Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/15
Hi, all, and happy Friday.
First of all, I want to extend a warm welcome to my new subscribers. You’ve come to a place where hope is not a feeling, but an action. We do small things to help move our country in a healthy direction and find hope in the process. It really works!
Speaking of hope, read this. It’s an article called “Democrats' time to pounce: Republicans suddenly find themselves vulnerable ahead of midterms.” Literal music to my ears. And so, so true.
Of course we also received the devastating news of Joe Manchin’s (predictable) reversal on the climate provisions in the new reconciliation package. It’s hard, indeed, to take. And easy to feel that no matter what we do to counteract it, it won’t be enough.
But as I said, hope is an action. We owe it to our kids to keep fighting. We are four months away from being able to make Manchin obsolete.
We must.
Look. The news is awful in so many ways. But a commanding win in November will turn so many things around. And we can achieve that win.
We are seasoned fighters. We’ve built extensive coalitions. We understand the stakes. We have the candidates. We have the intelligence. We have the infrastructure. We have the popular policies.
We have the voters.
Our job is simply to know that and keep doing the work, no matter what. On days we get the good headlines, and on days we get the bad ones. And on days, like today, where we get a bit of both.
The only way we fail is by not making the effort.
So let’s get to work one more time.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling today to express my rage and frustration that once again Congress has let the American people down so horribly on climate legislation. And while this is Joe Manchin’s fault, it is also every Republican Senator’s fault, and it’s the fault of every lawmaker who isn’t treating this issue with the life altering urgency it demands. This is not about party. It’s not about winning elections. It’s about survival. Every person on earth will suffer because of Congress’s inability to put politics aside, stop caving to oil and gas lobbyists, and save our planet. We want climate action and we want it now.
[If GOP or Manchin add:] I will work every day to vote out every politician who isn’t fighting tooth and nail for this.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m calling to say that I’m devastated to learn that talks on climate action in the Senate have collapsed. I am very, very concerned and angry about the lack of action on this issue. No one will escape the ravages of climate catastrophe. This can’t be about politics. It can’t be about party. Congress needs to get together and do something or our future as a species is in danger.
[If GOP add:] The fault for this is mostly on the Republican Party. Democrats have one member who is tanking negotiations. Republicans have hundreds. This goes against not just logic but your constituents’ wishes. Americans want climate action and we will make sure to vote out all politicians who won’t give it to us.
Extra Credit ✅
Write to President Biden here. Say something like:
Now that Joe Manchin has (once again) reneged on his promises and tanked negotiations on climate provisions in the reconciliation bill I am asking the President to get aggressive on climate. Please, block all fossil fuel infrastructure that would lock in emissions for decades to come, including Conoco Phillips's Willow project on Alaska's North Slope and new offshore oil and gas leasing in federal waters. And declare a climate emergency. We are in one! This is existential. We will do our part by electing more Democratic Senators in November, but you must do your part too. Stop negotiating with terrorists. Those with ties to dirty energy are acting in bad faith and always will.
You must act in good faith for our future. Otherwise we won’t have one. Thanks.
Extra EXTRA Credit ✅✅
I typically don’t love petitions, but this organization is lobbying hard for clean energy—and therefore lots of new jobs—in the upcoming reconciliation package and/or anywhere else they can get them. We need this badly. Sign here.
Get Smart! 📚
You guys. GO TO THIS!!! Just trust me. I know Mike, and I am telling you this will be incredible and SO ENCOURAGING.
Mike Lux: Dems Can Win in 2022
Monday, July 18th, 5–6 pm Pacific, Virtual
Mike Lux is an important progressive voice. He played a role in the early days of launching the Center for American Progress, Air America, America’s Voice, and MoveOn.org. From January 1993 to mid-1995, Mike served as a Special Assistant to the President in the Clinton White House, and has played a leadership role in five Presidential campaigns.
Learn from Mike as he discusses the reasons that prove we can win in 2022 and the strategies and messaging needed to do it.
“What Democrats need to do is shake off the doldrums, get over the pessimism, and get about the business of fashioning a winning strategy for 2022. We can’t -- and our democracy can’t -- afford to let pessimism become a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Mike Lux
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)
[To your Senators] [H/T] [Quick send: text SIGN PLEGGF to 50409]
I’m writing because our democracy is under attack. The Senate must do what they can to bolster it. This is urgent.
Please, allow Senate consideration of U.S. Supreme Court reforms, including the Judiciary Act of 2021 (S. 1141) and the Judiciary Accountability Act of 2021 (S. 2553) to expand the number of seats on the Court, set term limits, and create an enforceable ethics code for all SCOTUS justices.
Please also confirm the 20 federal judges nominated by the President who are only awaiting a full Senate confirmation vote, which will ensure the continued functioning of the federal courts and avoid political delays as the midterm elections approach.
Pass S. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, so that DC citizens enjoy equitable representation in Congress.
And for goodness sakes pass S. 4500, the Youth Voting Rights Act, to remove barriers faced by young voters, especially students. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
I wrote to Biden:
I am writing in deep frustration and disappointment in the collapse of the climate change provisions in the current budget reconciliation bill in the U.S. Senate. I reckon that President Biden has done his level best to help to bolster the razor-thin Democratic margin in the Senate, but has come up short due to recalcitrance from Senator Manchin, and the entire body of Republican Senators. Shame on them, shame on all of them. Our children and grandchildren will suffer mightily for this lost opportunity to put ourselves back on track as the primary contributor to the climate crisis. Shame on us.
What can the President do about this? Everything in his power as the Chief Executive! Let's get started by use of executive order and administrative prerogative. BLOCK all oil and gas infrastructure projects, especially Conoco's Willow Project and any new offshore oil and gas leasing in federal waters. And please, DECLARE A CLIMATE EMERGENCY. It is long past time.
Now that it is clear that the Senator from West Virginia has not been negotiating in good faith, there is no need to kowtow to oil and gas and coal vested interests. The future of humanity on this planet is at stake.
The Lux signup link is broken. Thank you so much Jess!