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ArcticStones's avatar

A MODEST PROPOSAL

It might be timely for Senate Democrats to propose new gun legislation, including of course universal background checks and a ban on assault weapons.

They could call it “The Keep Donald Trump and America’s Schoolchildren Safe Act”.

Terrible optics if the Republicans were to vote against “Keep Donald Trump…Safe”.

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Deborah Potter's avatar

Kinda funny, kinda practical

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ArcticStones's avatar

Designed to generate lots of headlines and control the narrative.

Imho, when extra security measures for SCOTUS judges et al were legislated, that should have been paired with school safety legislation. In other words, US Supreme Court judges should have received neither less nor more protection than America’s schoolchilden.

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Scott Gilbert's avatar

As if supreme court judges CARE about school children... LOLOLOL

.

They obviously do not.

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Linda (Evanston IL)'s avatar

Somehow we need to defeat the maga, election denier running for re-election in this district, Mike Collins GA-10. A woman, Lexy Doherty, is running against him. (Lexydoherty.com)

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Jayne M's avatar

I also live in GA and am trying to help get elected Maura Keller who will make a terrific Representative for GA-3, which is an open seat. Sadly, the state DEM Party isn't helping out much financially, so it is taking an uphill grassroots effort. The R she is running against is MAGA to the core. We need help getting Maura elected as well.

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Jayne M's avatar

I'm at the place where I feel that the government continuously allowing kids and teachers/staff to be slaughtered by guns makes the government criminally liable. They are not carrying out their constitutional responsibility to protect the citizens from harm. I like your idea, both for the practicality of it and for the strategic message it sends.

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ArcticStones's avatar

It seems JD Vance and Trump & co want American women to have lots of kids – so some can be sacrificed for the Second Amendment.

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kdsherpa's avatar

Beautiful!!

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Scott Gilbert's avatar

Kinda like using the bible to dismiss ALL student loans because the BIBLE says to not charge interest, and there is nothing more usurious than these horrible loan terms. It sure would be fun watching Republicans argue AGAINST the BIBLE.

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Virginia Shultz-Charette's avatar

Right. The Bible says all loans are to be forgiven after 7 years.

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Impossible Santa Wife's avatar

I am convinced that most Bible thumpers do not really read, let alone comprehend, most of what they are thumping so hard.

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Freda's avatar

Sly, funny, and correct re optics. Would love to see what Rs do!

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Catherine Giovannoni's avatar

I never thought I would say it, but good for Dick and Liz Cheney. In more good news, it appears the Trump campaign is abandoning Virginia, to which I can only say, "And stay out!" Over the Labor Day weekend, Republicans got a reception they didn't expect in rural Buena Vista, VA. Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears got booed off the stage for lying about Democrats. Both were taken aback and Sears resorted to lying about the crowd, pretending they were saying things they weren't. It's encouraging to see Democrats so fired up in what has been a red area.

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Cindy H's avatar

Great news 🤞🏼

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Blue Virginia's avatar

Wow! I did not know about this and I live in Virginia and am very active in Virginia politics. Thanks for sharing this. I am very surprised.

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Jason's avatar

We need to kick their butt in November and then keep the momentum going to run Younkin out of office in 2025.

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Donna PG's avatar

I was so excited, I googled it and got a link for anyone interested...omg, wish it were longer! Scroll down for two short YT clips. Love it!

https://bluevirginia.us/2024/09/video-anti-labor-pro-trump-maga-glenn-youngkin-booed-at-buena-vista-labor-day-festival-crowd-chants-were-not-going-back

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ArcticStones's avatar

Oh, that’s a thing of beauty!

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Freda's avatar

Thank you!! Hearing the crowd send those MAGA off the stage is the highlight of my day!

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Tom Thumb's avatar

They weren't saying booooo, they were saying let's go brandon.

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Cindy H's avatar

Wow - I didn't know Liz Cheney endorsed Colin Allred! Respect 👊🏻

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John K's avatar

An Allred victory in TX would offset a loss in MT, though I believe Sen. Tester will prevail.

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kdsherpa's avatar

Praying for Senator Tester's win. I've donated a LOT of money to his candidacy. More than to any other senator -- ever. He is a marvelous person, and WE NEED HIM in the Senate. (I live in SC. There are some of us who care about democracy. Despite years of trying, I can't do anything about the red state in which I live. So I go out of state, and put my money where it can hopefully do some good!)

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Sep 7
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kdsherpa's avatar

I haven't given up, but I'm directing my money to candidates who have may be able to win their Senate races. (Fingers crossed!)

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ArcticStones's avatar

May I suggest finding ways to support Debbie Mucarsel-Powell against Rick Scott in Florida, and Dan Osborn against Deb Fischer in Nebraska? Polls show both being very close to unseating the Republican incumbents.

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Blue Virginia's avatar

I have recently contributed to these senate races too.

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kdsherpa's avatar

Thanks for those recommendations! (I think I'm donated out, though, on Tester, Gallego, and Harris-Walz for 2024. Hopefully others will see your suggestions, though.)

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Blue Virginia's avatar

Me too and thank you so much for what you are doing to help Senator Tester. Senator Tester’s race is the campaign where I have contributed the most money, although I have donated to many senate races of which I am concentrating my money because of the critical importance of lifetime judicial appointments, especially Supreme Court appointments when they come up. But I have also contributed to Nebraska’s blue dot district, the N.C. governor’s race, the N.C. Democratic Party and our important House races in Virginia. I have given a lot to Ruben Gallego before and after joining Hopium this past June. And, of course, Biden/Harris and now, Harris/Walz. But the large majority of my contributions stay within the senate races.

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kdsherpa's avatar

You are very wise! I donated heavily to Biden/Harris and Harris/Walz during June and July. I was terrified of what was going on in the polling of the Dems v. the orange sadist, and the thought that our country might be taken over by fascists.

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Cindy H's avatar

🙏🏻🙏🏻 that Tester wins.

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Dr. Kent Boyer's avatar

I lived in Texas for 30 years, from the time Ann Richards won the governorship. We used to be excited about candidates like Allred and Beto, etc. all the time. Someone would say, but can they win? And the balloon would get deflated. If Allred can defeat Cruz, I'd say that's the beginning of a new political era in Texas. There's a bench of great state Dem legislators who could easily be national candidates should someone break through.

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Tom Thumb's avatar

The best proof that voter suppression is real: there are seven states that are majority-minority: CA, HI, NM, NV, MD, GA, and TX. In CA, HI, NM, and MD, every statewide official plus both Senators are Democrats. In NV, Dems hold every statewide office except governor (lost that by 1.4 points in 2022 over COVID restrictions), plus both branches of the legislature, and both Senators are Dems. In GA, both Senators are Dems. Meanwhile, in Texas, not a single Democrat holds statewide office. The MSM can chide us that Latinos/Latinas and Black Americans are not "monoliths," but c'mon, what's the big difference between these groups in TX and New Mexico--right next door--NV, and/or CA? TX ain"t FL--we're not talking about anti-Communist Cubans and Venezuelans here. Not coincidentally, in 2020, Texas was the most difficult state in the country to vote in, GA was second, and both nevertheless passed a raft of new suppression laws in 2021. But that's because the GOP in both places (and FL, which did the same, and will likely be the next majority-minority state) are running scared. So, let's https://creativepoli.net/liberate_TX , right? :) And get a real working majority so we can nuke the filibuster, voter suppression (all unconstitutional), and the authoritarian Court!

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ArcticStones's avatar

Take a look at the second map on this page of 270-to-win. That bottom map, based purely on polls, show Florida and Texas as tossups!

https://www.270towin.com/content/compare-the-2024-presidential-consensus-and-polling-maps

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Linda (Evanston IL)'s avatar

His opponent dissed Native Americans, not good idea in Montana.

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Tom Thumb's avatar

Yeah, and dissed might be putting it politely: "it's a great way to bond with all the Indians, being out there while they're drunk at 8 a.m."

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Blue Virginia's avatar

I think you meant that Senator Jon Tester’s GQP opponent dissed the Native American Crow tribe which was not a good move.

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Arthur Silbergeld's avatar

Endorsements from George W, Laura Bush and Taylor Swift would seal the result.

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ArcticStones's avatar

Those endorsements are sorely needed. Add Mitt Romney to that list – but I don’t think he has the spine required to do that. I would also like to see a timely, patriotic statement from Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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Cindy H's avatar

Arnold might endorse - doubtful that George W will endorse. Romney? I share your sentiment. What is taking Taylor so long?????

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ArcticStones's avatar

My guess is timing – Taylor Swift wants to have the greatest impact possible.

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Jarrod Emerson's avatar

Good point - I just read she did not endorse Biden until one month before the 2020 election, so I think we just have to be patient !

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Sep 7
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Cindy H's avatar

Thanks - as I said above, I forgot when she endorsed Biden in 2020.

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Cindy H's avatar

I completely forgot at what point she endorsed Biden in 2020. Thanks! Phew!

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Brian's avatar

I expect an endorsement from her closer to national voter registration day on the 17th.

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Sarah B's avatar

Fingers crossed, come on Tay Tay!!!

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Freda's avatar

Agree. This was the Cheneys’ best timing for Republicans who are now paying attention. Taylor and Scwarzenegger are probably waiting for the genl publicto be paying attention, which means October. Good to space out these mega-(not MAGA) endorsements!

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Ctkat1's avatar

If Taylor endorses it’ll almost certainly be in October for maximum impact.

Remember that while we have been paying attention for a year, most Americans don’t start tuning in until after Labor Day. So October is the best time to “make a big splash” and keep momentum moving.

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Cindy H's avatar

True.

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kdsherpa's avatar

Amazing to me that Romney continues to be silent. WHY, Mitt??

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Colleen McGloughlin's avatar

Wimp.

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kdsherpa's avatar

Taylor may well be worried about violence her maggot fans would direct at her.

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Cindy H's avatar

The good news for her is that she has so much money, she has security - not diminishing the threat at all.

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kdsherpa's avatar

Excellent point!

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JC Tierney's avatar

Trying to sign up for the Thursday night postcarding sessions and the links seem to be broken. Thanks!

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Ross J Bernstein's avatar

correct me if I'm wrong. Everything favors a win for harris. they are raising much more money than trump and the voter registrations are thru the roof compared to 2020, record levels of enthusiasm, huge advantage in ground gajme resources and unprecedented number of prominent republicans endorsing her and Dobbs. she is up by 3 to 4 points nationally with 538. I feel she should be up 5 or 6 points nationally to win the election. Trump is awarded 2 points for the electoral college and everyone is talking about nate silver giving trump a 60% chance of winning.

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Donna PG's avatar

In Simon's previous post, he wrote that Nate Silver is no longer with 538 and 538 is what we follow here. Someone else wrote that Nate is now maga and funded by RW extremist Peter Thiel. That should tell us everything we need to know. What I wish is that corporate media would stop platforming him. I guess a few more big losses from his predictions should do the job.

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Jarrod Emerson's avatar

Silver lost my respect a long time ago

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Jarrod Emerson's avatar

Perhaps, but we just can't be paralyzed with fear by polls. Polls are (increasingly blurry) snapshots. They're not to be taken as gospel. Nate Silver often makes contradictory comments and is one of the snarkiest "forecasters" out there, it's my guess that he craves relevance as much as any other attention seeking talking head. Look at how last midterms turned out for him - spoiler alert : he didn't get huge parts of it right. Polls, editorial boards & smartass has-beens don't decide this election. Tens of millions of people like you and me do!

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Donna PG's avatar

One good thing about Nate: He inspired Simon to name this substack "Hopium" (hope with a plan) Chronicles. I just love that.

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Jarrod Emerson's avatar

Exactly ! Might as well put those snide remarks to good use & Simon sure as hell did!

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Donna PG's avatar

Oh yes!! IDK if Nate pays attention, but I hope he’s noticed how well Simon and Hopium (and Dems) are doing. It’s satisfying to me, so I imagine it might be for Simon too. ;-)

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Simon Rosenberg's avatar

Pls ignore Nate. Thank you.

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Cindy H's avatar

I know. I saw the Huffington Post headline about Nate Silver and even though I know better, it still caused me to gasp. Then, I remembered - okay let it go - and I didn't read the article.

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Blue Virginia's avatar

I also saw the headline on HP but did not read the article.

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Peter Luciano's avatar

Lousy NYT Siena poll this morning. Trump plus 1. Don’t get it. Makes no sense. Trying to ignore it.

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Jarrod Emerson's avatar

Remember, Peter - as great as the validation of good polling feels, try not to rely on it. Hell, I might need to stay off these comment threads lol. Because if I try to ignore polls, I just end up reading about half of them here lol. One the one it would be interesting to know the breakdown. Yet at the same time it's likely a rabbit hole NOT worth going down. Sigh....

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Kathy's avatar

Awesome ads for reproductive rights by Team Harris/Walz ! 📣 What are considered “battleground media markets” ?? Hoping to see some ads in Florida.

DeSantis has now launched an “investigation” into signatures supporting Amend 4 with reports of LEO’s sent to homes of some who signed the petition.This is going to BIGLY backfire on DeSantis, just like his awful, stealth plan to develop states parks. Still lots of work to do but he just keeps making our job easier..✍️🚶‍♀️📲💲👕🪧

https://newrepublic.com/post/185704/florida-police-state-abortion-ballot-initiative

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kdsherpa's avatar

I'm thrilled by the good news re Gallego. I've been donating to his campaign monthly for almost a year now! (I'm in SC, but I am aware of how critical his success will be.)

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Scott Gilbert's avatar

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell is ONE percentage point behind Rick Scott and is behind by $15Million. Can we please work on helping her turn Florida BLUE?

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Daniel Solomon's avatar

In Byop:

Hi [Their Name]! In FL we love our freedoms. But MAGA Republicans don't! They passed a brutal abortion ban and criminalized weed. FIGHT BACK! REGISTER & VOTE for Democrats like Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for Senate and vote YES on Amendments 3 & 4 to legalize recreational marijuana AND restore abortion rights! ft6.us/FL_reg

https://www.fieldteam6.org/free-byop-textbanks

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Impossible Santa Wife's avatar

We are lucky that FL-Democratic party leadership changed hands, to Nikki Fried, before this election. To win elections, it’s not enough to have a superstar candidate (though that does help!) but the party infrastructure itself must be there to help that candidate win. Fried is a much better party chair than her predecessor, and has already notched some state and local victories.

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Linda (Evanston IL)'s avatar

I’ve been donating to her quite a while. The polls are irrelevant. It’s voter registration that matters

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ArcticStones's avatar

And GOTV and voter turnout. If MAGA Republican turnout remains at, say 67 percent, and Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents together with sane Republicans turnout hits 75 or 80 percent, then we’ll win in a landslide – in Florida and in state after state!

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Tom Thumb's avatar

Especially as Tom Bonior pointed out, given that new registrants since Kamala became the nominee haven't been added to the voter rolls yet and therefore aren't being polled by anyone (yet)

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kdsherpa's avatar

"haven't been added to the voter rolls yet" I must have missed this. Why haven't they been added??

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Holly Hertel's avatar

I love how natural Ruben is. Very different than the usual politician who just spouts out their bullied list.

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Donna PG's avatar

Simon, thanks so much for all these great videos and latest upbeat notes and info—such a shot in the arm for us!!! I love getting carried away by all this great news because it doesn't stop me from working as much as I can...it just motivates me to do even more!!! Such a difference from when I first started in the spring. It's true, excitement and positivity is a much stronger motivator than fear (and being behind). 👍🏼💙🇺🇸🥥🌴

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Shmoobly's avatar

I'm churning out postcards every single day!

Just dropping in to say THANK YOU Simon and THANK YOU Team Hopium!

Go Go Go Team Hopium, this may sound corny but I love you all so much, because we are working together to save our country. 🥥🌴💪

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Cindy H's avatar

I have about 20 postcards for PA to do and then I wait to mail all 450 of them! Feels good.

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Sarah B's avatar

Good for you! Can't wait for my North Carolina postcards to arrive!

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Sarah B's avatar

Agreed, I am so inspired by Simon and our community!

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Matthew Joseph Rothschild's avatar

You don't mention the Tester race that often. I am worried. How is voter reg going?

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Larry Senechal's avatar

Why are there no hot links to our Senate candidates? A Harris-Walz Presidency will be stymied if we do not hold the Senate and only prevail in the House. Jon Testor in MT is trailing by 5 points according to one source. There is a reason why Democratic Presidents call a GoP controlled Senate the graveyard of legislation.🤷🏻‍♂️

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Simon Rosenberg's avatar

Our candidate strategy this cycle is to endorse only in non-incumbent races (with the exception of Harris-Walz) or expansion opportunities for it is where your money and time goes the furthest. The only Senate race right now that is close is Montana, and the only credible recent public poll there has Tester up 5. I assume that race is a toss up. Folks here are free to whatever they want outside of Hopium. We are a new and smallish community and wanted to keep our targets this cycle high value and achievable. See my note on our checkmate strategy today in the post.

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Larry Senechal's avatar

Thanks for your explanation Simon - deeply appreciate. I will continue to provide financial support to Testor and other Democratic Party senatorial candidates in tough races. I’ve also been a regular contributor to those campaigns highlighted in your Newsletter. As for Harris-Walz I may be bankrupt after the campaign season😂🙏🏻 as well as need surgery on my writing hand because of post carding….just kidding😊. Never thought I’d be fighting for my country at home against anti-democratic and hateful fascists when I came back from Vietnam as a combat Marine rifleman in 1969 Semper Fi

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kdsherpa's avatar

Love your comment re bankruptcy! I've been raiding my retirement account to the tune of many thousands. But I feel like I gotta do it. The alternative is fascism.

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Larry Senechal's avatar

I’m with you brother!!! To be silent and unengaged is to give permission to others to determine your fate. Take heart from Thomas Paine: “THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated”

― Thomas Paine, The Crisis

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kdsherpa's avatar

Beautiful! (P.S. I'm your sister!)

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Shmoobly's avatar

Larry and all fellow postcarders, use this pen for postcarding, it will be easier on your hand. Refillable too! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002FSZP5A?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_p13n-bia-ontype-mam-t3_k2_1_6&amp=&crid=236QSUQSTJCRY&amp=&sprefix=jetstr

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Cindy H's avatar

oops too late for me 😂

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Freda's avatar

Thanks, Shmoobly. Been meaning to get that pen and you kicked my butt to put in an order just now. More postcarding!

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Sarah B's avatar

Great tip, thank you!

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Larry Senechal's avatar

Thank you very much, indeed❤️!!! “Twill be life saving for this old gyrene😂.

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ArcticStones's avatar

If only Uniball offered a set of blue-ink-only pens.

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Sarah B's avatar

Haha re bankruptcy, me too!!!! Thanks for all you're doing and for your service.

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kdsherpa's avatar

And thank YOU, back again!!

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Larry Senechal's avatar

Si se Puede🇺🇸👍🏻😊. We are free men and women for a reason. “Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in ihaving the right to do what we ought. ~ Pope John Paul II. Our enemy is at the gate including some amongst us. Time to step up and let our voices be heard. Our Constitution says “We the People” for a reason😊!!!

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kdsherpa's avatar

You have so many wonderful pieces of great wisdom to share! I truly feel uplifted after reading your quotes from Paine and Pope John Paul II. Keep them coming!!!

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Larry Senechal's avatar

I was a history and political science major at George Washington University in D.C. after I did my military service as a combat Marine infantryman in Vietnam in 1968. Here I am 77 and it’s been very hard to give it up. So much to learn and to apply. Thanks again for your kind words.

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Dr. Kent Boyer's avatar

Just donated again to Ruben's campaign. I can't thank you enough, Simon, for introducing us to these Congressional candidates - watching them talk about their races I am constantly thinking what fine people these are and what we could do in our government with people like Ruben representing us. It is my sincere hope that we have begun to turn the corner from electing primarily millionaires to Congress and starting to populate both houses with leaders from the great middle class. It WILL make a difference in our country as we continue to do that! I'm so thankful that you've helped us know where we could spend money where it really will make a difference this cycle. Kent Boyer

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Steve Adams's avatar

Really enjoyed the convo with Liz Plank and how she noted the Tim Walz effect as far as men and masculinity. Of all the many very smart things Kamala has done, when she picked him I saw it as an extremely important and powerful move as it gave the guys out there a model for themselves - a "normal," straightforward guy who you'd love to have as a neighbor - and it would both welcome them to the Democratic party and make them much more comfortable about supporting the ticket.

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Freda's avatar

Hey, for the women, we’d love to have Walz as a partner!

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Steve's avatar

Absolutely, Steve!

I also think Tim Waltz defuses the whole idea of Democrats as "coastal elites" (which has always been a lie, just like the idea of Rs being better for the economy)

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