Hi, all, and happy Thursday! Also happy Passover to those of you who celebrate it. I know. What a week. We’ve had remarkable wins, but the simultaneous hits have come fast, hard, and in rapid-fire. It’s like someone turned the bedlam machine up to “rocket charge” and then broke the off switch.
Apr 6, 2023·edited Apr 6, 2023Liked by Jessica Craven
I just called and asked to speak with the TN Governor. The woman who answered offered to take a message. Using Jess's script was super helpful. While it's tough to engage in the rage and sadness of this topic, it sure feels better to take action than not. Ongoing thanks for all you do, Jess!
Run by GenZers and laser-focused on registering GenZ voters.
Also, after the historic WI judicial win, WisDems is working daily to flip seats in the Supermajority GOP state legislature. Phone banking is already starting to register voters.
I just called my state reps in Maryland, where Democrats have a supermajority, and asked them to move to expel all the Republicans from our state legislature. Because hey, why not? That's apparently how state legislatures operate these days!
And, Jessica, I would rather “support give” than “revenge give” to the Democratic Tennessee lawmakers. Our words carry the energy of their meaning as we say or write them. I believe there is enough anger and hatred in this world, and would like to only add good energy with what I do, wherever I can.
Happy holidays to you and your loved ones. Thanks for all you do for our country.
Jessica, you are responding just as the far right wants all of us to do. They have learned that lots of little events happening in multiple places at the same time, so much that our heads are swiveling around like spinning tops and we can’t get grounded and do our work so we sink into despair and withdraw from our fight, is exactly what they want to have happen.
So what do we do to keep our energy up, our focus on the future we want, and fight like crazy to win? We stop reading the news! Truly! The world will not implode. I promise. Or if you must keep checking on the news, pick only one or two sources (ok Jessica, you may have 3-4 you need to check to do your column). Anyway, pick only one or two to watch, OR read OR listen to. Not AND, OR. And every other day or two if you can allow yourself. And throughout all of this, and in between important elections, have a regular place or two you can go to do your work. For instance, each week check out what Postcards to Voters, or some other group, is writing about and get some postcards. Or check out the environmental phone banking group that Jessica loves so much, and just make calls to remind people to register, or vote. Don’t ask where, and why. Just make the calls. And, of course, read Jessica and do as much of what she writes about as you can. Let these become your regular tasks. Day in, day out, week after week. No need to know anything more. And even if it may not seem like it, your efforts will have a huge effect on what happens during elections around the country. We have to begin to trust that there are enough of us now spread out across the country who can jump to defend something in their backyard, and to trust that Jessica will let us know if there is something important that we need to switch gears for temporarily.
People, we have figured out how to do this now after 3 huge elections where we made massive inroads. From now on we just have to not get sidetracked, or following the latest shiny thing the far right is tossing our way. We need to keep your heads down and do the day to day work that we have learned is necessary to protect our democracy. I know we’ve got this if we just keep doing the work.
I just called and asked to speak with the TN Governor. The woman who answered offered to take a message. Using Jess's script was super helpful. While it's tough to engage in the rage and sadness of this topic, it sure feels better to take action than not. Ongoing thanks for all you do, Jess!
Thank you for doing that, Eric!
Great work as always
Thank you!
From your lips to god's ears: "I know, further, that what we’re witnessing are the last, flailing attacks of a doomed and moribund party."
Indeed.
Another group to follow and support: votersoftomorrow.org
Run by GenZers and laser-focused on registering GenZ voters.
Also, after the historic WI judicial win, WisDems is working daily to flip seats in the Supermajority GOP state legislature. Phone banking is already starting to register voters.
Yes, they are great!
I just called my state reps in Maryland, where Democrats have a supermajority, and asked them to move to expel all the Republicans from our state legislature. Because hey, why not? That's apparently how state legislatures operate these days!
Ha wow!
And, Jessica, I would rather “support give” than “revenge give” to the Democratic Tennessee lawmakers. Our words carry the energy of their meaning as we say or write them. I believe there is enough anger and hatred in this world, and would like to only add good energy with what I do, wherever I can.
Happy holidays to you and your loved ones. Thanks for all you do for our country.
You too, Cathleen.
Jessica, you are responding just as the far right wants all of us to do. They have learned that lots of little events happening in multiple places at the same time, so much that our heads are swiveling around like spinning tops and we can’t get grounded and do our work so we sink into despair and withdraw from our fight, is exactly what they want to have happen.
So what do we do to keep our energy up, our focus on the future we want, and fight like crazy to win? We stop reading the news! Truly! The world will not implode. I promise. Or if you must keep checking on the news, pick only one or two sources (ok Jessica, you may have 3-4 you need to check to do your column). Anyway, pick only one or two to watch, OR read OR listen to. Not AND, OR. And every other day or two if you can allow yourself. And throughout all of this, and in between important elections, have a regular place or two you can go to do your work. For instance, each week check out what Postcards to Voters, or some other group, is writing about and get some postcards. Or check out the environmental phone banking group that Jessica loves so much, and just make calls to remind people to register, or vote. Don’t ask where, and why. Just make the calls. And, of course, read Jessica and do as much of what she writes about as you can. Let these become your regular tasks. Day in, day out, week after week. No need to know anything more. And even if it may not seem like it, your efforts will have a huge effect on what happens during elections around the country. We have to begin to trust that there are enough of us now spread out across the country who can jump to defend something in their backyard, and to trust that Jessica will let us know if there is something important that we need to switch gears for temporarily.
People, we have figured out how to do this now after 3 huge elections where we made massive inroads. From now on we just have to not get sidetracked, or following the latest shiny thing the far right is tossing our way. We need to keep your heads down and do the day to day work that we have learned is necessary to protect our democracy. I know we’ve got this if we just keep doing the work.