45 Comments
Jun 17Liked by Jessica Craven

The YouTube channel "Republican Voters Against Trump" features short videos by former Trump voters who are now adamantly opposed to Trump. It's another thing to be thankful for.

These voters recognize the dangers of a 2nd Trump term. Many are lifelong Republican voters, walking away from decades of allegiance to the GOP.

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I’ll check it out.

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Another group that has been working for years on electing state legislators and has been pretty successful flipping sate houses from red to blue is The Sister District Project.. I am volunteering through the MA-RI Sister District. The method is to link very blue districts that don't need as much attention with districts in purple states. Right now we are raising money and doing GOTV tasks for Patty Kim who is running for the state senate in PA district 15. Other chapters are working for other candidates. Check them out if you are in a safe district.

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Yes! I’m doing an event with them next week! And I’ve Phonebanked with them in every election cycle! They’re fantastic!

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Jun 17Liked by Jessica Craven

Hi Jessica. I am inspired by you, and you give me hope Just found this and wanted to share it with you:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Aj6csLs7I It is from 5 Minute News, about Joe Biden's age. A member of my family told me she and all her friends would not vote for Joe Biden because he is too old. Well, I gave her a dose of you and found this 5 Minute News bit to back it up. Enjoy!

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Wow! Amazing and thank you!

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Jun 17Liked by Jessica Craven

Just posted on my Facebook thread. Thank you.

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Jun 18Liked by Jessica Craven

Thank you SO much Judith! This is brilliant! I'm 75, my husband 78 (Donald Trump was born just one day before my husband). We are both vibrant, vital, contributing members of society...what Chip Conley terms 'Modern Elders'. I am forwarding this to all of my Women of Wisdom members ... the oldest just turned 97 and is as sharp and contributing as ever!

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Judith, this video is AMAZING!! I'm sending it to all of my friends. He NAILS the issue, hands down. Thank you.

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Jun 17Liked by Jessica Craven

Thanks Sheila, I am doing the same!

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Jun 17Liked by Jessica Craven

Good news!!

In 1889, BNSF Railway Company’s predecessor illegally built a railroad through the Swinomish Reservation in northwest Washington State without the tribe’s consent. After lawsuits brought by the tribe, BNSF and the tribe came to an easement agreement. When BNSF violated the agreement (bringing four times the permitted number of cars), the Swinomish sued again. In 2023, a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that BNSF railroad had willingly, consciously and knowingly trespassed in pursuit of profits when it ran about a quarter-million cars carrying crude oil over the Swinomish Reservation beyond what was outlined in an agreement with the tribe. Today, June 17, 2024, the judge ordered BNSF to pay the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community just under $400 million for trespassing on the reservation.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/northwest/a-wa-tribe-will-get-paid-by-a-railroad-that-trespassed-the-question-is-how-much/

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/judge-orders-bnsf-to-pay-wa-tribe-400m-for-trespass/

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WOW THAT IS AMAZING!!! That is incredible ! Thank you thank you for posting!

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Good news indeed 😊

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Jun 17Liked by Jessica Craven

Jessica,

I so loved listening to your husband read the column today, and I am so glad he is stepping in to help you out. I won't be so worried about you now, knowing he is helping with this venture. Please know I found it very comforting listening to his voice as he read the column. A big Congrats!! to him for stepping up. You should be very proud!!

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Awwww you made my night—his too! 😊

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Jun 17Liked by Jessica Craven

Grateful for you too, Jessica! You are working SO hard! Every day I'm inspired and impressed. Lots going on and lots of people working really hard. Thank you for bringing me into the world of political activism in such an easy way. And thanks everyone for working and working and working. I am very hopeful. And. Determined. Stay cool everyone. Heat coming our way (Massachusetts) and lots of other places as well. Let's check on our neighbors and make sure everyone is ok.

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Right on, Kate. And thank you! ❤️

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Hi Jessica I greatly appreciate your inclusiveness. Your posts bring a lot of hope with your calls for action.

It’s actually Eid Al Adha which is associated with the Hajj. Eid Al Fitr is the Eid at the end of Ramadan which is the Eid celebrating the end of the fasting. Fitr meaning in essence break fast. Thanks for your care for the Muslim community. May God reward you for your good work. Martin

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Aw thank you for explaining and drat! I wish I’d gotten it right! I’ll be more attentive next time and THANK YOU!

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Jun 17Liked by Jessica Craven

I am also grateful for this community. I'll have to start adding good news in the comments during the week 😅

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Yay!

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Jun 17Liked by Jessica Craven

You’re hired! Mike thank you for helping Jessica. 🥰 You have an easy voice to listen to. Lots of important work to do, I’ll select some things to do and get to work!

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I passed that along thank you!

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Thank you, Jess. Used the text to send to my Florida MAGApublican Representative and Senators.

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Thank you!!!!!

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Jun 17Liked by Jessica Craven

Why I am Hopeful that Joe Biden will Win

Many of the Americans who voted for Biden in 2020 are somewhere between worry and terror that he might lose the presidency to Donald Trump in November. I am reasonably confident Joe Biden will win in November.

Here are my reasons for optimism:

While polls represent the opinion of a small number of voters at a fixed point in time, elections are a full expression of voters’ decision between candidates. In 2020, Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by 81 million to 74 million votes. Since then, pollsters, especially Nate Cohn’s NYTimes Siena poll, has created an intentionally misleading outlook for Biden in 2024.

Biden’s 2020 victory resulted from a choice by the majority of Americans to bring back responsible government, a forward-looking American agenda and reject Trump’s erratic, mean spirited, self-serving politics. The Trump of 2024 represents a more dangerous threat than he did in 2020. In addition to his constant lies, Trump is a rapist, a convicted felon, a financial fraudster, a threat to America’s national security, an election cheat and perhaps senile. So why would any of the 81 million Biden voters abandon him this November to vote for Trump or not vote? THEY WON’T. More likely, as the benefits of his policies become more widely recognized, Biden will pick up rather than lose voters to Trump.

However, ignoring the reality of Biden’s fundamental popularity, analysts and journalists daily warn Democrats that we should be very worried about losing for two reasons. First, Biden’s low popularity in the polls. Second, the president has old guy vibes and looks frail on TV.

Happily, Biden’s poll numbers have started rising in June. However, it’s hard to overstate the damage done to Biden’s campaign and the confidence of Democrats by the anti-Biden, gaslighting, New York Times/Sienna poll. Starting in 2023, the Times consistent election “story line” described Biden’s presidency as failing with low approval ratings. The Times poll results are widely quoted as national election “facts” by journalists across all media empowering “shock” news articles about Biden’s low prospects in 2024. The monthly drumbeat of negative Biden news has created an atmosphere of fear, dread and panic among Democrats, aided Trump’s dominance over the GOP and spread joy across the MAGA world.

How does the NYTimes poll mislead the public? By overcounting Trump-biased, MAGA participant groups in rural America. Its poll data is NOT a balanced picture of the political reality in America today but rather a snapshot of MAGA America. The Times polls include a significantly greater % of rural voters than can be justified by the demographics of America’s voting population. 22% of Americans live in rural counties. However, the Times poll has typically included 35% or more rural respondents, an overweighting of 59% in Trump America where he won in 2020 with 60% to 38% of the vote. To realistically interpret the Times polling data, Liberals should assume its polls and the journalists who quote it, are describing MAGA America, not the America where the majority of Biden’s 81 million voters live. It seems of late even Nate Cohn is waking up to his statistical aberration.

On a positive note, the Times poll results in May show Biden gaining ground. He’s leading in in Wisconsin and very close in 4 out of 5 others; VERY encouraging results for Joe Biden in a MAGA biased poll. If the Times adjusted its poll to 22% rural respondents, Biden would be ahead in 5 out of 6 swing states!

An interesting fact from the Times poll that Nate Cohn and the journalists NEVER report is that 70%-80% of all voters in swing states are “satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with their situation in America today. Journalist repeatedly report that the majority are very dissatisfied with Biden because of inflation. After all, who likes inflation? But, perhaps, most voters in the Times poll think the effect of inflation is not ruining their life and might not be a major factor in November.

Biden’s age as a competitive disadvantage compared to Trump defies reality as both candidates are much older than the traditional age for a presidential candidate. In November, voters will face a binary decision based on the current behavior and mental capacity of either candidate. One candidate is executing the responsibilities of the presidency every day. He is successfully fighting wars in the Ukraine, in Israel, against MAGA extremism and to reduce inflation. That candidate is executing policies to reshore critical tech industries and reduce the effects of global warming. At the same time, he’s able to run an aggressive presidential campaign and lead powerful alliances in Asia and Europe to support democracy for the long term.

The other candidate grows more horrifyingly unattractive every day. That candidate seems to be running on an unrecognizable vision of American decline in a dystopian Zombie movie, entertaining to some of his MAGA base but far from the outlook of most Americans. How many of us are worried about electrocution vs. shark attacks?

If it wasn’t obvious at the beginning of 2020, it is now undeniable; Joe Biden is a true American political genius. We should be joyfully happy that Biden is willing to give the country another 4 years. We all need to work our tales off to get him elected.

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Great post!

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Jun 18Liked by Jessica Craven

I enjoyed listening to your husband today. I find it so inspiring that you two work together to save democracy. Please thank him for all of us!

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I will pass it along thank you!

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Jun 18Liked by Jessica Craven

I made a donation to the giving circle and submitted a comment on the firearms regulation. Hope this helps.

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It will thank you!

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Jun 17Liked by Jessica Craven

I am looking for a couple of good organizations that are working to protect the integrity of the election at all levels from Republicans who are working on disenfranchising voters and preparing to challenge results. Thoughts?

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Hmmmm let me think about that. States United Fpr Democracy is a newsletter that comes to mind as a place to look…

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Jun 17Liked by Jessica Craven

Thank you for doing the audio version, Mike!

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Passing that along!

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You can still sign up to write postcards. Postcards and stamps are included. If you signed up already, please be aware they are not mailing them out until early summer. Here’s a link:

https://action.momsrising.org/survey/2024_Postcards_May?source=aae&aktmid=tm10932244.vy6ixm&akid=a28637375.3475403.oJX5a0&t=3&utm_campaign=outreach&utm_medium=email&utm_source=actionkit

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Great thanks for re-posting!

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