Keep up the good work! As Republicans grind themselves into dust, we need to grind all of these points into sparkling diamonds and cash them in next November.
Simon, I wonder if you could start talking about election security and the importance of voting, at every level of state and local government, for election officials who, at a minimum, are not anti-democracy election deniers. The only way MAGA can win, at this point, is to subvert the electoral process by gerrymandering, enacting vote-suppressing laws, and putting cheaters in positions where they can throw out votes and votes. Everyone in the Hopium community should be an election official and recruit others.
We took our eyes off the all in NY-3 last time so it’s good to get the seat back on our way to taking back the House in Nov.--- let’s remember to keep NY and CA in our outreach plans b/c these states are just as crucial to a big win as the battleground states. A lesson learned, I trust! Go Hopies!
Susan, I participated in the several of the Sundays for Suozzi postcard writing parties. In addition to some guest celebrities there was a lot of discussion from the locals about "taking their eyes off the ball and taking things for granted". But what really energized many of them was that they were rebuilding that infrastructure and that it would be ready for Nov. in other NY districts. The NY Democratic party loaned the Suozzi campaign someone to work on the campaign, but he also learned about the effectiveness of engaging with grassroots groups and not getting into turf wars. So the other NY campaigns will have a roadmap to use in leveraging grassroots volunteers.
I really think that all these special elections over the past few years have meant that grassroot groups make connections with groups outside of their own geography and with each campaign we iteratively get better. I think there are a lot of people willing to take action, but they aren't sure what to do so substacks like Hopium Chronicles, Jessica Craven's Chop Wood Carry Watter and Robert Hubble's Today's Edition Newsletter give us something to coalesce around.
I agree. I'm working with Seniors Taking Action. Through their Wednesday Speaker Series, I have been introduced to so many activist groups. I have been blown away by how many wonderful groups there are out there. I see this amazing network of folks of every age and stripe committed to saving and expanding democracy. I'm in Northern California and it's been wonderful to meet folks from across the country. I'm thinking of making up some cards with a blurb about Substack and the blogs you mentioned so that I have something to hand to people I meet who express an interest in getting involved. It's almost like belonging to a digital underground railroad. In talking with people from all over I find that once you scratch the surface, people are eager to take action if they know where to go to begin.
I was just introduced to The Union which is a massive off shoot of The Lincoln Project.
I was shocked about the size and scope of all the coalitions working together. And I felt deeply proud of all the thousands ( millions?) connecting and investing in supporting our democracy. Blown away like you described.
AND, Jim Prokopiak (DEM) won the Special Election in Bucks County, PA to cement the Democratic control of the PA State House. Large margin of 67.7% to 32.3%.
In some articles they say that special election victories are correlated with November elections and in some they say there is no correlation. Can you comment?
No poll, no election can predict the future. It's a bit of a straw man, in my mind. All I do is talk about what is happening now, in front of our eyes, and now we just keep kicking their ass in election after election all across the country; and who would you rather be, the team winning all the time or the team losing all the time with the most unfit man we've ever seen leading them?
Simon, thank you SO MUCh for explaining, passionately, about the Democratic army of activists. I hope the Biden campaign will quickly become equally explicit, honoring and pumping up this group that you are an eloquent spokesman for. And that the MSNBC hosts, beyond their chatter, will actually make it a priority to focus on this. No doubt you tell them that often.
Ciao from Rome! Simon your interview with Lawrence O'Donnel last night was inspiring. Thank you! I shared it with the Democrats Abroad team here in Italy. We are fired up and working to register all Americans living or studying in Italy to vote. If the Hopium team members know anyone who is living or studying abroad - please remind them that they can vote!! Our overseas votes can be the margin of victory in tight races. Send every US citizen abroad to https://votefromabroad.org to register & request their overseas ballot. Let's get this done!
Yes, I will be talking to Dems Abroad Mexico in late March, and yes, Dems Abroad really matter. Best to Rome Kelly....my son is now home, but misses it every day.
Congratulations to you too Simon, on picking the winners that we’re so chuffed join in supporting! And thanks all in advance for supporting anything NC - we’re paying dearly for down-ticket eyes off the ‘22 ball…
Simon could you venture thoughts about effects of Biden’s Middle East stances and (below the radar?) record oil/gas extraction? Is that showing up in exit polls at all? The youth vote? Yes, Go Hopies!!
A little less than 1/3 of the votes in the NY 3 special election were early-in person and by mail. More support for your advice to vote early-they were all safe from the snow
Early voting starts tomorrow for the NC Primary. I will be voting either tomorrow or Friday - I still have a little more research to do for a couple of the races.
Here's another opportunity to phonebank to encourage voters to vote early in the NC primaries. It comes from You Can Vote - I'm going to be regisitering new voters with them.
There is one on Sunday afternoon 2 - 5 pm and another one Tuesday evening 6 - 8 pm.
I think I might have been willing to expose a roomful of politicians to covid to cast that vote... She's clearly a responsible person; hope she's okay.
Indeed! Democrats spoiled Johnson’s last impeachment effort by wheeling in Congressman Al Green of Texas, in hospital scrubs, so he could cast his surprise vote.
If she was in DC, I think the masked Congresswoman Judy Chu could and should have saved the day. (Bonus points if she had coughed on some of the anti-masker, antivaxxer MAGA reps!)
As a paying subscriber since the beginning of Hopium Chronicles, I have carefully watched your language develop. Today's post is the best yet; what a pleasure and a thrill. Short, declarative sentences work!
True. And there are no BUTS
Was a great night for our side, for America and Democracy and more to come!
Keep up the good work! As Republicans grind themselves into dust, we need to grind all of these points into sparkling diamonds and cash them in next November.
Simon, I wonder if you could start talking about election security and the importance of voting, at every level of state and local government, for election officials who, at a minimum, are not anti-democracy election deniers. The only way MAGA can win, at this point, is to subvert the electoral process by gerrymandering, enacting vote-suppressing laws, and putting cheaters in positions where they can throw out votes and votes. Everyone in the Hopium community should be an election official and recruit others.
We took our eyes off the all in NY-3 last time so it’s good to get the seat back on our way to taking back the House in Nov.--- let’s remember to keep NY and CA in our outreach plans b/c these states are just as crucial to a big win as the battleground states. A lesson learned, I trust! Go Hopies!
Not to be confused with Hopis! lol
Susan, I participated in the several of the Sundays for Suozzi postcard writing parties. In addition to some guest celebrities there was a lot of discussion from the locals about "taking their eyes off the ball and taking things for granted". But what really energized many of them was that they were rebuilding that infrastructure and that it would be ready for Nov. in other NY districts. The NY Democratic party loaned the Suozzi campaign someone to work on the campaign, but he also learned about the effectiveness of engaging with grassroots groups and not getting into turf wars. So the other NY campaigns will have a roadmap to use in leveraging grassroots volunteers.
I really think that all these special elections over the past few years have meant that grassroot groups make connections with groups outside of their own geography and with each campaign we iteratively get better. I think there are a lot of people willing to take action, but they aren't sure what to do so substacks like Hopium Chronicles, Jessica Craven's Chop Wood Carry Watter and Robert Hubble's Today's Edition Newsletter give us something to coalesce around.
I agree. I'm working with Seniors Taking Action. Through their Wednesday Speaker Series, I have been introduced to so many activist groups. I have been blown away by how many wonderful groups there are out there. I see this amazing network of folks of every age and stripe committed to saving and expanding democracy. I'm in Northern California and it's been wonderful to meet folks from across the country. I'm thinking of making up some cards with a blurb about Substack and the blogs you mentioned so that I have something to hand to people I meet who express an interest in getting involved. It's almost like belonging to a digital underground railroad. In talking with people from all over I find that once you scratch the surface, people are eager to take action if they know where to go to begin.
Yes, totally, this is what builds my hope is all the people out there doing the work! We are not alone!!
we are not alone. There are hundreds of thousands, millions of us. And we are mighty.
Hi Susan,
I was just introduced to The Union which is a massive off shoot of The Lincoln Project.
I was shocked about the size and scope of all the coalitions working together. And I felt deeply proud of all the thousands ( millions?) connecting and investing in supporting our democracy. Blown away like you described.
Definitely a blue tsunami RISING 🌊 🌊!!!!
Glad to be a part of it.
That was “eyes off the ball,” then but not now, thank goodness! George Santos is replaced big time!
AND, Jim Prokopiak (DEM) won the Special Election in Bucks County, PA to cement the Democratic control of the PA State House. Large margin of 67.7% to 32.3%.
In some articles they say that special election victories are correlated with November elections and in some they say there is no correlation. Can you comment?
No poll, no election can predict the future. It's a bit of a straw man, in my mind. All I do is talk about what is happening now, in front of our eyes, and now we just keep kicking their ass in election after election all across the country; and who would you rather be, the team winning all the time or the team losing all the time with the most unfit man we've ever seen leading them?
Simon, you were great on Lawrence last night, spreading that calming message of optimism and hope. We vote, we win, folks--it's as simple as that.
Simon, thank you SO MUCh for explaining, passionately, about the Democratic army of activists. I hope the Biden campaign will quickly become equally explicit, honoring and pumping up this group that you are an eloquent spokesman for. And that the MSNBC hosts, beyond their chatter, will actually make it a priority to focus on this. No doubt you tell them that often.
I try!
Ciao from Rome! Simon your interview with Lawrence O'Donnel last night was inspiring. Thank you! I shared it with the Democrats Abroad team here in Italy. We are fired up and working to register all Americans living or studying in Italy to vote. If the Hopium team members know anyone who is living or studying abroad - please remind them that they can vote!! Our overseas votes can be the margin of victory in tight races. Send every US citizen abroad to https://votefromabroad.org to register & request their overseas ballot. Let's get this done!
I'm part of Dems Abroad New Zealand, Kelly, and totally agree here. Let's get out our overseas vote this year!
Yes, I will be talking to Dems Abroad Mexico in late March, and yes, Dems Abroad really matter. Best to Rome Kelly....my son is now home, but misses it every day.
Congratulations to you too Simon, on picking the winners that we’re so chuffed join in supporting! And thanks all in advance for supporting anything NC - we’re paying dearly for down-ticket eyes off the ‘22 ball…
Simon could you venture thoughts about effects of Biden’s Middle East stances and (below the radar?) record oil/gas extraction? Is that showing up in exit polls at all? The youth vote? Yes, Go Hopies!!
Michelle Obama said: "When they go low, we go high."
She was absolutely right! When MAGA Republicans go for the gut punch, we go for the jugular!
.
Yes! Our gloves are on! And we're "ready to roll"!
A correction: Our boxing gloves are on!
That's a wonderful image. Thank you!!!!!
Ha! I've just been reading Rachel Bitecofer's Hit Em Where It Hurts, coincidentally.
Is it good? Would you recommend it?
Yes
What a coincidence. I picked it up from the library last Friday, but haven't had the chance to crack it open yet.
A little less than 1/3 of the votes in the NY 3 special election were early-in person and by mail. More support for your advice to vote early-they were all safe from the snow
Early voting starts tomorrow for the NC Primary. I will be voting either tomorrow or Friday - I still have a little more research to do for a couple of the races.
Then it is back to phone banking to get out the vote here in Mecklenburg county. My precinct chair is pretty competitive so she's got her volunteers calling within the precinct. But if anyone else has some time and wants to participate, check out https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/598575/ and/or https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/569199/.
Here's another opportunity to phonebank to encourage voters to vote early in the NC primaries. It comes from You Can Vote - I'm going to be regisitering new voters with them.
There is one on Sunday afternoon 2 - 5 pm and another one Tuesday evening 6 - 8 pm.
https://www.youcanvote.org/events?pc=27704&results=True&date_start=02-14-2024&event_type=322342&emci=a0022cb4-54cb-ee11-85f9-002248223794&emdi=63386301-60cb-ee11-85f9-002248223794&ceid=11396031
Voting on Day 1 is a major priority for all of us this year, for many many reasons.
Here is how fragile Speaker Johnson’s Republican majority is:
– If Suozzi had won a day earlier and immediately taken his seat in Congress, OR
– If Brian Higgins of NY-26 had postponed his resignation and not left on 2 Feb, OR
– If Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) hadn’t been ill with Covid...
...then the second impeachment vote against Mayorkas would also have failed.
.
I think I might have been willing to expose a roomful of politicians to covid to cast that vote... She's clearly a responsible person; hope she's okay.
Indeed! Democrats spoiled Johnson’s last impeachment effort by wheeling in Congressman Al Green of Texas, in hospital scrubs, so he could cast his surprise vote.
If she was in DC, I think the masked Congresswoman Judy Chu could and should have saved the day. (Bonus points if she had coughed on some of the anti-masker, antivaxxer MAGA reps!)
Simon,
Great post today!!!!
As a paying subscriber since the beginning of Hopium Chronicles, I have carefully watched your language develop. Today's post is the best yet; what a pleasure and a thrill. Short, declarative sentences work!
I agree. Perfect summary.
I agree totally! Today's is probably the best post yet!
Thanks, Simon!
It's a keeper, for the duration.
A year of writing 5-6 days a week has been a remarkable thing, and yes my writing has evolved. Thanks for being here since the early days Eric.