Chop Wood, Carry Water 9/5
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!
I’m off to a late start today, so I’ll be quick.
I hope you had a lovely holiday weekend. Mine was restorative—I read a witty novel, went to the farmer’s market with Mike, ate pasta pesto (my favorite food), took walks with Dolly and Mj, and enjoyed a fantastic dinner with friends. Most of what I did had nothing to do with politics, and that was a good and necessary thing.
Remember, the times we step away from the news are as important to our health—and therefore the health of our democracy—as the times we spend staring at the news obsessively. We must replenish our inner resources frequently in order to endure the stress put upon us by living in the current moment.
So. We rest. We recreate. We restore.
Then we put our boots back on and get back to work.
That work is hard, and feels endless, and is rife with setbacks and disappointments. But it’s also necessary, rewarding, empowering, and unifying. And we can do it because we know how to care for ourselves. That’s a critical part of the magic formula that will ensure our victory.
The other part, of course, is you.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m sickened that cities in Texas and elsewhere are passing ordinances that make it illegal for women and other pregnant people to travel on local and interstate roads for the purpose of seeking out-of-state abortion care. Congress needs to step up now and pass laws to protect our right to travel freely. Is the Senator yet co-sponsoring the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act (S.2053)? [If yes thank. If no add:] I want him/her to co-sponsor it right away. I refuse to have my freedoms stripped away and I will work to vote out politicians who don’t fight to protect it. Thanks. [H/T
]Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
[If you have a GOP rep]
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I’m extremely unhappy to hear that House Republicans are weighing an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, despite there being no evidence of any wrongdoing on his part. We have a lot of real problems to address right now, with climate-related catastrophes happening weekly, WIC funding about to run out, evictions skyrocketing, and 12 appropriations bills to pass. I expect House Republicans to abide by previous spending agreements, avoid a shutdown, stop talking about impeachment, and get to work passing legislation to help Americans. Thanks.
[To both Democratic and Republican reps:]
Please support The Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act (HR 4740). This is a bi-partisan bill that would reform wasteful budget practices at the Department of Defense. We’ve got to get military spending under control, and the Pentagon needs to stop failing audits year after year. This bill would help with that. Thanks.
Extra Credit ✅
Another community fighting book banners—and a possible library closure—needs our help TODAY. A critical vote is at 5PM ET tonight.
Read this quick post: Book Banners May Force Closure of a Virginia Public Library.
Then consider sending an email to the Warren County Board of Supervisors: vcook@warrencountyva.net, wmabe@warrencountyva.net, ccullers@warrencountyva.net, doates@warrencountyva.net, jbutler@warrencountyva.net.
Suggested talking points are here. I didn’t give my address—just my name, so they won’t know if I’m in their county or not. You can do that, too, or tell them that you’re writing from out of state because book bans hurt all of us. And of course if you’re from VA make sure you tell them so.
Get Smart! 📚
Indivisible has strategy meetings this week for folks living both in blue districts and those living in red ones. Don’t worry if you’re not technically an Indivisible member—you can still attend. (That being said I highly recommend you join your local Indivisible group. I don’t know what I’d do without mine.)
There will be a TON of great information at these meetings. Highly recommend!
From Indivisible:
If you have a Democratic representative, RSVP for our Making a Majority Blue Districts Cohort Call TONIGHT, September 5 at 8pm ET/5pm PT. This call will be an opportunity to learn about our strategies to win in blue districts in 2024. Specifically, we’ll be highlighting our Reproductive Freedom Agenda and talking about how we can set ourselves up to enshrine federal protections after the next election.
If you have a Republican representative, RSVP for the Our States, Our Fates Red Districts call this Thursday, September 7 at 8pm ET/5pm PT. Come join your fellow Indivisibles from red districts in talking about the war on education, the MAGA threat to school boards, and how we can undermine the hold of MAGA extremists on red districts.
Spread the Word! 📣
Please read and amplify an essay by Dean Baker of The Center for Economic and Policy Research: “Should People be Happy About the Biden Economy?” Baker provides a cogent, clear, and detailed explanation of why the answer to that is a resounding yes, and why most Americans won’t know it yet.
If nothing else this article will arm you with strong, evidence-based messaging material.
Chop Wood, Save the Planet! 🔥
With the changing of temperatures, your tire air pressure will go down. Lower air pressure causes lower fuel efficiency.
Be sure to check your tire air pressure to ensure you car is as green as it can be!
Win Races! 🗳
Y’all, I’ll be leading my first Grassroots Dems HQ phonebank into VA today and I really hope some of you will join me. We’re calling for Danica Roem! It’ll be every Tuesday from 4-6 PT / 7-9 ET. I’ll train you and these should be friendly, satisfying calls.
Use this link to sign up: https://mobilize.us/s/U0Plwg
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
Send this to President Biden via his webform or using Resistbot’s quick send function (text SIGN PLZYVS to 50409).
If you wish to personalize it, which I highly recommend, copy and paste it into the webform and change as you like. Personal experience with how the USPS service cuts and price increases have affected you are particularly useful.
Louis DeJoy’s leadership of the USPS has led to the continued deterioration of one of our most beloved institutions. President Biden, you have the opportunity to save the USPS by ensuring DeJoy’s removal – please nominate two Postal Board of Governors candidates who will fire him and put the USPS back on track. Thank you!
[H/T]
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
It's interesting that CEPR says that Biden is not Franklin Roosevelt. I think Heather Cox Richardson would beg to differ. For some time now, she has strongly hinted that he may be surpassing FDR. As for his lack of charisma, I'm reminded of what my dear departed Daddy used to say when my mother would drag him to a fancy restaurant that had mediocre food. "You can't eat atmosphere," he'd say, as he instead preferred a place whose outside wasn't much to look at but had...good eats!
President Biden directed Democrats to pour $1.2 million into Virginia legislative races.