Many of groups of youngers publicly announced a few months ago their intentions to vote. And the majority won't be voting for the GOP. They're well aware that they're the ones who will have to live with the craziness.
Sort of on point: I mentioned a few months ago I would let everyone know if Gloria Johnson announced she was running for Marsha Blackburn’s seat SHE IS. Remember the Tennessee Three? She is one of them. She’s a former special ed teacher present at Central HS when a student was shot by another. Marsha calls her a “radical, woke socialist”—all the usual hyperbole. Marsha is in tfg’s pocket. Votegloriajohnson.com.
Also there is a group raising $$ to launch BlueTennessee (Linktr.ee/BlueTennessee) to run Dems in every state office. Republicans have made a sh!tshow of the legislature.
I would love to see a list of worthy recipients of political donations that is moderated by members of this group. Since the 2020 elections, I've kept my donations to a minimum and don't know to whose campaigns i shoukd donate. By giving to numerous candidates via ActBlue in 2020, I'm on everyone's begging list, and since I'm too busy to do research, I treat most of them as spam.
The groups endorsed within some of these comments are interesting, but I want a clearer view of the bigger picture.
In addition to identifying the most successful organizations getting out the youth vote in the USA, the following is equally important!
'Broadening Youth Voting'
'Voting is a fundamental act of civic participation through which young people contribute to democracy. While it’s just one of many ways to engage in civic life, it is a powerful way for young people to make their voices heard and to have an impact on issues that affect them.'
'Historically, young people have voted at lower rates than older adults. That's starting to change: recent elections have seen historically high youth voter turnout. But major inequities in voting rates by race/ethnicity, educational attainment, region, and age group remain—often the product of highly unequal access to information and opportunities to participate.'
'Our work is aimed at broadening youth voting for a more equitable electorate and a more robust and representative democracy.'
'50% vs. 20%'
'The education gap is one of the major inequities in youth voting, according to Census data, half of youth with a Bachelor's degree voted in 2022, compared to just 20% of youth whose highest educational attainment is a high school diploma.'
'76% vs. 40% vs. 23%'
'According to our 2022 survey, 3 in 4 youth say they have the power to change the country, but just 2 in 5 say they feel well-qualified to participate in politics. Just under 1 in 4 cast a ballot. Youth aren't apathetic; we're failing to prepare and engage them. '
'About CIRCLE'
'CIRCLE, the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, is a non-partisan, independent research organization focused on youth civic engagement in the United States. We conduct extensive research on youth participation, and we leverage that research to improve opportunities for all young people to acquire and use the skills and knowledge they need to meaningfully participate in civic life. In all of our work, we are especially concerned with understanding, addressing, and ultimately eliminating the systemic barriers that keep some young people marginalized from and underrepresented in civic life.'
'We are especially interested in the academic, social, professional, and economic benefits to young people and to their communities when they engage in civic life. We seek to understand and improve the contexts and conditions that shape youth engagement, which are too often inequitable, with special emphasis on K-12 civic education's role in preparing youth to participate in democracy. Our research informs policy and practice in order to drive substantive change–whether in the classroom, the county clerk's office, or the community organization–that promotes stronger youth development and a more inclusive society.'
CIRCLE was founded in 2001 at the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy. Since 2008, we have been based at Tufts University's Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life. In 2021, we celebrated CIRCLE's 20th anniversary and produced CIRCLE at 20, a major report on our work and impact over the past two decades. (CIRCLE) See link below.
"Just under 1 in 4 cast a ballot. Youth aren't apathetic; we're failing to prepare and engage them."
Fern, the quote you draw on says so much. We--at least the system--are failing to prepare and engage youth. We're also failing to set standards of personal character and conduct which I believe are especially important to them. I would like to see politicians and other "influencers" walk the talk. In addressing college students and other youth groups, the speakers could add a personal pledge similar to the conduct declaration: "I will not lie, cheat, or steal." Further, the speakers should emphasize that they're ready to resign and face suitable punishment if they don't honor their own stated commitments. Politicians lack credibility with students. They need to convince youth that they are devoted to the welfare of the nation and not devoted to personal financial enrichment through their position. Otherwise, students will just write off the speakers as political blowhards and hypocrites. We have to set a good example and live it.
Heydon, I think we all need to know Civics and share it with our children, while they are growing up and take a course or more about it as students in school. This quote echoes your thoughts:
“Our children should learn the general framework of their government, and then they should know where they come in contact with the government, where it touches their daily lives and where their influence is exerted on the government. It must not be a distant thing, someone else's business, but they must see how every cog in the wheel of a democracy is important and bears its share of responsibility for the smooth running of the entire machine.”
Well said, Fern. Eleanor Roosevelt was intelligent and powerful in approach. Beyond her quote above, I believe it was Eleanor who brought Harry Hopkins to FDR's attention, where Harry became one of, if not the most important of, FDR's advisors. Harry worked previously with Frances Perkins who made her mark as well. Those people were giants.
"and bears its share of responsibility for the smooth running of the entire machine.”
My personal impression of most public service announcements encouraging voting emphasize the "let your voice be heard" theme. Yet outcomes of voting can easily be personally disappointing, and the younger people I have contact with at present seem convinced that they are NOT being heard; so it's easy to become cynical. Frankly my personal impression is that, at least since JFK, the Democratic Party has been remiss in actively interacting with young voters in a credible way. The Biden Administration seems to be moving toward correcting this.
Key for me is the notion of "government of the people, by the people, for the people" as the proven means to deliver (so far as possible) "liberty and justice for all". We either govern and enjoy the outcomes of wise governance collectively, or it just doesn't happen. Yes, we use a representative model for delivering the consent of the governed, but if that consent is ill informed, we are almost certain to run off the rails sooner or later. "Only I can fix it" is just a con if it is we who are setting the agenda. Channel surfing is not really democracy; by definition it is DIY.
Thus, just as most of us wear two hats, as worker/consumers, we also rightly hold a share of two civic roles, as both clients and managers of our own society. There are many promising to manage everything for us, but the ultimate responsibility is ours, and not just for our personal outcomes, but for our whole society. The argument that it makes "no difference" whether or not I vote, or whether I vote for this candidate or that, or this party or that is folly, because even if none satisfy me, my choice or lack of it impacts others; even generations to come, and usually it is those who already suffer most take the biggest hit when our choices and outcomes are foolish.
I agree Fern, but we are a small sampling of the Nation. We cannot depend on other parents to do the right thing. Too many parents view parenting as turning on the TV cartoons and attending their children's sporting events.
Fay, the importance of Civics has been mentioned many times here and elsewhere, and I have edited this reply to be more clear and a bit more comprehensive about the subject. We don't know how many adult Americans know Civics. My guess is that it is necessary for Americans of all ages. I would suggest that our government fund quality Civics courses to be available free of charge. This is an American issue., which touches on important aspects of our Society, including daily life, our elections, and, of course, education and democracy. As democracies have been failing, the importance of Civics is not limited to the US.
I agree, Fern, although I taught physical science in school I certainly took time to assure my own children and grandchildren were well versed in Civics. I attended school in Canada (I didn't become an American citizen until 1967) civics were not taught in Canadian schools in the 1930's or 1940's. In fact I knew more about English history than Canadian. I studied American and World History in college in California before switching majors to science. I have been a political animal since age 6.
Fay, as an aside, I imagine you lived in Canada when Sir Harold Alexander (formerly Field Marshall) was Governor General of Canada. He was the last GG appointed by the British Crown, and I understand that he was very popular in that role.
My father worked closely with General Alexander during WWII, being part of Alexander's staff across all of North Africa, Sicily, and all the way up Italy. My father was so impressed with General Alexander's soldier and leadership abilities, honesty, humility, and overall sense of character. More than once, I've pondered how fortunate we'd be in the U.S. to have Alexander as President. General Eisenhower was in awe of Alexander and said he would gladly serve under him in the war.
Right. The pols won't want any part of that proposal, to have them take a vow of honesty and dedication to serving the American people. They've become too accustomed to the American people serving the pols' needs as opposed to the pols. serving the American peoples' interests.
True for too many politicians. There are a few who still believe in service to their Nation and their Constituents. I am fortunate to have on of the few, Congressman Ami Bera M.D. I worked for his campaign in 2010, which he lost 2012, which he won, and he has been in Congress ever since. That last campaign on which I actively worked, after that I worked on the East Coast and the mid-west. He always answers my emails, even when we disagree, he explains his position - amazing, right?
Ellie’s right. TheStates Project IDs likely winners in several states and pours resources into those. I don’t think TN is one of their target states yet.
Think climate change: Senator Jon Tester, as far as I know, the only farmer in Congress, Democrat in a Trump Republican state, needs out-of-state support. And we need farmers in Congress. Food is important to everyone and a new farm bill should have lots of individual farmer input. Price of eggs: think chicken food, which has to be nutritious if we want nutritious eggs.
I would call her worthy, and she is taking on one of the worst do-nothing senators ever. Marsha aligned herself with tfg from the beginning. She holds no constituent meetings. She was deliberately rude to Ketanji Brown Jackson. She has to go.
Also check out Force Multiplier. https://www.forcemultiplierus.org/ They do research focusing on how likely a candidate’s chances are of winning. To qualify for a recommendation, a candidate’s odds must be not too good and not too small, as well as not extremely well financed and not hopelessly broke. In other words, they look for viable candidates who would most benefit from a shot in the arm from donors.
So much of the fund-raising mail (of one sort or another) feels fundamentally gimmicky and not informative. So much as pure sales pitch that seems to treat me as an abstract, algorithmic target rather than a person. Not enough reason to not support a good cause, but I wonder if it is not self-defeating in the end? It seems to me to be a useful courtesy to speak from the heart. I speculate that this abstract algorithmization is part of why people become so alienated they start to believe utter crap.
I couldn't agree more! I appreciate your post and the responses. I think even small dollar donations are helpful. (Which is all I am able to afford at the moment.)
Glad to know that someone is taking bad hair Marsha on. I suspect that her hair gives us a clue as to what the inside of her head looks like, flying in all directions, looking for her single brain cell. We donate to people out of state and we will put Gloria Johnson on our list.
If Tennessee is part of the Turnabout Project and there are postcards, I will write them. Sorry not to have funds to send. Saw her on TV and was delighted that she’s running.
I sure am aware of it, being an ashamed Tennessean myself. I don't think I have ever donated so early (and so much), and it is for Gloria Johnson's campaign. Such is my distaste for Blackburn. Distaste being a kind word. What I would like to know, outside of donations, is how can be part of that team. I'd support it for free.
Will add this organization to our list of great voting rights organizations on defendyourvotingrights.org.
In stark contrast to Dems’ constant support of the right to vote and be counted, Trump’s GOP, via enablers like Heritage Foundation/Heritage Action and RNC “election integrity” committees actively work to suppress the voting rights of college students.
Most notably, “Fringe of the Fringe” election denier Cleta Mitchell has raised millions to enable 17+ states to deploy this year a so-called “AI” program (developed by a conservative doctor! for God’s sake) to remove qualified voters from the rolls. It targets those legitimately having more than one mailing address, including especially college students, who rightfully vote in their university towns and cities but are also rightfully on record as members of “out-of-state” family households.
Cleta narrowly escaped being indicted in Georgia along with co-conspirators Trump, Meadows and her fellow anti-voting rights lawyer Sydney Powell. Support voter registration and voting rights organizations.
Voting is the bedrock process on which democracy rests: one person, one vote, majority rule. The first peaceful transfer of political power in world history took place right here in the United States on March 4, 1801, John Adams (Federalist Party) relinquished the presidency to Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican Party.) They were bitter enemies. Today, MAGA Republicans know that they are not the majority, that they cannot win a fair and open election in many if not the great majority of cases. Therefore, they rig the system against the one-person, one-vote, majority-rule process. Why? How is it, for example, that tens of millions of Americans support a man who is a known liar, cheat, convicted rapist with 91 felony charges against him? It's because he represents their desire to establish a white Protestant supremacy political system here, and it is so important to them that they are willing to quash democracy.
Richard, speaking of voting, it would seem Kevin McCarthy could outflank his extremist contingent (just 20 or 22 of his Republican'ts?) in the House by reaching across the aisle to work with Democrats and Independents who recognize the folly of defaulting on the national debt, the folly of caving into extremists who would take our country's finances hostage. I recognize that it has become an almost forgotten skill in recent congresses, yet "working across the aisle" to preserve our country and to produce workable legislation which the majority in the House could support to keep the government functioning was once considered an honorable and desirable shared by our greatest leaders...from both sides!
Yes, but spineless Keystone Kev will face losing his speakership if he does this. He could put a stop to this nonsense in a nanosecond if he would reach across the aisle. Instead the House is really run by a small loud minority of people who do nothing but rant and don't get on with the business of governing. Quite the group: Herr Gaetz, Gangrene, Gym and the Groping Gunslinger Barbie. etc. Aside from not being able to do what they need to do to keep the government running and more, they are griping about what Fetterman wears in the Senate. This after the theater fiasco by Groper Gunslinger and her date.
Spineless Qevin will continue to face losing his Speakership as long as he keeps caring to HIS MAGA masters. No concession will ever be enough. And, they have no scruples about keeping any agreements they make anyway.
"House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) believes that his position is dependent on the Freedom Caucus not throwing him out of office like they did the last two Republican leaders. So the first thing he did when the House returned from summer break—only three weeks from the deadline—was to unilaterally initiate an impeachment investigation against Joe Biden. This was done entirely to cozy up to the obstinate hard right. But even before McCarthy made the announcement, they all said this would not mollify them at all. So predictably, when asked how an impeachment inquiry would affect their demands on spending, Freedom Caucus member Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) said, “Zero. Zero. They’re totally unrelated.”
Only in Washington would you respond to a set of demands with an unrelated demand and expect that to work: It’s like a manager responding to workers wanting to see the air-conditioning fixed at the office by bringing in a pinball machine."
Trump's friends showed us how easy it is to meddle with the electoral college. Still, nobody talks about abolishing it, at least not seriously, even though it's the most logical way to protect "one person, one vote." In 2016, I was living in Egypt (where there are no electors for expats and our votes are set aside to be used as tie-breakers should they be necessary, where we saw the worst president in US history get elected by a small group of people who thought they knew better than the voters. Instead of the electoral college protecting us from bad choices, they cursed us with a deranged clown in orange makeup and a floppy suit.
One possible solution is to eliminate the "winner take all" systems and make it proportional to the votes received. the Founding Fathers never could have conceived that one state (California) could have a population equal to sixteen other states. This holds true for the Senate as well. It may be that there is no other solution than dissolution of the government. This would send shock waves around the world since a powerful U.S. government is the principal guarantee for democracies in many of the world's countries.
The government as it was set up in the late 1700s just cannot work efficiently anymore. There are too many people, too many states, and we've just begun to exploit the many weak spots the Founding Fathers never thought of. In our history 5 times a president won the electoral vote while losing the popular vote. This should be unacceptable, but of course it wasn't. Basically they invented this method because they couldn't think of anything else.
And representation in a democracy should be population-based, but states each have 2 senators regardless of how many people live there. Nobody else on earth has such a "democracy."
I agree 100%, representation should be one person, one vote, majority rule. And, given that the country is as much divided now between the forces of democracy, on the one hand, and authoritarian despotic rule, on the other hand, just not purely geographically, makes the prospect for holding it together going forward look bleak. The modern Confederacy (MAGA/KKK Republicans) will ultimately destroy the Union so that they can have their white Protestant autocracy.
Right on, Richard. The party of death has nothing to offer ordinary people, even the ones that support death star. They get support for their hatred and bigotry and that's all.
The young of America are where our hope lies. I live in Tennessee and worked for decades at a major university. It is heartening to watch students and recent grads here be inspired and organize.
I agree. In addition, we need all Democrats to vote. Those over 60 who are not college educated and independents all voting for Democrats would ensure a real deal.
It's a good thing but Biden/Harris ticket needs to find a way to speak to the multitudes of young voters who can't afford or didn't want to go to college. That's where the real votes are.
Relying on college kids and suburban mom's will get only part of the votes needed to lock down the WH and Congress in 2024. The country is a lot bigger than the affluent voters they are catering to. I know they are trying but they tend to look for the easy fruit to pick. They need to work to create a margin that can't be stolen or lied about being fraudulent. #toughlove
The "real votes"?! I disagree with your characterization of college kids as affluent voters. Millions of students attend public universities and community colleges like the one that Kamala Harris visited, and many of them had to take out student loans to do so. And there are all those organizations that are engaging with young voters, whether or not they attend college.
As a former educator, I know lots of kids who went on to some kind of post high school education often working their butts off in the summer, holding a job down while going to school, and taking out student loans. We helped one student who got zero help from her parents.
I speaking in terms of numbers. I don't know the exact number but it should be easily extracted from census data and college attendance data. To think college kids and the affluent are enough belies the reality of a 50/50 between Biden and Trump at this point.
I've heard/read plenty of stories about college kids either not voting or not able to thanks to draconian state laws.
I'd also posit more or as many kids have student loans who didn't or weren't able to graduate than did.
Organizations are different from candidates directly engaging young voters. It's the same with the rural voters Democrats have ignored for decades in favor of the metro/suburban voters.
Blue Roots, a bit of student loan trivia: Of students who default on their Fed student loans, a large % are “low amount” borrowers. This is because the students borrow early on (eg; freshman/sophomore year) and then, for whatever reason, are unable to continue their attendance, thus leaving school in debt, but without the benefit of a degree (and all that it implies). At least this was the case, before retirement a decade ago, having worked in student aid at a Univ for 40 yrs & doing a lot of loan counseling (and following the demographics & stats at the time).
VG57, I had no clue when I took a job at age 18 @ a UC campus fin aid office & then a year later to attend college & w/ the nice recommendation letter given me, got a position @ the farthest northern Cal State & that I’d end up working there for 40 yrs—-a true public service job that I took to like a duck to water, a real right livelihood. Our crew was passionate about access to higher ed & the best service we could deliver (almost all of us had been on fin aid as students ourselves)…made lifelong friends among my coworkers & we still gather together a couple of times a month. And, oh my, do I have a lot of opinions regarding student aid, especially student loans!
Yes, thank you! Sharing actual personal experience draws me in far more than posts sharing outrage at the latest outrage. Sharing outrage feels good, too, but usually provides less food for thought than someone’s experience.
'Biden faces little risk of losing young Americans to Trump, who is far less popular among Gen Z and millennial voters. But can the president harness their anger to turn out and push him over the top? Or will their lack of perceived progress cause them to stay home, making way for a Trump victory next year?'
“The answer to this question will decide the election,” said John Della Volpe, polling director at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, who specializes in young voter attitudes.'
'In a recent blog post, Della Volpe wrote that voters under 30, who have been key to modern Democratic victories, now appear less likely to identify as Democrats, instead aligning as independents. Worse for the party, fewer young voters see politics as a “meaningful way to create change,” which he said has been a key indicator of youth turnout.'
“Nearly every sign that made me confident in historic levels of youth participation in 2018, 2020, and 2022 — is now flashing red,” he wrote. (NBCnews) See link below.
'Just because many young people don’t feel passionate about Biden doesn’t mean they are tapping out of the political process altogether. In fact, given the actions that Republicans have taken in recent years — from stripping the right to abortion to banning books in certain states to making it harder for young people to vote — the political energy among young people has only grown. Look at the massive demonstrations in states like Tennessee, where Republicans refuse to take action on gun violence, or the historic turnout in the 2022 midterm elections after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Young people are making their voices heard across the nation.'
'Older white male politicians have tapped into the youth vote before. Of course, there was Bernie Sanders, but don’t forget about then-74-year-old Ed Markey, who all of a sudden became a Gen Z icon in his 2020 Senate race.'
'In both cases, Gen Z supported them not only because of their commitment to fight for and defend the priorities that young people care about — which Biden has done — but also because they met and collaborated with young people at every turn possible. Sanders and Markey also showed young people exactly who they were: While they may have been old, they refused to back down on their ideals and came to resemble loving, but tough, grandparents. Biden can be a Gen Z icon, too, if he takes the same path.'
'We're not just voting. We're also running.' David Hogg launches young candidate PAC'
"For every year of Trump's presidency, I think there was a new chapter of a social movement that was born," the 23-year-old gun control activist told NPR, "whether it was the Women's March, March for Our Lives, the environmental movement, or the movement for Black Lives."
'Now, as the organizers that cut their teeth on those movements become eligible to run for office, Hogg wants to support their campaigns. He is launching Leaders We Deserve, a hybrid political action committee backing candidates under 35 years old running for federal office and under 30 years old running for state office.'
'The group — which plans to primarily focus on state-level races and a smaller number of congressional matchups — will target open, Democratic-held seats in the upcoming 2024 primary season.'
"[We're] trying to pick them and say, you know, we would like to help you run for office, we'll supply you with all of the resources that you need and help basically coach you and hold your hand to get there, which is kind of the gap that's in the space right now, for at least young people at the state legislative level," the March For Our Lives co-founder said.' (NPR) See link below.
Yours is a hypothetical question lacking 'another candidate', a timeframe, circumstances soon before and during voting period... and not having the means of knowing the answer with certainty.
"As we go into the 2024 election season, we'd best keep this larger picture in mind. The wall of hostility toward Biden and the will to drive him from office through impeachment or any means necessary is proportionate to his strength. Biden is a leader with his eyes on the prize: proving that democracy works in America, convincing people it is worth saving where it is under siege, such as in Ukraine, and encouraging it to return in places it has been vanquished." Ruth Ben-Ghiat
I hope young voters also see Biden as more important to our democracy than Sanders.
Simple searches will bear out what I've generalized here. I'm not the enemy but often get brunt from liberals for pointing out inconvenient truths. I know it because I've done it and like to think after 50 years of voting I've learned a few things and have changed my thinking.
Why do you presume I presume? Non-college voters have a lower percentage probably because they are either less engaged, uninformed or working multiple jobs and don't see what voting will do for them. That why I say you have to make contact with them but there's no convenient venue like a college campus to bring them together. They are prime meat for fascism just look at all the young faces at Trump rallies.
Politicians go for the low hanging fruit where people have disposable income, that's no secret. It was a big factor in Clinton's loss in 2016. For me affluent is a low bar meaning anyone with disposable income at the end of the month and not buried in debt. I know what it is because I've lived on both sides of that divide.
“Tommy (his son) told me that “Too many radicals love humanity in the abstract but don’t like people concretely, while too many conservatives like the people in their group, but don’t care about anybody else and can’t stand humanity generally. We could take the best from both the radicals and conservatives and show love for everybody, or we could take the worst from both and just hate everyone, and that’s Donald Trump for you.”
― Jamie Raskin, Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy
That Vladimir Putin is now perpetrating probably the greatest 5th collumn victory in history, your optimism, though admirable, might be I touch bitter sweet.
Despite the admonition to "praise God and keep your powder dry" Dem publicists should now be watching Putin's pronouncements for whenever he gloats overmuch over America's troubles, whenever he praises and urges on his glove puppet overmuch. He could provide Dems with unbeatable copy... direct insights into who is REALLY to be "Made Great Again"...
Copy to be include variations on "VOTE FOR RUSSIA! VOTE GOP, VOTE PUTIN" and other gross blandishments to "GO SHOOT YOURSELF IN YOUR LEFT FOOT... THEN YOUR RIGHT ONE"...
Four days ago, Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off a month-long tour of college campuses to mobilize younger voters to “fight for our freedoms.”
Yes!
A cheering, overflow audience! They get it.
Many of groups of youngers publicly announced a few months ago their intentions to vote. And the majority won't be voting for the GOP. They're well aware that they're the ones who will have to live with the craziness.
Sort of on point: I mentioned a few months ago I would let everyone know if Gloria Johnson announced she was running for Marsha Blackburn’s seat SHE IS. Remember the Tennessee Three? She is one of them. She’s a former special ed teacher present at Central HS when a student was shot by another. Marsha calls her a “radical, woke socialist”—all the usual hyperbole. Marsha is in tfg’s pocket. Votegloriajohnson.com.
Also there is a group raising $$ to launch BlueTennessee (Linktr.ee/BlueTennessee) to run Dems in every state office. Republicans have made a sh!tshow of the legislature.
There is momentum! Let’s capture it.
I would love to see a list of worthy recipients of political donations that is moderated by members of this group. Since the 2020 elections, I've kept my donations to a minimum and don't know to whose campaigns i shoukd donate. By giving to numerous candidates via ActBlue in 2020, I'm on everyone's begging list, and since I'm too busy to do research, I treat most of them as spam.
The groups endorsed within some of these comments are interesting, but I want a clearer view of the bigger picture.
Len does the research for us:
https://lenspoliticalnotes.com
The States Project researches state legislature candidates where our donor dollars will be most effective to flip or keep Dem majority.
Tending to Democracy is an HCR inspired States Project Giving Circle.
In addition to identifying the most successful organizations getting out the youth vote in the USA, the following is equally important!
'Broadening Youth Voting'
'Voting is a fundamental act of civic participation through which young people contribute to democracy. While it’s just one of many ways to engage in civic life, it is a powerful way for young people to make their voices heard and to have an impact on issues that affect them.'
'Historically, young people have voted at lower rates than older adults. That's starting to change: recent elections have seen historically high youth voter turnout. But major inequities in voting rates by race/ethnicity, educational attainment, region, and age group remain—often the product of highly unequal access to information and opportunities to participate.'
'Our work is aimed at broadening youth voting for a more equitable electorate and a more robust and representative democracy.'
'50% vs. 20%'
'The education gap is one of the major inequities in youth voting, according to Census data, half of youth with a Bachelor's degree voted in 2022, compared to just 20% of youth whose highest educational attainment is a high school diploma.'
'76% vs. 40% vs. 23%'
'According to our 2022 survey, 3 in 4 youth say they have the power to change the country, but just 2 in 5 say they feel well-qualified to participate in politics. Just under 1 in 4 cast a ballot. Youth aren't apathetic; we're failing to prepare and engage them. '
'About CIRCLE'
'CIRCLE, the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, is a non-partisan, independent research organization focused on youth civic engagement in the United States. We conduct extensive research on youth participation, and we leverage that research to improve opportunities for all young people to acquire and use the skills and knowledge they need to meaningfully participate in civic life. In all of our work, we are especially concerned with understanding, addressing, and ultimately eliminating the systemic barriers that keep some young people marginalized from and underrepresented in civic life.'
'We are especially interested in the academic, social, professional, and economic benefits to young people and to their communities when they engage in civic life. We seek to understand and improve the contexts and conditions that shape youth engagement, which are too often inequitable, with special emphasis on K-12 civic education's role in preparing youth to participate in democracy. Our research informs policy and practice in order to drive substantive change–whether in the classroom, the county clerk's office, or the community organization–that promotes stronger youth development and a more inclusive society.'
CIRCLE was founded in 2001 at the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy. Since 2008, we have been based at Tufts University's Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life. In 2021, we celebrated CIRCLE's 20th anniversary and produced CIRCLE at 20, a major report on our work and impact over the past two decades. (CIRCLE) See link below.
https://circle.tufts.edu/our-research/broadening-youth-voting
"Just under 1 in 4 cast a ballot. Youth aren't apathetic; we're failing to prepare and engage them."
Fern, the quote you draw on says so much. We--at least the system--are failing to prepare and engage youth. We're also failing to set standards of personal character and conduct which I believe are especially important to them. I would like to see politicians and other "influencers" walk the talk. In addressing college students and other youth groups, the speakers could add a personal pledge similar to the conduct declaration: "I will not lie, cheat, or steal." Further, the speakers should emphasize that they're ready to resign and face suitable punishment if they don't honor their own stated commitments. Politicians lack credibility with students. They need to convince youth that they are devoted to the welfare of the nation and not devoted to personal financial enrichment through their position. Otherwise, students will just write off the speakers as political blowhards and hypocrites. We have to set a good example and live it.
Heydon, I think we all need to know Civics and share it with our children, while they are growing up and take a course or more about it as students in school. This quote echoes your thoughts:
“Our children should learn the general framework of their government, and then they should know where they come in contact with the government, where it touches their daily lives and where their influence is exerted on the government. It must not be a distant thing, someone else's business, but they must see how every cog in the wheel of a democracy is important and bears its share of responsibility for the smooth running of the entire machine.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Well said, Fern. Eleanor Roosevelt was intelligent and powerful in approach. Beyond her quote above, I believe it was Eleanor who brought Harry Hopkins to FDR's attention, where Harry became one of, if not the most important of, FDR's advisors. Harry worked previously with Frances Perkins who made her mark as well. Those people were giants.
"and bears its share of responsibility for the smooth running of the entire machine.”
My personal impression of most public service announcements encouraging voting emphasize the "let your voice be heard" theme. Yet outcomes of voting can easily be personally disappointing, and the younger people I have contact with at present seem convinced that they are NOT being heard; so it's easy to become cynical. Frankly my personal impression is that, at least since JFK, the Democratic Party has been remiss in actively interacting with young voters in a credible way. The Biden Administration seems to be moving toward correcting this.
Key for me is the notion of "government of the people, by the people, for the people" as the proven means to deliver (so far as possible) "liberty and justice for all". We either govern and enjoy the outcomes of wise governance collectively, or it just doesn't happen. Yes, we use a representative model for delivering the consent of the governed, but if that consent is ill informed, we are almost certain to run off the rails sooner or later. "Only I can fix it" is just a con if it is we who are setting the agenda. Channel surfing is not really democracy; by definition it is DIY.
Thus, just as most of us wear two hats, as worker/consumers, we also rightly hold a share of two civic roles, as both clients and managers of our own society. There are many promising to manage everything for us, but the ultimate responsibility is ours, and not just for our personal outcomes, but for our whole society. The argument that it makes "no difference" whether or not I vote, or whether I vote for this candidate or that, or this party or that is folly, because even if none satisfy me, my choice or lack of it impacts others; even generations to come, and usually it is those who already suffer most take the biggest hit when our choices and outcomes are foolish.
I agree Fern, but we are a small sampling of the Nation. We cannot depend on other parents to do the right thing. Too many parents view parenting as turning on the TV cartoons and attending their children's sporting events.
Fay, the importance of Civics has been mentioned many times here and elsewhere, and I have edited this reply to be more clear and a bit more comprehensive about the subject. We don't know how many adult Americans know Civics. My guess is that it is necessary for Americans of all ages. I would suggest that our government fund quality Civics courses to be available free of charge. This is an American issue., which touches on important aspects of our Society, including daily life, our elections, and, of course, education and democracy. As democracies have been failing, the importance of Civics is not limited to the US.
I agree, Fern, although I taught physical science in school I certainly took time to assure my own children and grandchildren were well versed in Civics. I attended school in Canada (I didn't become an American citizen until 1967) civics were not taught in Canadian schools in the 1930's or 1940's. In fact I knew more about English history than Canadian. I studied American and World History in college in California before switching majors to science. I have been a political animal since age 6.
Fay, as an aside, I imagine you lived in Canada when Sir Harold Alexander (formerly Field Marshall) was Governor General of Canada. He was the last GG appointed by the British Crown, and I understand that he was very popular in that role.
My father worked closely with General Alexander during WWII, being part of Alexander's staff across all of North Africa, Sicily, and all the way up Italy. My father was so impressed with General Alexander's soldier and leadership abilities, honesty, humility, and overall sense of character. More than once, I've pondered how fortunate we'd be in the U.S. to have Alexander as President. General Eisenhower was in awe of Alexander and said he would gladly serve under him in the war.
Great idea, but good luck with finding many politicians willing to take that oath, at least without crossing their fingers.
Right. The pols won't want any part of that proposal, to have them take a vow of honesty and dedication to serving the American people. They've become too accustomed to the American people serving the pols' needs as opposed to the pols. serving the American peoples' interests.
True for too many politicians. There are a few who still believe in service to their Nation and their Constituents. I am fortunate to have on of the few, Congressman Ami Bera M.D. I worked for his campaign in 2010, which he lost 2012, which he won, and he has been in Congress ever since. That last campaign on which I actively worked, after that I worked on the East Coast and the mid-west. He always answers my emails, even when we disagree, he explains his position - amazing, right?
Yes, it is amazing. Dr. Bera might be the right person to initiate some "Oath of Honor" in Congress.
I'll suggest that to him!
Thank you!
Ellie’s right. TheStates Project IDs likely winners in several states and pours resources into those. I don’t think TN is one of their target states yet.
Think climate change: Senator Jon Tester, as far as I know, the only farmer in Congress, Democrat in a Trump Republican state, needs out-of-state support. And we need farmers in Congress. Food is important to everyone and a new farm bill should have lots of individual farmer input. Price of eggs: think chicken food, which has to be nutritious if we want nutritious eggs.
I would call her worthy, and she is taking on one of the worst do-nothing senators ever. Marsha aligned herself with tfg from the beginning. She holds no constituent meetings. She was deliberately rude to Ketanji Brown Jackson. She has to go.
Also check out Force Multiplier. https://www.forcemultiplierus.org/ They do research focusing on how likely a candidate’s chances are of winning. To qualify for a recommendation, a candidate’s odds must be not too good and not too small, as well as not extremely well financed and not hopelessly broke. In other words, they look for viable candidates who would most benefit from a shot in the arm from donors.
"I'm on everyone's begging list"
So much of the fund-raising mail (of one sort or another) feels fundamentally gimmicky and not informative. So much as pure sales pitch that seems to treat me as an abstract, algorithmic target rather than a person. Not enough reason to not support a good cause, but I wonder if it is not self-defeating in the end? It seems to me to be a useful courtesy to speak from the heart. I speculate that this abstract algorithmization is part of why people become so alienated they start to believe utter crap.
🙌 Jerry ....ME TOO!
I couldn't agree more! I appreciate your post and the responses. I think even small dollar donations are helpful. (Which is all I am able to afford at the moment.)
Glad to know that someone is taking bad hair Marsha on. I suspect that her hair gives us a clue as to what the inside of her head looks like, flying in all directions, looking for her single brain cell. We donate to people out of state and we will put Gloria Johnson on our list.
If she has one …
LOL. I was being generous.
Yes you were.
If Tennessee is part of the Turnabout Project and there are postcards, I will write them. Sorry not to have funds to send. Saw her on TV and was delighted that she’s running.
TN is part of Field Team 6’s postcard writing projects. They became so after the TN Three became nationally known.
Thank you. Will get in touch and see if I can get funding. Vanderbilt U should be funding.
I already gave to her the minute her campaign ad went out. Every Dem could learn from her ad because it was terrific!
I can't imagine making your constituents sit out in the hallway like naughty 4th graders. I was so glad they were re elected.
I sure am aware of it, being an ashamed Tennessean myself. I don't think I have ever donated so early (and so much), and it is for Gloria Johnson's campaign. Such is my distaste for Blackburn. Distaste being a kind word. What I would like to know, outside of donations, is how can be part of that team. I'd support it for free.
I don’t know if that is yet known. I will post here when I can find out. Right now I think it’s just money.
Support Gen Z voter mobilizer organizations such as Voters of Tomorrow:
https://votersoftomorrow.org/about-us/
Will add this organization to our list of great voting rights organizations on defendyourvotingrights.org.
In stark contrast to Dems’ constant support of the right to vote and be counted, Trump’s GOP, via enablers like Heritage Foundation/Heritage Action and RNC “election integrity” committees actively work to suppress the voting rights of college students.
Most notably, “Fringe of the Fringe” election denier Cleta Mitchell has raised millions to enable 17+ states to deploy this year a so-called “AI” program (developed by a conservative doctor! for God’s sake) to remove qualified voters from the rolls. It targets those legitimately having more than one mailing address, including especially college students, who rightfully vote in their university towns and cities but are also rightfully on record as members of “out-of-state” family households.
Cleta narrowly escaped being indicted in Georgia along with co-conspirators Trump, Meadows and her fellow anti-voting rights lawyer Sydney Powell. Support voter registration and voting rights organizations.
Tom Dabney - thank you so much for this important information on voter suppression tactics.
The MAGA GOP plans to throw out the US Constitution (Project 2025), then
RULE instead of Represent people.
Thank you Tom!!!!
Ellie, You are the greatest!
Also https://www.turnup.us/
Voting is the bedrock process on which democracy rests: one person, one vote, majority rule. The first peaceful transfer of political power in world history took place right here in the United States on March 4, 1801, John Adams (Federalist Party) relinquished the presidency to Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican Party.) They were bitter enemies. Today, MAGA Republicans know that they are not the majority, that they cannot win a fair and open election in many if not the great majority of cases. Therefore, they rig the system against the one-person, one-vote, majority-rule process. Why? How is it, for example, that tens of millions of Americans support a man who is a known liar, cheat, convicted rapist with 91 felony charges against him? It's because he represents their desire to establish a white Protestant supremacy political system here, and it is so important to them that they are willing to quash democracy.
Richard, speaking of voting, it would seem Kevin McCarthy could outflank his extremist contingent (just 20 or 22 of his Republican'ts?) in the House by reaching across the aisle to work with Democrats and Independents who recognize the folly of defaulting on the national debt, the folly of caving into extremists who would take our country's finances hostage. I recognize that it has become an almost forgotten skill in recent congresses, yet "working across the aisle" to preserve our country and to produce workable legislation which the majority in the House could support to keep the government functioning was once considered an honorable and desirable shared by our greatest leaders...from both sides!
Yes, but spineless Keystone Kev will face losing his speakership if he does this. He could put a stop to this nonsense in a nanosecond if he would reach across the aisle. Instead the House is really run by a small loud minority of people who do nothing but rant and don't get on with the business of governing. Quite the group: Herr Gaetz, Gangrene, Gym and the Groping Gunslinger Barbie. etc. Aside from not being able to do what they need to do to keep the government running and more, they are griping about what Fetterman wears in the Senate. This after the theater fiasco by Groper Gunslinger and her date.
Spineless Qevin will continue to face losing his Speakership as long as he keeps caring to HIS MAGA masters. No concession will ever be enough. And, they have no scruples about keeping any agreements they make anyway.
They have no scruples, period. What a collection of people who should not even be elected to any office. Scraped from the bottom of the barrel.
The irony is My Kevin’s” district will return him to Congress no matter what. He just wouldn’t be Speaker, and he can’t abide that thought.
Here's why he keeps getting elected, in part: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0896920517740615
Hopefully this takes you to the article, "The Anger Games: Who Voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 Election, and Why?"
from David Dayen of American Prospect:
"House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) believes that his position is dependent on the Freedom Caucus not throwing him out of office like they did the last two Republican leaders. So the first thing he did when the House returned from summer break—only three weeks from the deadline—was to unilaterally initiate an impeachment investigation against Joe Biden. This was done entirely to cozy up to the obstinate hard right. But even before McCarthy made the announcement, they all said this would not mollify them at all. So predictably, when asked how an impeachment inquiry would affect their demands on spending, Freedom Caucus member Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) said, “Zero. Zero. They’re totally unrelated.”
Only in Washington would you respond to a set of demands with an unrelated demand and expect that to work: It’s like a manager responding to workers wanting to see the air-conditioning fixed at the office by bringing in a pinball machine."
LOL they'd tear him to pieces. This is why he's in a genuine conundrum, like the guy who paints himself into a corner and has no way out.
True.
As a white, Protestant voter, I can assure you that I will be voting Blue.
Trump's friends showed us how easy it is to meddle with the electoral college. Still, nobody talks about abolishing it, at least not seriously, even though it's the most logical way to protect "one person, one vote." In 2016, I was living in Egypt (where there are no electors for expats and our votes are set aside to be used as tie-breakers should they be necessary, where we saw the worst president in US history get elected by a small group of people who thought they knew better than the voters. Instead of the electoral college protecting us from bad choices, they cursed us with a deranged clown in orange makeup and a floppy suit.
One possible solution is to eliminate the "winner take all" systems and make it proportional to the votes received. the Founding Fathers never could have conceived that one state (California) could have a population equal to sixteen other states. This holds true for the Senate as well. It may be that there is no other solution than dissolution of the government. This would send shock waves around the world since a powerful U.S. government is the principal guarantee for democracies in many of the world's countries.
The government as it was set up in the late 1700s just cannot work efficiently anymore. There are too many people, too many states, and we've just begun to exploit the many weak spots the Founding Fathers never thought of. In our history 5 times a president won the electoral vote while losing the popular vote. This should be unacceptable, but of course it wasn't. Basically they invented this method because they couldn't think of anything else.
And representation in a democracy should be population-based, but states each have 2 senators regardless of how many people live there. Nobody else on earth has such a "democracy."
I agree 100%, representation should be one person, one vote, majority rule. And, given that the country is as much divided now between the forces of democracy, on the one hand, and authoritarian despotic rule, on the other hand, just not purely geographically, makes the prospect for holding it together going forward look bleak. The modern Confederacy (MAGA/KKK Republicans) will ultimately destroy the Union so that they can have their white Protestant autocracy.
Right on, Richard. The party of death has nothing to offer ordinary people, even the ones that support death star. They get support for their hatred and bigotry and that's all.
Double YES, JL! Her remarks as quoted here by Heather are giving me goosebumps of happiness ❤️!
The young of America are where our hope lies. I live in Tennessee and worked for decades at a major university. It is heartening to watch students and recent grads here be inspired and organize.
I agree. In addition, we need all Democrats to vote. Those over 60 who are not college educated and independents all voting for Democrats would ensure a real deal.
I’d like to see the local, non-subscription media covering this.
It's a good thing but Biden/Harris ticket needs to find a way to speak to the multitudes of young voters who can't afford or didn't want to go to college. That's where the real votes are.
Relying on college kids and suburban mom's will get only part of the votes needed to lock down the WH and Congress in 2024. The country is a lot bigger than the affluent voters they are catering to. I know they are trying but they tend to look for the easy fruit to pick. They need to work to create a margin that can't be stolen or lied about being fraudulent. #toughlove
The "real votes"?! I disagree with your characterization of college kids as affluent voters. Millions of students attend public universities and community colleges like the one that Kamala Harris visited, and many of them had to take out student loans to do so. And there are all those organizations that are engaging with young voters, whether or not they attend college.
As a former educator, I know lots of kids who went on to some kind of post high school education often working their butts off in the summer, holding a job down while going to school, and taking out student loans. We helped one student who got zero help from her parents.
I speaking in terms of numbers. I don't know the exact number but it should be easily extracted from census data and college attendance data. To think college kids and the affluent are enough belies the reality of a 50/50 between Biden and Trump at this point.
I've heard/read plenty of stories about college kids either not voting or not able to thanks to draconian state laws.
I'd also posit more or as many kids have student loans who didn't or weren't able to graduate than did.
Organizations are different from candidates directly engaging young voters. It's the same with the rural voters Democrats have ignored for decades in favor of the metro/suburban voters.
I disagree with you.
Blue Roots, a bit of student loan trivia: Of students who default on their Fed student loans, a large % are “low amount” borrowers. This is because the students borrow early on (eg; freshman/sophomore year) and then, for whatever reason, are unable to continue their attendance, thus leaving school in debt, but without the benefit of a degree (and all that it implies). At least this was the case, before retirement a decade ago, having worked in student aid at a Univ for 40 yrs & doing a lot of loan counseling (and following the demographics & stats at the time).
Thank you for sharing your actual EXPERIENCE on the student loan situation.
VG57, I had no clue when I took a job at age 18 @ a UC campus fin aid office & then a year later to attend college & w/ the nice recommendation letter given me, got a position @ the farthest northern Cal State & that I’d end up working there for 40 yrs—-a true public service job that I took to like a duck to water, a real right livelihood. Our crew was passionate about access to higher ed & the best service we could deliver (almost all of us had been on fin aid as students ourselves)…made lifelong friends among my coworkers & we still gather together a couple of times a month. And, oh my, do I have a lot of opinions regarding student aid, especially student loans!
Yes, thank you! Sharing actual personal experience draws me in far more than posts sharing outrage at the latest outrage. Sharing outrage feels good, too, but usually provides less food for thought than someone’s experience.
It's good Biden is doing good things like this but without connecting in person like campus visits, most will never hear about it.
https://www.npr.org/2023/09/20/1200483937/biden-climate-corps-job-training
'Biden faces little risk of losing young Americans to Trump, who is far less popular among Gen Z and millennial voters. But can the president harness their anger to turn out and push him over the top? Or will their lack of perceived progress cause them to stay home, making way for a Trump victory next year?'
“The answer to this question will decide the election,” said John Della Volpe, polling director at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, who specializes in young voter attitudes.'
'In a recent blog post, Della Volpe wrote that voters under 30, who have been key to modern Democratic victories, now appear less likely to identify as Democrats, instead aligning as independents. Worse for the party, fewer young voters see politics as a “meaningful way to create change,” which he said has been a key indicator of youth turnout.'
“Nearly every sign that made me confident in historic levels of youth participation in 2018, 2020, and 2022 — is now flashing red,” he wrote. (NBCnews) See link below.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/biden-confronts-pissed-generation-young-voters-may-decisive-2024-rcna93110
'Just because many young people don’t feel passionate about Biden doesn’t mean they are tapping out of the political process altogether. In fact, given the actions that Republicans have taken in recent years — from stripping the right to abortion to banning books in certain states to making it harder for young people to vote — the political energy among young people has only grown. Look at the massive demonstrations in states like Tennessee, where Republicans refuse to take action on gun violence, or the historic turnout in the 2022 midterm elections after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Young people are making their voices heard across the nation.'
'Older white male politicians have tapped into the youth vote before. Of course, there was Bernie Sanders, but don’t forget about then-74-year-old Ed Markey, who all of a sudden became a Gen Z icon in his 2020 Senate race.'
'In both cases, Gen Z supported them not only because of their commitment to fight for and defend the priorities that young people care about — which Biden has done — but also because they met and collaborated with young people at every turn possible. Sanders and Markey also showed young people exactly who they were: While they may have been old, they refused to back down on their ideals and came to resemble loving, but tough, grandparents. Biden can be a Gen Z icon, too, if he takes the same path.'
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/09/14/joe-biden-gen-z-icon-00115699
'We're not just voting. We're also running.' David Hogg launches young candidate PAC'
"For every year of Trump's presidency, I think there was a new chapter of a social movement that was born," the 23-year-old gun control activist told NPR, "whether it was the Women's March, March for Our Lives, the environmental movement, or the movement for Black Lives."
'Now, as the organizers that cut their teeth on those movements become eligible to run for office, Hogg wants to support their campaigns. He is launching Leaders We Deserve, a hybrid political action committee backing candidates under 35 years old running for federal office and under 30 years old running for state office.'
'The group — which plans to primarily focus on state-level races and a smaller number of congressional matchups — will target open, Democratic-held seats in the upcoming 2024 primary season.'
"[We're] trying to pick them and say, you know, we would like to help you run for office, we'll supply you with all of the resources that you need and help basically coach you and hold your hand to get there, which is kind of the gap that's in the space right now, for at least young people at the state legislative level," the March For Our Lives co-founder said.' (NPR) See link below.
https://www.npr.org/2023/08/09/1191455776/young-voters-david-hogg-pac-campaign-elections-genz-millennial
The country is looking for change. Would those young voters, Democrat or Independent, vote for sure if there was another candidate other than Biden?
Yours is a hypothetical question lacking 'another candidate', a timeframe, circumstances soon before and during voting period... and not having the means of knowing the answer with certainty.
"As we go into the 2024 election season, we'd best keep this larger picture in mind. The wall of hostility toward Biden and the will to drive him from office through impeachment or any means necessary is proportionate to his strength. Biden is a leader with his eyes on the prize: proving that democracy works in America, convincing people it is worth saving where it is under siege, such as in Ukraine, and encouraging it to return in places it has been vanquished." Ruth Ben-Ghiat
I hope young voters also see Biden as more important to our democracy than Sanders.
Why do you presume that people who don't go to college don't vote? And which affluent voters are being "catered to" by that nebulous "they"?
I don't presume anything I go by the data. Younger voters have a lower percentage of voting vs older voters. https://www.statista.com/statistics/999919/share-people-registered-vote-age/
Simple searches will bear out what I've generalized here. I'm not the enemy but often get brunt from liberals for pointing out inconvenient truths. I know it because I've done it and like to think after 50 years of voting I've learned a few things and have changed my thinking.
Why do you presume I presume? Non-college voters have a lower percentage probably because they are either less engaged, uninformed or working multiple jobs and don't see what voting will do for them. That why I say you have to make contact with them but there's no convenient venue like a college campus to bring them together. They are prime meat for fascism just look at all the young faces at Trump rallies.
Politicians go for the low hanging fruit where people have disposable income, that's no secret. It was a big factor in Clinton's loss in 2016. For me affluent is a low bar meaning anyone with disposable income at the end of the month and not buried in debt. I know what it is because I've lived on both sides of that divide.
“Tommy (his son) told me that “Too many radicals love humanity in the abstract but don’t like people concretely, while too many conservatives like the people in their group, but don’t care about anybody else and can’t stand humanity generally. We could take the best from both the radicals and conservatives and show love for everybody, or we could take the worst from both and just hate everyone, and that’s Donald Trump for you.”
― Jamie Raskin, Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy
In view of the current reality facing us.
That Vladimir Putin is now perpetrating probably the greatest 5th collumn victory in history, your optimism, though admirable, might be I touch bitter sweet.
Yes, but this war is not over.
Are there copyrighters among us?
Despite the admonition to "praise God and keep your powder dry" Dem publicists should now be watching Putin's pronouncements for whenever he gloats overmuch over America's troubles, whenever he praises and urges on his glove puppet overmuch. He could provide Dems with unbeatable copy... direct insights into who is REALLY to be "Made Great Again"...
Copy to be include variations on "VOTE FOR RUSSIA! VOTE GOP, VOTE PUTIN" and other gross blandishments to "GO SHOOT YOURSELF IN YOUR LEFT FOOT... THEN YOUR RIGHT ONE"...