This is a follow-up to the post earlier this week: We Have Agency, Let’s Use It
⭐️ PARTICIPANTS SO FAR
These are the people who expressed interest on that post or followed up with an email. Definitely enough interest to move forward!
*Almost Retired
*AM in NC
*Argiope
*Avalie
Benw (data)
*Blue Galangal
BlueGuitarist
brantl
cain
*Cameron
*Capri
Capricorn
CaseyL
*ceece
*Chetan Murthy
*Chief Oshkosh
*Dahlia
*dnfree
Dr. Fungus
Faithful Lurker + husband
featheredsprite
*Feathers (data)
*FelonyGovt
*HinTN
hitchhiker
*ian
*Josie
*Kathleen
*km
*Madeleine
*Martin
Nancy
*neldob
*O. Felix Culpa
Omnes Omnibus
*prostratedragon (data)
Raflw
Rocks
*sab
*schrodingers_cat
Subsole
*SiubhanDuinne
*Suburban Mom
Sure Lurkalot (data)
surfk9
terraformer
*Torrey
*UncleEbeneezer
*zhenia goglia
WaterGirl
*Woodrow/asim (not available for a few weeks)
*indicates that the person stepped up in today’s thread.
Benw has stepped forward to be the google sheet guy. (Yay, Benw!) I believe one other person offered to help with that, but I don’t recall who that was. So if that was you, please chime in below!
Interested in being part of this? Chime in below. And please mention what state you’re in, and the states you are interested in. And of course say something if your name has been added in error. What follows begins first with an analysis of the political situation, and then the strategy follows from that.
⭐️ ANALYSIS
The right wing has discovered key weaknesses in the US governance model and is exploiting these weaknesses to consolidate their own power. Specifically:
- Republican-controlled legislatures are giving themselves the power to override electoral outcomes on unproven allegations of fraud, should Democratic candidates win more votes than Republicans.Their goal is nothing less than “legislative nullification” of elections.
- They are putting in place criminal sentences and fines meant to intimidate and scare away poll workers and nonpartisan administrators.
- They are seeking to restrict access to the ballot, and to make the election process itself inaccessible, especially to voters of color.
- They are working this time at the state, rather than the federal, level. This is consistent with their 50+ year strategy of taking control of state levers of power first, before using them to isolate and neutralize federal governmental institutions. Like it or not, we should recognize that this approach has served them well.
The right wing has assessed that changing voter demographics mean that their program cannot reliably win enough elections to maintain their power, if elections are carried out under the existing governance model.
- Rather than changing their program, they are seeking to legally overthrow the model.
- Their goal is to subvert, rather than participate in, a democratic model of electoral politics in which the state acts as a neutral guarantor that everyone can vote, and every vote counts.
We are faced with a slow-motion, state-based, insurrection carried out by the right wing through the political party that they have come to dominate.
- They are doing this legally and completely out in the open
- They are confident of their success and confident that nobody will make a serious attempt to stop them.
- So far, this assessment has proved correct.
This means that for the left, a response that involves only electoral politics will not be sufficient to stop an enemy which is not playing electoral politics by the old rules any more.
- Instead the left has to add counter-political warfare and civic action to its strategy set.
- It also means that for the left, a focus on national-level politics and federal solutions is inadequate.
- Instead the left has to focus on a fight for power at the state level because that’s where our enemies are operating.
⭐️ OVERVIEW
We are asking interested people to:
- collect information
- do research
- establish or renew contacts with other organizations/activists, both on the left and in the center
- and share that information with the blog
What we are not asking people to do is enter data (unless that’s your thing) or organize demonstrations.
Tangible benefits:
- information is power.
- the information we collect can help lead to better choices for what to focus on.
- we can support collective actions to fight abuses.
- it helps fight the discouragement and sense of hopelessness that can spring up in the face of everything that’s going on, and in the face of setbacks at the federal level, such as Supreme Court decisions that have decimated a level playing field.
- we can model optimism, as we fight for the idea that we can make this a better situation if we try.
About what we do with the information:
- Always and everywhere, we want to follow the lead of the local people and organizations, and support their actions when we can.
⭐️ STRATEGY FOR ACTION – USE CROWDSOURCING: GATHER INFORMATION / ORGANIZE / ACT
We do have agency if we are willing to use it.
About the threats: We can begin by creating a spreadsheet where the rows represent states:
There are 23 states where the Republicans hold a trifecta. We can do the research, and then the information can be evaluated for people to determine priorities.
- States where Trump lost.These will be the most critical, they have to get these electoral college (EC) votes back, if they can’t do that they have to flip other states to compensate. That’s a harder lift.
- States where Trump won narrowly.They have to hold onto these.
- States where Trump won bigly.Less likely they will spend resources here rather than elsewhere but we can’t take it for granted.
There are 15 “mixed-fecta” states. We can do the research, and then the information can be evaluated for people to determine priorities.
- States with 1 Democratic-controlled chamber in the Legislature.Sometimes Democrats flake off, ask Joe Manchin
- States with 2 Democratic-controlled chambers in the Legislature.
- States with Democratic governors.
About the threats: We can organize the, with the columns represent threats of the sort described above in the “Analysis” section. We can categorize them by:
- Changes to the process by which a state certifices its election results.
- Administratively or legally remove or threaten election administrators or supervisors.
- Voter disenfranchisement / interference in the voting process
- “Culture war” tactics meant to drive right-wing voters. (These often appear as referenda or ballot initiatives. They can show up anywhere, even in Democratic-trifecta states.)
- Additional categories are possible of course. What might they be?
About the response to the threats: We can collect and organize information on groups that are responding to threats.
- Electoral responses are all well and good, but we need to remember that our enemies are not playing electoral politics any more.
- We need to target the “boots on the ground” (BOTG) groups who specialize in counter-political warfare, civic action, demonstrations, and political media strategies.
⭐️ Note: Capricorn has fleshed out more specifics for things we can do – but there’s only so much information that can be put into a single post, so we will save that for the next one.
Benw
Hello!
Capricorn
Good afternoon, everyone.
WaterGirl
I’m here, too.
Benw
@WaterGirl: par-tay!
zhena gogolia
I’m in Connecticut. I’m open to being given an assignment.
Blue Galangal
I’m in Ohio and I’m interested in helping where possible – Ohio and where needed.
WaterGirl
@zhena gogolia: @Blue Galangal:
Great! I just alphabetized the list of nyms/names so I can more easily see if people are on the list, and add them if they are not.
AM in NC
I’m in North Carolina and am willing to help here or wherever is needed.
Capricorn
@zhena gogolia:
@ Blue Galangal:
Welcome to both of you. We have some ideas about where to start on this project. A useful first step might be to organize a meeting at which we would discuss details, divide up the work, set some initial deadlines. That could be done by Zoom, and I assume that WG can access email addresses for you, and there may be other means as well for people who are not comfortable with Zoom or who don’t have platforms that support it. Would you be available for such a meeting?
And @AM in NC as well, welcome — glad to have you aboard.
SiubhanDuinne
Increasingly over the last few cycles, I’ve felt that my efforts were both scattershot and spread too thinly. There was little strategy or focus involved. So — for the 2022 and 2024 cycles, anyhow — I’ve decided to put most of my energies and resources into a small number of organisations/campaigns: Four Directions, Fair Fight, and Powered by People. (Of course I’ll still support specific candidates, but not the thing where I give $100 to ActBlue to divvy up among 20 Congressional candidates I’ve never heard of around the country.)
Anyhow, I’m still very much committed to the work, so feel free to plop my name in between Subsole and surfk9 if you think I can be useful.
dnfree
This is very well stated. No hysteria, just facts. I’m not sure what I can do from Illinois but if there’s something I can monitor or report on from another state I’d be glad to help. It’s important work.
Woodrow/asim
I wanted to say I really appreciate this effort. I’m personally slammed due to a host of issues — including a sprained ankle — so will try to catch up in a few weeks, when my schedule (hopefully) clears and I can see how I can assist!
Capricorn
@dnfree:
Like yourself, many of the respondents to our original post of 6/8 are from states with Democratic trifectas, where the immediate local threat is nil. We’ve discussed setting up teams where those folks could be working with others who were located in states with Republican trifectas where the threat is serious.
WaterGirl
I have added a link to this series under Do Something! in the sidebar.
That should make these posts easy to find all of them at any time.
Chetan Murthy
@SiubhanDuinne: Last time around, I sent too much $$ to Texas, compared to other places. Half of it went to the Texas Organizing Project, which I don’t regret. But a lot went to candidates and political parties, and I’m not so sure that was wise.
I’ve made note of these orgs you list (one of the mistakes I made, which I am thankful didn’t cost us), is not donating to Native American orgs in AZ. Stupid me, I saw that Kelly was ahead by a ton, and just assumed it was all good. Not next time.
I am *very* interested in the results of this work, so that I can use it to allocate my campaign donations in the coming two cycles.
I want to say that I can help with the research, but honestly, I don’t even know how. But for sure, I’ll use the results to guide my donations.
WaterGirl
@SiubhanDuinne:
Absolutely! But is that a pop quiz? Because Siu… goes before Sub. Right?
Capricorn
@Woodrow/asim:
Welcome Woodrow. Glad to have you pitch in when you’re feeling up to it. We are working out a means to update the group on our progress going forward, both the keep the idea in front of people and to loop in those such as yourself who may not be available until later.
WaterGirl
@SiubhanDuinne: I hope you are available this Wednesday at 7:30 when the folks from Voces de la Frontera Action are going to be here for a Q & A.
I am working on getting someone from Fair Fight after that.
Capricorn
@Chetan Murthy:
No problem, we can provide guidance and suggestions.
WaterGirl
@Woodrow/asim: Happy to hear it. May I add you to the list now, with the understanding that you likely can’t be active for a few weeks?
Benw
@WaterGirl: maybe because it’s spelled Subaru Diane?
WaterGirl
@Woodrow/asim: I missed the sprained ankle on my first read. Sorry to hear that.
zhena gogolia
@Capricorn:
I guess I should be clear — I don’t have time to be a major organizer. I was hoping that whoever is organizing would have certain well-defined tasks (research this state, or even this district in this state, etc.) that could be given to me to do when I can fit it in among other obligations. Is that possible?
WaterGirl
@Chetan Murthy: Capricorn has more details that would help with that – those details will be in the third post.
Can I add you to the list? (please) :-)
Capricorn
@zhena gogolia:
Not just possible — built into the model! No worries, you won’t be the only one with other commitments.
WaterGirl
@Benw: I know, I was cursing! I may have to learn how to spell SD’s real nym.
Chetan Murthy
@WaterGirl: Please do.
WaterGirl
@Chetan Murthy:
Feelings similar to this are what led DougJ and I to start focusing on boots-on-the-ground organizations like Four Directions and Voces de la Frontera, and others.
So we’re doing a series of Ask Me Anythings with the groups we identify so we can learn more about them and decide if they are a good match for what we are looking for.
We are also asking each of these organizations what we can do to help get them what they need. Each group has a different response, which is perfectly fine.
DougJ and I are both pretty excited about the group we will be talking with on Wednesday (7:30 blog time). We feel really good about what they are asking us for.
I hope as many people as possible show up for the Wednesday evening post.
WaterGirl
About half of what we raised on the BJ thermometers in the 2020 cycle went to Georgia, and I have absolutely no regrets about that!
The four GA thermometers were:
Jon Ossoff
Raphael Warnock
America Votes – Georgia
Fair Fight
SiubhanDuinne
@WaterGirl:
Right. I wasn’t paying attention. Your good, my bad.
Almost Retired
I missed last week’s thread, but this is a fabulous idea. Count me in. If nothing else, my nym will be near the top alphabetically.
I am in California, but went to college undergrad in Iowa. I still have family and friends there, a few of whom are very involved politically. Iowa, of course, is a trifecta state of the worst order, and has already passed a passel of horrendous voting restrictions.
I would like to help pour a gallon of corn-based ethanol on these laws in Iowa, and toss the match (metaphorically).
WaterGirl
So today we are basically trying to get the band together. :-)
Looks like we have about 28 people so far; I would love it if we could get to 40 or 50 or more.
We’ll be much more specific and concrete in the followup post next time.
Feathers
This sounds like more than can be done on a single spreadsheet. As I said in the previous thread, I’ve worked as an admin for several different academic research areas, so if you’d like me to help, let me know. Currently unemployed, so I have the time and could use a project.
Capricorn
@Almost Retired:
Good, we will need information on Iowa. But your comment brought to my mind something that I’d like to point out to the group: even if you’re living in a blue state such as California, if you have past history and/or family connections and/or a network in a red state such as Iowa, think about whether you can get your family and friends involved in this project. We can make this happen. This idea is not just for Balloon-Juice people alone, this is for anyone who wants to pitch in.
Chetan Murthy
@WaterGirl:
Thank you for doing the job I fell-down on. Next time, I want to do better, if for no other reason, than that it’s my hard-earned money, and I want to make sure it actually *does* go to saving our Republic.
Capricorn
@Feathers:
Good, we’re going to need people with this skillset. My own Excel-fu is weak but even I can see this as a potential problem, I don’t see how it can all be handled on a single spreadsheet.
If we missed your nym in the previous thread, that was my fault; my apologies. Nice to have you aboard.
WaterGirl
@Feathers: I know! I keep thinking we need some sort of relational database, and Capricorn suggested a wiki.
Thrilled to have you on board! Are you a wiki person, or do you have something else in mind for all the information?
WaterGirl
@Chetan Murthy: It would be hard to make the case that GA money was not well spent. :-)
Josie
I’m in. Being a cockeyed optimist, I still hold out hope for Texas.
WaterGirl
@SiubhanDuinne: Well, it was partly my fault, because i did have one of the names out of order – in the neighborhood of S, so that may have screwed you up. Your comment gave me an opportunity to notice my mistake. :-)
Torrey
A suggestion about framing: when talking about any kind of effort in response to the right-wing vote-suppression, it may be useful to frame the need for a response as being from both the left and the center. This emphasizes the status of the right at this point as both extreme and a minority trying to take over.
WaterGirl
@Josie: I do, too!
And my track record is pretty good.
I believed Barack Obama could win way back in 2007 when everyone was still saying he was great but that he could never win the nomination, and if he did, he couldn’t win the general.
I also believed in GA, I think my first GA post might have been in March 2020.
WaterGirl
@Torrey:
That’s a great suggestion! Might you be interested in being part of this effort?
Josie
@WaterGirl: Same here about Obama. I also felt that way about Uncle Joe. My son reminded me that I had always liked him, even when he ran the first time. I had forgotten about that.
prostratedragon
This sounds interesting. I can do some research and have data skills* should they be needed down the line (after we get some data!).
I’m in Chicago. While it’s true that Illinois has been a blue state lately, it bears reminding that at the statewide level that is due largely to the Chicago metro area. When turnout here lags, you get Bruce Rauner as governor. Right now a couple of local Repubs are trying to start the ballot seizure things in their counties, which in this case is certainly meant as a culture war tactic.
*Added: Sounds like I’d be helping or working under Feathers;<)
WaterGirl
@prostratedragon: Great! I just added you to the list.
I just fixed another alphabetization error, and I noticed a big gap.
Looks like there are a bunch of slackers with names/nyms between H and N. :-)
Benw
@Feathers: hi, I’m also on “team spreadsheet”! Maybe we can connect over email via Watergirl – she already has mine – and discuss the best way to capture everything.
Capricorn
@prostratedragon:
Glad to have you on board. Same question for you that WG brought up at #37: how are your wiki skillz?
WaterGirl
@Benw: @prostratedragon: @Feathers:
I can definitely put all of the “data” people in touch by email.
Then you can decide whether you want to email, talk by phone, or zoom.
If you guys reply to this comment, I’ll take that as permission to share emails.
Benw
@prostratedragon: neat! See my comment to Feathers above. A three-person “team spreadsheet” seems like a great start.
Question for both you and Feathers: is it okay if you email Watergirl so she can put all of us in cc and we can chat? I can do email or Zoom, which might be more efficient.
WaterGirl
@Benw: See my comment at #49.
Torrey
@WaterGirl: Yes, you can put me down as interested.
WaterGirl
@Torrey: You are on the list, thank you!
WaterGirl
Benw, Capricorn and I will likely leave the thread around 5pm, but I promise we will check back for further comments and information.
And I for sure will check back again in the morning to make sure we haven’t missed anyone.
sab
Add me to the list. I am in Ohio, a quadrifecta (?) state with Governor, State Senate, State House of Reps and the State Supreme Court all Republican. On the other hand, we still have Sherrod Brown, and Rob Portman is leaving next year.
Feathers
@WaterGirl: I usually start by setting up spreadsheets, seeing what the scope will be, and then going from there. I can do simple databases, but don’t have the software now, and usually have someone check my work before going live. ;) I don’t currently have Microsoft Office. Have been using either Google or the Apple software.
Capricorn
@sab:
Welcome! You’re on the list and Ohio is going to be a key to all of this.
Benw
@WaterGirl: great minds think alike!
Omnes Omnibus
Hey, Is there a cheat sheet with numbers showing how much Balloon-Juice has raised? If I start trying to reach out to groups or candidates in WI, I would like to be able to show them what kind of things we have done.
ETA: I am not a data person. Do not accidentally involve me in technical things; it would end badly.
Benw
@WaterGirl: great! I’m going to hang around for a bit longer, then head to the store. Thanks for tenth time to you and Cap for kicking this off :)
Capricorn
Folks,
I have a hard deadline at 5 PM blog time so I’ll have to drop off. It’s been great talking to all of you; WG, Benw, and I will check back later for further comments, information, and volunteers so please feel free to let us know your interest and also mention your state. And make sure we have an active email for you that we can use to pull together a meeting of some kind soon.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: Yes and no. I will email you.
hitchhiker
thank you for making me feel like I might be useful in these weird and scary times.
here with my shovel, ready to dig in.
Omnes Omnibus
Also, this project could use a name. “Hi, I’m Omnes Omnibus, a commenter on a blog called Balloon-Juice (famous for the phrase “skull fucking a kitten), and [dialtone],” vs “Hi, I’m Omnes Omnibus from Operation Skull Fuck A Kitten*. We are an online group that that is raising money for etc.”
*Operation Skull Fuck A Kitten is, of course, a placeholder for a more palatable name. Unless everyone likes it, then I am okay with it too.
taumaturgo
The act-up gay organization had close to zero agency when they mounted what is considered a successful activist campaign to fight against the bigoted response of the Reagan administration to the HIV plague. They rally around a question formulated by Cramer: “In six months most of us will be death, what are you willing to do about it”? Democrats and allies must internalize that we all could sooner than later be living in a fascist dystopia, what are we willing to do about it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrAzU79PBVM
Omnes Omnibus
@taumaturgo: What the ever-loving fuck do you think this thread is?
schrodingers_cat
I am in. I am pretty busy all of this month but should have some time starting July. I am pretty involved in the D politics at the local town level and know my state rep and senator well. And I am good with data and Excel and other mathy, analysis thingies
Let me know how I can help.
prostratedragon
Good! Will be keeping in touch, but now must go watch Ship of Fools.
Kathleen
@Capricorn: I hope I’m not too late. Please add me to the list. I live in Ohio which currently is a screwedfecta.
Omnes Omnibus
@prostratedragon: Priorities are important. I am only here now so that I do not tear through season 2 of Lupin too quickly.
Benw
@schrodingers_cat: Great! I’m pinging WG and Capricorn to make sure you’re on the list!
@Omnes Omnibus: You just self-nominated to lead the name sub-committee, comrade!
HinTN
@WaterGirl:
@Benw:
@Capricorn:
I live in Tennessee, which is hopeless for the moment. I will work on my neighbors to the south (Georgia) and east (North Carolina). I would prefer to be given a task to execute and a suspense.
I like this plan. Thanks!
Cameron
I’m not sure how I can help, but I’d like to see the ways available. Am currently in Florida, where I lived for almost 6 years; before that lived in Pennsylvania for about 50. If there’s something I can do in either or both, I’ll try.
Kathleen
@WaterGirl: Being anal retentive but I also to ask you to add me to the list. I’m in Ohio. Thank you.
WaterGirl
@Kathleen: It’s never too late!
WaterGirl
@Cameron: Absolutely! I just added you to the list.
surfk9
Add me to the list of attendees
Dahlia
@Omnes Omnibus: Operation Save Democracy perhaps?
WaterGirl
@surfk9: You are on the list from the previous thread. Thank you for confirming!
ian
Sign me up for Wyoming
HinTN
@WaterGirl: I guess I wasn’t clear. Add me to the list!
?
Added: comments are wonky on the Android using Chrome. They go off the window way to the right. Editing is ok.
Omnes Omnibus
@Benw: Did you see my first suggestion? I am not sure I am the best candidate for the naming sub-committee.
schrodingers_cat
@Benw: Thanks and I am in Massachusetts
O. Felix Culpa
My state (New Mexico) currently has a trifecta of the good kind (Dem governor and Dem majority in both houses of the state legislature) and my first priority is to help retain and grow our majorities. The governor is up for reelection in 2022 and we only retook the House in 2018 and created a more progressive Senate majority in 2020. So while our situation is good, its continuation cannot be taken for granted.
That said, I’m happy to be a worker bee in Operation Kitten Skullfuck or whatever our agency-taking ends up being called.
Dr.Fungus
I’m in, even though I live in Colorado, which has a (D) trifecta.
Dahlia
I’m not particularly skilled but I’m good with gruntwork. Count me in. I’m in Washington state.
Avalie
Please add me to the list. In California, but from Oklahoma originally. Skills in legal/legislative research and writing. Have done some similar work with a larger voting rights org as a volunteer.
Dahlia
Is it okay if I link to this in my Facebook feed? I have some friends with skills who might be able to help.
Omnes Omnibus
@O. Felix Culpa: Skull Fuck A Kitten, damn it!
Another Scott
@Torrey: +1 The language is important.
Repost:
It looks like We Make the Future has guides/toolkits with suggestions for people working in all kinds of important areas.
e.g. https://www.wemakethefuture.us/resources-docs/digital-toolkit-freedom-to-vote
(WMTF is a project of https://raceclassnarrativeaction.com/ – I am just learning about them now.)
Thanks for all you folks are doing.
Cheers,
Scott.
Madeleine
I’m in New York, but I’m interested in Michigan having lived there for more than 30 years and moved in 2019. I’m probably good for research. Thanks for getting this going.
WaterGirl
@Madeleine: Added to the list, thank you!
Benw
@Omnes Omnibus: it’s memorable though!
Omnes Omnibus
@Benw: It is that.
O. Felix Culpa
@Omnes Omnibus: OKS or OSFAK, whichever floats your boat.
Just be glad it’s not Operation Bring in the Clowns.
Chetan Murthy
@O. Felix Culpa: People’s Front of Judea: Crack Hot Air Squad
Omnes Omnibus
@O. Felix Culpa: Look, if there are clowns involved, I am out.
O. Felix Culpa
@Chetan Murthy: Splitters!
O. Felix Culpa
@Omnes Omnibus: Dude, it’s Balloon Juice. Is there any way for clowns not to be involved?
Suburban Mom
I’d like to help as I’m able. My schedule is a bit unpredictable. I live in very blue NJ, but have contacts in the South.
zhena gogolia
Just to clarify: I’m willing to attend a Zoom meeting to hear what’s planned. I just have no expertise to be one of the planners.
As I said, I’m in CT, but grew up in MO, so if that’s an area that needs assigning, it might be interesting. Or KS.
WaterGirl
@zhena gogolia: That works just fine!
Omnes Omnibus
@O. Felix Culpa: Like all sensible people, CLOWNS SCARE ME! Are you new here?
Another Scott
OT – So, I’m wasting a few minutes before going on a walk with the animal. Browsing Big River to see what’s happening in TVs. (We’ve got a 42″ Panasonic 1080p plasma that has been fine, but…) Hmm. 4k OLEDs aren’t too bad these days. What about 8k?
What’s this?? $30,000??!!
Hmm. Top review:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R22QZJPYRIILCA/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B07YP9CPF5
Heh. :-)
Cheers,
Scott.
WaterGirl
@Another Scott: You’re gonna set up a GoFundMe for this, aren’t you? :-)
Josie
@Josie:
You forgot to add me to the list (sniff).
Dr.Fungus
@Omnes Omnibus: I never considered clowns to be sensible.
Another Scott
@WaterGirl: D’Oh! Great idea!!
Cheers,
Scott.
Omnes Omnibus
@Dr.Fungus: Interesting take.
Would you prefer,”like all sensible people, I AM SCARED OF CLOWNS?” Fucking grammar and syntax….
WaterGirl
@Josie: So sorry! That’s because I thought you were already on there. I guess I thought that because we had exchanged emails.
It’s been a crazy week, you will have to forgive my lapse.
Kathleen
@WaterGirl: Thank you!
Josie
@WaterGirl: No problem. Of course, I never forget anything. ;-)
Sure Lurkalot
I was the one who volunteered to help with the spreadsheet mechanics…down to the grunt work. I’m also willing to do research, any state including my own blue trifecta. I gave WG my email…please use Balloon Juice in the subject line so I don’t miss it.
WaterGirl
@Sure Lurkalot: Thanks for letting me know!
Torrey
@Another Scott:
@WaterGirl:
It sounds like a committee on naming (possibly to include tips on self-presentation) is high up on the to-do list. If so, I’d like to be on it.
WaterGirl
@Dahlia: Good question.
If you have friends – that you can vouch for – who are willing to help, it would be great if you get them involved.
But I think posting on Facebook or other social media is not a good idea.
Subsole
Late to the party, but I am located in DFW. Let me know what I can do to help.
Dahlia
@WaterGirl: I can just send them private messages instead then. Thanks for the advice.
WaterGirl
@Dahlia: That sounds like a good idea. thanks.
WaterGirl
@Subsole: Thank you! I have you on the list.
FelonyGovt
Late to the thread. I don’t have huge amounts of time, and I’m in Blue California, but will help as I can. I am interested in Arizona, as I’ve spent some time there and my daughter went to ASU, and could research specific issues as needed. And for what it’s worth, IAAL (I am a [retiired] lawyer).
Madeleine
If the naming comm. is a real thing and OO and Torrey might like a third, it could be a good starting place for me. I’ve had some experience with the effects–intellectual and emotional–of words.
UncleEbeneezer
With summer tennis camps in high gear, I can’t really commit to much but I will definitely follow this project and when there is stuff that needs to get out there, I will be happy to signal-boost to various organizations and activists that I know (many).
O. Felix Culpa
@Omnes Omnibus: Why do I feel like I’m being deliberately misunderstood? //
All right then, no clowns, for the three SENSIBLE people who frequent this here almost top 10,000 blog.
WaterGirl
Okay, I think I have added everyone up to here.
Capri
Count me in – from dark red Indiana
Omnes Omnibus
@Madeleine: Gawd, I hope I didn’t start anything official.
Omnes Omnibus
@O. Felix Culpa: Fear of clowns clouds judgment.
WaterGirl
@Capri: I’ve got you on the list!
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: Fear of clowns is sensible.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: You don’t have to convince me.
Madeleine
@Omnes Omnibus: Well, as you suggested, we probably will need a way to introduce ourselves. And you made the first proposal. Surely you know that in these situations, that’s how jobs get assigned.
how
Omnes Omnibus
@Madeleine: I define and cause problems. I seldom solve them. I have a reputation to maintain.
Torrey
@Madeleine: I certainly hope it’s a real thing. Another Scott is also, I hope, interested.
ceece
hope I’m not too late, please add me to the list.
I live in California, but have in-laws in Pennsylvania whose votes I always try to cancel out with PA voter reg, postcards, and texting. I’m a teacher, so I have more time in the summer, please put my google-fu to work!
WaterGirl
@ceece: Great! I added you to the list.
bjacques
I live in a foreign speaking nation several hours in the future so timing and coordination would be difficult for me (QED; I’m late to the party), but I still have some Trump/Biden bucks left and would be happy to feed the kitty from time to time.
ghost cat
@Benw: I’m not sure what all info you guys want for your spreadsheet, and you may already be familiar with these resources. But in case you aren’t Marc E Elias & his org Democracy Docket are litigating new voting rights legislation as it passes in every state. You may find a lot of useful info in their twitter feeds: @marceelias and @DemocracyDocket; and the Democracy Docket website.
Here he is on Rachel Maddow
WaterGirl
@bjacques: That will be great, thank you.
Chief Oshkosh
Very late to the party – I’m on a business trip. I might be able to help with OK and GA, maybe KS. Please put me on whatever list you have. How are we keeping up with one another?
Speaking of business, I have to spend lots of professional time (and more-or-less required social time) with “the enemy.” Working with these people, dining with them, chatting with them, it really is like Bill Clinton came to understand in his second term: A significant portion of Republicans truly, deeply, profoundly do not believe in government by the people, for the people. They truly believe that some should rule, and the rest are to be ruled.
And it all, all of it, springs from simple, brutal selfishness.
km
I’m interested – though I tend to read posts so late that I’m not sure how helpful I’m going to be. Catching up with these now but without time to read the comments thread (I did search though) I wondered if anyone had mentioned Voting Rights Lab. (https://votingrightslab.org/)
They have a tracker on state legislation that would be useful for this effort. They have training webinars on it every few weeks. And they are affiliated with some groups that have interesting things to say.
neldob
If I can be useful in any way please let me know.
WaterGirl
@neldob: Added to the list, thank you!
Al Nichols
testing — 1,2,3
Fabi Maldonado
here’s another test
Al Nichols
yet another pithy comment
Fabi Maldonado
and more wisdom from Fabi…
WaterGirl
@Fabi Maldonado: You are good to go!
WaterGirl
@Al Nichols: And you, too!
WaterGirl
@Fabi Maldonado: @Al Nichols:
Once you are commenting in tonight’s thread, I can come back and delete these tests. Unless you want me to leave them for posterity. :-)