral votes “legally” in 2024. Shudder. This time they could succeed. Hopeful to hear and read like on these Chronicles so many Democrats vigorously alert, unified and deeply resolved to counter their attacks. We held the GOP back last time and IMHO we can do it again.