I received this from Fair Fight Action just now.
Please take a minute to call. Even if you are lucky enough to have one or two Democratic senators.
Remember when we celebrated the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote on HR 1, the For the People Act? Yesterday, the U.S. Senate had its first hearing on the Senate counterpart, known as S 1. The next hearing will be held in the coming weeks, and in the meantime, your Senators need to hear from you!
Two months ago, our democracy came under attack at the U.S. Capitol. These anti-democratic efforts are now in the state legislatures, where over 250 voter suppression bills seek to restrict voting access and hand the power to certify our elections over from state and local elections officials to state legislatures.
We need Congress to pass S 1 to protect our freedom to vote safely, regardless of a voter’s race, age, or zip code. We must show our support now to stop voter suppression from silencing communities of color, young people, and seniors.
Thank you for using your voice to speak up for voters who deserve to be heard.
Team Fair Fight Action
Open thread.
cain
This law is absolutely the most important bill we can ever pass at this time. I’m so glad that we are following through – I wish we could have done that back during Obama’s first term – but circumstances proved to not be in our favor.
We haven’t had full control since that time – and we need to make sure that we keep the reigns of power so that we can continue transformig this country for the better and reject white supremacy.
ETA: I clearly did not time this right – I wanted #2. Sigh. Disappointed.
cain
Out of curiosity, why are we calling Democratic senators? I mean sure we have some because of the filibuster but those of us in red state needs to start going after the moderate GOPers. Not sure they will move though.
ETA: Thank you for this honor. I now hold all the important slots except for #100. Then I will declare bingo!
SiubhanDuinne
@cain:
Nope. You must wait until the next time we approach a T-Bogg thread, and then comment at #500. Nothing really matters otherwise.
Benw
Thanks for the links, Watergirl!
As far as I’m concerned, Democratic Senators are the only ones worth calling. Keeping the D coalition unified is the only path forward. Pealing off Republicans is a non starter, they know H1/S1 ends their party, as currently constructed.
SiubhanDuinne
@cain:
Dunno about anybody else. I’m calling them because it’s such a fucking novelty for Georgia to have even one Democratic Senator, let alone two!
WaterGirl
@SiubhanDuinne: I am jealous. I have Durbin and Duckworth, and I love your new senators more than I love mine.
WaterGirl
@Benw: I really wonder if it would make sense to call Manchin and Sinema on every bill and talk about how the filibuster is standing in the way of democracy.
rikyrah
OT: Lucille Bluth has gone to the great cocktail party in the sky.
Jessica Walter dead at 80: Emmy-winning Arrested Development actress passes away in her sleep after storied six decade career
By JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 14:57 EDT, 25 March 2021 | UPDATED: 14:57 EDT, 25 March 2021
WaterGirl
Just in from the Southern Poverty Law Center:
zhena gogolia
@rikyrah:
And George Segal died.
2liberal
I called and left messages for Sinema and Kelly , asking them to vote for the bill and take action to get it past the filibuster. I’ll send emails also .
Old School
Betty Cracker
mali muso
Called and left messages for Warner and Kaine in Virginia. Have to hope that they are solid on this, but it never hurts for them to hear from constituents backing them.
2liberal
if you call sinema my experience is you’ll get voicemail.
moops
Don’t we need to call Senators to eliminate the filibuster first? Then press them to move forward with S 1?
Scout211
Good news for Bill in Glendale CA and all other Californians who haven’t been eligible for the vaccine so far:
https://www.kcra.com/article/gov-newsom-news-conference-march-25/35928240
Villago Delenda Est
My Senators are Wyden and Merkley. They’re guaranteed ayes on this one.
Martin
@cain: Basically, HR1/S1 is carrying the weight of filibuster reform. You’re trying to communicate to them that this bill is so important that they need to change filibuster rules to pass it.
Tenar Arha
I called both my Democratic Senators & said thank you for the ARP, and then asked them to do everything they could for S1. & I told them to let the people vote, to give Texans a chance to replace representatives that will keep unregulated utility companies & that will let them freeze to death, & hopefully re-elect Democrats in 2022.
dopey-o
I would call Sinema and explain how her political career will be over if S. 1 doesn’t pass, meaning it’s either the filibuster or her re-election chances.
Manchin, IIRC, is retiring. God only knows the size of the carrot necessary to get him off the pot. Manchin doesn’t care about your “democracy” jive. Someone better find a way to crown him “America’s Savior” as a reward for leading the Senate out of the Jim Crow 20th century.
I wonder if there’s any bad blood between him and McTurtle to be exploited?
Martin
@moops: This is the motivation for doing that.
This is why I’m focused on DiFi. She’s a clear yes on S1, and has recently come out in support of filibuster reform, but she’s shakiest on that point, so I’m communicating that S1 MUST pass.
Anonymous At Work
Best case scenario I’ve seen is that Manchin is going to beg Republicans to offer a compromise, try to get 10, and fail to prove that they aren’t interested in compromise or bipartisanship.
The Moar You Know
@WaterGirl: Manchin has already stated he’s open to getting rid of the filibuster for this one. It’s Sinema that is going to be a huge problem. Not sure they take calls from out-of-state folks, but in her case worth a shot.
The Very Reverend Crimson Fire of Compassion
Called Hawley & Blunt, for all the good it does.
Benw
Called Schumer and Gillibrand, those damn liberals.
WaterGirl
@moops: I always figure it’s a good idea to do whatever Stacey Abrams tells me to do. :-)
These bills in the states are moving forward NOW, so I think that’s why they want us to call NOW.
WaterGirl
@Villago Delenda Est: Then call to say thank you?
WaterGirl
@dopey-o: I have not heard that Manchin is retiring. Where did you hear that?
Lyrebird
@WaterGirl: Yeah, I’ve worked in a rep’s office, so sometimes I just call to say “thanks!” “yes!!!”
geg6
Casey is already a yes. And fucking Toomey will always be the shitweasel he always was. I hate that mother fucker and I’m really hoping that Fetterman takes his seat. I’d take Kenyatta, too, but I think Fetterman can get some votes in red counties where I don’t, sadly, think Kenyatta can.
VeniceRiley
Governor Newsom did his presser today in my conference room right outside my office door. Got a selfie!
Ontopic: Stop Cloture #22 and stop Jim Crow.
geg6
@WaterGirl:
That’s pure speculation. And, I’m pretty sure, uninformed speculation.
John Revolta
@WaterGirl:
People keep saying this, based on something he said before he ran in 2018. He hasn’t to my knowledge said it since.
raven
@geg6: How do you really feel?
VeniceRiley
@Scout211: Also, starting as of now, at provider discretion in they’ve got the doses available – Newsom said if you’re bringing in a relative for their shot, you can get your shot too. Save a trip.
Jackie
My Senators are voting yes – Patty McMurray and Maria Cantrell – WA. I WILL call and thank them in advance, though!
Joe Falco
I called and left messages for Warnock and Ossoff in Georgia. I know both of them will vote “Yes”, but I’m glad to show my support for them!
Joy in FL
I had already called Rick Scott of Florida this morning. Then I saw this post about Fair Fight, so I called Mr. Rubio, expecting to get voicemail. I got a staffer. I stated that I was asking Senator Rubio to vote for the voting rights legislation. The staffer sounded like there had been calls about that before mine because he said, “You mean S1?” and I said yes. Vote for that.
I call my two GOP senators often because they need to hear from Floridians who do not agree with them. I don’t expect to change their minds, but I also couldn’t be ok with myself if I didn’t do this simple, safe act in support of our democracy.
Yutsano
@Jackie: Patty Murray. Apparently she’s either too Scottish or not Scottish enough for the Mac. Also third in line in Senate leadership if I looked at the Senate hierarchy chart correctly. As soon as she offs Schumer she’s one step closer*!
*I’m pretty sure the Senate doesn’t quite work the same way as Klingon succession rules do. But it never hurts to cover one’s bases.
Jackie
@Yutsano: Doy??♀️ I knew that. I was cursing McConnell in my head while typing her name. And, I KNOW her – my Dad worked closely with her from when she first ran as a Soccer Mom. Whenever she was in the Tri-Cities they always had time for a quick chat. I tagged along a few times.
cain
@SiubhanDuinne:
Dammit! We’re never gonna get there unless Cole does a shitpost!
cain
@Villago Delenda Est:
Yes, they are very reliable.
lowtechcyclist
@WaterGirl:
I applaud their efforts, but they’re rolling in money. So unless you are too, I’d say give to FairFight, give to WisDems, give to your local food bank, give to almost anyone else before giving to the SPLC.
lowtechcyclist
After all the calling my Congresspersons over the past few years, I’ve got their numbers memorized. I’m in Maryland, and both my Senators are Dems who will support this bill. But I figure at the very least, it does the staffers good when people on their side call in. So I’ll be calling them in the morning.
moops
Does S 1 actually stop all these GOP bills at the state level ruining voting?
WaterGirl
@moops: I believe that the answer is yes. It mandates something like 2 weeks of early voting, all people eligible to vote would be automatically registered, they have to allow weekend voting, they wouldn’t be able prohibit absentee/vote by mail with strict criterion for who is allowed to vote early/absentee. etc.
sab
@SiubhanDuinne: Connie Schultz recommends calling the good guys so that they know we care.
artem1s
@moops:
I don’t know if it reinstates pre-clearance or not. Roberts’ argument was that since the legislation only covered 17 Jim Crow states that it was unfairly applied. I personally believe pre-clearance is the most important part of the VRA and needs to be a thing again and for all 50 states. It would eliminate all these last minute changes in election laws at the state level. Federal minimum standards will only go so far in preventing the crap that the GQP has been pulling with voter suppression.