How do you turn out a million voters?

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Saturday March 23, 2019 · 9:57 AM PDT

2019/03/23 · 09:57

When I started volunteering for campaigns, way back in 2000 and 2004, the only options were in-person canvassing or phone banking. I drove 200 miles to a battleground state in 2004 to campaign for Kerry. Sometime between 2014 and 2016, I switched over entirely to texting and this is now the only kind of campaign volunteering I do.

I’m going to explain how texting campaigns work, and how you can get involved in one for 2020.

But I don’t have a cell phone.

That’s okay, you won’t need one. If you’re reading and commenting on Daily Kos, you can text using the same tools/setup. I generally work on a laptop.

Every texting campaign I’ve worked on has used one of three websites to text, Hustle, Relay or Spoke. If you volunteer, you’ll be given some training on the tool they’re using. Then you’ll be assigned a shift. Depending on the campaign, this can be anything from 100 to 800 initial texts to send. Names, phone numbers and initial texts are pre-loaded on the web-site (you won’t see a contact’s phone number and they won’t see yours). Your job is to send each text by pressing send. This bit needs to be done by a human being since robo-texts aren’t permitted.

Once you’ve sent all your initial texts, you wait for replies. Depending on the campaign, 5-20% of people you contact will write back. Since all text communication happens through a website, your phone number is never visible to the person you’re texting. You won’t be able to see their number either, campaigns generally hide everything but the first name from text volunteers.

When a reply comes in, you’ll fill out a survey for each reply, and if a response is required, send it (usually using a canned reply). Filling out the survey is nothing more than clicking a few check-boxes in the app. This piece is extremely important because the data gets fed back into the voter file the state/national party maintains.

What if I have questions while I’m texting?

Most texting efforts coordinate with volunteers via instant-messaging. You’ll almost certainly be asked to join the campaign’s Slack. This is where staff and volunteer organizers share updates, answer questions, provide technical help and hand out assignments. Slack will be your lifeline to the campaign.

At different stages of a cycle, campaigns send texts for different reasons.

The most common goal is to ID voters. Here, we are trying to figure out whether we will want to contact them on election day to turn out their vote.

Most of our initial lists come from public voter registration records, but you’ll be surprised at how out of date it can be. People who haven’t voted for a Democrat in several cycles, may still be registered as Democrats. Accurate information gathered directly from voters is critical to eventual GOTV efforts and campaigns. I volunteered for campaigns in TX, MS and AL partly because I knew the voter files there were in bad shape. An effective text campaign can improve a voter file very quickly, gathering accurate data on hundreds of thousands of voters. This pays off in future campaigns, up and down the ballot.

Why do Democratic campaigns want to text?

Texting compliments other canvassing efforts because it can reach a younger, less reliable voter pool who may not be canvassed or respond to phone calls. And it scales. On election day, state wide races will often send out over 1M+ texts. A national campaign might do that every single day for months on end.

Remember the senate seat won by Doug Jones in AL? Behind that victory was a top-notch texting campaign with experienced volunteers from across the country turning out voters. We turned out tens of thousands of voters who wouldn’t otherwise have known about the special election. We turned out tens of thousands of Democrats who vote in presidential cycles, but don’t in other years, through gentle encouragement and one-on-one contact.

On election day, the only goal is to get voters to the polls. We’ll work to get polling location information to voters, and help voters who have trouble at the polls or need a ride.

How do I become a good texter?

As with any campaign activity, we need to remember this isn’t about us, it’s about voters and the campaign’s goals. To be a good texter, you’ll have to understand the goal of the campaign and make that your focus. You’ll have to remember that you’re representing the candidate. On the Bernie campaign, we will often say “Be Like Bernie”, always respectful, always focused on making the world a better place for the many, not the few.

Use the canned replies: Pre-loaded responses are produced by volunteers and staff who’ve given it a lot of thought. They are constantly being tested and improved. Wherever possible, use those. It will save you lots of typing. If you can think of a better response, share it on Slack, and if it’s really good, it’ll be uploaded into the software.
Don’t waste a lot of time trying to persuade: Campaigns are almost never looking to persuade. We are looking to turn out our votes. Most veteran texters will tell you it’s virtually impossible to change someone’s mind via text. The best we can do is provide some information to undecided voters. Arguing with contacts is discouraged.
Do not feed the trolls: Most contacts are busy with their own lives and their questions will be to the point. What is the candidate’s position on X? Where do I go to check whether I’m registered to vote? You’ll quickly recognize trolls. Disengage gently and quickly.
Never, ever get into arguments with voters: A small percentage of contacts will try to get you angry, you’ll get #MAGA responses. That comes with the territory. Use the canned responses and move on to the next contact. Do not take any of it personally. If a contact is abusive/rude, most campaigns will instruct you to opt them out.
Ask for help when you need it: Well-run text campaigns will have volunteer organizers dedicated to mentoring texters. Most campaigns will also have a dedicated team of volunteers reviewing all conversations with contacts, to provide feedback to texters and identify issues early.
Stay on top of your replies: Engagement drops off if contacts don’t hear back on a text within a few minutes. Try to respond promptly. If you’re going to be unavailable for a while, tell the organizers on Slack.
Join Early: If you decide to volunteer a day before election day, you won’t have time to learn the tool, and no one will have the time to train you. Prominent campaigns will often limit assignments to experienced texters close to election day.

Why would I ever do this?

If you want to see real political change in this country, this is a great way to make a difference. You can do this kind of volunteer/organizing work from anywhere. You can help campaigns across the country, even from a deep blue state.

It is more productive than arguing with people on Daily Kos or god forbid Facebook/Twitter.

It’s also fun to text with friends. Grab a couple of your closest friends and host a texting party!

How do I get started?

I’m so glad you asked. The only campaigns actively texting at this point in the cycle are for presidential candidates. Go to the campaign website and sign up to volunteer. They’ll have a texting option. Here are a few links:

Bernie Sanders (this is where you will find me on most days)
Elizabeth Warren
Kamala Harris
Beto O’Rourke
Pete Buttigieg

Outside of campaigns, there are various groups organizing activists around issues. Here are the organizations I find interesting or have volunteered with at one time or another:

If you want to do work with the Mississippi, Alabama or Florida Democratic party, send me a note. They aren’t actively texting at the moment but there is other work they’re doing in the background and the distributed team organizers are always looking for volunteers.

Hope you found this useful, and maybe we’ll work together on a campaign this cycle.

— @subirgrewal |Cross-posted to the TheProgressiveWing.com

Happy 94th Birthday Dr. Reid! Updated!!

ZenTrainer for DK Fans of 90 for 90

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Monday March 18, 2019 · 3:24 PM PDT

2019/03/18 · 15:24

You can see from his bio that it’s Dr. Reid’s 94th birthday today. 90for90, the voter advocacy group, was started to honor him on his 90th birthday. The intent was to register 90 new voters in each precinct in Virginia.

They didn’t actually meet that goal, which would have been 250,000 new voters. Over 600,000 new voters were registered before the 2016 election.

If that’s what he wanted for his 90th birthday, I shudder to think what he’ll want for his 94th. Is he going to want us to encourage those newly registered voters to show up and vote? Aiy, yai, yai!

Leo W Gerard

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Thursday January 10, 2019 · 4:19 PM PST

2019/01/10 · 16:19

Corporatists castigated two lawmakers in recent weeks for daring to offer economic Xanax prescriptions to cure rampant American economic anxiety.

“Stupid,” is what they branded new Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as she became the youngest woman ever to serve in the U.S. House.

“Unlikeable” is what they excoriated U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren with as she began exploring a run for the presidency.

Right-wingers and one percenters had to crush Ocasio-Cortez, Warren and others whose ideas promote dignified jobs with living wages, universal health insurance, affordable access to pre-K and college degrees and a national sense of social cohesiveness.

That’s because in capitalist America, there are summer homes and pleasure boats for the wealthy, but no rest for the weary and worried. The rich and corporations get massive tax breaks, and the 99 percent, well, they get stagnant wages, growing bills and constant angst. How can families afford health care? How can they pay the rising cost of daycare? How can 20 somethings ever afford a home while paying off extortive college loans? Will the elderly avert the indignity of meals made of cat food as corporations eliminate pensions? Worry. Worry. Worry. So many are so miserable in the richest country in the world.

By contrast, year after year, the denizens of Denmark are found to be among the happiest people in the world.

In Danish, the word hygge describes the feeling of wellbeing a person gets when surrounded by friends and family, supportive and caring neighbors and co-workers, all participating willingly in a tax-supported system that provides the safety and security of high-quality basic services such as healthcare and education for all. Hygge can’t be individually purchased and produced with scented candles or home security systems. It’s a common good.

Americans don’t have hygge. They have anxiety. For good reason.

Forty percent of American adults don’t have enough money to cover a $400 emergency expense. Despite low unemployment, 45 percent of Americans rate the economy as poor or only fair. Their economy does not include corporate jet rides and $5 million vacation penthouses in London. For 4.8 million Americans, their economy is forced part-time work without benefits when 40 hours is essential to cover the bills. If there’s something stupid, it’s this economic pain suffered by so many in the richest country in the world, not Ocasio-Cortez’ plans to relieve that pain.

And let’s talk unlikeable. Despite that low unemployment rate, there’s a frighteningly high unemployment rate among men aged 25 to 54. That’s men in their prime. That’s men who want to work. That’s men who have lost family-supporting jobs as corporations like Carrier and GM moved factories to Mexico. That’s men in their 50s forced out of jobs then unable to get new work as corporations refuse to hire older workers. That’s men who commit suicide and suffer addiction – and overdose deaths – at rates so high that life expectancy in the richest country in the world is declining. That’s tragic. And deeply unlikeable – not Elizabeth Warren’s proposed remedies for that pain.

In Denmark, hygge is achieved in part with tax rates that are consistently among the highest in the world. These levies provide a sense of safety and security for Danes that is unimaginable for most Americans. That includes free university tuition, universal healthcare, generous unemployment benefits and 52 weeks of paid leave shared by new parents. Collective social spending buys happiness.

A study by Baylor University showed that’s true in America too. The researchers found Americans are happier in states where taxpayer money is spent on public goods like libraries, parks, highways and natural resources.

The likes of Ocasio-Cortez and Elizabeth Warren contend that Americans deserve some hygge of their own. They differ on how to get there. Some would like to increase the income of the 99 percent, enabling them to buy what they need. Some want to tax corporations and the one percent at the high rates paid in the 1950s and 1960s to cover the costs of public services. Either way or some of both, American hygge is possible.

Elizabeth Warren, born in 1949, grew up in the years when the rich paid 70 to 90 percent marginal tax rates. Much of that money went to pay down the debts of World War II. But it also paid for the benefits in the G.I. Bill, including college and trade school tuition, veterans hospitals and low-interest mortgages. Between 1945 and 1966, a fifth of all new single family homes were financed by the G.I. loan program.

When Warren was 12, her father, a salesman for the Montgomery Ward stores, suffered a heart attack. Medical bills piled up. The family car was repossessed. Warren’s mother, fearing foreclosure, went to work at Sears at the age of 50 for minimum wage. That $1.15-an-hour job saved the family’s home. That’s when minimum wage was worth more. At its peak in 1968, the rate was worth $8.68 in inflation-adjusted dollars. It has been stuck at $7.25 since 2009, losing almost 10 percent of its value due to inflation.

Today’s minimum wage for full-time work will not keep a mother and her child out of poverty, won’t cover the rent on a two-bedroom apartment, won’t provide for a family’s basic survival.

Warren wants a minimum wage sufficient for a family of three to live on. She says a government that works for the people should ensure the minimum wage is sufficient to give workers a shot at climbing into the middle class.

She wants other wages and benefits to rise as well, and one way she proposes to do that is to require that 40 percent of corporate board members be elected by workers. She introduced legislation requiring that for very large corporations. The idea is to make corporations more accountable to employees, customers and communities. If 40 percent of board members were worker representatives, corporations would be less likely to stiff the pension fund, move manufacturing to Mexico or pay the CEO 1,000 times the earnings of the average worker.

Ocasio-Cortez approaches the problem differently. She wants the government to provide services, as Denmark does. Taxes would be higher, particularly for the 1 percent, but other costs would be lower or disappear, such as health insurance premiums and college tuition.

Ocasio-Cortez worked low-wage jobs as a restaurant server and bartender to support herself. She knows the stress. And she knows it’s wrong. She says, “When you can’t provide for your kids working a full-time job, working two full-time jobs, when you can’t have health care, that is not – that is not dignified.”

The Green New Deal she is promoting is much more than a plan to decarbonize. It is a holistic program to establish a more fair and just economy. It would ensure that workers are trained and prepared to transition to a clean energy world and guarantee workers’ right to unionize. It would apply special focus to historically impoverished, marginalized and deindustrialized communities. To promote economic security, it would include basic income programs, universal health care and a living wage job guarantee to every person seeking employment.

That would cost a lot. Hygge is expensive. But Americans deserve it just as much as Danes.

Poll

33 votes Show Results

Americans believe everyone should be on their own, sink or swim, no hygge for them!

33 votes Vote Now!

Americans believe everyone should be on their own, sink or swim, no hygge for them!

That's just cruel. I don't believe Americans are like that!

12 votes

Only wealthy right wingers believe that!

21 votes

Democrats Active in North Dakota

greenandblue

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Sunday September 16, 2018 · 6:38 PM PDT

2018/09/16 · 18:38

Democrats are showing up for the election this year in North Dakota. Most encouraging is the number of young people turning out to make phone calls, knock on doors, join parades, and anything else the party needs. We also have our share of party stalwarts to lead the way. This year, the party is brimming with excitement and enthusiasm. We’re poised to make gains this year while building a solid core for the future.

Statewide, Democrats are organized in the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. Here is a brief description on ballotopedia.

The Democratic-Nonpartisan League Party is a result of a merger between the Nonpartisan League and the Democratic Party in North Dakota in 1960. The traditionally liberal Nonpartisan League grew out of an early twentieth century movement to put control of the state government and economy in the hands of the people. The Nonpartisan League was formed in 1915 and became the state's controlling party by 1918

…

(T)o unite liberals under one banner, the Nonpartisan League and the Democratic Party moved toward consolidation in the 1950s finally agreeing to run a unified ticket in 1956 and eventually merging in 1960.

This year, Democratic candidates are running for federal, statewide and local offices throughout North Dakota. Out of 59 candidates listed on the ND legislative candidate page, 33 are women. North Dakota, with upwards of 90% of its residents being white, is probably the whitest place I will ever live. Still, we need to work for more Indigenous American and other minority candidates in future elections here.

Nationally, Heidi Heidkamp is running to keep her senate seat and Mac Schneider is running for the house. Hopefully, they’ll both win and make Kevin Cramer regret leaving his safe house seat. Down ballot, there are lots of well qualified candidates. Let’s give them credit for working to turn a red state blue. For those that do get elected, we can keep reminding them of the progressive ideals and policies that will guide us to a brighter future for all.

Today, North Dakota Democrats joined the West Fest parade in West Fargo.

Here we are gathering before the parade.

North Dakota Democrats gathering before the West Fest parade in West Fargo, ND on September 15, 2018.

Then, everybody got together for a group photo.

North Dakota Democrats gather for a group phots before the West Fest parade in West Fargo, ND on September 15, 2018.

Now, just the Mac Schneider folks. That’s Mac holding his daughter on the left side of the photo. Go, Mac, put a D on the ND house seat, with our help, of course.

Mac Schneider, candidate for US House gathers with his supporters before the West Fest parade in West Fargo, ND on September 15th, 2018.

You can’t have politicians gather without getting media attention. Here, Heidi Heitkamp is interviewed by a local news station, WDAY.

Heidi Heitkamp is interviewed by a local news station prior to the West Fest parade in West Fargo, ND on September 15th, 2018.

Let’s not forget the people running for ND seats. Here is Josh Boschee, running for Secretary of State. Election integrity is important here like everywhere. We’ve had our threats and shenanigans too. Let’s put Josh in office to give us direction and clean up the process. And, yes, that is a Wizard of Oz float following us. They were awesome.

Josh Boschee at the West Fest parade in West Fargo, ND, 9/15/18

A number of other candidates or their reps were there too. I met Jim Dotzenrod, who is eminently qualified to be our next Agriculture Commissioner, as well as, David Thompson, who will be a welcome improvement as Attorney General, and Jeannie Brandt, who will be a great addition to the ND Public Service Commission. I have met Kylie Oversen at a previous parade. She promises to be an excellent and fair Tax Commissioner.

I also met a few other candidates, but I must apologize for not remembering everybody. At any rate, once we had gathered, it was time for the parade through West Fargo, where candidates shook hands and spoke with interested residents, while the rest of us handed out candy, stickers and flags.

Jeannie Brandt, candidate for ND Public Service Commission, greets West Fargo Residents as part of the Democratic Party presence at the West Fest parade in West Fargo, ND, 9/15/18

Overall, it was a a lot of fun. I was too busy handing out candy and talking to people to get more pictures. Many were happy to see Democrats and showed their support. Yes, this is West Fargo, but I have seen similar responses at the other parades I attended in other communities this year.

We have to keep up the enthusiasm for another 7 weeks. There will be disappointments, but we will keep going. I have done very little compared to most Democratic volunteers. Thanks for all of your efforts. In the coming days, I have to get back on the phone, knock on doors, sit at tables, or whatever else the Democratic office asks me to do.

We are working to turn this red state blue. Keep working for Democrats wherever you are.

The Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

rebel ga

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday September 07, 2018 · 6:15 PM PDT

2018/09/07 · 18:15

LIHEAP Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program A nationwide US government program. For everyone financially eligible, not just Seniors. LIHEAP Is A Federal Program. Run By Individual States.

Assists eligible lower-income households with their heating and cooling energy costs, bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, weatherization and energy related home repairs. BENEFITS.GOV

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To be eligible for LIHEAP benefits, the applicant, household-must be responsible for home heating or cooling costs, either directly or included in the rent.

The National Energy Assistance Referral Hotline is available if you need additional help finding your local energy assistance office. Free Service. Call The Hotline Toll-Free At 1-866-674-6327 Or TTY 1-866-367-6228.

About LIHEAP-Wikipedia

LIHEAP, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Youtube

LIHEAP En Español Youtube

LIHEAP Weatherization Program

How To Apply, For Weatherization Assistance/ENERGY.GOV

There may or may not, be a waiting list, for the Weatherization. But get on it now; then, at least you'll know that your home will get weatherized in a timely manner. Your name cannot get to the top, if, you don't get on the list.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance-Weatherization Program Explained Videos YouTube

YouTube Video

1 in 7 Americans Faces Hunger. 15.5 million children; 20.9%, experience food insecurity. Food Insecurity in America

The SNAP Map-State Info SNAP State Directory of Resources The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) The federal Food Stamp Program, helps low-income individuals and families buy the food they need for good health. Although SNAP is the national name, your state may use a different name.

USDA Programs and Services programs and services offered by Food and Nutrition Services.

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♥For All My Friends And Good People Everywhere♥

How To Vote. Democrat, Of Course!

Racism Thrives in Florida After 20 Years of GOP Control -- We Have Candidates to Break the Cycle

JaxDem

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday September 05, 2018 · 5:42 PM PDT

2018/09/05 · 17:42

It is notable and quite possibly record setting that everything in the paragraph below occurred less than 24 hours after Andrew Gillum won the Democratic primary for Governor.

The most current example of Florida’s GOP racism came last week when the Republican candidate for Governor, Ron DeSantis claimed the day after Andrew Gillum emerged as the Democratic candidate for Governor, that Gillum who although “articulate” would “monkey up” Florida’s finances. The comment came on the heels of robocalls from The Road to Power, a white supremacist, anti-Semitic group, which featured jungle noises in the background while a voice using an old-time minstrel dialect and claiming to be Andrew Gillum, asked for the voter’s support _{~ source.} Then it was capped off with the discovery that DeSantis served as an administrator for a racist, Islamophobic, and conspiratorial Facebook group whose highly offensive posts have targeted, among others, the Parkland shooting survivors, Black Lives Matter activists, and the religion of Islam. DeSantis did resign that post after it was made public. ~_source

Here are just a few more of the most egregious examples of overt racism that the duly elected Republicans in this GOP trifecta state have embraced:

Sanctuary Cities: There are officially NONE in this immigrant rich state, but that didn’t stop the Florida House from quickly passing a ban on them in January. The bill stalled in the Senate committee due to opposition from other Miami based senators _{~ source}. *Of note: One of the more vocal House Republicans advocating for the ban was Aaron Bean, who is being challenged by Democrat Billee Bussard (info below).

Harsher Penalties for Refugees: Again the Florida House Republicans worked hard on a bill that thankfully failed in the state Senate. Had it passed, a US citizen charged with simple battery or assault in Florida, for example, would be charged with a misdemeanor. For an identical crime as an undocumented immigrant, that crime would then become a felony _~source.

Racist Appointed Chair of State’s Constitutional Revision Commission: Every 20 years Florida convenes a Constitutional Revision Commission which can propose literally ANY amendments to the constitution to be placed on the ballot. The commission’s members are mostly appointed by the Governor and the state legislature, controlled by Republicans. This year Rick Scott appointed Carlos Beruff who, is described by the Miami New Times as follows:

“He's rich, openly racist, and good friends with Florida's governor. The real-estate developer and major political donor ran for U.S. Senate against Marco Rubio last year and lost. In that time, he called Barack Obama an "animal," called for a ban on all immigration from the Middle East, and reveled in being dubbed the "Cuban-American Donald Trump." Voters heavily rejected him.”

These are but a few examples of the torments unleashed by Republicans in this state; there are dozens more relating to Health Care, Environment, Education, Labor, Elections, Guns … heck, everything under the Florida Sun!

But this year we have The Candidates!! In ALL the races and all the way down ballot — Qualified, Intelligent and SANE Candidates! Below you will find information and links to two Florida federal candidates, the Florida governor Democratic candidate, and several Florida Senate and House candidates from Northeast Florida along with webpage and donation links.

Please give if you are able. If your finances will not allow a contribution you can certainly help by recommending this post, sharing on social media, Tweeting, and leaving an encouraging comment. With your help we can defeat Jim Crow in Florida.

ANDREW GILLUM for Governor — Former mayor of Tallahassee, Gillum is endorsed by Bernie Sanders who also actively campaigned here in Florida for him. Andrew is also featured as a 2018 candidate by 90 for 90. If elected Gillum promises to push back on the special interest groups standing in the way of real action on climate change.

BILL NELSON for U.S. Senate — Rick Scott is running against Nelson and with his “ill gotten Medicare money” he’s managed to barely win by 1.2% points in 2010 against Alex Sink and 1% point against Charlie Crist in 2014. As much as we are disgusted by this man, Floridians do not want to see him unleashed on the rest of the country. Nelson is also featured as a 2018 candidate by 90 for 90.

GES SELMONT for U.S. House — Ges is running to unseat John Rutherford. Ges is a lifelong Democrat who grew up in Connecticut in a Union household. Ges has quite a diverse background with a history of success in law, technology, entertainment, sports and higher education. He was a White House intern for President Bill Clinton, has built homes for Habitat for Humanity, produced an off-Broadway play, won two Emmy awards and served as special advisor to the presidents of Edward Waters College and Jacksonville University. He is a 2018 90 for 90 candidate.

BILLEE BUSSARD for Florida Senate 4 — Billee is a longtime friend and fellow Democratic Club member who I wrote about here last month. Billee worked as an investigative reporter for 25 years and her decision to run was rooted in disgust with the pitiful response of the Tallahassee lapdogs for gun interests to the Parkland high school gun massacre. She is running to unseat Aaron Bean mentioned above in the paragraph on Sanctuary Cities. Billee is also featured as a 2018 candidate by 90 for 90.

NATHCELLY ROHRBAUGH for Florida State House 11 — Nathcelly grew up in a multicultural home and can attest to how irresponsible rhetoric from political leaders can and does create a hostile environment for children. Rohrbaugh is running to unseat Cord Byrd who as “the” Florida Gun Lawyer with an A+ rating from the NRA and a proud Conservative could easily be called the poster boy for the NRA. Nathcelly has a tough fight on his hands and appreciates the exposure from being listed as a 2018 candidate by 90 for 90.

TIMOTHY YOST for Florida State House 12 — Timothy is a Navy Veteran and a public school teacher. He is also a 2018 candidate at 90 for 90. Yost’s campaign platform is centered around “Practical Progressive Reform”. Tim also firmly believes that 20 years of one party (Republican) rule in this state is beyond “ENOUGH”.

Thank you for reading, recommending, sharing, tweeting, and donating to these wonderful candidates who are out there in the heat and humidity every day knocking on doors in hopes to overthrow Republicans who enable Jim Crow in this state.

I am adding another candidate to this list at my friend, Vetwife’s request:

DANA COTTRELL for Congress - District 11 Dana is also on the 90 for 90 2018 candidate list. She has been endorsed by the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee. Dana is from Spring Hill, Florida.

I Post This EVERY Day, EVERY Day, EVERY Day. Come and Take a Look Why

Yosef 52

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday May 31, 2018 · 8:38 PM PDT

2018/05/31 · 20:38

I can assure you that I am as aware as you are of the crimes, follies, treason, incompetence, criminality, and chaos of Trump and his vicious Congressional Republican followers. And the flood of diaries that point this out is necessary. But basically, these diaries are preaching to the choir. We all agree on DKos that voting Democratic is absolutely necessary. The Republicans are going 100% in on hatred for immigrants. They are going all in on protecting Trump. They are going all in on destroying the ACA. The only way to stop this nightmare is to RALLY those voters we can reach.

WE MUST REACH OUT TO EVERY POTENTIAL DEMOCRATIC VOTER. Victory in 2018—which I am convinced is necessary to the survival of the United States— will require PRACTICAL measures. Many volunteers are currently engaged in such activities. BUT WE NEED MORE. We need INFORMATION and RESOURCES, info that is readily at hand, and information that can be updated and added to. So therefore I am going to post a Resource Wiki EVERY SINGLE DAY on DKos.

A. I will post it 1-2 times daily.

B. People who add links in the comments will see those links added to the diary, which will then be reposted every single day.

C. I do NOT want it to be a place for people to continue intraparty arguments from 2016.

D. I hope NOT to see personal agendas or the posting of irrelevant comments.

We saw it in Alabama in the 2017 Senate contest. We saw it in Virginia, where the Democrats won a sweeping victory. We’re seeing in the flood of state legislative victories we’ve been winning. We saw it in Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race. DEMOCRATS WIN WHEN WE GET OUT THE VOTE. And we do that by organization, fundraising, and personal contact with voters.

I think the largest progressive site on the Web needs something like this. We need a place where people can find information IMMEDIATELY that will help them get involved. The existence of this Wiki will allow people to share and get in contact with others who are looking to get involved.

We need REGISTERED VOTERS, and we need to fight REPUBLICAN VOTE SUPPRESSION. Use These Tools!

Here are some tools to take action, if you haven’t already.

VOTER REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS ARE RIGHT HERE.

FURTHER REGISTRATION INFORMATION IS RIGHT HERE.

HOW TO OBTAIN VOTER IDs IN EVERY STATE, RIGHT HERE.

TAKE ACTION LOCALLY!

Swing Left groups all over the country are HERE.

The Swing Left homepage is HERE.

Act Locally is HERE.

The DCCC Toolbox for working locally is HERE.

Where the Kogs Are: Links to the 200+ DK Local & Political Groups by State & Beyond,2011-2018^{(from Kossack mettle fatigue)}

WE URGENTLY NEED TO ORGANIZE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. TOM SULLIVAN HAS A GUIDE FOR DOING THAT CALLED FOR THE WIN. YOU CAN REQUEST A COPY OF IT AT THIS LINK RIGHT HERE.

From Kossack orangewatch, working in key counties can be done HERE.

DONATE AND RAISE MONEY HERE!

The Koch brothers are giving $400 million to the Republicans. Other right-wing billionaires are threatening to bury us under dark money. SHELDON ADELSON just gave corrupt Paul Ryan $30 MILLION.

WE NEED CAMPAIGN RESOURCES! We need at least ONE BILLION DOLLARS this year from rank and file Democrats, Independents, and disillusioned Republicans. Here’s where you can contribute:

ACT BLUE IS HERE.

RED TO BLUE (DCCC) IS HERE.

THE DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE IS HERE.

THE DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE IS HERE.

Want to Send Postcards? Look Here:

Writing postcards to voters is a good GOTV technique. If you want to join in, do this:

POSTCARDS TO VOTERS IS HERE.

Some nice designs for postcards are HERE.

Want to campaign door-to-door? Do this:

KNOCK EVERY DOOR IS HERE.

Look into phone banking is you’re comfortable doing that.

Give Rides to the Polls:

LEARN HOW TO GIVE RIDES TO THE POLLS FOR VOTERS HERE.

Phone Banking:

From Kossack Ernest Edward:

www.sisterdistrict.com

calls.org

And:

swingleft.org/...

A How-to guide from OFA is HERE.

Organizing for ACTION:

From Kossack RandomNonviolence:

boldprogressives.org
front.moveon.org

From Kossack ptressel:
www.314action.org

From Kossack ZenTrainer:
www.90for90.org

From Kossack rebel ga, don’t miss this FANTASTIC diary, HERE.

Kossack mettle fatigue has added this FANTASTIC list of resources and contacts:

NEW YORK

Connect New York! (state) diary list ■ members — NY-23 merged into this group, per info rec'd Mar2015 — see below.

_{Jeff-Lewis (counties) NY Orange Action Group" diary list ■ members}

_{Long Island contact: grannycarol - group formation in process as of 2014.}

New York City diary list ■ members

_{New York Hudson Valley diary list ■ members}

_{New York State 39th Senate District diary list ■ members}

New York State diary list ■ members

_{New York State Weekly/NY Open Thread diary list ■ members}

_{NY-23 / NNY Dems "NY-23 & neighboring districts...northern New York" diary list ■ profilemerged w/Connect New York!(above)mssg rec'd Mar2015.}

And take a look here:

www.resistancecalendar.org

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL FIFTY STATES:

www.infoplease.com/…

NOTE: Puerto Ricans in Texas and Florida need this information urgently.

MORE ORGANIZING TOOLS

FROM KOSSACK chrislemen, PRACTICAL TIPS ON HOW TO RUN A WINNING CAMPAIGN (BASED ON VIRGINIA’S EXPERIENCE) ARE RIGHT HERE

From Kossack ptressel, this fantastic list of resources:

"A Guide to Progressive Grassroots Organizations", from The Daily Banter:
https://thedailybanter.com/2017/11/guide-to-progressive-grassroots-organizations/

"If You Want to Run for Office (and You Should), Start With These Resources", from Slate:
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2017/01/a_guide_to_resources_for_running_for_office.html

"Activist groups are ‘amateurizing’ our political candidates", from Brookings (includes commentary, but isn't negative, in spite of how the title may read):
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2017/12/12/activist-groups-are-amateurizing-our-political-candidates/

"Progressive Electoral Politics Organizations", from START Guide (a more general list of progressive organizations involved in elections):
http://www.startguide.org/orgs/orgs01.html

"Organizations Working for Justice and Equity", from the Resistance Manual:
https://www.resistancemanual.org/Organizations_Working_for_Justice_and_Equity

"Training to Run for Office", from the Resistance Manual:
https://www.resistancemanual.org/Tools_of_Resistance#Political_Training

Organizations that train and support candidates -- note you should research any organization first, to make sure it's a good match.

National Democratic Training Committee (official Democratic Party organization): https://www.traindemocrats.org/

Progressive Change Campaign Committee: https://www.boldprogressives.org/
Wellstone Institute: https://www.wellstone.org/

Democracy for America: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/
90 for 90: http://www.90for90.org/

Brand New Congress: http://brandnewcongress.org/

Our Revolution: https://ourrevolution.com/

Justice Democrats: http://justicedemocrats.com/

21st Century Democrats: http://www.21stcenturydems.org/

RALLYING DEMOCRATIC VOTING GROUPS

Also From Kossack ptressel: The following are organizations that specialize in candidates belonging to particular categories. A specialist organization can be especially helpful, as they will understand the particular roadblocks for specific categories (e.g. racism), or specific needs for candidates (e.g. scientists may need to learn casual public speaking, not lecturing...). This is not an exhaustive list...

Millennials / young people:

Millennial Politics: https://millennialpolitics.co/
Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/ , https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/9/16625966/run-for-something-progressives-local-election-virginia

New Leaders Council: http://www.newleaderscouncil.org/

Millennial / young women:
IGNITE: http://www.ignitenational.org/ , https://risenews.net/2016/09/meet-ignite-the-organization-working-to-get-millennial-women-to-take-over-politics/

Rise to Run: https://www.risetorun.org/

Women:

National Women's Political Caucus: http://www.nwpc.org/
Emerge America: https://emerge.ngpvanhost.com/
She Should Run (non-partisan): http://www.sheshouldrun.org/
EMILY's List: https://www.emilyslist.org/

Black women:

Higher Heights: http://www.higherheightsforamerica.org/

Blacks:

Collective PAC: https://collectivepac.org/

AND HELP MOBILIZE AFRICAN-AMERICAN VOTERS HERE.

LGBTQ:

Victory Fund: https://victoryfund.org/

Scientists:

314 Action: http://www.314action.org/ , https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/8qeypb/3000-scientists-have-asked-for-help-running-for-office-to-oppose-trump

There are also state and local organizations that support candidates. I urge you to add them, particularly in hotly contested Senate and House races.

Hispanic voters

From Kossack ghost7, an outstanding resource for mobilizing Hispanic voters:

lulac.org

Also from Kossack ghost7, this resource for safeguarding Hispanic voting rights:

www.maldef.org/…

UNION YES! Here Are Some Key Pro-Democratic Unions

AFSCME is HERE.

The AFL-CIO is HERE.

The NEA is HERE.

The United Steelworkers are HERE.

Special Elections

From Kossack Glenn Magus Harvey, the DKos guide to special elections, HERE.

Another list of special elections, HERE.

The DKos data set guide is HERE.

QUICK LIST OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS WITH CONTESTABLE PARTY CONTROL IS HERE.

Nuts and Bolts

Kossack Chris Reeves has a GREAT series called Nuts and Bolts. It’s right HERE.

Progressive Websites

PROGRESSIVE SITES! WE GOT ‘EM RIGHT HERE.

This one, too, right HERE.

I NEED YOU TO HELP ME VIRALIZE THIS!! FACEBOOK, TWITTER, YOUR EMAIL LIST, ANYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF.

AND REMEMBER...WE HAVE NOT YET WON THIS THING. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE TO VICTORY. NONE. MORAL VICTORIES MEAN NOTHING. WE MUST GOVERN. OUR COUNTRY IS AT STAKE. WE MUST VOTE. WE MUST WIN. PERIOD.

Petition: Green the Rez — Support Energy Sovereignty For Standing Rock!

Lakota Peoples Law Project

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday May 08, 2018 · 8:37 AM PDT

2018/05/08 · 08:37

Solar panels make an excellent renewable energy solution for Standing Rock, where some of the nation's poorest residents pay some of the state's highest electricity rates. The states of North and South Dakota are home to enormous wind and solar potential. It's time to move away from fossil fuels and toward our renewable energy future. Once again, Standing Rock is leading the way.

In 2016, the world stood in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe against the Dakota Access pipeline. Now, as oil flows under Lake Oahe, tribal members still suffer from a lack of sovereignty over their own energy future.

The tribe currently pays some of the highest electricity costs in North and South Dakota. Additionally, during harsh winter months, neither state regulates its utilities to prevent electricity shut-offs. In a place where money is scarce and temperatures can drop to -40°F, this bureaucratic negligence constitutes a threat to human life and an insult to the original peoples of the Oceti Sakowin (Seven Council Fires).

Fortunately, there's a solution. Renewable energy can deliver reasonable rates and local tribal control over the power supply. The Lakota People’s Law Project is working in concert with Standing Rock’s leadership and activists (and representatives from MIT Solve) to bring renewable energy to the reservation, and to encourage the states of North and South Dakota to start looking forward.

Will you join us in calling upon North and South Dakota to pass legislation requiring utilities to establish a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) of 50% certified renewable energy by 2030? In addition, we ask that both states pass a solar access law, tax incentives for green building, and a strong “net metering” law. North and South Dakota — both of which depend heavily on coal for power, despite having huge wind and solar potential — must not stand in the way of Standing Rock as its people work toward sustainability and energy independence.

Please watch the video and make your voice heard by signing the petition to green the Dakotas.

Your voice can help the Lakota establish energy independence and lead the way for the Dakotas to adopt renewable standards that will make a real and lasting difference for the world we share.

Here’s another video update on the background and progress of this movement from Madonna Thunder Hawk and Phyllis Young. Thank you for your solidarity!

Help David Hogg reach this goal: Voter Registration Drives at all 26,000 US high schools by May 29

Bethesda 1971

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday May 07, 2018 · 4:44 PM PDT

2018/05/07 · 16:44

LEDE November 1, 2012 DECATUR A steady stream of early voters is seen at the Dekalb Voter Registrations and Elections offices on Memorial Drive in Decatur Thursday November 1, 2012. White voters continue to lose clout in Georgia. For the first time in st

On Saturday, David Hogg of MSD High School tweeted:

I will be retweeting this everyday until May 29. We have over 100 schools sign up just on the first day this was posted. There’s about 26,000 high schools across America. Is yours signed up?

Attainable goal: Every high school in America has a voter registration drive on or before May 29th. Sign up here: HeadCount.org/SIgnUp

HeadCount.org provides a guide to registering voters at high schools. Just fill in the form and they will send the information.

Here’s my related proposal diaried in A 50-State, 435 CD Plan to Register Millions of HS and College Kids before June:

1. District Teams: Designate a person or small group responsible for voter registration in every CD.

2. School Identification: The District Teams identify all high schools and colleges in that district.

3. School Teams: For each school or college, identify individuals and groups who could lead and participate in registration efforts:

e.g., Young Democrats, 90 for 90.org, Model UN, Social Justice clubs, affinity groups, AA, Latinx , black, and/or Asian Student Unions, March for Life (#Neveragain), unions, local indivisible groups, Democratic District and County committees, parents’ groups.

Confirm each school has a core group to carry out the registration program.

Use posters and social media to publicize the beginning of the drive.

Recruit teams in small subdivisions (state legislative districts) to assist with this.

Be sure all teams are familiar with local, state and school laws and regulations re voter registration.

4. Launch Day:

Obtain necessary permissions from the school administration and designate a day to begin the drive (“Launch Day”). If permission is difficult or impossible to obtain, select nearby off-school site frequented by students. Prior to Launch Day — publicize through social media, posters, flyers, etc.

On Launch Day

a. In person:

1. Staff centrally located tables in cafeteria and/or other heavily trafficked areas for students to fill out and return forms.

2. Distribute (and if possible, collect) registration forms in each 11th and 12th grade homeroom and/or social studies classes.

b. Online: Spread links to voter registration sites through texts, emails and any other appropriate social media. Include directions depending on state. For example, many states permit direct registration online. For others, e.g., New York, instructions should include how to print and either mail in or bring to one of the school leaders on or before the Collection Day (see below).

c. Continue to distribute forms and promote registration online in the two weeks prior to Collection Day.

5. Collection Day

Two weeks after Launch Day, staff same tables to collect paper registrations printed from online; distribute and collect new registrations.

Continue to spread links for registration online.

Continue to have forms available at school.

6. Assessment:

Consider methods to gauge success throughout the process, e.g., list names of turned in forms; ask students to confirm by text, email etc. that they have registered online; check registration in online registration records.

Poll

7 votes Show Results

Has your school (student, parent, teacher) had a voter registration drive?

7 votes Vote Now!

Has your school (student, parent, teacher) had a voter registration drive?

Yes

3 votes

No, but one is planned before May 29

1 vote

Here's a FREE offer I hope lots of Kossacks say "Yes" to -- it's a good way to help elect Democrats!

Rob in Vermont

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday April 29, 2018 · 10:39 AM PDT

2018/04/29 · 10:39

Bumper sticker reads "DEMOCRATS FIGHT FOR WORKERS -- Health * Safety * Wages" from Donkey Messenger shop at cafepress.com/donkey

How this project began

Ever since the 2016 Election catastrophe, I’ve heard folks offer this sage piece of advice: You can’t do everything — choose something you’re passionate about and focus on that.

I’m passionate about a grassroots, positive Democratic messaging campaign. I’ve long believed messaging is one of the keys to better electoral results for Democrats.

So I designed these pro-Democratic bumper stickers and similar T-shirts. Then I set up a CafePress shop — cafepress.com/donkey — where the items are available at no mark-up (no profit for me).

Bumper stickers available at the Donkey Messenger shop at http://www.cafepress.com/donkey

Why promote the brand?

CUPERTINO, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks on stage during an Apple product announcement at the Apple campus on September 10, 2013 in Cupertino, California. The company launched two new iPhone models that will run iOS 7. The 5C is made from a hard-coated polycarbonate and comes in five colors. The 5S comes in three colors, features a fingerprint sensor, has an upgraded camera, and contains an A7 chip. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) — It’s just as crucial for Democrats to promote our brand as it is for Apple and Ford and Disney to promote theirs.

I don’t think pro-Democratic messaging is sufficient. I do think it’s necessary — if for no other reason than to be a counterweight to anti-Democratic messaging. But I believe it has more value than that:

It stands to reason that positive messaging about Democrats can help motivate people to vote for Democrats.

And our promoting the Democratic brand can help remind Democratic party leaders of the progressive values and legacy which we expect the party to always stand and fight for.

Spice

In a previous series of diaries, I had a gimmick of picking a random region of the country and offering to order a bumper sticker for the first reader who Kos-mailed me from that region. I say “gimmick” because, while I of course did send folks bumper stickers as promised, it was just a means of adding a little spice to an otherwise redundant diary series posted to call attention to the CafePress shop.

T-shirt with phrase "VOTE DEM" and image of donkey. From the Donkey Messenger shop at http://www.cafepress.com/donkey

Then it dawned on me

The quick and economical way to distribute pro-Democratic bumper stickers is to buy them in quantity and simply mail them to pro-Democratic folks who request them. The Daily Kos community comprises a huge number of pro-Democratic folks. So if lots of Kossacks would like to participate in this messaging campaign, I’m going to mail lots of Kossacks free bumper stickers.

To request a pro-Democratic bumper sticker free of charge, simply post a comment saying “Yes”. Thank you for volunteering your bumper for a good cause!

This offer is open to all folks who currently have a Daily Kos account.

The first batch

If at least 50 Kossacks say “Yes” to participate in this messaging campaign, then I’ll order a 50-pack of bumper stickers and 50 postage stamps. When I receive them, I’ll Kos-mail each of the first 50 to let you know your bumper sticker is ready, and you’ll reply letting me know where to mail it.

More batches

The Inventory Chart below shows the current sponsors for this campaign and the current amount of pledged inventory.

If the number of Kossacks saying “Yes” reaches our next level of pledged inventory, I’ll use Kos-mail to let our next sponsor know it’s time to order their pledged batch of bumper stickers and postage stamps. They’ll ship them to my address. When I receive them, I’ll let the next group of Kossacks know their bumper stickers are ready, collect their address info, and mail out the stickers.

Inventory Chart

Sponsor	Pledged # of Bumper Stickers and Stamps	Is There a Corresponding # of Requests for Free Bumper Stickers?	Date New Inventory Was Received
Rob in Vermont	50	Yes	5/15/18
David Akadjian	50	Yes	6/18/18
Meteor Blades	50	Yes	7/11/18
TomP	50	Yes	8/3/18
joanbrooker	50	Yes	8/4/18
igualdad	10	Yes	8/4/18
moondanc	10	Yes	8/8/18
Mother Mags	10	Yes	8/13/18
Counselor730	50	Yes	8/17/18
sidnora	10	Yes	8/17/18
igualdad	10	Yes	8/4/18
bethann	50	Yes	9/8/18
SolarMom	50	Yes	10/1/18
nancyjones	10	Yes	9/17/18
Denise Oliver Velez	50	Yes	9/21/18
Rob in Vermont	50	Yes	9/27/18
socrates shoes	50	Yes	9/28/18
eliaVL	50	Not yet	10/16/18
bmaples	50	Not yet	10/16/18
Gatorgirlnc	50	Not yet	11/29/18
maggiejean	20	Not yet
PJ the WB Lefty	50	Not yet
B52D	50	Not yet
Raucous Indignation	50	Not yet
keepiru	50	Not yet
hilltopper	50	Not yet
Is There Enough Pledged Inventory to Fulfill Current # of Requested Bumper Stickers?			Yes

How many Kossack bumpers can we get these pro-Democratic stickers on?

There’s no predetermined limit. I hope lots of Kossacks dig this campaign! And if that’s the case, the campaign can be funded by a small percentage of folks who dig it; if 1 in 50 (2%) sponsor a batch of 50, then every group of 50 requests will be fulfilled.

A GOOD INVESTMENT

Putting pro-Democratic bumper stickers onto 50 vehicles costs $129⁷³. That’s the cost of ordering a 50-pack of bumper stickers from CafePress and 50 postage stamps from USPS.com.

A bumper sticker even on a single vehicle will be seen by a lot of eyes over the course of time. I’d estimate the number of views for 50 vehicles could easily be in the six figures annually. So I think this is a good investment.

When you say “Yes” you can also mention your favorites

Based on your preferences, I’ll order a 50-pack of the most popular bumper sticker, if we have 50 “Yes” comments. If we have lots more “Yes” comments, other sponsors might decide to order different messages, so our inventory could have more than one message.

I’ll try to send you one of your favorite messages if you have a preference and if it’s in our inventory. However, if you’re very particular about which ones you’ll use, I recommend you use the links below to purchase the one(s) you want.

Saying “Yes” in the comments implies: “Yes, I’ll participate — if you send me a free bumper sticker, I’ll use it!”

Asking for a friend

If you don’t want/need a bumper sticker for yourself, but you have a pro-Democratic friend or relative who you’re sure would use it, you can certainly request one for them — I’ll gladly mail a bumper sticker to any U.S. address.

Available on classic vinyl

Since CafePress sells vinyl bumper stickers in economical multi-packs, they’re ideal for this project. I’ve also found that CafePress vinyl stickers are easy to remove if you need to. If you wish to purchase magnetic ones, you can use the links below.

If you’d like to be a Sponsor

Please Kos-mail me and I’ll add your username (or “Anonymous Sponsor”, if you prefer) to the Inventory Chart. Remember, you won’t need to put an order through until/unless we reach a level of requests that requires the full amount of inventory you have pledged. At that point, I’ll contact you via Kos-mail and give you my address info. Thank you!!!

CafePress bumper stickers are available in 10- and 50-packs, and postage stamps can be ordered from USPS.com. The cost including shipping:

50 bumper stickers & postage stamps — $129⁷³
10 bumper stickers & postage stamps — $39⁷³

Privacy

Orange in-box indicates new Kos-mail. Click to open.

When I receive a batch of bumper stickers and stamps, I’ll use Kos-mail to let folks know their bumper stickers are ready — and you’ll need to reply with the address where you want me to mail your sticker. I’ll never share that info or use it for anything other than mailing your bumper sticker to you.

Extra stickers

Some folks who request a bumper sticker may change their mind, or, for whatever reason, not reply to me when I Kos-mail them that their sticker is ready. So if I end up with extra stickers, I’ll distribute them to latecomers — folks toward the end of the list who aren’t associated with a batch of inventory.

Quick Links to View or Order Bumper Stickers

Summary

This is a Community project which depends on two equally important groups: a large group of Kossacks who each volunteer to put a pro-Democratic sticker on their bumper, and a comparitively small group of Kossacks who each volunteer to order a batch of stickers and postage stamps if there is a corresponding number of Kossacks who request stickers. Batches will be shipped to me, and when I receive a batch, I’ll collect addresses, stuff envelopes, and mail out the stickers.

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

—Helen Keller

When you’re being attacked in front of a crowd, do not appeal to the crowd...

freewayblogger

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday April 06, 2018 · 9:24 PM PDT

2018/04/06 · 21:24

Protect Mueller sign over I-10 — Santa Monica Freeway, by request.

Instead, you should pick out individuals, stare into their eyes and let them know you’re asking them directly for help. Or so I’ve been told: my only experience was in grade school in front of crowds that had gathered specifically to see me get attacked. From an early age, violence was always something used against me, so I’ve never been much of a fan. I practically attacked someone in public though - an absolute stranger - and I’m embarrassed to say it wasn’t even that long ago.

Choose One sign over I-10 — Santa Monica Freeway again, one mile further.

For most of the last decade I’ve been taking care of my mother as she went through the long, slow decline of cancer, dementia and death. I know that sounds depressing, but it wasn’t really. Most of the time we were actually quite happy, and for every bad day there were probably nine or ten good ones. The bad days were bad in the ways and for the reasons you can probably imagine: bad news and difficult decisions - everything seeming so large and important - literally a matter of life and death. But it’s not… not really. It’s really just death and a couple of stalling tactics.

I’m sure a lot of you are either caretakers yourselves or weighing the decision, and while we’ve all had or heard the horror stories, I wish I could tell you more about how beautiful those days were. Not out of any end-of-life stoicism or deep understanding but more for the opposite of all of that - days that were practically sacred for their normalcy. There were bits of horror of course, particularly towards the end, but finally, after taking trips to seven continents, about 70 different countries and 86 times around the sun, Mom passed away in August of 2016. She went quietly in her home in the country that she served and loved and was finally about to elect its very first female President.

I’d like to write more about those days, but it’s not the time. What I want to say is that most of my last decade has been spent with old people - mostly women in their eighties - my mom, her sisters and her remaining friends. Apart from the news of the day, much of their conversation revolved around aches and pains, test results and medications. While the subject of death was unavoidable, it was only treated seriously when it actually happened or was absolutely imminent. Otherwise it was treated as the same abstraction it is for any of us. Despite being some of the most well-educated and philosophically curious people I’ve ever known, the prospect of actually dying seemed ultimately just as strange and incomprehensible to them as it is to anyone.

FTNRA sign over US 101 — It took less time to make this sign than it’d take any of those cars to reach it. Santa Rosa, CA

The real fear was falling and spending the rest of their lives bedridden. It was a shadow that hung over everything and nobody ever joked about it. After a certain point the only things that really matter are mobility and being able to take care of yourself. Towards the end the playing field starts leveling out again, and social constructs like fame, wealth, and education become almost meaningless compared to simple mobility. If you live long enough you may actually find yourself in a world where things like race, religion and nationality all become irrelevant: all that matters is simply being able to think clearly, walk and wipe your own ass. When I was a child, an old person slowly hobbling around in public was sort of a pathetic figure - someone to feel sorry for - when I could be bothered to think about them at all. Knowing what I do now though, I see them as the exactly the opposite: they’re the bravest, most heroic people I see all day.

Could he act any guiltier? sign over US 101

After 50 years or so you think you pretty much know yourself, generally what you’re capable of and how you tend to react, and you figure there probably aren’t a whole lot of surprises left - no big ones anyway. But then one day you’re putting money in a parking meter and watching a woman with a cane cringe as a kid on a skateboard comes towards her on the sidewalk. He gives her as much room as he can going by and you share a sigh of relief with her. But a few seconds later, with the whole sidewalk to himself, he decides to do some some trick where flips the board under his feet and fucks it up like it seems they always do. The board gets away from him and even though it doesn’t go near the woman you’re suddenly filled with a white-hot rage and before you even know what’s happening you’re all over this kid, ripping the skate out of his hands and screaming like a madman about people never being able to walk again.

I’ll never forget the fear in that poor kid’s eyes. And really who could blame him? You fuck up one Ollie and WHAM! Suddenly some man mountain ranting about old ladies’ ankles is about to kill you with your own skateboard. The look in his face actually sobered me up, and as much as I want to hurl thing as hard and far as I could, I ended up just shoving the skate back at him, saying something angry and backing off. I might’ve even apologized: I’d like to think I did. I mean Jesus… the poor bastard was probably no more than 15.

It was the utter senselessness of it that made me snap - the thought of that woman spending the rest of her life in bed because of some shitty little skateboard trick…

A month or so ago I was responding to an e-mail that was fairly typical for the ones I receive - an older woman who wants to hang a sign but is scared about getting in trouble with the police and losing her job with the school district and thinks it’s probably better to do it at night. And I’m writing back saying it’s nothing to worry about, it just takes seconds, easiest thing in the world etc. etc. and knowing somehow she’s not going to listen to me. If she does it at all it’s going to be at night. And I don’t know where she lives, so it’s probably rainy or snowy and I’m picturing some frightened old woman clutching her sign in the dark on some stairs somewhere surrounded by concrete and wet steel and I begin to hate myself almost as much as I hated that kid.

Donald Trump is a Traitor sign on abandoned building.

And I scrapped the letter and instead I wrote one I’d never written before telling her simply not to do it. Instead I asked her what she wanted the sign to say and I’d do it and send her a picture. The last thing in the world I want is for some old woman to become bedridden for life for the equivalent of a shitty little skateboard trick. She wrote back saying she wanted a sign that said “Protect Mueller.”

Protect Mueller sign day 2 — Day 2. 150,000+ cars per day.

I’ve been pushing signposting as a means of protest for close to twenty years now and here on Daily Kos for the last five. And while I’ve gotten all sorts of love and recs and positive comments, the number of actual signs it’s generated has been less than what I’d put up on an average day and I just can’t help thinking I’m doing something wrong.

I’ve spent years trying to figure out why something so easy, necessary and widely accepted as worthwhile hasn’t caught on and come up with a variety of fascinating theories I’ll bore you with later, but at least one of them may be the mistake of appealing to the crowd. So y’all can breathe a little easier for the time being: go ahead and recycle that cardboard and put those paintbrushes down. You’re off the hook… for now.

Follow the rRubles sign on fence next to I-80

I’ve picked up four working recruits from Twitter, but as far as I know am still the only freewayblogging Kossack, so scanning this crowd of supportive but reluctant admirers, my gaze rests on you, the veterans.

I have several reasons for this choice. 1) You’ve already proven yourselves willing to dedicate yourselves to serving this country, and I’m willing to bet it wasn’t to make it safe for the sort of quasi-fascist crap we’re seeing now. All I’m asking you to do is put in a couple of extra hours to try and make sure the years you’ve already given don’t end up being wasted.

2) You understand the nature of war, and if freewayblogging can be compared to anything at all, it’s war. But it’s the best kind of war there is - the kind with absolutely no violence. And you’re the supreme commander. Your signs are your troops and their mission is to win hearts and minds. You deploy them strategically, using traffic patterns, the lay of the land and line-of-sight dynamics. Your enemy is those who would take them down and you foil them with physics, speed, stealth and the ability to strike over and over at the times and places of your choosing.

You try to reach as many people as you can as quickly as you can while expending the least amount of effort possible. You hide in plain sight, reconnoiter, scan fence lines and perimeters for gaps and vulnerabilities. Unlike in the service however, you’re entirely in charge: you define your mission and proceed or abort at will. You drive and walk and sometimes climb, you’re constantly alert to opportunities, and you almost never have to wait.

You’ll be paid nothing but the knowledge that you’re fighting for your country. The only trophies you’ll get will be photographs. Thousands of people will both love and hate you but nobody will know who you are. Working in broad daylight I’ve hung close to 7,400 signs since December of 2000 and have never been arrested. I’ve been caught in the act approximately fifteen times, resulting in about a dozen polite conversations with police and three less-than-polite ones with angry civilians. You have to admit that’s pretty good for a guy with no formal military training.

Donald Trump is a Traitor sign over US 99

Should you be stopped and questioned by law enforcement you can do what I do and politely take down the sign as they ask. Or you can stand up for your First Amendment rights and explain that while you’d like to comply you’re duty bound to follow orders from further on up the chain of command: General George Washington, which is in fact, literally what you’re doing.

Obviously this doesn’t apply to those of you who are physically unable to do it, think it’s silly, or are fine with the direction our country is heading. But for the rest of you, help me out here okay? I can’t keep doing this all by myself, and I can’t stand the thought of responding to something like Mueller getting fired with another giant march that’s gone the next day. It’s just tragic to keep letting things go the way we have been without putting up more of a fight, particularly when we have so many trained fighters, and especially — trust me on this - when the fighting is so much fucking fun.

The Party of No

ZenTrainer

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday February 14, 2018 · 9:41 PM PST

2018/02/14 · 21:41

I wrote a diary on February 1st about the monument to Dr. Ferguson Reid S r. that was being proposed for Monument Ave in Richmond Virginia.

I thought it was pretty impressive that Elizabeth Guzman, the first Latina elected to the VA Assembly, chose, as one of her first acts in office, the introduction of a bill to honour Dr. Re id, the first African American since Reconstruction to be elected to the VA Assembly, with a monument.

Right there on Monument Avenue with the racist Confederates, (and Arthur Ashe), a monument honouring Dr. Re id, a living Civil Rights icon. I mean, how cool is that?

Dr._Reid.png — Dr. William Ferguson Reid Sr.

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