First thing’s first: let’s reach our goal for district funds against that asshole from New Jersey who got a woman fired to resign under duress from her job for being part of the resistance.
That asshole’s name is Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) and he’d be a prime target even if he weren’t such a piece of shit: he’s a powerful Republican chairman (Appropriations) in a barely red district (R+3). Let’s give him the boot.
Here’s my plan for fundraising: I want to put together something where we can give equally to district funds for challengers in all districts currently held by Republicans. How does that sound? If people like it, I’ll contact ActBlue about trying to put it together.
I’ll also do regular one-offs to raise funds against particularly noxious vulnerable Republicans. The rough overall goal for the blog will be 1K a week (for the blog) in the rest of 2017. That’s about what we’re at per week so far this year.
Is everybody in? Let me know what you think.
Bailey
He’s still an asshole, but she didn’t get fired, she resigned. For what it’s worth.
Doug!
@Bailey:
After being harassed.
Corner Stone
I like the idea of it but the problem is that $5K in one CD does not equal $5K in a different media environment. I guess any amount helps and the candidate/their team can try to use it as best they can.
Doug!
@Corner Stone:
I’d like to help out with “keep the lights on” money in the races the DCCC doesn’t think are winnable. Because if generic ballot is +12 D a lot of those are winnable.
kd bart
His constituents need a savior to rise from the streets.
Doug!
@kd bart:
Yes they do. I always try to go Boss with a Jersey story.
trollhattan
@Doug!:
Correct, and I for one won’t be surprised to see a suit charging gender discrimination and hostile work environment.
cranky
Stats New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District
Registered voters – as of 04/30/2017 [*1]
——————————————-
Dem – 149K
GOP – 164K
Unaffiliated – 217 K
2016 Election results [*2]
————————-
GOP – 194K
Dem – 130K
Misc – 3K
I could not find stats on how many have voter id.
[*1] http://www.nj.gov/state/elections/2017-results/2017-05-voter-registration-by-congressional-district.pdf
[*2] https://ballotpedia.org/New_Jersey%27s_11th_Congressional_District
germy
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/05/15/possible-2020-democratic-presidential-hopefuls-gather-for-progressive-ideas-conference/?hpid=hp_hp-cards_hp-card-politics%3Ahomepage%2Fcard&utm_term=.05802494e200
germy
germy
Patricia Kayden
@Bailey: She was questioned about her anti-Trump activism by her employer because of this Congress Critter. Sounds like harassment to me. This is why she retired.
mai naem mobile
@germy:CAP was supposed to be a counterweight to the Heritages and AEIs of the world. Staffing Dem administrations & Capitol Hill, not just a Clinton admin.
Florida Frog
good idea Doug! count me in for regular donations
David Anderson
@Corner Stone: I agree $5,000 in rural Pennsyslvania goes a whole lot further than $5,000 in the Philly suburbs.
What I think the district fund methods does is give seed money to encourage reasonably plausible candidates to get in knowing that once they get past the primary they have something to help them bridge the gap between primary fund exhaustion and general election fundraising. It might not be much ($50,000 or $150,000) but it is enough to actually keep some staff on board and allow for the possibility of significant gains.
Kay
Pelosi said today that the GOP healthcare law is worse for people than outright repeal of Obamacare would have been.
These are the short statements I need! :)
I’m rolling that one out immediately. Republicans really don’t know that rural white people are on Medicaid? They are!
Bailey
@Patricia Kayden:
I don’t disagree. But that still isn’t being fired and is certainly a very different legal argument.
Kay
Trump is screaming at his staff calling them “incompetent”. He hired every single one of them. The “best people”.
I sort of hope he goes it alone. He’s old and he’s in terrible shape. He’ll collapse from exhaustion.
Kay
Trump has an 11 year old son who lives in a different city and rather than see his son Trump goes golfing every weekend. How can people admire this? This is what they aspire to? Being a giant douchebag? He’s not a good..anything. He seems to have no redeeming qualities of any kind.
trollhattan
@Bailey:
You may be framing it as to whether the government will step in with a discrimination investigation, which seems unlikely but in a civil trial it seems straightforward to demonstrate her being forced to resign. Finding a majority of jurors who’ve seen or experienced something similar first-hand won’t be that hard.
hovercraft
@germy:
I’m liking Kos these days, he’s not sugarcoating things, the quote POLITICO had from him made me smile, I’m sure he pissed off half of the denizens of the GOS.
EL
I’m in for contributions. And especially against jerks like this.
Thoroughly Pizzled
@hovercraft: Markos has always been smarter than half of the GOS, even when he gets all pouty and self-destructive.
Corner Stone
@Kay: But just look at his kids. That’s how you know what a good man he is, because of how good his kids turned out.
Danton
I just forked over some $ via the Act Blue link, but does Rodney Frelinghuysen have a Dem opponent yet?
Corner Stone
@David Anderson: Early money is the best money. I agree with the thought behind the effort. It’s probably full time work to have people evaluate who has a real shot in specific CDs, as well as where $5K makes a real *difference* as opposed to *helps*. So whatever can be done, should be done is my thought.
Raoul
@Doug
Pretty much exists now, minus a handful of GOPers who got permission from Ryan to vote no in a vain effort to save their asses (so they should be targeted too). At the time I gave, they’d identified 207 seats. Looks like it’s 2018 now. I’d also like having our donations to flow thru a “Balloon Juice” page, so we can see how we are coordinating our giving and moving the thermometer.
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/noahca
DougJ
@Danton:
Yes he has one. But there may be more than one Dem who runs so there may be a primary
TenguPhule
And the real fallout from the AHCA vote begins…..
She actually didn’t try that hard.
This time.
germy
@hovercraft: From the article you linked to:
I’m hoping for unity in 2018 and 2020, not more infighting.
Raoul
@germy: Even though Amy has disappointed me from time to time (a bit too ‘centrist’ at times before the Trumpenquake), I’d be quite open to a Harris/Klobuchar ticket. Flip, not as much, I don’t see Den Klobuchar as quite ready for Presidential prime time (though compared to the current disaster, she’d be so freakin’ competent it be stunning. Dull, but stunning).
Kamala Harris so far seems pretty impressive. And my kvetching above could actually signal an asset – the bedwetting press would be (a little) reassured by Amy’s moderate, midwestern, consensus-y politics.
Corner Stone
@TenguPhule: “Shotgun blasts are heard”
/LLCoolJ
Raoul
@David Anderson: Also means they have a list built of known donors. Sure, some of us may be going “huh?, Shit I gotta unsubscribe” when 220 different House campaigns start knocking. But there would be some percentage of conversion rate to repeat donor from these small contribs.
Raoul
@Doug: Three more bucks and we’ve hit the goal. Up it, or aim us at the next target? (I gave to this one already!)
And, thanks, man. Good work.
hovercraft
@germy:
There won’t be unity so long as Bernie and his people insist on trying to show the democratic party that they were right and we were wrong to vote for Hillary. I told you so is no way to unite the party, and until he decides to actually join the party, he will get nowhere. I know he has his base, but I can tell you that black people are very bitter about his dismissal of us, and so many of his bases refusal to vote for Hillary. His buy-in to the “economic anxiety” bullshit hook line and sinker is also a sore spot. If he wants a new party, let him create one, the democratic party is open to new ideas, but we are not open to a hostile takeover.
DougJ
@Raoul:
I’ll up it I think.
TomatoQueen
Done, tho’ it might take a bit of time to show up. I may’ve done something to the you know what Act. *GS-8*
Jim, Foolish Literalist
is he referring to Most Progressive Platform In History?
efgoldman
@germy:
Weaver’s saying what he has to say to keep money rolling in.
Wilmer’s not running again. He’s too old, he’s a one shout pony and nobody’s listening, state Democratic parties will make it harder for a non-Democrat to run, mrs Wilmer’s financial problems will have come to the fore, his unreleased tax returns will become a real issue, and other primary candidates won’t treat him with kid gloves.
He risks becoming a political joke, like Harold Stassen.
Mnemosyne
@Danton:
That’s part of the point — have a pool of money available to encourage Dem opponents to jump in knowing they don’t have to start fundraising from scratch.
Felonius Monk
@Kay:
Facts that have been in evidence for decades, but media elites just let this stuff slide during the primaries and especially during the 2016 Presidential campaign. As Mr. efgoldman is wont to say: Fuckem.
dm
I owe many of you an apology.
@hovercraft: I looked at comments at the GOS for the first time last week —it was Kos’ announcement that he was putting on his Latino identity, because he was tired of white dudes putting all other causes behind the economic ones.
The commentary that announcement met opened my eyes. No wonder you all hate on the people the junior Senator from Vermont brought out of the woodwork. I didn’t really believe it could be that bad, but gosh, what a bunch of idiots.
Felonius Monk
@efgoldman:
At least Stassen had a few redeeming qualities. Wilmer, not so much.
Bailey
@trollhattan:
No, I’m not framing it that way at all. In any scenario, this is a civil issue. This woman worked for a private bank in New Jersey which is an at will employment state. She could get fired for pretty much any reason at any time with no notice. There’s no such thing as political discrimination. If she could show that she was fired because she was a woman or a minority then she might have something.
It’s possible she could sue that she was forced to resign due to a hostile work environment but the threshold for that can be pretty high, i.e. physical / sexual harassment, humiliating demotions, etc. I have no doubt someone will take up her case but it’s far from certain she would prevail.
It doesn’t mean the NJ Rep isn’t a complete douchebag though.
Redshift
@germy:
Hard core Bernistas are always going to be for the same kind of “unity” as as hard core wingnuts – everyone comes together and agrees to do what they want.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Kay: Maggie Haberman reports that trump is “dreading” this overseas trip, though that probably has more to do with his neurotic obsession with sleeping in his own bed than any self-awareness of the mess he’s going to make.
My god, what we’ve been seeing is a man who doesn’t drink and arranges his life around sleeping on his own pillows. He’s going to the world’s to speak about Islam, with jet-lag
BCHS Class of 1980
@Kay: After all, his battery has a finite amount of energy.
TenguPhule
Ted Cruz and Paul Ryan are trying to kill us all. Politico Link.
Cue the Imperial March.
dm
@Raoul: The NoAHCA one hasn’t changed much since the day after the House passed the AHCA.
There’s also this one (from DailyKos, a bit more focused on 24 flippable seats). Though I guess it hasn’t moved since the AHCA passed, either.
The Moar You Know
@germy: You don’t get these people, the same way that Republicans didn’t get the Tea Partiers until Cantor woke up one morning without a job.
They will cheerfully burn the party and all our electoral prospects, for decades, not for gain, but just to say they’re better than everyone else.
Same dynamic between the two “liberal” parties gave Canada a conservative PM (Harper) with never more than 37% of the vote. For 13 years.
germy
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
They never let facts get in the way of a good argument.
fourmorewars
Equally to all R districts? How about a share given equally to say, every district rated most gettable according to those R+, D+ numbers, then equally to them plus to all those a point weaker (i.e. a point stronger for a generic R), and so on.
germy
@The Moar You Know:
On another blog, before the election, I had one of them tell me the Supreme Court wasn’t important enough to worry about.
efgoldman
@Felonius Monk:
Oh, I think he represents his constituency (white people in Vermont) pretty well. As a national Democratic politician? Not so much.
germy
@efgoldman:
Now there’s a bumper sticker.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@efgoldman: that’s not fair. You left out old white hippies, old white yuppies who drive old blue Volvos, and white college kids from probably all fifty states.
ruemara
@germy: Lol. Then we need to shut the door on Sanders, Weaver, Our Failed Revolution et al and move forward with the base of POC, women and sensible men. Enough of these nitwits. They’ve been collecting money and trashing Dems while losing nearly every race they put their nose into. Fuck these failures. And fuck anyone still caping for either. They can go play in the sandbox while we do the heavy lifting of saving this country from itself.
efgoldman
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
96% of VT is white, regardless.
Raoul
@fourmorewars: Yeah, I’m up for some early giving to a 50 state strategy, but I’d also like some sense of the top 30 or so most ‘flippable’ for more focused impact. A wave would be excellent. But I’d settle for defending our vulnerable seats and a gain of 25. We have to dislodge Ryan and gain the committee chairs. Beyond that is useful margin, but not urgent.
Mnemosyne
@dm:
Yup. I don’t think Sanders meant to empower white racists who think of themselves as “liberal,” but that’s what he managed to do.
JAFD
Salutations from New Jersey !
(stuf being repeated, tho maybe not on BJ before)
Today is the registration deadline for the June 6th primary. If you aren’t listed on the books, and want to vote therein, get thee to the courthouse.
As someone who’s spent a few Tuesdays working for the County Board of Elections, here be some miscellaneous information, which may – or may not – be useful. (And if you live outside of the Garden State, or the USA, apologies for wasting your electrons).
If you register right before the deadline, and you’re not in the ‘poll book’, ask the worker to check the Supplemental Pages at the back of the book.
The polls will open at 6 AM, close at 8 PM (if you’re in line at the stroke of 8, we’ll be open until everyone’s done)
Unless you’re taking pictures of a candidate casting her vote, don’t take pictures in the polling place.
In NJ, there’s a ‘no electioneering’ zone for 100 feet around the polling place. Please don’t wear campaign buttons or hats or Tshirts or ??? to the polls.
If you’ve gotten a mail ballot, and haven’t mailed it, take it to the County Courthouse before 8 PM election day. Don’t bring it to your local polling place – that does no good at all.
When you’re finished picking your candidates, be sure to press the ‘Cast Vote’ button at the bottom right. If you’re bringing your child (Sorry, that doesn’t get you 1 1/2 votes) into the booth, have him stand at your left so he doesn’t press it by accident.
Please don’t hang around the polling place after you’re finished. There are laws about ‘loitering’ at the polling places…
If you’re a new voter and listed in book as ‘ID Required, the acceptable list is “such as (but not limited)”:
Valid and Current Photo ID:
NJ Drivers’ License
Job or Student ID
Store Membership ID
US Passport
Military / Government ID
MVC Non-Driver’s ID Card
Current document with name and address such as:
Non-photo Driver’s License
Govenment Check
Paycheck
Public Assistance Card
Rent Receipt
Sample Ballot
Utility Bill
If you have not something equally convincing, we have to give you a Provisional Ballot.
If you are voting by Provisional Ballot, DON’T DETACH THE AFFIRMATION FROM THE BALLOT ENVELOPE.
If you need assistance casting your vote, you can ask anyone except:
a candidate
your employer or a representative of your employer
an official or agent of your union (but a co-worker or fellow union member are OK)
When you sign the poll book, we have to announce your name and address, loud enough for the board members and possible Challengers – candidates and Official Challengers (go to County Board of Elections to get Challenger’s Permit) to hear.
Voters can be challenged for Age, Citizenship, Residence, Criminal Disqualifications.
Voters CANNOT be challenged on grounds of Expected Manner of Voting, Race, Ethnic Origin, or Residence in a particlar ward, housing complex, or neighborhood.
You can present ID if challenged, and appeal to a Judge of the Superior Court if denied.
If a voter is deceased or moved away, write that on the Sample Ballot, and drop it back into the mail.
And, from the New Jersey Statutes Annotated, 1934-29:
No person shall
by abduction, duress
or any forcible or fraudulent
devise or contrivance whatever,
impede, prevent or otherwise interfere
with the free exercise of the elective franchise by any voter;
or compel, induce or prevail upon any voter
either to vote or to refrain from voting at any election,
or to vote or refrain from voting for
any particular person or persons at any election.
I love that sentence.
Hope y’all have a great week. Is predicted to be 85 F tomorrow, we’ll probably see some young ladies exercising their right to bare arms…
Tilda Swintons Bald Cap
Sanders / Gabbard 2020 ! At least that’s what the say over at r/WayOfTheBern
J R in WV
@hovercraft:
I’m a retired fat white guy, and I agree with you 110%. Sanders ignoring people of color is just wrong, and shows his real internal thinking to be grounded in just financial matters, not progressivism.
I think we should have different goals depending upon the districts, rural/urban, population levels, etc.
I’ve been donating to individual candidates, that I learn about on my own. Now I get to talk to congresscritters from time to time, when they call to fund raise. I’m not shy about telling them the issues I want them to work for.