10/15/19
NATIONAL
ISSUES
(Including Emails & Twitter)
Fax
legislators for free:
Or use Resistbot: https://resist.bot/
Or use StampsLicked to
have messages hand-delivered to our own legislators: https://stampslicked.org/
White
House contact: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house
|
DEVOLVING SITUATION
IN SYRIA: Not surprisingly,
the situation in Northern Syria has been worsening as Turkey has taken more
violent action there against Kurdish people and as more ISIS prisoners have
escaped:
https://apnews.com/a7033640aad04506b2e8aa139d9edabe “Syrian
troops entering Kurdish-held Rojava represents a massive victory for not only
Syrian President Bashar Assad but Putin and the Iranians, who had long demanded
that the Americans withdraw from the corridor that links northern Iraq with
eastern Syria.” https://businessinsider.com/trump-russia-free-hand-syria-putin-cant-believe-luck-2019-10
and https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/bada105448ba44b8ad298022aaf33ca4 Countless of our Kurdish allies will be
slaughtered. This is a disaster of our
own making due to the sheer incompetence, cruelty, and focused personal interests
of our president that lie outside our own nation. Let’s let our MoC
know that the horse is well out of the barn and that it is time to remove Trump
before he does more harm.
SAVE MEDICARE Privatizing Medicare has already begun, starting
with Trump’s latest Executive Order. First,
it raises provider reimbursement rates to match private insurers, increasing the
cost of Medicare enormously, possible bankrupting it. Consumers will most
likely bear the burden of this in soaring Part B premiums. Next Seniors, increasingly
funneled into Medicare Advantage programs, face a strong possibility of higher
premiums, restricted access to doctors, denial of treatments and more. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-10-04/hiltzik-trump-medicare
and https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1182649425828728837.html For more information, we can also read Social
Security Works’ condemnation of the Executive order here: https://socialsecurityworks.org/2019/10/03/trumps-executive-order-is-backdoor-privatization-of-medicare/
Let’s demand our MoCs put a stop to this. When we share this with our
friends and organizations, we can increase public pressure to end this scheme.
MACABRE VIDEO OF
TRUMP’S VIOLENCE: Lest we harbor
any doubts about the willingness of Trump's base to encourage violence against
the president’s “enemies,” we need only consider the video shown at the
American Priority Conference (AMP) of Trump supporters, heavily financed by the
private prison company GEO Group and held at Trump's Doral Miami resort; in the
video, Trump's face is superimposed on a killer's body as he shoots
“parishioners” in the “Church of Fake News” in the face or otherwise assaults
them. Among the targets: former Pres. Obama, Black Lives Matter, Rep.
Maxine Waters, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Rep. Adam Schiff, the late Sen. John
McCain, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rosie O’Donnell, and anonymous people whose faces
are replaced with news organizations' logos: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-graphic-video-depicting-trump-like-figure-assaulting-foes-media-shown-trump-doral-miami-resort-new-york-times/ or https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/13/us/politics/trump-video.html
The organizer of the conference, Eric Phillips, denies any knowledge of the
video; Trump has not commented (though his son was in attendance). We,
however, should make our voices heard; since there seems no way to contact AMP
or its sponsor America First Events, let’s flood our local newspapers and talk
radio shows with expressions of our dismay.
Let’s also let our MoC know that there is no place in a civil society
for depiction of our president massacring opponents and the press and that his
vile discourse has already inspired enough violence.
ANOTHER ASSAULT ON
REFUGEES: According to an
executive order announced by the Trump administration late in September, both
state and local governments must consent in writing before refugees can be
placed in their jurisdictions; a state or a city, that is, could ban
refugees even when a city (or state) is prepared to welcome them: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-enhancing-state-local-involvement-refugee-resettlement/
Among other things, this order would (as surely it was intended to do) undercut
the “sanctuary” movement. The Secretaries of State and of Health &
Human Services are ordered to implement this new order; let’s tell them what we
think before the 90 days to implementation are up: DOS, 202-647-4000 or
2201 C St., NW, Washington DC 20520; HHS, 877-696-6775 or 200 Independence
Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201.
IMMIGRATION/BAHAMIANS: It has been a month since Hurricane Dorian
hit the Bahamas, displacing approximately 14,000 people (https://bit.ly/2Mc8qCw).
While the islands have seen some aid to help recovery efforts, they are likely
to face stronger and more frequent hurricanes as climate change progresses,
resulting in more displaced people (https://to.pbs.org/2IOIBYp). Bahamians not only need funds
for recovery efforts, but they need long-term solutions to the existential
threat of climate change. While the Trump administration has denied Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Bahamians,
we can still ask that visa requirements be waived for those who
have been affected by Hurricane Dorian. We can also pursue TPS for Bahamians
through legislation, by asking our MoC to support the Bahamas Temporary
Protected Status Act of 2019 (S. 2478/H.R. 4303).
STATE DEPARTMENT
THEOCRACY: As of Monday
evening, the State Department landing page is covered in a story titled “Being
a Christian Leader” which is a recounting of a talk that Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo recently gave:
https://www.state.gov. https://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/2019/10/pompeo-state-dept-homepage-advocates-being-a-christian-leader/
Let’s contact the State Department to say that we are not living in a
theocracy and that this is inappropriate as a landing page for our nation’s
State Department due to the separation of church and state: https://register.state.gov/contactus/contactusform Let’s
also let our MoCs know our disgust about this when contacting them about other
issues.
IMMIGRATION/DEFUNDING
ICE: From Sleeping Giants: "One of GitHub's core
values is "Positive Impact." They use it to recruit employees,
promote their brand and sell tickets to their annual conference, Universe. But
this week, GitHub CEO Nat Friedman confirmed that they are not actually
committed to "Positive Impact." Instead, they've renewed their ICE
contracts in order to secure Microsoft's even MORE lucrative multi-million-dollar
contracts with ICE. So today, we're asking Nat to consider removing
"Positive Impact" from GitHub's core values to reflect what is, in fact,
a strong commitment to enabling human rights violations in our country. Can
you help us send him an email? Contact: Nat Friedman CEO, GitHub: nat@github.com." We can
find an e-mail template here.
SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY
IN HONG KONG: We have all
watched with growing horror as civil rights and human rights have come under
increasingly brutal attack in Hong Kong. Now our Congress has finally given us
a way to do something substantive about it. Let's tell our MoCs to
support the Hong Kong Human Rights And Democracy Act, which would implement
annual recertification of Hong Kong's autonomous nature vis-a-vis China, and
require our government to sanction Chinese officials involved in the
extradition of Hong Kong citizens to mainland China (a terror tactic meant to
quash legal protest). https://govtrackinsider.com/hong-kong-human-rights-and-democracy-act-would-crack-down-on-chinese-officials-suppressing-1c9d992e140a
KEEPING UP: "What’s on tap in politics this
week? Two in-depth newsletters will inform you about all the important
events! We offer two versions, The Federal Tap and The
State and Local Tap, so that you can get a comprehensive review of the news
that matters to you. The Federal Tap covers federal courts, Congress, policy
news, and, of course, the executive branch. Unlike other resources, The Federal
Tap explains why each piece of news matters and provides links to sources and
additional information." Let’s sign up here to get these
newsletters in our inbox: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia:The_Tap
MIS-FORTUNE? (from Chop
Wood Carry Water): I got an email
this morning informing me that Fortune Magazine has invited Kirstjen Nielsen to
speak at their "Fortune's Most Powerful Women" convening
in DC at the end of the month. I don't need to tell you that Nielsen carried
out the Trump administration's racist immigration agenda, including its family
separation policy. Let's ask Fortune not to give her a platform to
rehabilitate her image and escape the consequences for her crimes. I called them at (800) 621-8000 and,
after saying "representative," got right through to someone. I asked
them to pass my message along to management.
We can also email them at letters@fortune.com. And sign this petition. And finally, tweet this: Gross: @FortuneMagazine has
invited #KirstjenNielsen to speak at their
#MostPowerfulWomenConvening in
D.C. later this month. Fortune, there are plenty of powerful women who HAVEN'T
used that power to torture children. What a disgrace. Call her a war criminal,
not an honoree.
POSTCARDING: From one of our own – Here are
this week’s issues/addresses write-ups for postcarding: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g-eEOUNnyQXkwH5TWjLfHhsWZF6_57gjddSREO0Fq78/edit
Let’s look these issues over
and choose the ones that speak to you or share in our postcarding group.
PARDON REALITY WINNER. Air Force veteran Reality Leigh Winner has been
charged under the Espionage Act for leaking a single document report analyzing cyber-attacks
on the United States’ election infrastructure. This report set off a wave of
concern and scrutiny regarding the security of the 2018 elections and upcoming
2020 elections. (More about Reality Winner at Wikipedia.)
Stand With Reality, Code Pink, The Freedom of the Press Foundation, RootsAction
and others have joined together to collect 25,000 signatures asking for her
pardon or the commutation of her sentence to time served. We can add
our names to the petition here. We can send cards and letters of support to
Reality herself at: REALITY WINNER 22056-021, FMC CARSWELL FEDERAL
MEDICAL CENTER, PO BOX 27137, FORT WORTH, TX 76127
GOOGLE MISLEADING
CLAIMS? “Google has made “substantial”
contributions to some of the most notorious climate deniers in
Washington despite its insistence that it supports political action on the
climate crisis.” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/11/google-contributions-climate-change-deniers Let’s contact Google and tell them to put
their money where there mouth is: http://www.corporate-office-headquarters.com/google-inc
DO NOTHING CONGRESS? The right
keeps complaining that Congress is doing nothing. That no legislation is being passed. This is not quite true. The House has worked and passed on many bills
during this session, nearly 300 in fact.
The do-nothing part is the Senate, where Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has only
brought forth and passed less than 50 of them.
https://demcastusa.com/2019/10/10/democrats-are-passing-legislation-in-the-united-states-house/ Let’s contact McConnell and tell him we
know to stop those negative comments about Congress doing nothing. DO SOMETHING, Mitch McConnell! Here is the contact information for his local
offices: https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/officelocations
ELECTION/VOTING
UPCOMING 2019 ELECTIONS: In
order to keep track of upcoming elections, we can use this from Ballotpedia: https://ballotpedia.org/Elections_calendar
KY: LET'S GET OUT THE VOTE IN KENTUCKY! Postcards To Voters
continues its campaign to reach every Democratic voter in Kentucky with Campaign
171: Kentucky Democratic Slate. While we can't write to #DitchMitch
this year, we can help boost turnout and enthusiasm in Kentucky starting now
with races from Governor to State Treasurer. If we are Kentuckians, we can
check out a sample ballot for our county at the Kentucky
Secretary of State site. Let's request 5 addresses today for this
important campaign.
LA: LOUISIANA ELECTION RESULTS FOR POSTCARDS TO
VOTERS' VOLUNTEERS. We wrote postcards for 4 of Louisiana's Saturday
elections. Here are the results: a) Campaign
170: Ed Price for State Senate. Price won easily with 59% of the
vote. (More at nola.com); b) Campaign
172: Lori Callais for State Rep; Callais will now
face Republican Buddy Mincey Jr. in a runoff. In the field of 5
candidates, Mincey received 45% of the vote; Callais received 15%. (More
at The Livingston Parish News.) c) Campaign
174: Robin Parrott for State Rep; Republican incumbent Sherman Mack
has retained his position as the state Representative for District 95, with an
overwhelming (78% to 22%) win over challenger Robin Parrott (More at The Advocate.) d) Campaign
175: Muriel Laws for Livingston Parish Council. Laws did not receive
enough votes to move on to the runoff. Thanks to everyone who
supported these campaigns.
LA: LOUISIANA ELECTION
RESULTS. a) Governor's race: Incumbent Louisiana Governor, Democrat John
Bel Edwards, fell short of the majority of the vote needed to clinch reelection
in Saturday’s all-party primary and will face Republican businessman Eddie
Rispone in a one-on-one general election next month. (More at Politico.) b) We can review all of LA's election results
at WAFB. c) If we are Louisiana voters, let's plan to
vote Tuesday, Nov. 5.
VA: REGISTER TO VOTE, OR CHECK REGISTRATION, BY TODAY’S DEADLINE: TODAY is the last day to register to vote in the
November 2019 elections.
We can find out here, at the Virginia Department of Elections website,
if we are registered, and if we are not, how to register TODAY so we can
vote for a Blue Virginia in the next elections.
FREE PROGRESSIVE LODGING: “Volunteers donate their time and energy to
canvas and get-out-the-vote. But often they're cash-strapped and need
a place to stay. Supporters have lodging to share. How can the two be
connected? A free new app connects volunteers with hosts to find free lodging. https://mailchi.mp/thedemlabs/volunteerlodging
Let’s see if we can find ways to use
these apps to help our work getting out the vote or other efforts. (h/t Dem
Labs)
STATE/LOCAL
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS
FRIDAY CLIMATE STRIKES: As
per Greta Thunberg’s tweet: “Last Friday over 4 million people striked for the
climate. This Friday we do it again! 170 countries and 6383 events so far in #weekforfuture
Find or register your strike at Fridays for Future: http://fridaysforfuture.org or local
websites.”
IMMIGRATION CONFERENCE: From Justice
for Our Neighbors: Families separated at the border, threats of
increased deportations and ICE raids, enormous historic backlogs in
naturalization applications and all-time-lows in refugee admissions: All of
these issues and so many others will be at the forefront of topics
@nationalimmigrantintegrationconference this October 20-22, 2019 in
Detroit, Michigan. Let's learn more and register here: https://niicnewamericandreams.org/
READING/WATCHING
Why environmental
groups need to focus on intersectionality -
Scientists
endorse mass civil disobedience to force climate action - https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-scientists/scientists-endorse-mass-civil-disobedience-to-force-climate-action-idUSKBN1WS01K (letter here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FuZYG-gT5EPTLDyvgNnlYIS5dAy43TM1MnvOls48qIc/edit?fbclid=IwAR3G0sb9uERME4-0RaKCGqmfIWAjr4MDNLBCbn-0Nx8hoGZWfHPWTahMEqM#)
Read the full
opening statement by former U.S. ambassador Yovanovitch to House committees - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/read-the-full-opening-statement-by-former-u-s-ambassador-yovanovitch-to-house-committees
The Good Fight's
Animated Guide To Impeachment
(a la Schoolhouse Rock) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joX-oJCudh0
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We can stay up to date
on Congress by checking out their schedules. a) The House publishes a
weekly schedule at The Weekly Leader (published and dated Friday)
as well as daily schedules at The Daily Leader. b) The Senate updates
their schedule daily at the Senate Floor Schedule
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