Chop Wood, Carry Water 10/13

The path of peace

Hi, all, and happy Friday.

I hope you’re hanging in there. It remains, of course, a wildly challenging moment, and will likely stay so for the foreseeable future. Anyone who can read the news (or listen to today’s Daily Podcast) without weeping is made of stronger stuff than I am. The suffering is acute, it’s widespread, and it feels so relentless that it’s hard not to submit to despair.

Yet submit we can’t. Oh, we can grieve, and, in fact, must if we want to retain our humanity. But to despair is to decide that there is no future worth fighting for. That there are no conceivable answers. That the cynics and the nihilists are right. I wholeheartedly reject all of that, and I hope you will as well.

A friend sent me this Op-Ed from today’s New York Times—it’s entitled “I’m Going to War for Israel. Palestinians Are Not My Enemy.” It’s a beautiful piece that, I think, encapsulates what most decent humans—both in and out of the Middle East—are feeling at this moment. It also offers a key reminder for all of us:

This war, like others before it, will end sooner or later. I am not sure I will come back from it alive, but I do know that a minute after the war is over, both Israelis and Palestinians will have to reckon with the leaders who led them to this moment. We must wake up and not let the extremists rule. [Italics mine.]

There is much to admire about the essay, but it is that last line to which we Americans must pay special attention. For that is something over which we have some modicum of control. And it applies here as much as it does in Israel or Palestine.

At this particular moment it is the extremists in the Republican party who are endangering our futures. Even some of them admit it! While this week’s dysfunction is perhaps more public and pronounced than usual, it is a symptom of the same illness from which Republicans have been suffering for years. It has hit its chronic phase. There is no apparent cure.

So let’s continue to work to vote them all out. We need “grownups in the room,” and the current situation in the Middle East gives us a frightening preview of what will happen if we don’t insist upon having them.

Once elected, we’ll keep pushing our “grownups” towards temperance, transparency, and accountability. Then we’ll work with them for a more fair, equitable, and, yes, peaceful future.

It is only in this way that we can all thrive.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

I’m calling to ask if the Senator has made a public statement demanding that Tommy Tuberville lift his military promotions blockade? [Push for an answer, then thank or not as appropriate.]

Has s/he demanded that Senators Cruz and Paul stop blocking State Department and other confirmations? [Push for an answer, then thank or not as appropriate.]

It’s time for every Senator to take a strong stand against the minority who are tying up our government. Our lawmakers are supposed to put the common welfare above their own political ambitions. Those who won’t shouldn’t be tolerated. Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

I understand that 55 Members of Congress have just sent a letter to President Biden and Secretary Blinken expressing concerns regarding the unfolding humanitarian situation in Gaza as Israel responds to Hamas’ terrorist attack.

Among other things the letter urges the Biden Administration to work to quickly restore the delivery of food, water, fuel, electricity, and other life-saving necessities to Gaza to ensure that innocent civilians have the basics needed for survival. It also asks him to collaborate with regional partners to establish a humanitarian corridor to enable the delivery of life-saving necessities and to allow Palestinian civilians and foreign nationals, including U.S. citizens, to seek safe haven outside of Gaza. Will the Congressmember sign on to this letter? S/he can contact Rep. Schakowsky or McGovern to do so. Thanks.

Extra Credit ✅

Let’s send a quick letter to President Biden about the situation in Gaza.

I kept my note really short. I am trying to stick to facts we can all agree on.

If you want to add more you can copy and paste the below into the “Contact the White House” form and edit it as you like before you send it. If you wish to send it as is text SIGN PPTKSV to 50409 (or wherever you reach Resistbot.)

Thank you, President Biden, for your steady leadership at a moment of international crisis.

The U.S. government has a crucial role to play in what happens next in Israel and Gaza. I urge you to do all you can to safeguard innocent peoples’ lives. On this, at least, we can all agree—war crimes do not justify more war crimes. Thank you.

Get Smart! 📚

Grassroots Voices - what's happening in NC in 2023 and beyond
All In for NC Monthly Meeting Monday, October 16, 4 pm. ET

Join us for a discussion of the political NC landscape from the seasoned grassroots organizers who have been working on the ground, talking to voters and working with the candidates. Let's hear their insight into the 2024 election cycle so we can understand how volunteer efforts can have the greatest impact.

Speakers include:

Ashlei Blue, Director, NC America Votes, Dr. Shavon Leach, Program Director, NC A. Philip Randolph Educational Fund

RSVP here

Give 💰!

On Wednesday, October 18th 8PM ET join Succession star (and States Project Giving Circle Leader!) J Smith Cameron for a conversation that’ll break down what’s at stake in Virginia and how you can help.

If you’ve never been to a States Project event before I can’t recommend it highly enough. And this one in particular should be a blast. Especially if you’re a Succession fan. 😉

Register here.

Win Races—TEXT! 🗳

Election day is around the corner! Join the DFAD, the League of Women Voters and the Leadership Conference on Thursday, October 18th at 6 pm for a training and text-bank to help voters across the country make a plan to vote!

Sign up here.

Win Races—WRITE! ✍🏼

Postcards 4 VA just sent out an email showing a picture of the REPUBLICAN postcard that one of their writer’s husbands received! The GOP is copying us and sending postcards in Virginia! Ack!

Can anyone send more postcards for VA?

Click here to get more addresses.

Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻

[to Congress] [Written by subscriber Robert Morgan, then edited slightly for length] [Quick send: text SIGN PYXFDH to 50409]

I am writing to you in your capacity as a member of Congress regarding the ongoing dysfunction rampant in both the House and the Senate.

The dysfunction in the House is a direct result of the Republicans’ narrow majority and the intransigent factions within their party. The dysfunction in the Senate is a direct result of Senate rules that allow single Senators to block motions on the floor. In addition, in both chambers, members of each party are under clouds of ethics investigations and criminal indictments.

Putting country over politics requires being honest about what you want your country to look like and stand for. Unfortunately, some in Congress want our country to be a lawless, anarchic, dysfunctional land where it's everyone for themselves. I respectfully request that you focus your efforts on marginalizing and neutralizing those elements. There are some House members who are sowing chaos by withholding support for a Speaker of the House, which effectively hamstrings the House and the whole of our government. There are several Senators who are holding up critical military promotions and diplomatic appointments, as well as routinely using or threatening to use the filibuster to achieve that which they cannot through good faith negotiations.

The reasonable path forward to restoring functionality and the ability to govern in the House is to engage members of the Democratic party. The House Problem Solvers Caucus could come together and put forth a Speaker candidate who can work across the aisle when needed. Failing that, they should agree on urgent common ground issues. It's my understanding that a Speaker pro tem can be authorized to do more than just fill the chair and call votes for a permanent Speaker. The Problem Solvers’ Caucus could push for that limited interim move if they can't succeed on the permanent one.

With regard to the Senate, I realize that there are reasons for allowing Senators to object to certain motions to keep them from reaching a vote on the floor, and to use the filibuster to try to force concessions. But often, those tactics are abused for the purpose of advancing a personal agenda. If eliminating those practices is a bridge too far, please consider modifying the rules to either require one co-sponsor (or maybe more) of the hold or filibuster, or reduce the threshold for cloture to a simple majority.

Good, functional government is necessary to serve the  Common Good. Dysfunction does no good at all. Please fix our broken government. Thanks.

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OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk soon.

Jess