Hi, all, and happy Wednesday! And it is happy, indeed. We won in Ohio, and we won decisively. Thanks to every single one of you who wrote postcards, gave money, made calls, sent letters, knocked doors, or simply reminded friends and family to vote. This victory is yours, too, and I am so, so proud of you.
The problem with Republicans is their ideas are not palatable to the masses. This is why they sneak them into law. The population needs to remember which party is doing the bad acts and vote them out of office. We have to protect everyone's rights not just those who agree with you. We need sensible gun legislation and sensible women's health legislation at a national level. Vote Blue at all levels of government. The Republican party is the only party who is taking away rights. Remember that when the next election cycle comes around.
Thank you Jessica for all your inspirational leadership. The arch of history is definitely turning back in our direction.
We are seeing the power of Democrats' energy level for rejecting, not just protections for women's health and their rights to choice but much of the GOP's policy agenda and strategy for minority rule..✌️
Even devoted Republicans can't abide much of the extreme MAGA agenda which is why DeSantis, a worse fascist than TFG, has dropped like a stone in the polls and his record as governor is just coming home to roost.
Democrats need to quickly get past their obsession with Biden's age.. he's a healthy male with an avg life expectancy of 89. President Eisenhower won reelection in 1956 (with a 61% majority) at the age of 66 which was the average age of male life expectacy at that time. Let's get Joe to his second term so we can complete so much of our democratic agenda by 2028..
The key objective for Democrats is Turnout! Turnout! Turnout!
Jess, thanks as always for the inspiration. I want to paste here a comment I put on David Pepper’s & Simon Rosenberg’s Substack because I want your feedback. Are there other events like this in other rural areas? I think it is great, but I am not in the Biz so to speak. Go to the site and check it out, let me know what you think. Thanks for all you do!
----
Also coming from NC with tons of rural red counties. Let me share something from another Hopium member (Bob has a newsletter called Rural Reporter in PA which is a great rural organizing resource that he hopes to spread nationally some day, I urge you to sub and share cuz it fits any of rural area with it’s general applicable tips like this next one and is how I came across it! Thanks Bob!).
This idea could be great outreach plan for those red counties from now to November. In Jefferson County PA, they do something called ‘Demstock’ (maybe not suitable? But adorable!) in that county’s rural fairgrounds. It is actually this coming weekend if anyone is in western PA!
I have this year’s organizers name and email.
After looking at their site, link below, you maybe able to see the potential!! Since Ohio Grassroots groups are currently hyped and interconnected coming off Issue 1, what if maybe Blue Ohio(?) David Pepper? Suggestion? could help organize several of these (3 or 4) festivals in selected red county fairgrounds across Ohio before the November election?
If banners could get put out in major intersections in host county and surrounding ones well prior, and blitz all local dems, offices, and grassroots groups/volunteers, highschools, colleges to attend, have local officials speak, music, it would jazz up the organizing in those groups and hopefully attract those rural local dems (shy who voted no, but wouldn’t feel supported to admit it) to visit the event while groups encourage go ers NEW LOCAL rural volunteers and voters to drive the message & them over the finish line come Nov.
Of course, they have been doing this event for 5 years in PA, but using it as a model, and with the mighty MO behind Ohio’s grassroots, this might be a good strategy to get Louder, in those counties just ahead of Nov. Since valuable connections have already been made, expand them with a few fun collaborative events in red county fairgrounds.
Think of it as tRump rally. So like he does, but for pro-democracy grassroots instead! And travel around the state.
Just a suggestion/connection. Maybe it deserves some brainstorming.
Hey! Your recommended action is from the Citizens Climate Lobby group! I had just received their email this morning and was studying the bill. Glad to know its recommended by you as well.
Jess- thank you for your constant cheer leading and being such an example to us all. I was listening to Simon Rosenberg's Hopium Chronicles (which I read about from you !) when things seemed really bleak and he said- do what you can! if you write- write postcards- if you can call- make calls- don't worry about what you should do- do what you can do! (the essence of it) and so I did - postcards and texting and it feels good to be in the fight!! But I sure could not do it without you and these folks!!!!
Aug 9, 2023·edited Aug 9, 2023Liked by Jessica Craven
Dear Jessica, you are partially responsible for successfully mobilizing the voters of Ohio and the USA to fight for democracy. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I read Scott Galloway's "Trump and Math" column (4 August 2023) and was heartened by some of his data: "since Trump won the WH in 2016, 32 million young people have become eligible to vote and 20 million elderly have died. That's a 52 million voter swing from old to young." I ardently hope that the DNC is paying attention to these facts. I know that you are. I am, too; I am dedicated to doing all that I can to register and prod young voters to the voting booth. The culture war issues of the extreme Far Right are completely meaningless to many millions of them; climate change, reproductive and Queer rights, and gun control are issues that matter to young people. Let's get going; the common good, decency, democracy and a civil society are worth fighting for.
Simon Rosenberg (highly recommend his Substack) has been calling for a national youth voter registration drive for exactly these demographic reasons. Young people are generally most likely to support our policies but least likely to vote.
Congratulations to everyone who worked to defeat this abhorrent measure!
I'd love to hear from Jessica and readers about the turnout. I truly don't understand why we should celebrate a 30% voter turnout. Why did the other 70% not vote? Timing, misinformation, lack of publicity in Ohio, indifference?
I continue to be flummoxed that people don't vote. People around the world get arrested and killed by their governments for wanting to vote; there is no such thing as free and fair elections in many countries, and the GOP seems intent on replicating that situation here. Why aren't American voters voting?
Well, first of all since I hit send on this email I learned that the turnout was 38%, and second, we can only celebrate that percentage because it's so much better than the typical turnout for an election at that time of year. But of course it's still terrible and we have a LOT of work to do to get more folks to vote. 100%.
Don't tell anyone, but on my Ohio postcards just in case the recipient already voted, I hijacked Jessica's end line to say: "OMG, have you already voted? You did it! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing!" Hopefully, it inspired a few who hadn't voted to go out and save democracy LOL!
The problem with Republicans is their ideas are not palatable to the masses. This is why they sneak them into law. The population needs to remember which party is doing the bad acts and vote them out of office. We have to protect everyone's rights not just those who agree with you. We need sensible gun legislation and sensible women's health legislation at a national level. Vote Blue at all levels of government. The Republican party is the only party who is taking away rights. Remember that when the next election cycle comes around.
Exactly!
Thank you Jessica for all your inspirational leadership. The arch of history is definitely turning back in our direction.
We are seeing the power of Democrats' energy level for rejecting, not just protections for women's health and their rights to choice but much of the GOP's policy agenda and strategy for minority rule..✌️
Even devoted Republicans can't abide much of the extreme MAGA agenda which is why DeSantis, a worse fascist than TFG, has dropped like a stone in the polls and his record as governor is just coming home to roost.
Democrats need to quickly get past their obsession with Biden's age.. he's a healthy male with an avg life expectancy of 89. President Eisenhower won reelection in 1956 (with a 61% majority) at the age of 66 which was the average age of male life expectacy at that time. Let's get Joe to his second term so we can complete so much of our democratic agenda by 2028..
The key objective for Democrats is Turnout! Turnout! Turnout!
Jess, thanks as always for the inspiration. I want to paste here a comment I put on David Pepper’s & Simon Rosenberg’s Substack because I want your feedback. Are there other events like this in other rural areas? I think it is great, but I am not in the Biz so to speak. Go to the site and check it out, let me know what you think. Thanks for all you do!
----
Also coming from NC with tons of rural red counties. Let me share something from another Hopium member (Bob has a newsletter called Rural Reporter in PA which is a great rural organizing resource that he hopes to spread nationally some day, I urge you to sub and share cuz it fits any of rural area with it’s general applicable tips like this next one and is how I came across it! Thanks Bob!).
This idea could be great outreach plan for those red counties from now to November. In Jefferson County PA, they do something called ‘Demstock’ (maybe not suitable? But adorable!) in that county’s rural fairgrounds. It is actually this coming weekend if anyone is in western PA!
I have this year’s organizers name and email.
After looking at their site, link below, you maybe able to see the potential!! Since Ohio Grassroots groups are currently hyped and interconnected coming off Issue 1, what if maybe Blue Ohio(?) David Pepper? Suggestion? could help organize several of these (3 or 4) festivals in selected red county fairgrounds across Ohio before the November election?
https://demstock.net.
If banners could get put out in major intersections in host county and surrounding ones well prior, and blitz all local dems, offices, and grassroots groups/volunteers, highschools, colleges to attend, have local officials speak, music, it would jazz up the organizing in those groups and hopefully attract those rural local dems (shy who voted no, but wouldn’t feel supported to admit it) to visit the event while groups encourage go ers NEW LOCAL rural volunteers and voters to drive the message & them over the finish line come Nov.
Of course, they have been doing this event for 5 years in PA, but using it as a model, and with the mighty MO behind Ohio’s grassroots, this might be a good strategy to get Louder, in those counties just ahead of Nov. Since valuable connections have already been made, expand them with a few fun collaborative events in red county fairgrounds.
Think of it as tRump rally. So like he does, but for pro-democracy grassroots instead! And travel around the state.
Just a suggestion/connection. Maybe it deserves some brainstorming.
-----
Thank you!!! 🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️
👏🤸♀️🎉🤗🥳 OK, back to work
I'm already writing postcards to oust a MAGA Republican opposed to commonsense gun safety laws.
LOVE that! Thank you!
We're all in this together and I love your optimism. That is what will beat back the bullies.😊
Hey! Your recommended action is from the Citizens Climate Lobby group! I had just received their email this morning and was studying the bill. Glad to know its recommended by you as well.
Indeed it is, and if you click the H/T you'll see it! (:
Jess- thank you for your constant cheer leading and being such an example to us all. I was listening to Simon Rosenberg's Hopium Chronicles (which I read about from you !) when things seemed really bleak and he said- do what you can! if you write- write postcards- if you can call- make calls- don't worry about what you should do- do what you can do! (the essence of it) and so I did - postcards and texting and it feels good to be in the fight!! But I sure could not do it without you and these folks!!!!
I'm so thrilled you got involved, KC, doing what you CAN do! Doesn't it feel wonderful to play a part, even if small, in such a momentous victory?
Dear Jessica, you are partially responsible for successfully mobilizing the voters of Ohio and the USA to fight for democracy. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I read Scott Galloway's "Trump and Math" column (4 August 2023) and was heartened by some of his data: "since Trump won the WH in 2016, 32 million young people have become eligible to vote and 20 million elderly have died. That's a 52 million voter swing from old to young." I ardently hope that the DNC is paying attention to these facts. I know that you are. I am, too; I am dedicated to doing all that I can to register and prod young voters to the voting booth. The culture war issues of the extreme Far Right are completely meaningless to many millions of them; climate change, reproductive and Queer rights, and gun control are issues that matter to young people. Let's get going; the common good, decency, democracy and a civil society are worth fighting for.
100%! Now we just have to keep them from voting for a third party candidate!
Simon Rosenberg (highly recommend his Substack) has been calling for a national youth voter registration drive for exactly these demographic reasons. Young people are generally most likely to support our policies but least likely to vote.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Congratulations to everyone who worked to defeat this abhorrent measure!
I'd love to hear from Jessica and readers about the turnout. I truly don't understand why we should celebrate a 30% voter turnout. Why did the other 70% not vote? Timing, misinformation, lack of publicity in Ohio, indifference?
I continue to be flummoxed that people don't vote. People around the world get arrested and killed by their governments for wanting to vote; there is no such thing as free and fair elections in many countries, and the GOP seems intent on replicating that situation here. Why aren't American voters voting?
Well, first of all since I hit send on this email I learned that the turnout was 38%, and second, we can only celebrate that percentage because it's so much better than the typical turnout for an election at that time of year. But of course it's still terrible and we have a LOT of work to do to get more folks to vote. 100%.
Jessica, thank you for the update and for all you do to keep us inspired and engaged!
Don't tell anyone, but on my Ohio postcards just in case the recipient already voted, I hijacked Jessica's end line to say: "OMG, have you already voted? You did it! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing!" Hopefully, it inspired a few who hadn't voted to go out and save democracy LOL!
Amazing. Thank you!