Simon - I hope you will spend more time right away on the huge, looming "debt ceiling" crisis. Its such a potential threat to Biden's presidency and our agenda re MAGA.
Your comment today just adds to my mounting concern:
"In their new anti-Biden video the RNC also talks about an American financial crisis. The things they are discussing here - an American financial crisis, crashing currency, loss of dollar dominance - will only happen if Republicans choose to default on our financial obligations. That they are already attacking Biden for these things, before they have even happened, suggests the decision to default has already been made by Republican leaders."
We also have the NYTimes (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/27/us/politics/biden-debt-ceiling.html) again treating MAGA as a legitimate political entity instead of the financial terrorists that they are. And -- in my reading -- suggesting that negotiating should now be the norm, utterly failing to differentiate between the "debt ceiling" and future budget negotiations.
I hope that you will formulate a very specific, concise summary of the debt ceiling issue -- what's at stake, what's happened in the past, how it differs from future budget negotiations etc -- that we can use in our activism. I regularly write/call (and encourage a large number of family and friends) Biden, my Congressional representatives and the main stream media. Help with how to best frame my comments on this issue, in the most understandable and forceful/LOUD way, would be very welcome. I hope it would be to others who are part of this community as well.
Thank you for all you do, for your encouragement, for going the substack route.
I hear you! Below is a link for Rep Jeffries discussing the default and bonus mentioning the diverse dem caucus that went to Ghana and Israel. (Echoing US dem support in these countries).
But he has excellent one liners about default. Listen to this with a notepad. Like ‘The only responsible thing to do, with respect to avoiding a catastrophic default on our debt is to do what has consistently been done for both democratic and republican presidents which is make sure America pays her bills.’
‘Biden produced a budget and House REPUBS produced a RANSOM NOTE. That is what the Default on America Act is, and it is WILDLY IRRESPONSIBLE’.
DAA is dead on arrival. It is not a serious proposal.’
Listen all the way thru, he comes back to it multiple times.
‘It is an very EXTREME BILL that will hurt middle class America, all those who aspire to the middle class....’
He talks about how reps talk like moderates and then vote with the extreme right.
‘Understand this is a manufactured crisis that extreme MAGA is trying to force on Americans’. ‘Dems raised debt ceiling to avoid dangerous default 3x under Trump’....
(Like Simon pointed out NC Rep Jeff Jackson who called this out when the cameras are rolling they get more extreme.) https://youtu.be/_PEo9U6UWdY
Simon said today on a zoom for subscribers that Biden’s team is taking this very seriously and Biden will likely be talking about it soon.
Wow! Trump's statement is a great reminder of the irony-rich, fact-free word salad diet he feeds his MAGAts. Apparently he's burned thru communications professionals just like he's burned thru attorneys.
Simon thanks for the meeting today. It is so interesting getting exposed to the national grassroots network that has worked so hard to bring us here. Thanks to all of you with hope and a plan.
Hoping my plan continues to come into focus here with everyone. Peace, family.
Re: Early Vote Starts Monday in Jacksonville. Simon, here’s proof of concept for what you set out to do on Hopium. In response to your call for nationwide grassroots action focused on Jacksonville, we at BlueVoterGuide.org added Florida to our list of covered states in 2023. Blue Voter Guide presents a simple ballot guide tailored to every voter based on where they live, showing endorsements of trusted, local, on-the-ground organizations on the left. Essentially an X-ray of who backs all the candidates and ballot measures, making smart Blue choices easier and faster. At https://BlueVoterGuide.org, click on Jacksonville (Active Primaries--under the address window) to see how Donna Degan’s race looks to her potential voters. Thanks for focusing our grassroots power via Hopium!
Simon: Ruy Teixeira, originally of hope-tastic "The Emerging Democratic Majority" fame, has evolved into something of your opposite. His (non-existent) Substack might be called the Doomium Chronicles. His focus is demographics, and he's really zeroed in on Dem loses among working class voters.
Teixeira is out today with an article detailing all the pitfalls (for Democrats) of a Biden-Trump rematch. PLEASE, I think it would be so helpful, if you walked us through his arguments and why you disagree (if you do) with his analysis.
I think it's so important to nip these arguments in the bud. They're serious and well-intentioned, but when they take hold on our side they lead to many of us sliding down the doom spiral and distract from the work we should do in building positive, hopeful sentiment on our side.
Also, as proof of your concept: Although it's past the voter registration deadline in Jacksonville, we've using our data to set up GOTV postcard and texting campaigns as well. All you readers/fans of Simon/democracy – would love for you to promote to your lists: https://www.fieldteam6.org/volunteer-ops (just look for Postcarding & BYOP Textbanking for Donna Deegan campaigns). Our recent RCT proves every outreach touch matters.
Simon-thanks for taking a call from my friend Nicole at New Era Colorado. They have been extremely successful in motivating and turning out young voters here and I have been a great fan and supporter of their work. I wish you great success in this new medium.
Sacha, somehow the recording didn't happen. I will be sending out a podcast that I recorded yesterday as a replacement. Not really sure what happened but I am sorry about that.
https://substack.com/profile/140128499-b-johnson/note/c-15331203
This made me smile! Biden is a rockstar diplomat!
Simon - I hope you will spend more time right away on the huge, looming "debt ceiling" crisis. Its such a potential threat to Biden's presidency and our agenda re MAGA.
Your comment today just adds to my mounting concern:
"In their new anti-Biden video the RNC also talks about an American financial crisis. The things they are discussing here - an American financial crisis, crashing currency, loss of dollar dominance - will only happen if Republicans choose to default on our financial obligations. That they are already attacking Biden for these things, before they have even happened, suggests the decision to default has already been made by Republican leaders."
We also have the NYTimes (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/27/us/politics/biden-debt-ceiling.html) again treating MAGA as a legitimate political entity instead of the financial terrorists that they are. And -- in my reading -- suggesting that negotiating should now be the norm, utterly failing to differentiate between the "debt ceiling" and future budget negotiations.
I hope that you will formulate a very specific, concise summary of the debt ceiling issue -- what's at stake, what's happened in the past, how it differs from future budget negotiations etc -- that we can use in our activism. I regularly write/call (and encourage a large number of family and friends) Biden, my Congressional representatives and the main stream media. Help with how to best frame my comments on this issue, in the most understandable and forceful/LOUD way, would be very welcome. I hope it would be to others who are part of this community as well.
Thank you for all you do, for your encouragement, for going the substack route.
I hear you! Below is a link for Rep Jeffries discussing the default and bonus mentioning the diverse dem caucus that went to Ghana and Israel. (Echoing US dem support in these countries).
But he has excellent one liners about default. Listen to this with a notepad. Like ‘The only responsible thing to do, with respect to avoiding a catastrophic default on our debt is to do what has consistently been done for both democratic and republican presidents which is make sure America pays her bills.’
‘Biden produced a budget and House REPUBS produced a RANSOM NOTE. That is what the Default on America Act is, and it is WILDLY IRRESPONSIBLE’.
DAA is dead on arrival. It is not a serious proposal.’
Listen all the way thru, he comes back to it multiple times.
‘It is an very EXTREME BILL that will hurt middle class America, all those who aspire to the middle class....’
He talks about how reps talk like moderates and then vote with the extreme right.
‘Understand this is a manufactured crisis that extreme MAGA is trying to force on Americans’. ‘Dems raised debt ceiling to avoid dangerous default 3x under Trump’....
(Like Simon pointed out NC Rep Jeff Jackson who called this out when the cameras are rolling they get more extreme.) https://youtu.be/_PEo9U6UWdY
Simon said today on a zoom for subscribers that Biden’s team is taking this very seriously and Biden will likely be talking about it soon.
Also encourage FIRM messaging to your reps.
I am.
Jeffries
https://youtu.be/U62L8F9qPMM
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/briefing-room/2023/04/20/congressional-republicans-legislation-22-cuts-that-would-harm-american-families-seniors-and-veterans/
Chop Wood Carry Water has good scripts to read and great action items to fight this
Wow! Trump's statement is a great reminder of the irony-rich, fact-free word salad diet he feeds his MAGAts. Apparently he's burned thru communications professionals just like he's burned thru attorneys.
Great, B. Johnson - thank you! This is very helpful.
Simon thanks for the meeting today. It is so interesting getting exposed to the national grassroots network that has worked so hard to bring us here. Thanks to all of you with hope and a plan.
Hoping my plan continues to come into focus here with everyone. Peace, family.
Re: Early Vote Starts Monday in Jacksonville. Simon, here’s proof of concept for what you set out to do on Hopium. In response to your call for nationwide grassroots action focused on Jacksonville, we at BlueVoterGuide.org added Florida to our list of covered states in 2023. Blue Voter Guide presents a simple ballot guide tailored to every voter based on where they live, showing endorsements of trusted, local, on-the-ground organizations on the left. Essentially an X-ray of who backs all the candidates and ballot measures, making smart Blue choices easier and faster. At https://BlueVoterGuide.org, click on Jacksonville (Active Primaries--under the address window) to see how Donna Degan’s race looks to her potential voters. Thanks for focusing our grassroots power via Hopium!
Thank you Dale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Simon: Ruy Teixeira, originally of hope-tastic "The Emerging Democratic Majority" fame, has evolved into something of your opposite. His (non-existent) Substack might be called the Doomium Chronicles. His focus is demographics, and he's really zeroed in on Dem loses among working class voters.
Teixeira is out today with an article detailing all the pitfalls (for Democrats) of a Biden-Trump rematch. PLEASE, I think it would be so helpful, if you walked us through his arguments and why you disagree (if you do) with his analysis.
I think it's so important to nip these arguments in the bud. They're serious and well-intentioned, but when they take hold on our side they lead to many of us sliding down the doom spiral and distract from the work we should do in building positive, hopeful sentiment on our side.
Thank you!
Also, as proof of your concept: Although it's past the voter registration deadline in Jacksonville, we've using our data to set up GOTV postcard and texting campaigns as well. All you readers/fans of Simon/democracy – would love for you to promote to your lists: https://www.fieldteam6.org/volunteer-ops (just look for Postcarding & BYOP Textbanking for Donna Deegan campaigns). Our recent RCT proves every outreach touch matters.
Simon-thanks for taking a call from my friend Nicole at New Era Colorado. They have been extremely successful in motivating and turning out young voters here and I have been a great fan and supporter of their work. I wish you great success in this new medium.
Where can I find the link to the recording of Friday’s Zoom - Paid Political Briefing and Hangout With Simon?
Sacha, somehow the recording didn't happen. I will be sending out a podcast that I recorded yesterday as a replacement. Not really sure what happened but I am sorry about that.