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White House contact: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house
********************************
Many newspapers, including New
York Times and Washington Post require
subscriptions, but without one we can see a few articles each month. We can also check
with our local libraries to find
out how to get online access through them.
1.
In
Trump’s latest assault on free speech, a new proposal has just appeared in the
Federal Register originating in the National Park Service, headed by Interior
Secretary Ryan Zinke; this proposal would charge protesters for
demonstrating in the nation’s Capital: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=NPS-2018-0007-0001 The
details of these regulatory changes--which include application fees, the cost
of barricades set up at police discretion, trash removal and sanitation, and
charges for purported harm to grass, turf, benches, poles and walkway--are
summarized by the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund: http://www.justiceonline.org/take_action_to_save_free_speech
Just as we stopped the imposition of exorbitant fees at national parks, we must
stop this pay-to-protest move by deluging the NPS with our objections:
2.
Yesterday,
on the same day that nearly 350 newspapers ran editorials rebuking Trump’s
rally cry that the press is the “enemy of the people”, the Senate passed a
unanimous resolution affirming the free press as a hallmark of a democratic
society. https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/senate-adopts-resolution-declares-press-not-enemy Let’s
thank our Senators and remind them to keep speaking out about these unfounded
and unprecedented attacks on journalists. And let’s call the White House and
tell them we are sick and tired of these attacks on the First Amendment. As the
New York Times put so well, "Insisting that truths you don’t like are
‘fake news’ is dangerous to the lifeblood of democracy."
3.
Time is
running out on reauthorizing HR 6545,
the Violence Against Women Act, a bill that recognizes domestic violence for
the extreme crime that it is. https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/time-running-out-for-violence-against-women-act.
Not a single Republican member of the House has signed on as a co-sponsor.
Let’s contact our Reps and ask why they have not yet supported this bill, and
then let's publicize this widely as a key reason we need to vote them out in
2018.
4.
When the
president was mulling over whether to revoke the security clearance of former
CIA director John Brennan, Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) claimed that this kind of action only happens in a banana
republic and Speaker or the House, Paul Ryan, dismissed the threat as trolling.
Now that this has actually happened, ostensibly to scare Brennan and others into
silence, https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/16/politics/john-brennan-nyt-op-ed/index.html,
let’s ask Senator Corker, Speaker Ryan, and our own MoCs what they are going to
do to make sure that we don’t turn into a country where journalists seeking
truth are demeaned and only supporters of the president have access to
information.
5.
There
has been intense speculation that the timing of revoking CIA director John
Brennan’s security clearance was to distract attention from former White House
Aide, Omarosa Maginault Newman’s claim that there’s a tape of the president
using the N-word, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-revokes-security-clearance-of-former-cia-director-john-brennan/2018/08/15/043b6fc4-a0bb-11e8-8e87-c869fe70a721_story.html?utm_term=.2a2c20325304, a
claim that press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders could not outright deny. http://time.com/5367143/omarosa-manigault-donald-trump-tape-n-word-sarah-sanders/.
Let’s make sure this story stays in the news by sharing it widely on social
media and writing letters to the editor about the many ways the president has
acted in a racist manner, regardless of whether the tape exists. Let’s also ask
our MoCs to call for an investigation.
6.
Although
geared to Maine voters, the information can easily be generalized to other
states as well in this CASE REVIEW: Kavanaugh
on the issues provided to us by Suit Up Maine. If we want to see where Kavanaugh stands on
any issue, this will show us. Let’s use
this good information and call our senators to oppose Kavanaugh for Supreme
Court Justice.
7.
A few
days ago, Celeste Pewter (Twitter: @celeste_pewter) pointed out another item
lost in the news cycle: the announcement that "Housing and Urban
Development Secretary Ben Carson is taking new steps to roll back an Obama-era
rule intended to combat housing segregation." https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/Ben-Carson-HUD-Fair-Housing-Rule-Rollback-490773821.html Here's
the official press release:
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_18_079.
Public comment will be available soon, here:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/search?conditions%5Bagency_ids%5D=228&conditions%5Bterm%5D=fair+housing&order=newest Let's
not forget to scan the Federal Register for other issues requiring public
comment.
8.
The
slow-motion Saturday Night Massacre continues unabated. Trump has
revoked the security clearance of John Brennan and then went on to say that it
is because of the Russia situation: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/402085-trump-ties-revoking-brennan-clearance-to-russia-probe Although
it feels at time like our GOP MoC are never going to wake up and act, we also
do not know what will break the dam. Let’s let our MoC know that Trump’s
retributive actions are not the hallmark of the country we want to live in.
Election
2018 – General
An election guide
from Postcards
for America: In
this Google doc (updated regularly), each State shows ALL Democratic Candidates
running for Congress, Governor, Lt Gov, Attorney General, Secretary of State
(if applicable) with links to their websites and Twitter. Each has a link to a
Twitter Thread, a Shareable Facebook Post and a Document. For most States,
there are also Info & Links for Voter Registrations, Absentee Ballots,
Early Voting & Voter ID, Age Requirements and being a Poll Worker. Let’s
check this out and use and share it:
1.
Postcards
To Voters has re-launched Campaign 96: Florida Vote-By-Mail Enrollment. This time the focus is Pinellas County,
which includes Tampa, St. Pete and Clearwater. Studies have shown that
registering someone to vote-by-mail increases the likelihood that they will
vote. Let's request 5 addresses today and let our Florida friends and
family know about this opportunity to help get out the Florida Democratic vote.
If we're in Pinellas County, we can also sign up for Vote-By-Mail online here. When Democrats vote by mail, Democrats win.
2.
A
federal judge Tuesday ruled unconstitutional a New Hampshire law
giving local election moderators the authority to invalidate absentee ballots
by visually comparing the signature on each ballot with the signature on each
accompanying affidavit. U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty, in a
49-page ruling, found that the “signature-match requirement has disenfranchised
hundreds of absentee voters.” Let's read more at WMUR
Manchester. Let's be aware of this ruling; it could have significance for our
own states in the future.
3.
The real
win is in getting out the vote. As Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez said, “Our swing voter is not red to blue. It if from non-voter to voter.” Let’s check out some ways we can help create some
of these swing voters: https://politicalcharge.org/2018/08/15/how-you-can-help-get-out-the-vote-this-november/
4.
“Democrats
have about a 75 percent chance of retaking the House of Representatives in the
midterm elections, according to the data crunchers at FiveThirtyEight. The
website launched their new House forecast on Thursday, predicting an 80
percent chance that Democrats gain between 14 and 58 seats. The party needs a
net gain of 23 seats to retake the House in November. FiveThirtyEight says
there is a 10 percent chance that Democrats gain fewer than 14 seats and a 10 percent
chance of a big wave that would see them gain more than 58 seats. Other
election trackers are also seeing favorable signs for Democrats three months
before the midterms, raising the left's hopes for a blue wave. The
Cook Political Report earlier this week moved four more GOP-held seats to the
toss-up category.” http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/402159-fivethirtyeight-says-dems-have-75-percent-chance-of-winning While
this is good news, it only happens if we continue to be diligent. Let’s
all make sure to continue to encourage voter registration, vote in our
primaries, make sure our 18-year-old family members are registered, and we all
take a democratic friend to the polls with us in November. Let’s all keep
working towards the BLUE WAVE.
Election
2018 – By State
1.
Upcoming
voting dates and deadlines:
|
August 17
|
New York (state)
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary
|
|
August 18
|
Florida
|
Early Voting Begins
|
Primary
|
|
August 20
|
Wyoming
|
In person absentee voting ends
|
Primary
|
|
August 21
|
Wyoming
|
Voter Registration Deadline
|
Primary (same day registration)
|
|
August 21
|
Alaska
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 21
|
Wyoming
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 23
|
Oklahoma
|
Early Voting begins
|
Runoffs
|
|
August 25
|
Oklahoma
|
Early voting ends
|
Runoffs
|
|
August 25
|
Guam
|
Election date
|
Primary
|
|
August 25
|
Florida
|
Early Voting ends
|
Primary
|
(source: by date:
https://goo.gl/gjFv2u by state:
https://goo.gl/7gTzvE)
2.
Upcoming Primaries:
A)
Tuesday, 8/28
Other
Actions
1. A
new report found glyphosate, the active ingredient in the Monsanto
weed-killer Roundup that some health authorities link to cancer, in a
number of popular breakfast foods and cereals marketed to
children. Thirty-one out of 45 tested products had levels higher than
what some scientists consider safe for children. Let's read more at CBS
News.
Let's contact the makers of these products to ask about glyphosate in their
products: a) General Mills b) Kelloggs c) Quaker Oats (a PepsiCo company) d) Post Holdings. If we are giving our children cereals from
other manufacturers, let's do the extra work today to find their contact
information and make our inquiries. Let's share what we find out on social
media.
2. Postcards To Voters' Campaign #100 is for...the history books?
The Florida Atlantic University (FAU) - Wimberly Library Special Collections
Department wants to preserve some of our postcards for future research/use.
They are interested in receiving postcards from each of us (ONE per volunteer)
where we share our thoughts on: a) the importance of voting b) the
kind of change we hope to see in the future c) our opinion on the current
state of politics in the U.S. d) why we volunteer to write #PostcardsToVoters e) how volunteering to boost
voter turnout makes us feel. It's super easy to participate. And we each
only need to write 1 postcard! It will become part of FAU's Special Collection
for students and academic researchers to view for years to come. Using the
same techniques we use for our regular postcards, let's write 1 with our own
thoughts to one or more of the items above. Address them to: Special
Collection: Postcards to Voters, c/o Tony The Democrat, 2774 Cobb Pkwy NW #109-199, Kennesaw, GA 30152-3469.
3.
School
has begun and that means there are some children who many not get lunch due to
lack of funds or unpaid bills. https://fox17.com/news/nation-world/student-denied-lunch-on-first-day-of-school-over-15-cents If we are able and if we can find it in our
hearts, let’s go to a local school and offer to pay off some lunch debts for
students who can learn so much better if they are not hungry.
4. Environmentalist
Bill McKibben is doing a 6-week, educational video series on climate change.
The first three videos (The Climate Crisis, Renewable Energy Around the World,
and Renewable Energy Jobs Myth) already out, with more forthcoming. Let’s watch
and learn what we can do about climate change. https://www.sandersinstitute.com/resources/press-releases/press-release-bill-mckibben-teams-up-with-sanders-institute-for-series-on-climate-change
5. Can
postcards help increase voter registration? Sister District Action Network and the Voter
Participation Center did an experiment and found that postcards
can make a difference. Let’s check out their new and sometimes surprising
findings here:
https://whystatesmatter.sisterdistrict.com/vpc-sdan-postcarding-experiment-results-18a284461e01 Let’s
keep writing those postcards!
Marches/events/webinars/TwitterStorms to
attend/organize
1.
Sunday, August 19 at 7:30ET, we are invited
to take part in a MoveOn.org’s Resist & Win Organizing Call to hear from
community leaders, issue experts, and grassroots activists about how you can
take action to stop Donald Trump's nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, from cementing the
worst of Trump's policies for a generation and save the Supreme Court. We can
learn more and sign up here: https://act.moveon.org/survey/resistandwin20
2.
Sunday, August 19 at 8pm, we can all join in
a TwitterStorm to defeat Kavanaugh. More information here where we can also find a
tweetsheet and a toolkit: https://www.facebook.com/events/1650660501726704/
3.
Evidence is piling up that Brett Kavanaugh cannot
be trusted to protect the right to choose or check executive power (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/29/us/brett-kavanaugh-signing-statements.html). So activists across the country are coming
together for a 50-state day of action against his nomination on August 26th.
Let’s find an event near us or start our own here.
4.
Experts say we are already starting to see the
impacts of climate change playing out in real time with extreme weather
patterns: (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/27/extreme-global-weather-climate-change-michael-mann). We cannot wait for action. On September
8th, people all over the world are coming together in a coordinated call
for local action for the climate, jobs and justice. We can find a Rise for Climate event near us here, or we can sign up to organize our own.
5.
On September 22 there will be a
protest at Trump’s Mar-A-Lago in Florida in commemoration of the first
anniversary of Hurricane Maria:
http://thehill.com/latino/401578-trumps-mar-a-lago-to-be-greeted-with-massive-protest-on-hurricane-maria-anniversary Let’s put this on our calendars
if we will be nearby.
States
Reading/Watching
What are Security
Clearances? How Long They Last and the
Different Types, as John Brennan Has His Revoked - https://www.newsweek.com/security-clearance-levels-explain-1076749
Revoke my security clearance, too, Mr.
President - https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/revoke-my-security-clearance-too-mr-president/2018/08/16/8b149b02-a178-11e8-93e3-24d1703d2a7a_story.html?utm_term=.c94fe5aef9d2
Trump's military
parade postponed amid news it could cost $92m - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/16/donald-trump-military-parade-veterans-day-delay-costs
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