Repost from Thursday evening:
The two previous ‘We Have Agency’ posts laid out an idea and asked for volunteers who are interested in participating. We got something like 50 volunteers. So great to see!
Both of those posts can be found under this link in the sidebar. Going forward, all posts related to this project will be available at that link.
Nyms of the people who volunteered a week or two ago are listed in the first comment on this post.
If you are on that list and are still interested in participating, the simplest way to start is for you to send an email to me. Then I can reply, I’ll have your best email address, I can add you to the list, and we will go from there.
If you are interested but you are not on that list, please chime in with a comment, and then send me an email.
⭐️ ADOPT-A-STATE
We are starting with a pilot program for these seven states. A proof of concept, if you will.
- Arizona
- Florida
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
Starting with these states will accomplish two things: 1) get a jump-start on action in critical states, and 2) work out the kinks early, before we move forward with a large number of states.
⭐️ WHAT ARE WE ASKING PARTICIPANTS TO DO?
Decide to get involved. Take action.
We can form a team for each of the 7 high-priority states.
Different people have different skills and interests, so we are not asking every participant to do all of these things. You can make a difference by choosing to do even one of these things – choose the activities that best suit your strengths and your interests.
Decide to adopt a state.
Nyms with a ? indicate that the person has volunteered for one of the 7 states in the pilot project.
Choose your state(s) carefully.
State teams will allow people who don’t live in states under consideration to play an important role.
If you are going to make contact with elected officials, adopting a state where you live is best – elected officials will care less about you than they might about one of their own constituents.
But for other research and roles, out-of-state is fine. Maybe you want the role of compiling your team’s information once it has been gathered – you most certainly don’t have to live in-state in order to do that!
Once you have chosen a state (and hopefully others have chosen your state, too!)
We are asking you to to the following (collectively, within your state team).
- collect and share information
- research anti-democratic efforts to limit access to voting in any way
- research anti-democratic efforts that allow the will of the voters to be overturned
- research anti-democratic efforts that will serve to intimidate voting officials
- use social networking if that’s your thin, and be the “eyes and ears” of the project
- identify elected officials to contact
- establish contact with elected officials
- establish contact with state and local Democratic party chapters
- identify potential organizations to contact
- establish contacts with other organizations/activists
- share that information with the blog in whatever way suits you (and we will enter it into a spreadsheet)
This is most definitely not a one-person job, particularly because time is of the essence.
Form relationships with your state Democratic elected officials – or rely on them where you have relationships in place.
- your own elected state officials
- democratic party legislative caucus leadership in the state (“Minority Leader” is the typical title)
- other activist elected officials, even if not in your state
Very important — also reach out to legislative staff.
They often know more about what’s going on than the elected officials do. (Did you ever have a job where the employees were smarter than the bosses?) They’re often more willing to share information but you have to be careful to protect their confidentiality in some cases. Never burn a source!
Form relationships with Party activists in your area.
They often can point you quickly to other people you need to talk to, which can save you a ton of time.
Seek out boots-on-the-ground activists in your state.
Starting points for organizations to contact:
- ACLU
- League of Women Voters
- Indivisible chapters (They may not be as active as they were 3-4 years ago but the people and the networks are still around.)
You will obviously find more groups in your particular state. We’re just trying to give you a jumping off point.
Your goal should be to make these relationships ongoing.
Situations change, so you should reach out to the contacts you’re building every couple of weeks while the Legislature is in session. That means you will have to share information that they may want from you, this is not a one-way exchange. That’s fine but only share information in the “public domain.” Never burn a source!
Pay attention to media coverage.
This can also save you a ton of time. Forming relations with media sources is an excellent idea, just don’t assume that because nothing is in the news, nothing is happening.
⭐️ WHAT WE ARE NOT ASKING PARTICIPANTS TO DO
- do data entry (Unless you have spreadsheet skills and want to help in that area.)
- organize demonstrations
- act as formal liaisons, in coalitions with ther groups
⭐️ MOVING FORWARD
So, who is ready to jump in and get to work on this?
If a whole bunch of people are willing to help with these 7 states, that will make for a lot of experienced people who can carry their experience forward, giving us a jump-start when we expand this to include all 23 of the Republican trifecta states, and some other states that are mixed, but are still in danger.
⭐️ JUST DO IT!
Chime in below with a comment to let us know that you’re in and what state you would like to adopt. And please follow up with an email message so I’ll have something to reply to!
Also, if you have anything to add beyond we’ve listed above, chime in with that, too. The more input, the better!
WaterGirl
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
? Barbara
? Benw (data)
*Blue Galangal
? BlueGuitarist
? brantl
? BrucefromOhion
cain
*Cameron
*Capri
? Capricorn
CaseyL
*ceece
*Chetan Murthy
*Chief Oshkosh
? columbusqueen
*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
? Regine Touchon
? Revrick
Rocks
*sab
schrodingers_cat
Subsole
? SiubhanDuinne
? SouthEndBoston
? Suburban Mom
? Sure Lurkalot (data)
surfk9
terraformer
? TheTruffle
*Torrey
*UncleEbeneezer
*zhenia goglia
? WaterGirl
*Woodrow/asim (not available for a few weeks)
*indicates that the person stepped up in the second thread rather than the first.
? indicates that the person has volunteered for a state or for the data team.
schrodingers_cat
What about state and local Democratic party chapters as organizations to contact
How about adding NH to the slate of states? It is small and purple and there are many MA and other New England based BJers.
WaterGirl
@schrodingers_cat: Good catch on state and local democratic party chapters.
New Hampshire is one of the 23 Republican trifecta states, and that will definitely be one of the states in the second round. For this pilot program, our proof of concept, we want to stick with a smallish number of states, and these 7 seem like the most critical ones:
We had originally settled on 5 states as a good number to start, but there just weren’t two on this list that we could eliminate.
WaterGirl
I hope Feathers chimes in. The data team has been meeting, but I haven’t heard back from her so I think I don’t have a good email address. Paging Feathers…
WaterGirl
@schrodingers_cat: Do any of the 7 states grab you?
Almost Retired
I’m in. I choose Arizona. I’m nearby, my son went to college in Tucson, and some of my Mom’s family were mostly RWNJs back in the day from the west side of Phoenix, so I learned the language. I’m a lawyer (albeit in California) with some election monitoring experience in Nevada and Ohio.
schrodingers_cat
@WaterGirl: Not really. I have lived mostly in New England, I know little about the 7 listed above. I could help with the data analysis at this stage. I am pretty good with Excel and number crunching in general.
I have done some canvassing in NH and used to live in ME.
AM in NC
I’m in. I choose Georgia – went to HS and grad school there and still have contacts in Athens.
WaterGirl
@schrodingers_cat: I understand. We hope to be adding other states in short order! Depending on how quickly the teams for these states move, we could be looking at just a week or two.
WaterGirl
@Almost Retired: @AM in NC: Thank you both!
Be sure and send an me an email message. It would be really helpful if you make the subject line your BJ nym and then the state you are choosing!
example: Almost Retired – Arizona
SiubhanDuinne
Georgia for me. Michigan as a second choice.
columbusqueen
Not finding an email to WaterGirl, so I’ll pipe up & take Ohio. Used to be active in the county party, & while I’ve pulled over & parked for a while, I can reestablish my contacts if that helps.
WaterGirl
@columbusqueen: Contact Us in the white bar at the top includes all sorts of details about email addresses. But the short answer is my nym at balloon-juice.com
WaterGirl
@SiubhanDuinne: @columbusqueen:
That’s great, thank you!
I will look for your email messages.
dnfree
I’m from Illinois, so the closest to me is probably Michigan. I’m not great at personal interaction and am renowned in my family for my inability to sell anyone on anything. I used to sell Girl Scout cookies (or not) with an approach like “Hi, you probably don’t want to buy any cookies, do you?”
So I’m probably best applied to research or something else not requiring people skills. And if Michigan gets too many people you can move me elsewhere.
WaterGirl
@dnfree: We need all sorts of skills, so welcome aboard! I got your email, thank you!
SiubhanDuinne
WaterGirl, thank you so much for pulling this initiative together and stick-handling the logistics. You are indefatigable!
WaterGirl
@SiubhanDuinne: You are most welcome!
This beats feeling hopeless/helpless any day of the week. :-)
Kathleen
Ohio. I’ll send you email. Thanks,WG.
WaterGirl
@Kathleen: Got it, thank you!
WaterGirl
I will check back on this thread later this evening and tomorrow and will also do a followup post on Saturday afternoon. We got 30 of our original volunteers on a Saturday afternoon thread, so we will hope to reach more people again on Saturday.
Josie
I’ll help in Texas.
Madeleine
I chose Michigan. As I said, I lived in MI til 2019, can do research.
ian
I still want in!!! Way out here in the distant mountain west, I can’t be of too much help, but will gladly volunteer to help research for one of the other states! As the pilot teams form, put me in one that seems short staffed, please and thank you!
SouthEndBoston
Lurker here, volunteering for Michigan.
Avalie
In California,but I will take Texas or Arizona or whichever state you need. I’ll send you the email
WaterGirl
@SouthEndBoston: Welcome!
And thank you for volunteering!
WaterGirl
@Josie: @Madeleine: @ian: @SouthEndBoston: @Avalie:
So glad to see this, thank you all!
WaterGirl
I have everybody up to here, will check back in the morning.
featheredsprite
Ohio. Lived in Cleveland for decades [PNW now] and am a fan of Kay.
If columbusqueen wants to concentrate on south central, I can start on NE Ohio and collect as many contact people as I can.
featheredsprite
By the way, Kay knows EVERYBODY.
Argiope
Sign me up on team Ohio–emailed this morning. Thanks, WG!
WaterGirl
@featheredsprite: Yes, very much hoping that Kay volunteers. We might try to institute a draft if necessary. :-)
edit: Saturday comments start right below this one.
brantl
I’m in Michigan, I will do anything I can.
WaterGirl
@brantl: Excellent! Can you send me an email with your nym and your state in the subject line?
zhena gogolia
@WaterGirl:
I’m afraid I’m feeling overwhelmed by work right now. I think my enthusiasm got the better of me. The thought of adding any tasks right now seems impossible. I’m sorry.
Suburban Mom
@WaterGirl: I’m still interested and just emailed you.
WaterGirl
@zhena gogolia: No problem at all!
When you feel you have more time, you can always jump in.
Elizabelle
I’m a bad rabbit, but just cannot take on a commitment of this scope for the next few months. Always keep asking us, though. Proud of you for organizing this, WG, and proud of those who have stepped forward. Jackals assemble.
RaflW
I’ll hop on the Texas wagon. I don’t live there now, but spent 14 years there between 1980-1995 (a few gaps within the 16 year timeframe). Still have a brother & S.I.L. in Houston, and long-time friends in Austin.
I have particular interest in Ft. Worth/Tarrant County (college alma mater), metro Houston, and though I’m not bilingual or very savvy, also efforts to reach Latino voters. I’m more of a research guy – good with spreadsheets, downballot candidates, etc.
I’ll email you, Watergirl. Thanks!
WaterGirl
@RaflW: Got your email, thank you!
BlueGuitarist
I’m not in any of the states, but would be glad to help with data and research, starting with Pennsylvania.
My special interest: down-ballot candidates and synergy up and down the ballot. For example, last year, in Georgia, State House District 106, where epidemiologist Rebecca Mitchell defeated an incumbent Republican, overlapped with the state senate seat and US House seat that Democrats flipped, also overlapped with 4 flipped county offices, and, of course, the US Senate and Georgia electoral vote.
Didn’t work out as I hoped in Pennsylvania: PA House 105 and 106, located in PA Senate 15 and US House PA-10 – all competitive, Republican held seats; but only Electoral College flipped.
Also: Deadline for Democracy Rallies (Indivisible etc) to support passing S. 1, the For the People Act, to expand voting rights, (now to the end of July): link to find events, or to register new ones:
https://deadlinefordemocracy.org/find-event
Martin
@WaterGirl: Working on something for you now.
WaterGirl
@BlueGuitarist: That’s great, thank you!
Have you sent me an email message with your nym and PA in the subject line? That will be the best way to get started.
WaterGirl
@Martin: Great!
Bethe Goldenfield
I’m in and doing lots of this stuff already as a county party chairperson in Ohio.
It’s brutal here in Ohio in the super minority. tRump is here today to rail against Republican Rep. Gonzalez who went against Trump, joining 9 other congressional Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 insurrection.
‼ This weekend is crucial. The budget conference committee is meeting (behind closed doors) to debate pieces of #Ohio’s massive 3,000+ page budget bill.
??Contact the committee members (Twitter & Facebook are probably best because it’s a weekend).
Tell them to REMOVE these awful provisions from the budget.
Committee contact info: https://tinyurl.com/bva5h998
https://www.facebook.com/groups/howthingsworkoh/permalink/4028360050611703/
Barbara
Pennsylvania, where I grew up and still have relatives.
WaterGirl
@Barbara: Yay! i will put you down for PA. Can you send me an email message so I can reply?
Regine Touchon
I’m in for Georgia. I live outside of Auburn, AL a half hour from the Georgia line. My daughter went to UGA and was and still is active in politics. She is a head researcher at the DCCC. Worked hard to get Doug Jones reelected and have pretty much given up on Alabama politics for now. So this will be a great opportunity to channel my energy to one of the most important states this go-around.
WaterGirl
Feathers, I have tried to reach you several times by email, but I must not have a good address. Are you still interested in being part of the data group?
WaterGirl
@Regine Touchon: Oh, yay! Can you send me an email message with your nym and GA in the title?
Then I will be in touch.
WaterGirl
We would love to have 3-5 people for every state.
Many hands make light work, as they say.
WaterGirl
@Regine Touchon: Speaking of Doug Jones, I really hoped there would be a spot for him in the Biden administration.
I just googled, and it appears there was not. That’s too bad, Looks like he does commentary on CNN, but he could be doing so much more than that.
Biden hasn’t replaced US attorneys yet, has he? Maybe Doug Jones can serve in one of those positions.
FelonyGovt
Like Almost Retired, I’m a California resident volunteering for Arizona because my kid went to school there (ASU rather than U of A) and I’ve spent a fair amount of time there. Also a lawyer, but with no particular expertise in election law. I am good at reading rules and statutes though.
Revrick
Well, since I live in Allentown PA, have helped organize the local Obama 12, and Clinton 16 campaigns, know the two local Democratic state representatives (Schlossberg and Schweyer), our local Congressperson (Susan Wild), and our GOP state senator (Pat Browne), and still know folks from Western PA, I suppose I could be of help.
WaterGirl
@FelonyGovt: Sold! :-)
Please send me an email message with your nym and state in the title. thank you!
WaterGirl
@Revrick: Yay, you, on PA!
Please send me an email message with your BJ nym and PA in the title. thanks.
brantl
@WaterGirl: You’re your nym at balloon-juice.com?
WaterGirl
@brantl: Yes, but please don’t post an actual email address on a blog like that – there are bots that search for email addresses and then they are SPAM city. :-)
edit: Pretty sure I caught it in time, so no harm, no foul.
WaterGirl
@brantl: Just got your email! thank you
Regine Touchon
@WaterGirl: Yes my group here so wanted Doug to have a seat at the table%. We helped get him elected the first time and turned Lee County, my county blue. Went up to Birmingham to see Biden’s endorsement. It was so gratifying, his win. C’est la vie mon amie.
brantl
@WaterGirl: I will need as much how-to information as I can get, I have no previous experience in this. I am computer literate, but not in general research. I would suggest that people who are involved, and DO know how to do this, write up a quick step by step (or better, submit URLs to online material), submit it, somebody (maybe me?) collate and debug it, and make it available to the jackalariat at large (or at least, those involved in this).
WaterGirl
@brantl: Some good ideas here. Not to worry, no one will be thrown in the deep end and left on their own. :-)
brantl
I just found something online called LegiScan , this looks like a place that you can search for pending legislation, although the bill descriptions seem reduced ab absurdum. But you can search by keywords. Now, the tough nut will be creating a comprehensive list of search words. Do we have a search-terms guru amongst the jackalariat?
I understand that no one should be thrown in the deep end; what about those of us who want to JUMP?
WaterGirl
@brantl:
I say go for it!
brantl
@WaterGirl: Have we got any experts in the jakallariat for pending legislation research?
TheTruffle
I live in New York State, so Pennsylvania would be most realistic (and interesting) for me.
Still accepting applicants?
WaterGirl
@TheTruffle: Yes!
Please send me email. my nym at balloon-juice.com
neldob
Stillll accepting volunteers? I will send an email.