Note for the day:
The first Playing to Win went up on Thursday. I am putting this up again today so the weekend people can also see it. I find it inspiring to see what everyone is doing and it’s great to see people answering the questions that come up in these threads. But this is for you guys, so please speak up about what you want and what works for you.
If you are interested in these posts, feel free to share your thoughts on frequency and times. Some of the suggestions so far have been M-W-F, Tu-Th, and one or two weekdays + one weekend day.
In the meantime, people have asked for an easy way to find these threads. There is a link in the hamburger (on mobile) that will take you to the whole series, with the latest post on top. There is a link in the sidebar (on computers and tablets in landscape mode). You can also click on the Playing to Win category that shows up just under the byline at the top of the post. And if you’re super lazy worn out from all your work canvassing and calling and texting, you can click this link right here.
I have started compiling a list of opportunities and resources that people have shared on the threads so far, and I’ll continue to do that if you guys find that useful. You’ll find the link to those resources on the Playing to Win page described in the paragraph above.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Let’s try Wednesday and Friday mornings, somewhere close to 9am, and Sunday afternoon. The Sunday afternoon thread will come after the Garden Chat and before the BGinCHI guest posts on culture, which are always at 5pm.
*****
A couple of our jackals requested a daily political “action” thread, so how about if we try it for a bit and see how that goes? If you guys think it’s useful, we can keep it up, and if it ends up being more “seemed like a good idea at the time,” then we can let it go.
The goal is a poll-free, spin-free, prognostication-free, media-free, what’s-wrong-with-the-other-candidate-free-zone – a political thread where the focus is on ACTION: What can be done to help our candidates, and what are we doing to help them, every day?
The hope is that this will help provide inspiration, and encourage action, as an alternative to anger, frustration and despair.
Everyone is free to chime in about what they are doing for their their preferred candidate. What actions are we taking at Balloon Juice, individually or collectively, to help candidates we believe in?
What might you like to do, if you weren’t stuck on not quite knowing how to go from thinking about doing something to actually doing something?
· Making calls?
· Canvassing?
· Writing postcards?
· Texting for your candidate?
· Donating?
· Registering people to vote?
· Giving people rides to the polls to vote?
· Can you bring food and drinks to campaign offices in your area?
· Are you an election judge?
· A poll watcher?
· Can you put together a bullet list of what you like about YOUR preferred candidate?
· Are you available to go to a battleground state to work on a campaign, but can’t afford transportation?
· Do you have frequent flyer miles that could buy that person a ticket to a battleground state?
· If you live in a battleground state, could you host a volunteer who could stay at your house?
· Do you have a great informational article about YOUR preferred candidate? Share it!
· If you have campaign connections, can you connect interested jackals with that campaign?
· Are you an organizer of a postcard-writing campaign who could help other BJ peeps get started?
What else are you doing?
Tell us what actions you’ve taken today, whether it’s calling or donating or canvassing or writing postcards or talking to someone about your candidate, or anything else that’s on that list. Or even something that isn’t!
Forget the other candidates. Tell us what you LIKE about your candidate.
Share your worries or concerns about canvassing or other activities. What’s holding you back?
If Playing to Win appeals to you, what else would you want to see in this space?
artem1s
I have signed up to work the day of Ohio primaries. I’ve done this before but not for awhile. I think it’s important to see the system from the inside. I think anyone who claims that dead people are voting or immigrants are voting twice, etc… should be made to work the polls and see first hand that this is just not happening and would be extremely difficult, even without ID checks. Volunteering (yea it’s paid but a pittance) is good for the soul.
Eric U.
all the voting conspiracy theories would be dispelled by exposure to voting. The way voting works here, the places where people would vote illegally have huge lines. The Republican areas where everybody knows everybody, it’s walk right in and vote, takes more time to catch up on gossip. Same for the Sandernistas and their conspiracy theories about the “Democratic Establishment,” which means people that go to Democratic party meetings, i.e., anyone that bothers.
Omnes Omnibus
In the last one, I mentioned that I did not think I could do phone banking or canvassing this time around because I am too angry and am likely to snap at idiots. On further reflection, I realize that this only applies to the primary. Once we have a nominee, I will be fine. Getting Dems to come out and vote is something, I would be happy to do. Hell, whoever they supported in the primaries, I can sympathize and say “I started out as a Harris supporter, but [nominee] is great candidate because [reasons about nominee].” So there.
Tenar Arha
I donate to an organization called Higher Heights. They’ve got a 501 c3 & a 501 c4 arms. They’re “—the only national organization providing Black women with a political home exclusively dedicated to harnessing their power to expand Black women’s elected representation and voting participation, and advance progressive policies.” I was looking for constructive organizations like this to support & found out about them partly because they helped elect Ayanna Pressley.
Anyway, they have regular webinars including with various candidates, and last night they had a really tight 30 minute Q&A with Warren. Here’s the link to it on their Twitter feed.
MazeDancer
@Omnes Omnibus:
Personal growth is good.
“Not Trump. Only way we’ll have a Constitution. And RBG needs to retire” are my daily mantras when I start to lose it at the thought of a lying grifter stealing the nom.
Also “There are no other options. And not voting is not an option. Not voting is voting for Trump.”
Actually helps lift the despair.
WaterGirl
@Tenar Arha: I haven’t watched it yet, but I just added the link to the Resources for Playing to Win page that I mentioned in today’s note up top.
West of the Rockies
@MazeDancer:
RBG retire? Now?!? Who does that serve? I’m confused.
Omnes Omnibus
@MazeDancer: FTR I am not despairing; I am angry. Also, while I agree that personal growth is good, I not really sure what that has to do with my comment.
anarchoRex
I couldn’t do it myself, but here in Texas i connected a voter registrar with a voter registration workshop at a local restaurant that was promoting it.
Haven’t done much besides text bank this season but once the semester is over I plan on getting more involved
And of course I’m texting friends and family with voter reg deadlines and such.
WaterGirl
@West of the Rockies: I believe Maze Dancer was trying to say that RBG will surely want to retire at some point in the next 5 years, and she needs to do that with a Democratic president. One more reason to work so hard to make sure Trump is not reelected.
@Omnes Omnibus: Guessing she was referring to your “upon further reflection” comment.
(I am apparently the Maze Dancer translator, which is not nearly as fun as Luther made it look.)
Baud
You’re a good soul, WG.
WaterGirl
@Baud: Thank you, Baud!
At first glance, I’d have to say that these posts are not going to be in high demand on the weekends. :-)
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: Everyone seems to be having too much fun in the Bernie thread.
pacem appellant
The spousal unit is out canvasing right now for their preferred candidate, Elizabeth Warren while I tend to the brood. Later, we will vote absentee and drop off (my preference) or mail our ballots. Our state votes on Super Tuesday.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: You may be right. But I’ve seen that show before and I’m not up for watching the reruns. This thread is definitely an alternative to that.
Psych1
I posted this in a different thread a couple of weeks ago but worth repeating.
Balloon Juice is a Bernie-Hate Web site. The influence may be negligible but every little bit can make a difference. So, if we really are committed to getting rid of Trump, and electing a Democrat in 2020, the best action this web site can take would be to shut down until after the election.
Elizabelle
@Psych1: That you, DougJ? LOL.
MazeDancer
@WaterGirl:
I could wear a costume. You could wear a costume.
Clearly, my vaunted communication skills have taken a nose dive. But your translations were perfect.
skerry
I joined the League of Women Voters after 2016.
I volunteer to register voters, particularly at high schools and new citizen ceremonies, and serve as a poll evaluator on election days.
More behind the scenes, I’ve helped with studies on gerrymandering and follow environmental/renewable energy bills.
WaterGirl
@Psych1: Since this is a Playing to Win “what actions are you taking to get to a Democratic win” thread, do you have a minute to share what you are doing to help make that happen?
WaterGirl
@skerry: Are the League of Women Voters active in the current election? I most associate them with debates, back when debates weren’t run by hacks.
What are they up to? Is that a place where 2020 energy can be put to good use?
Suzanne
This may be the first election in at least fifteen years in which I do not do much volunteering, because of our impending cross-country move. We will vote in the AZ primary and then from PA for the general. I will def look to get involved in my local party once we figure out where we will be living.
According to our County Recorder, we in AZ who are on the PEVL can expect our primary ballots in the coming days. I am suuuuuuper-excited to vote for EDubs. I may wait to actually vote until closer to the deadline, in the fear that she drops out. But LORT I hope that she does not. She is my candidate of choice by a wide margin.
guachi
My mom keeps asking what she can do. She’s 73 and retired living in Delaware.
She supports Stacey Abrams’s voting rights organization and Democrats in general.
Any suggestions on what she can do aside from donating money?
Omnes Omnibus
@Psych1: Odd. A lot of people here will vote for Sanders if he wins the election. And a good number would vote for him in the primary if the alternatives are Bloomberg and Gabbard. At the same time, a lot of us find him problematic. I am going to vote for an actual Democrat in my primary, and we’ll see how it plays out.* Can you offer anything similar from your side?
*To stay on topic.
Omnes Omnibus
@guachi: Talk to her friends.
WaterGirl
@Suzanne: So the Google told me that your first acronym is a permanent early voting list, but who or what is Dubs?
Psych1
@WaterGirl: are you unable to see how giving the haters here a forum to spew their hate is destructive? That includes at least 2 front pagers and many commentators. Cole seems out of it these days so he gets a pass.
Percysowner
I was supposed to phone band today, but I got a migraine. So I gave more money to Warren. I’m going to look into the scripts for phone banking and see if I can do it from home next weekend.
WaterGirl
@guachi: Have you had a chance to talk a look at the list that’s in this post?
Lots of older people are election judges, or she could be a poll watcher.
She can make or buy food for campaign workers and people who phone bank.
Does she live in a battleground state? She could put up a volunteer at her house – they aren’t much trouble because they are either out working on coming home and crashing.Could she set up a table at the library and register people to vote?
There’s a ton of stuff you can do even if you’re not a young pup.
Baud
@WaterGirl: You’re gonna have to use the ban hammer if you want to preserve the integrity of these threads.
WaterGirl
@Psych1: This is not the thread for that conversation. At least respect the people who are on this thread who are working to get people elected.
If you want to have that conversation in different thread, we can talk there.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: I’ll be good from now on.
WaterGirl
@Baud: Maybe. Or maybe we can ignore the people who come to squat in the living room and soil the carpet.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: You are good! I have found you comments and questions – and your reflections – very helpful!
Suzanne
@WaterGirl: EDubs = EW = Elizabeth Warren
WaterGirl
@Baud: It’s also possible to password protect WordPress threads.
So if people want to come to disrupt, these action threads could be protected, and people who actually want to do something constructive could request the password.
WaterGirl
@Suzanne: Where does the Dubs come from?
edit: From the “W”?
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: Say W out loud.
Suzanne
@WaterGirl: Dubs = Double-u = W.
Same reason the Golden State Warriors fans are called “Dub Nation”.
Tenar Arha
@guachi: There’s a lot of text banking now. I’m not sure about GOTV organizations & what they’re doing, like the LOWV, or VoteRiders etc.
However, most campaigns are doing it, & they all have howto’s. I almost signed up for Warren before the Nevada Caucus today, & SC & Super Tuesday is coming up. I’m sure if she has a candidate preference there’s a link on each of their websites. People who won’t necessarily pick up their cellphones, & who like me have their phones set to where any unknown numbers go to voicemail because they were getting mostly scams calls, will look at text messages. We’ll even respond, in detail > then yes I’m voting, if we’re in the mood. ;)
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: So I guessed right in my edit? I had no idea that was a nickname.
cain
I might do some phone banking for Warren on Sunday. The only way I can see to help my candidate of choice get to the convention is to volunteer. Less bitching about Bernie and more on the ground work for the candidate of choice.
WaterGirl
@Suzanne: Thanks for spelling it out for me. Not a sports girl (except for women’s volleyball) so I didn’t have that for a reference.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: Yeah, I think it is a bit silly. Dubs takes more typing than W does, but who knows with the kids these days with their skinny jeans and shoegazer music.
Baud
@Omnes Omnibus:
I’ve heard that there are still a few kids who use their mouths to speak.
Omnes Omnibus
@Baud: Unsubstantiated rumors, I am sure.
skerry
@WaterGirl: Most of my energy with the league goes to my state level. But I do aggressively pursue voter registration efforts.
Elizabelle
@cain:
A mantra that works.
Tenar Arha
@guachi: Addendum: Since I haven’t done it, I believe the text banking, goes through a website so that you’re only giving out your phone number to the campaign.
To Everybody: please anyone who’s actually done this PLEASE correct me if I’m wrong about this.
Suzanne
@Omnes Omnibus: “EW” looks like an expression of disgust, and “W” by itself looks like I’m referring to the previous terrible Republican president.
Omnes Omnibus
@Suzanne: Oh, go listen to Lush and leave the adults alone.
janeform
I donated to Jill Karofsky, candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court. The election is APRIL 7th! It’s a very important race, and organizing for it will help with turnout in the general.
https://www.jillforjustice.com/
I also do a lot with my county Dem party in Michigan — will write about that in a future thread.
guachi
@Omnes Omnibus: she doesn’t really have any friends any more aside from family after she quit choir.
Maybe I’ll suggest postcards. She has nice handwriting.
Omnes Omnibus
@janeform: In the primary, the incumbent got 50 % of the vote. Karofsky and the other Democrat together got 50% as well.* This is a winnable race.
*Supreme Court is a “non-partisan” election in WI. The top two votegetters in the primary go on to the actual election. Justice Daniel Kelly and Dane County Judge Jill Karofsky advanced.
debbie
@guachi:
I voted early yesterday. There were dozens of poll workers, all chatting amiably or reading a book they’d brought along. Sometimes it’s enough to be out and in the company of other people.
guachi
I’ll have to bookmark this post and call my mom today and give her theae suggestions. She hates Trump and often feels helpless. Loves Maddow but she’s only one vote and doesn’t need more convincing.
I’m military, so I think “volunteer at polling place” is my only job. I’ve done it once 15 years ago and recommend it.
anarchoRex
@Tenar Arha: I’ve only done text banking for Bernie, but you don’t even have to give them a ph#, it’s all through a webapp you just log into. If my experience applies to other campaigns, though, then the training is more involved than just reading a FAQ and requesting a login.
WaterGirl
@guachi: For postcard writing and canvassing, folks on yesterday’s thread contributed 3 articles on what is effective.
You can find them on the Resource page that is linked on the Playing to Win page that’s linked up top.
Maybe reading them would help your mom be more effective or feel more confident
@guachi: Maybe give your mom the link to all the Playing to Win threads? That way if she finds them useful, she could keep up with them easily, and always have access to the latest threads – because the most recent thread is always at the top.
JPL
@Suzanne: How’s the new job and the move going?
joel hanes
@Omnes Omnibus:
Everyone seems to be having too much fun in the Bernie thread.
Oh good. It must have been almost twelve hours since the last one, and those threads are always so constructive.Zinsky
I will be precinct chair at the local Minnesota caucuses next Tuesday and I also sit on the environmental caucus. We are pushing two primary platform items – first, declaring a climate emergency and the second making a large commitment to funding public transit projects here in Minnesota. We vote in primaries here on Super Tuesday and I intend to vote for Elizabeth Warren.
janeform
@Omnes Omnibus: Thanks for the additional info, and I’m happy to hear how winnable the race is.
JeanneT
@WaterGirl: re. the League of Women Voters. Here in Michigan they were very active in getting improved voting access passed, spend many hours registering voters and provide public information on policy issues and ballot initiatives. They run local candidate and policy debates. Statewide, they lobby and when needed sue the state government for citizen access and government transparency. Our local group also collects candidate information and provides access to it in print and on line. If you don’t mind working with a top-down organization, it’s a very effective way to promote democracy.
Brachiator
@Tenar Arha:
Thank you for bringing this group to my attention.
rikyrah
@guachi:
she knows other 73 year olds. Hangs out with them?
Just make sure that she talks up voting. Mail Ballots, if they are so inclined.
I would say see if there’s a group in the area that drives Senior Citizens to vote and find folks who need that assistance.
WaterGirl
@JeanneT: Thanks for that. I just added them to the list that’s on the resources page:
Donate to Voting Rights Organizations or Organizing
That list doesn’t include organizations that are for any one particular candidate.
@Brachiator: @Tenar Arha:
I added the Higher Heights organization to that page earlier.
rikyrah
@guachi:
I am going to continue to point this out.
All of us are getting older. I would suggest re-registering to vote so that your local jurisdiction has the most up to date signature for you.
This is especially important for those who are doing Mail Ballots. Mail Ballots are accepted or rejected based up signature.
People don’t think about updating their voter registration if they don’t move. I know that I hadn’t for 15 years, and I’m not a Senior Citizen, but, 15 years between signatures is still a long time.
Update your voter registration every couple of years. The election authority having several cards on file from you for comparison is a good thing.
Organize voter registration drives at local Senior Citizen Complexes. They disproportionately make up the Mail Ballot population.
WaterGirl
@rikyrah: I didn’t have driving people to the polls on the list. Just added. thanks!
WaterGirl
@rikyrah: They challenged me on my signature last time I voted. Luckily, i knew how to revert back to how I signed my name back in 1972 instead of the scribble I use now.
joel hanes
@Zinsky:
Minnesota … environmental caucus
Thank you.
I spent some of the best parts of my young manhood in the Boundary Waters.
Who, in your estimation, is responsible for the Minnesota state government shenanigans that resulted in Glencore/PolyMet initially getting permits to put sulphide mines upstream of the BWCA ? Is Klobuchar implicated in any way (I know she comes from the iron range country, and suspect that she probably regards mining the way that Iowa pols regard corn)
debbie
@WaterGirl:
I can’t imagine signatures being proof of anything. Have you had to sign yet on one of those iPads with the fat rubber-tipped pen? As tidy as I try to be, it’s nothing but a fat, crooked smudge. My signature could never match what is in county records, but I’ve never been challenged.
JPL
Dinner with the candidates.. thread
my personal favorite was Elizabeth Warren although, Pete was a close second.
reposted from downstairs.
Omnes Omnibus
@JPL: Nah, Tulsi’s is the funniest.
rikyrah
@WaterGirl:
get a new registration in there with your current scribble. :)
Brachiator
Even though the California primary is March 3, voting begins today in most places. There are a number of sites established for people who may not be able to get to their regular polling places. More sites will be open next week. The Los Angeles Registrar has been very good about trying to get information out and their web site is a great place to go for any questions.
Another Scott
On the lighter side…
Cheers,
Scott.
Another Scott
@Another Scott: Whoops. Late to the party, again, I see.
Cheers,
Scott.
JPL
@Another Scott: What candidate do you want to have dinner with based on what you read?
Chyron HR
@Psych1:
What? No way! Who could hate a candidate who (checks notes) tells his followers that every site that criticizes him should be shut down?
Another Scott
@JPL: She skewered all of them pretty well.
Not waking-up-in-the-hospital afterwards would be pretty good! ;-)
(Someone from DSA was just here canvassing for Bernie.)
Cheers,
Scott.
Brachiator
@Psych1:
Thank you for the comedy relief.
Wrong thread, though.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Brachiator: We don’t have polling places in LA County anymore, you have to go to a voting center or apply for vote by mail.
UncleEbeneezer
@Tenar Arha: Higher Heights is great. They’ve been featured on L. Joy Reid’s podcast Sunday Civics. L Joy was a regular political correspondent on ThisWeekInBlackness back in the day and her podcast is excellent.
Brachiator
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
You are right. The voting centers are upgrades to the old polling places. Turns out that the voting center nearest me is my former polling place. And there are a couple more nearby.
JPL
@Brachiator: The way it worked in Cobb county was the polling ctr. near my son’s apt was not his but for the fancier houses nearby. His polling ctr was two miles away.. That was a few years ago, so not sure it’s the same anymore
The one thing I will say about Fulton Cty, they make it difficult for all. There’s no need for long lines in this era.
Catherine D.
@debbie: Oh, hell, yes. NY finally started early voting last year (yay!) but had effing electronic crayons to sign in. When I complained, the poll worker said well, show ID. I replied this is not Texas or North Carolina, bite me. And I immediately emailed the county board of legislators to complain. (I was not the only one!)
Jinchi
I didn’t realize they actually rejected mail in ballots based on signatures until last election (2018). Then I had to wonder which version, since mine varies pretty dramatically depending on whether I’m signing on paper (like a ballot envelope), or a tablet (like the one used to get a license). It ranges from precise lettering of the whole name to a fraction of the first letter of my family name depending on the device.
Luckily, I was able to check online that my ballot was actually accepted and I know to double check the scrawl on my license before sending it in.
H.E.Wolf
The League of Women Voters, founded in 1920, is a non-partisan, issues-oriented organization. They are often very active in voter education and voter registration.
https://www.lwv.org/about-us
The national site, above, has links to local Leagues.
WaterGirl
@debbie: My last name is a dozen or so letters, so there’s no way i can sign with those. I just make a heart with my finger. Not sure that would work for voting, but we still sign paper there.
mrmoshpotato
Oh what the fuck?
A “Demand a Hunter Biden Investigation” just popped up. X to you, full-screen ad!
Sab
@rikyrah: Thank you. That is such good advice. I’ve been registered at this address for twnty years, and all the older poll workers who recognized me are gone.
H.E.Wolf
The National Urban League, founded in 1910, is centered around issues important to people of color (and hence, to all of us).
https://nul.org/mission-and-history
GOTV activities:
https://nul.org/justice
mrmoshpotato
@WaterGirl:
Or so. You sometimes feel British so you add unnecessary ‘u’s? :)
mrmoshpotato
I consider this playing to win.
Sab
@H.E.Wolf: Thanks for the link
H.E.Wolf
Founded in 1985, EMILY’s List – the acronym stands for “Early Money Is Like Yeast – bundles financial contributions in behalf of pro-choice Democratic women running for office. Although I am not one of their contributors, I appreciate the detailed candidate information they provide.
https://www.emilyslist.org/pages/about-us
Their Twitter account lifts my spirits. I’m glad to be reminded of the many passionate and dedicated would-be and current public servants.
https://twitter.com/emilyslist
Eljai
I’m going to a local Swing Left Kickoff event this afternoon. In 2018 I volunteered with them by canvassing in a nearby swing district which ended up flipping from red to blue. Today they’re going to talk about their 2020 strategy in sister districts and also a neighboring state. Bonus: I am told there will be refreshments!
WaterGirl
@H.E.Wolf: I don’t see a focus on voting rights or organizing around the election on their website. If that exists, and I missed it, let me know so I can add them to that list.
WaterGirl
@mrmoshpotato: ha!
H.E.Wolf
Going off the grid for a few hours to do some volunteering – many thanks to WaterGirl for this series of posts, and to all the commenters with helpful suggestions! I’m learning a lot. GOTV is more fun in company with you all. :-)
“Two great powers are on our side: the power of Love and the power of Arithmetic.” – E. Nesbit, The Book of Dragons
mrmoshpotato
@Eljai: Refreshments? Cake?
WaterGirl
@mrmoshpotato: Maybe we should start serving refreshments in these Political Action threads!
But hopefully not pie. (not the pie filter kind, anyway)
debbie
@Jinchi:
I haven’t been called out on it yet, but I’m not sure anyone has my actual signature. I have to use those fat things at doctors’ offices, at pharmacies, etc.
Yesterday, my signature looked more like Trump’s than my own signature. Boo, hiss.
WaterGirl
@mrmoshpotato: We could start giving out virtual badges. If you come to the thread after canvassing, or phone banking, or delivering food to campaign headquarters, you get a picture of Lily, Penelope, or Steve, or CatCake (if you’re a CatCake fan).
But that won’t work because we would have fisticuffs over the hierarchy. Who’s at the top? It would definitely come to blows.
edit: I suppose we could let people choose their own rewards. :-)
H.E.Wolf
@WaterGirl: [re: National Urban League]: I don’t see a focus on voting rights or organizing around the election on their website. If that exists, and I missed it, let me know so I can add them to that list.
Running back to answer this before I log off. The Urban League’s “Take Action” link seems to be focused on the 2020 Census, with a description of how the Census affects voting rights (and representation) for people of color. Not GOTV-specific enough to be list-worthy, I’m guessing.
However, they have a long history of working for enfranchisement and representation for communities and individuals of color, so I included it on the off chance that it would resonate with someone.
JPL
@debbie: I just scribble now because it doesn’t matter.
WaterGirl
It just occurred to me that no one weighed in on the schedule for how often we should have these posts, and when?
M-W-F? Tuesday-Thursday? One on the weekend? 3 a week on random days?
Any thoughts on that?
You can go to the threads any time by clicking on the links (as I described up top) so these could be a place to go if or when you’re worn out by the fighting in some of the other threads. As long as people can get to them easily, they wouldn’t have to be every day for you to comment in them.
WaterGirl
@H.E.Wolf:
It well might!
topclimber
Thanks to all here who are ahead of the curve in terms of voter outreach. And thanks for a site about doing rather than talking.
Remind me that I am supposed to start in on Postcards to voters THIS WEEK and to continue talking up my prez preferences and the Democratic message with friends and family.
Being a New Yorker, my actual phone banking and door to door work has been on behalf of Congressional candidates in swing districts. That’s where I can make the biggest difference. The nearest one is Antonio Delgado (NY-19). I did my bit to get him in against a Republican hack in 2018. Now he faces an opponent who has won numerous local elections in the biggest part of the district and who will be especially formidable in a base election.
I have to save some bucks for him–if only I had the $50 I sent to Harris the day before she bowed out!– and start the footwork sooner rather than later for Delgado.
But enough regrets. Forward!
Another Scott
@WaterGirl: I vote for twice. One weekday morning, one on the weekend. My rationale is that threads can grow and die quickly during the week and the pace is slower on the weekends. So people who are more Type A can participate during the week – if they’re quick!; and those who are more Type B can as well, if they’re around.
I’m not sure that more than twice a week is worth it (and even twice might be pushing it later in the spring).
My $0.02.
Thanks!
Cheers,
Scott.
WaterGirl
@Another Scott: Thanks for your input.
So far they all seem to have lasted for hours, so that’s a hopeful sign.
With the link to these threads always being available in the sidebar or the hamburger, I think it’s okay i the post gets pushed off the top of the front page pretty quickly, as long as people know they can still get to it.
BruceFromOhio
Just finished my mail-in ballot, as I will be in transit when the Buckeye does its primary. I spent several hours researching the contests for judges (Ohio 8th District, local county Court of Appeals) and was very pleasantly impressed with the depth, breadth and diversity of the candidates, and the courts they are running for. I sometimes despair at the political shift in Ohio, once such a reliably blue state. This gave me assurance that there remain plenty of solid progressive, diverse, and talented people willing to run for local offices. If I ever land in one of these courts for something other than jury duty, it’s a good chance the person up on the bench is a solid talent.
Because of these threads, I did some research on volunteering for election day to give rides to polls, and found Ohio Votes. I’ll be taking to day off to either drive or work the polls.
To the DougJ troll earlier, while I did not vote for Senator Sanders in the primary, I will happily vote for him if he is the Dem candidate, just as I would for any of the candidates. I appeal to you to do the same.
@rikyrah: Thank you, this is good and timely advice. I happened to be cleaning out some old paper files recently, and compared my signature from 2002 to current, and it was pretty darned close! MrsFromOhio and I confirm our registrations every year before the election, mainly because our local poll has moved twice since we’ve lived at our current address.
WaterGirl, thank you for putting these up, its most welcome.
pamelabrown53
@WaterGirl:
Thank you for being such an amazing person.
In answer to your question, it’s my opinion that a Wednesday-Saturday might work. Gives us enough time have some new activity/idea to share.
If it’s too frequent, it’s too repetitive which just allows highjackers, trolls and drift. We can access everything in-between posts.
BruceFromOhio
@topclimber: I missed my opportunity to contribute to Kamala’s campaign, so I just covered you for Congressman Delgado, via ActBlue. As a freshman Democrat he’s going to need everything he can get to help keep NY blue outside of NYC. Hopefully his successful journey shows Tedra Cobb in NY-21 that every campaign, every election is worth the effort.
topclimber
@BruceFromOhio: You made my day!
WaterGirl
@pamelabrown53: Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment!
WaterGirl
At this point, I am thinking that Wednesdays and Saturdays sounds pretty good, so if anyone thinks otherwise, please chime in.
With easy access to the links, everyone can access the posts, the resources and the comments at any time, not just when they are near the top of the front page.
I won’t decide for sure until Monday, so definitely please weigh in if you care to have a say.
Elizabelle
@WaterGirl: Wednesdays and Saturdays sounds good to me.
I love that we have Recent Comments back. We will be able to see if anyone is active in the Playing to Win thread.
WaterGirl
@Elizabelle:
That’s a really good point!
Cameron
@WaterGirl: How about Wednesday, Friday and Sunday? Something in the middle of the week to recap the first couple days, something to sum up the week, and something to update for the weekend. My two cents, and really not even worth that.
WaterGirl
@Cameron:
That could work, too! thank you
Redshift
Pleased to report that the vibe and activity at my local Warren campaign office seemed like a normal presidential campaign to week (after feeling kind of odd last week.)
Had a really good day canvassing. I met an adorable puppy, and got his human, who thought Warren is clearly the most intelligent candidate in the race but had unspecified concerns, to commit to voting for her in the primary, yay! Got a positive reception at other doors, and identified some supporters. Unlike last week, when people identified as supporters of multiple candidates, this week it was only Warren, Bernie, undecided, and decided-but-I-won’t-tell-you.
Non-Warren voters who would talk were all pleasant and receptive to my “we’ll all be working together soon” follow-up message, as a reminder that Twitter isn’t the real world. (There was one 20-something guy in the won’t-tell group who gave off a vibe of “I like Bernie and can’t stand everyone else,” but I have no proof, just a somewhat more hostile “I’ve decided but I’m not telling you.”)
Redshift
On the posting schedule question, my only observations are that I’m unlikely to have anything to report more than twice a week, but different people may have stuff on different days. And since I will mostly canvass on Saturdays, I’m not in favor of Saturday being one of the days, because the thread will likely be dead (like this) by the time I get to it.
If other people are also likely to do stuff on weekends, maybe Monday (what did you do this weekend?) and another weekday (what other stuff are you doing?) Friday instead of Monday (what are you planning to do?) would also be fine.
Tenar Arha
@WaterGirl: Wednesday & Saturday sounds good.
But maybe just post a scheduling notice for the next week at different times of day so everyone gets a chance to see it in the main page at first?
ETA : Redshift is also right about Saturdays being busy. So maybe a tentative 3 day schedule & see what works best test of Sat, Monday, Thursday? (ETA2 that gives the option to have 1 evening & 2 mornings or vice verse & see what works best for attracting ideas).
Another Scott
@Redshift: Thanks for your efforts and the report!
We saw a guy from the DSA canvassing for Bernie today. He was very happy to talk with my J (a long-time St. Bernard supporter), saying that she was the first good reaction he’d received all day. I (a SP Warren supporter) took that as a good sign! ;-)
Cheers,
Scott.
WaterGirl
Thanks for all the great input on dates and times for these threads. The consensus seems to be 2 or 3 times a week. Multiple people wanted one thread on the weekend; some suggested Sat and some people pointed out how busy Saturdays can be. Nobody mentioned Tuesdays, so ix-nay on that.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Let’s try Wednesday and Friday mornings, somewhere close to 9am, and Sunday afternoon. The Sunday afternoon thread will come after the Garden Chat and before the BGinCHI guest posts on culture, which are always at 5pm.