Happy Tuesday all. We are back at it here, and have a few things for you today:
I’d Much Rather Be Us Than Them - My post from Saturday was a deep dive on the 2024 election that includes fresh analysis, related links and my video presentation from last Wednesday night that provides a comprehensive overview of where I think we are now, why Trump does not lead and why I believe we are favored to win the election.
Today I am sharing a recording (above) of my 45 minute appearance on C-Span last Thursday morning. As much of C-Span is responding to live callers, this discussion is much more similar to the kinds of discussions we all have with friends than my traditional talks. So I think it’s a good complement to my big presentation on 2024 from last week, and provides language and strategies that will be useful to you in your “info warrior” advocacy work for Joe Biden and the Dems with friends, families and colleagues. This video is for those of you who write in with “Simon how do I respond to my Republican friend who says….”. Here you can watch me responding directly to some of the most common Republican attacks on Biden from your fellow citizens. Get to it when you can and let me know what you think.
And yes I had a piece of my morning toast stuck in my teeth - you can see it in the beginning!!!! Sorry!!!! Despite that I think the interview is great and hope you will enjoy it, toast and all….
My Memorial Day Walk On The Mall - I try to do a walk of the Mall and the Monuments at least once a year, and yesterday my wife and I wife were lucky enough to get one of these walks in. We began with the Vietnam Memorial and then went to see Lincoln, the Korean War Memorial, MLK Jr, FDR, George Mason, Jefferson, the Washington Monument and then the WWII Memorial. As this walk was on Memorial Day, it did have even more significance than usual.
I use these walks as a way to recharge, and remind myself of the greatness of this country and the remarkable journey we’ve been on now for hundreds of years. I will be sharing reflections from the trip here over the next weeks, but let’s start with some photos and a short note….
Today my reflection is from a powerful passage from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. I was struck by the language of the two inscriptions at the Memorial, as they both came from a leader working to guide his people through a terrible war, in the midst of a conflict whose outcome was not known:
At this second appearing to take the oath of the presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement, somewhat in detail, of a course to be pursued, seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention, and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself; and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.
On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it--all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war--seeking to dissolve the Union, and divide effects, by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came.
And the war came.
There is a passage from the Gettysburg Address (below) that I felt speaks to us here in the Hopium community right now:
It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us…….
that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth (bold added for emphasis).
Edited for concision: “The great tasking remaining before us that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
That’s why were here peeps. Why we are in this fight. Victory over the forces trying to weaken our great nation, and tear it apart, is not assured. Things feel uncertain today. But that is why we have to put our heads down and do the work. For we have a “great task” ahead of us, and need to go get it done, together. We cannot waver, even for a moment. Voting begins in less than four months, we have a lot of work to do and a big election to go win.
Here is how the former guy celebrated Memorial Day - by reminding all of us he is a rapist and the most deranged, disgusting and dangerous politician in our history:
Do More, Worry Less - Here at Hopium we do more and worry less. See this new page for background on our work together over the past year, the victories we’ve had and why we are focusing on the campaigns below. Simply, what’s belows is where I think your money and time is best deployed right now, the places where our support can have the biggest impact.
Our 4 Current Campaigns - There are four campaigns we are working on, together, right now:
Donate To and Join The Biden-Harris Campaign - Job #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Help Ruben Gallego Win Arizona. Watch my recent interview with the next Senator from Arizona here.
Win North Carolina By Supporting Anderson Clayton and NC Dems. Watch my interview with the great Anderson Clayton here.
Win The House By Backing Our 11 Candidates in Republican-held seats. All 11 of these courageous patriots will be speaking to the Hopium community in the weeks ahead.
Thanks to all who’ve given to or volunteered for these critical efforts. We’ve already raised over $190,000 for our 11 House candidates in our first week of fundaising! When the Hopium community is called, it answers, again and again and again. Thank you all.
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Keep working hard all. It’s how we win - Simon
My Memorial Day Walk On The Mall, Info Warrioring on C-Span, Do More And Worry Less