Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

The willow is too close to the house.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

Bad people in a position to do bad things will do bad things because they are bad people. End of story.

Weird. Rome has an American Pope and America has a Russian President.

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

They punch you in the face and then start crying because their fist hurts.

The words do not have to be perfect.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

These are not very smart people, and things got out of hand.

We are learning that “working class” means “white” for way too many people.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires Republicans to act in good faith.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the gop

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

So many bastards, so little time.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

Giving in to doom is how we fail to fight for ourselves & one another.

I would gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today.

You come for women, you’re gonna get your ass kicked.

American history and black history cannot be separated.

You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / I’m not the cat I used to be, I’ve got a kid

I’m not the cat I used to be, I’ve got a kid

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I doubt I’ll be able to watch the debate tonight let alone be up til the wee smalls talking about it the way 10 years ago me would have, BUT I will put up some kind of a fundraiser for Biden after the debate.

I’ll do another House fundraiser later this week. We hit the goal on yesterday’s already. I’ll probably do three or four more batches over the next couple weeks.

Democrats are showing surprising strength in the midwest. Iowa is now a toss-up for Biden, and there’s no reason to think that Theresa Greenfield can’t win. The Kansas race is a little bit of a sleeper. So let’s hit them today. You can see all the races we are supporting here. We’ve raised close to 650K this cycle so far.

Barbara Bollier, Kansas Senate

Goal Thermometer

Theresa Greenfield, Iowa Senate

Goal Thermometer

Reader Interactions

39Comments

  1. 1.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    I’m thirty-three, baby.

    Had one of those rare (For me) quick recognitions of a lyric and assumed we were turning our attentions to Ohio

  3. 3.

    Almost Retired

    I’ve been doing some phone banking in Iowa, where I grew up.  Naturally, I don’t start the conversation by noting that “I left for California 15 seconds after graduation, but I’m nevertheless calling from Los Angeles to tell you how to vote.”   But, I’ve been surprised at the vitriol expressed by Independents and Democratic occasional voters against Joni Ernst.  Independents and recently-castrated hogs appear to view her with a similar mix of fear and disdain.  It gives me hope.

  4. 4.

    laura

    @Almost Retired: I’m really curious if the vitriol against Ernst is due to her burning desire to gut social security of because of her other ghastly policy positions. Do tell please.

  6. 6.

    Almost Retired

    @laura: Social Security, for sure.  Also the stink of Iowa’s abysmal COVID response is sticking to her as well.  And more recently, her Supreme Court hypocrisy.  That’s the independents and soft Democrats.  The hogs have their own concerns.

  7. 7.

    Mousebumples

    Signed up to volunteer with my local state races and us house seat today. If we have a blue wave/tsunami in Wisconsin, i want to know i did what I could to have more democrats as representatives!

  8. 8.

    Eural Joiner

     be up til the wee smalls talking about it the way 10 years ago me would have

    Wow, ain’t that the truth! I really blame all of my (former) “conservative” friends. Ten years ago I thought they were sincere and we were having meaningful conversations around shared ideals and values. Today, I know they are all full of crap and I couldn’t care less what they think.

  11. 11.

    What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I usually recognize the song that title Doug’s posts but have to confess I’m stumped by this one

    @Almost Retired: I think it might a good idea if Biden can slip in the fact that Trump has talked about de-funding Social Security. Like, he’s advocated for it as recently as August, if not even more recently. That’s what the payroll tax he wants does.

  13. 13.

    stinger

    I wasn’t thrilled with Greenfield’s performance in last night’s debate, and still would have preferred Mike Franken. But Ernst is not popular, so here’s hoping.

  14. 14.

    HinTN

    I’ve written postcards for Theresa Greenfield and I’m writing them for Barbara Bollier now.

    Working through Flip the West if any Jackals are interested.

  19. 19.

    Raoul Paste

    Somebody here has got to post the latest Lincoln project ad featuring Sully Sullenberger

    Whoa Nellie!

  23. 23.

    Nicole

    Many years ago, I did a play at a dinner theater in Akron (since closed, sadly), and by far the best place to eat was Chrissie Hynde’s vegan restaurant (also since closed, sadly).  The food was amazing and the walls next to the tables had photos of famous vegetarians.  The final time we ate there was with my family, who had come from Pennsylvania and Tennessee to see the play and Chrissie Hynde was there, eating with a friend.   My brother took a stroll around the restaurant to look at all the photos, and, unaware of Chrissie Hynde’s presence, leaned right in between her and her dining companion to exclaim across the floor to us, “Oh, look! There’s Tobey Maguire!”  She pretended not to notice.  I pretended I didn’t know my brother.

    Afterwards, I told him Chrissie Hynde (of the Pretenders) was in the restaurant, and he exclaimed, with great enthusiasm, “That’s so cool!  I love ‘Walking on Sunshine’!”

  24. 24.

    kindness

    I won’t be watching the debate but will read the Cliff Notes version tomorrow. I’m afraid that if I had to watch Trump lie and falsely accuse Uncle Joe of things as he no doubt will I would end up throwing something at a very nice tv that I really don’t want to break.

  26. 26.

    Steeplejack

    Don’t think I’ll live-blog it, as I often do. I’ll be over at Sighthound Hall for dinner and drinks. I’ll be watching, but the phone is not good for rapid-response commenting.

  29. 29.

    mad citizen

    I assume they won’t be masking during the debate, but it’d be childishly-cool if Biden wore one that said “Never Trumper #1”  or the popular “Flush the Turd November 3rd”

     

    Just spent five minutes googling Chrissie Hynde/Rush Limbaugh.  Apparently rights money has gone to PETA all these years, but I’ll never understand why she allowed that use–or if she couldn’t prevent it, at least speak out against it.  Apparently her dad liked listening to Rush and she actually wrote a letter to trump praising the medal freedom to Rush, or something like that.  I couldn’t care enough to read it carefully.

  30. 30.

    Nicole

    @mad citizen: Radio programming has a license with ASCAP that gives them rights to play just about anything in the ASCAP catalogue, so legally an artist can’t do much about someone they hate playing their music on a radio program.  Some make a stink about it to try to shame the program into not using them anymore; some don’t.  And it’s hard for me to picture Limbaugh feeling shame about anything.

  32. 32.

    Itinerantpedant

    I was told that reaching out to disaffected Republicans was not the way to go, that we had to double down on appealing to Progressives in Vermont, NY, Minneapolis, and Detroit.

    Where is all this Iowa and Kansas support coming from?

  33. 33.

    Bruce K

    Most of the time I hate being seven time zones ahead of the East Coast, but for Trump’s prime-time malfeasances, the time zones are a blessing.

    Please, FSM, let Biden do well, and if Trump has a Colonel Jessup moment or a medical mishap, I won’t complain.

    (Oh, something I’ve been wondering about: if I’m an expat, am I allowed to contribute to Stateside political campaigns?)

  34. 34.

    James E Powell

    @Bruce K:

    Trump supporters agree with every word of Colonel Jessup’s meltdown and believe he was railroaded by leftist cancel culture. You did see that the judge was black, right?

  35. 35.

    WaterGirl

    @Bruce K:  Yes!   Read them all, but check out #4 in particular.

    11 ways U.S. expats can help rock the midterms

    By Meghan Feeks

    It ain’t easy being “blue” these days, but things are definitely looking up. Special and state elections have brought Democrats to power in key states, and the latest polls have Democrats holding a double-digit lead over Republicans for the 2018 midterms.

    Also encouraging, a record number of women (mostly Democrats) are running for Congress this year — more than twice as many as in 2016. And having turned out in force to flip GOP seats in recent elections, women are also taking the lead in grassroots movements around the country to engage voters, promote progressive candidates and turn anger into impact when we go to the polls this November.

    These gains feel good after more than a year of hard knocks. But with the midterms still several months off, Democrats still have much at stake, and nothing must be taken for granted. The good news is there’s a lot that the 9 million US expats who make up the “51st state” can do to make a difference when America votes this fall. Here are 11 ways we can help:

    1. Vote — and make sure you register to vote in time. This should be obvious, but the sad fact is, only 12% of Americans abroad vote in presidential elections and even fewer in midterm, state and local elections. Fortunately, it’s now possible for all US citizens to obtain and in many cases submit absentee ballots electronically. But this is important: you need to request one every year. Just because you voted in the 2016 general election, it doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get your ballot in 2017 and beyond. To register to vote in 2018 online, visit VoteFromAbroad.org, or access the site through the ‘vote’ menu on the Democrats Abroad website. For more information on voting from overseas, including links to helpful resources, see the State Department’s handy guide.

    2. Help register fellow expats to vote. Once again, Democrats Abroad is planning voter registration events around the world, but relies on volunteers to give voters the information they need to obtain and submit their ballots. To learn more about becoming a voter registration volunteer, click here or contact your local chapter of Democrats Abroad.

    3. Vote in the 2018 Democratic primaries. As a registered Democrat, you’re entitled to vote in House and Senate primaries, which will unfold over the coming months. This is a great opportunity to advance Democratic candidates that support your values and have a positive vision for the party’s future. To get the 411 on primaries in the state where you’re registered to vote, check out this overview on Ballotpedia.org.

    4. Support Democratic candidates in key national races. This fall, candidates will compete for all 435 seats in the House and 34 seats in the Senate (23 of which are currently held by Democrats). All these contests are important, and no seat should be considered “safe.” However, the battle for control of Congress will likely boil down to a few key races in the House and Senate. Support Democratic candidates in these elections, regardless of where you’re registered to vote. Visit EMILY’s List to learn more about pro-choice, female candidates, or if you prefer to stick closer to your hometown, visit SwingLeft.org to find nearby swing districts that need your help most. Pro tip: to maximize your donation’s impact, contribute directly to your favorite candidate’s campaign, rather than through party organizations that support them (Senator Kirsten Gillibrand shared this nugget at a recent fundraiser in London, noting that individual candidates can take out ads for half of what, say, the DCCC would pay).

    5. Don’t forget state and local elections. Down-ballot, state and local elections may not sound that sexy, but taking a lead from the Tea Party, progressive, grassroots movements are increasingly targeting them to make America bluer from the bottom up. Many states allow US expats to vote in these contests, but even if yours doesn’t, there are still ways you can help. To learn more, check out the Sister DistrictProject, Flippable.org,RunForSomething.net and Indivisible.org. To connect with fellow expats from your state, join a Facebook State Group here.

    6. Ensure all voices are heard. Last year’s elections were good not just for Democrats, but also for diversity: around the country, women, people of color and LGBTQ candidates became the first to win elections in their respective contests. Help our party represent the interests of all its members by supporting candidates with diverse and intersectional profiles. Click on the links here to learn more about black women, Muslim women, Latinas,Native Americans, LGBTQ candidates and other people of color who are running for office in 2018.

    7. Engage with voters. So we can’t go from door-to-door, but there are still lots of ways we can engage voters from afar. Volunteer to phone-bank for Democratic candidates, either directly or through grassroots organizations that support them. Postcard campaigns throughPostcardsToVoters.orgare another cool and quirky way to connect with fellow Democrats and encourage them to vote. Get your American expat friends on board to have more fun, increase your impact and hold each other accountable.

    8. Organize or attend a political fundraiser or “action party.” US expats can independently organize political fundraisers or “action parties” to support specific candidates and Democratic organizations. Contact your favorite candidate to coordinate a house party with a video or Skype link, and circulate the appropriate contribution link and compliance form. Note that all expenses must be reported and contributions can only be received from US citizens or permanent residents (it’s the law). For those who wish to contribute their time and energy (either instead of or in addition to a financial donation), set a clear call to action. To stay informed about fundraisers being held in your country, join the Americans Abroad Facebook Group and keep an eye on your local Democrats Abroad newsletter. To hear from Democratic candidates and politicians directly (and at Europe-friendly times), sign up for the fantastic phone-call series organized by fellow expat Mark Bergman.

    9. Stand for something. Anger with the Trump administration may get people to the polls, but it’s no substitute for a long-term strategy. Call on Democratic officials and candidates to define a clear and positive vision for the party and set concrete policy goals to support it. Do your part to promote this vision in your families, communities and social networks. For every expression of outrage you see or share on social media, post something positive that points to a solution.

    10. Take action to improve election security and combat fake news. The midterms are under serious threat of foreign interference, but — surprise, surprise — the Trump administration is doing nothing about it. Call on Congress to pass the Election Security Act and demand to know what your elected officials are doing to secure elections in your district. Be on alert for fake news and call out misinformation when you see it. Equally important, support real news by buying a subscription to a reputable news source. Established, big-name outlets such as the Washington Post are always a good bet, but don’t forget about cash-strapped local papers, which play a critical role in holding local governments accountable.

    11. Share your international perspectives. As an American living abroad, you have a unique point of view. Talk to friends and family members in the US about how the country you live in approaches issues such as healthcare, education, reproductive rights, gun control and family leave. Discuss the implications of US policies outside its borders and how the Trump administration is affecting America’s image in the world. To spread the word further, consider sharing these thoughts in an op-ed in your hometown or college newspaper.

    The midterms are a critical milestone that require our laser focus, but there are plenty of other things US expats can do every day to support our democracy — and they needn’t take much time! For more ideas, sign up for Democrats Abroad’s “Tiny Actions” newsletter, or check out the HuffPost article I wrote on the subject last year. Have more ideas on how to rock the midterms and stay politically active from overseas? Please share in the comments!

  36. 36.

    RaflW

    Obviously North Dakota isn’t going to flip. But Trump appearing to lose 16 points there vs. 2016 is pretty brutal.

    One does wonder what the net popular vote margin might end up being? In 2016, about 340,000 people voted in N.D. I’d imaging turnout might be lower this time as some of the dispirited in that 16 point swing will stay home. Reflect that sort of thing across other ‘red’ states, and while the E.C. votes from the ‘safe’ states won’t change, the potential for big popular vote loss for Trump seems at least possible.

    I’m not banking on anything. GOTV is critical, all of that. But the erosion of support isn’t just in blue or even swing states.

  38. 38.

    Elizabelle

    Donated to both.  Love these threads, and seeing the aggregate BJ impact.   Yea DougJ!

    @WaterGirl:   Very good link.  Sending this to my friends lucky enough to be abroad.

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