Hey BJ Peeps,
You guys totally came through the last three times, so let’s see if some of you can help out today.
I assume that most of you have seen or heard talk of the Join the Fight! project some of us are working on, or at least have heard about one part of the project – our Social Media Initiative. If not, please click the link above.
Big thanks to everyone who followed us @Actual_Citizens on twitter! Extra thanks to anyone who not only followed us, but also liked us, retweeted one of our tweets, or quote tweeted us. And a big thanks to everyone wrote a 35-second elevator pitch yesterday.
Here’s the TINY ASK for today. Use this tweet from Nancy Pelosi, and come up with your own:
If Republicans were “good on X”, then …
or
If Republicans “cared about X” then…
If Republicans were "good on the economy," the last 3 Democratic Presidents that followed one wouldn't have had to:
?Drag us out of recession — Clinton
?Enact emergency Recovery aid — Obama
?Rescue our economy from freefall — BidenEnd this myth once and for all. Pass it on!
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) April 23, 2022
We want something short and sweet, just like the tweet from Nancy SMASH.
Please let us know what you would put in a tweet modeled after the one above.
On whatever issues are most important to you. You can, of course, submit more than one!
I would like to turn these into a bunch of tweets that we can post with our hashtag #ActualCitizensUnited and the hashtag #IfRepublicans
This really is a totally Open thread.
Ksmiami
If Republicans cared so much about freedom, they wouldn’t try so hard to restrict it…
bbleh
If Republicans cared about children, they would fund prenatal care, aid to single mothers, and schools, rather than cutting them to give tax cuts to billionaires.
bbleh
If Republicans cared about Jesus, they would help the poor instead of slashing their assistance.
the pollyanna from hell
If republicans were really good on law-and-order they wouldn’t be so popular with:
1.Russian mafia
2.Maga mafia
3.Thin-blue mafia
WaterGirl
I like these!
bbleh
If Republicans cared about voter fraud, than all the big recent cases of voter fraud (Meadows, that PO box in South Philly, Dowless in NC) wouldn’t have been committed by … Republicans!
bbleh
Jeez, this is kinda shooting fish in a barrel, innit? But probably immaterial, because there’s a few things Republicans definitely DON’T care about: hypocrisy and bad faith. For them, winning is all.
WaterGirl
@bbleh: If it’s like shooting fish in a barrel, then shoot away. How about if you suggest your top 7 priorities and write the tweets for those? :-)
UncleEbeneezer
If Republicans really cared about life they wouldn’t:
• oppose vaccines/masks,
• oppose common-sense gun regulations,
• force people to risk death giving birth,
• support policies that push LGBTQ children to suicide
Nora
If Republicans cared about freedom, they wouldn’t be trying to ban books.
WaterGirl
@Nora: Good one!
schrodingers_cat
OT:
Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma who put the Kashmiri musical instrument santoor on the map passed away. I was lucky enough to attend his concert when I lived in Maryland.
He also composed music for several movies in the late 80s and 90s with the flute maestro Hari Prasad Chaurasia.
May he RIP
Yeh Lamhe hum barsoon yaad karenge from Lamhe.
(We will remembers these moments for years)
the pollyanna from hell
If republicans were really good on immigration we would have:
1.taco trucks
2.Rohingyan rotisserie
3.Sudanese succulence on a stick
on every corner. (Go ahead, try Sudanese; you’ll like it!)
schrodingers_cat
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and Hari Prasad Chaurasia in concert.
schrodingers_cat
@the pollyanna from hell: Reducing the contributions of immigrants to their food is not the compliment you think it is
Many Rs like food (or the music) the immigrants bring just not the immigrants themselves. I remember reading about Steven Miller being booed at a sushi restaurant.
Dangerman
Republicans, no more chumps, grumps, or Trumps (please?)
taumaturgo
MAGA: “My body, my Choice.” “Your fetus, our problem.” “Your baby, your problem.”
FelonyGovt
If Republicans were strong on foreign policy, they wouldn’t have threatened to pull out of NATO.
If Republicans cared about religious freedom, they wouldn’t restrict adoptions to Christians.
I could probably go on…
WaterGirl
@FelonyGovt: those are good!
Please do go on. :-)
NotMax
Democrats care, Republicans scare.
Josie
If Republicans cared about limited government, they would stay out of our bedrooms and our personal health decisions.
NotMax
Democrats. Because you can’t spell USA without us.
schrodingers_cat
@WaterGirl: This messaging that you are crowdsourcing is for whom?
Attracting fence sitters
Rallying Democratic voters
Convincing Republican voters
because the message would be different in all the 3 cases.
TerryTime
@schrodingers_cat: Did you read the post?
the pollyanna from hell
@schrodingers_cat: My joke was about republicans, not immigrants. It would take me a couple of days to research a joke about the actual issues.
My anthropologist nephew started a local program to coach immigrants on the way to restaurant ownership. He said the hidden gem in his survey was Sudanese cuisine.
WaterGirl
@schrodingers_cat: Any of them! We aren’t going to pick the best one; we want to use a bunch of them, and different ones will speak to different people.
Feel free to submit the same topic in 3 different ways, for 3 different audiences!
Nice to see that you want to participate in this.
schrodingers_cat
@the pollyanna from hell: Will definitely try it when I get an opportunity.
Maybe I am a bit touchy because my Republican curious, Jill Stein voting ex-friend used to say things like that all the time. Example: She loves the Immigration and Naturalization act because she gets to taste food from all over the world.
WaterGirl
@schrodingers_cat: I can see that that might be insulting, being reduced to that.
After our relationship ended my -ex and I still played together on a volleyball team with our friends. One night I overheard him at the bar after a match telling someone how much he missed my vanilla pudding and my cherry cobbler.
I thought that’s what you miss? Not the loving home I gave to your young son, not the fun we used to have, you miss my fucking cherry cobbler!!! which is most excellent, by the way, so he does have good taste. :-)
schrodingers_cat
@WaterGirl: This was while she was pushing xenophobic Trumpist propaganda in my direction with I am not a racist but ..
Your ex is an ass if I might say so.
Jay
Open Thread?
I am on “Paid Administrative Leave”,
Because basically, one of my co-workers filed an “uncomfortable workplace” complaint with HR, bypassing the whole “talk to the Associate, talk to the Department Supervisor, talk to the Assistant Manager” process,
About me swearing in the “hood”, ( repair shop) at a tool.
I know who it is, and why. Figuring it out isn’t rocket science.
The “moron” knows, ( because it was filed on Saturday) that they can’t do their job, has no interest in doing their job, or learning how to,
And thinks that I have “hire and fire” authority.
Preemptive shot across the bow by a moron.
The whole reason people in my Dept and elsewhere look to me is 30 years + of experience.
I don’t have hire or fire, I don’t even get to sit in on the interviews. I am just a drone.
I laughed at it, to start, now I am more and more PO’d, ( trying to use fewer accurate adjectives, because that was the key substance of the complaint).
I am seriously thinking about filing a counter complaint about emotional trauma from the complaint, ( I know that I come off a lot of the time as a “hard ass”, but I have a very soft and gooey center) and taking all the vacation time I have, ( 48 days) to deal with the “trauma”, during the busiest time of the year.
Any advice?
Baud
@Jay:
What exactly do you have to say to get on paid administrative leave?
Asking for a friend.
Splitting Image
If Republicans were Christian, they’d be Democrats.
Jay
@WaterGirl:
cobbler????????
If I wasn’t married and madly in love, ( same person,)
cobbler???????
the pollyanna from hell
My nephew’s master thesis regarded food culture at the same food pantry where he began his coaching program. If I wanted a smashism closer to stark reality, “if repubs were good on immigration, my friends wouldn’t still be living in sanctuary at my church.” Not very funny; needs work.
debbie
@Jay:
I’d be proactive. Contact your manager or HR and ask what your next steps are.
Baud
@Splitting Image:
?
Dangerman
(inspired by cherry cobbler)
George Washington: “I can’t tell a lie”
Republicans: “We can’t tell the truth”
(I think I stole that from Truman, actually)
schrodingers_cat
OT since we need some mirth. Shiv-Hari also composed music for this Holi classic from Yash Chopra’s Silsila.. A masterclass in acting by Hindi movie greats, Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Jaya Bachchan and Sanjeev Kumar.
Nutmeg again
If Republicans* really cared about families, they’d favor a family allowance! (or universal Pre-K; or food support; or healthcare…)
*Republicans are really Russian warships in my mind these days. Let’s sink ’em!
StringOnAStick
Can you please post a link to a tweet from the Actual Citizens account? I suck at how to use twitter but if I can click on a tweet, then I can follow this account.
schrodingers_cat
If Lincoln were alive today he would be a Democrat.
MomSense
Awesome! I’m just home and making beginner but I’ll jump in after.
WaterGirl
@Jay: Killer cobbler. :-)
I am virtually sending you some as consolation for your asshole coworker and your paid leave.
Jay
@Baud:
HR “investigation”, so it’s “paid leave” because it might be, (it isn’t) a firing offence.
we don’t have “at will” laws here, but to possibly protect the “complainant” from further offence, the suspected offender goes on paid leave.
the normal process is “talk to the Associate”, then the Department Supervisor, then the Assistant Manager, then file with HR.
the moron jumped straight to HR.
StringOnAStick
@Jay: I have a relative who spent 7 months on paid administrative leave because of assistant director politics and my relative not being willing to rubber stamp vaccination exemptions, so it was hurting staffing. My relative and 4 others who were also being targeted by the same person all got called back to work, and the assistant director is now on paid administrative leave. It will be interesting to see how it all falls out.
Enjoy your vacation time, but take some of it to prepare your written narrative with any supporting documents and witnesses that you can muster; you might need it and the sooner you write it down, the more complete it will be.
Jay
@WaterGirl:
thank you, I only have coffee icecream in the fridge to eat with it, not the good vanilla,
it (adjective omitted, because I’m supposed to “watch that”) me off because this person is a child of privilege, racism, ignorance, studying computer science, working in a place where you need to know the basics of construction, plumbing, electrical and more,
And I spend so much time trying to help them.
The Saturday they complained about, was that day I came home and (adjective deleted, because I am not supposed to use them), “complained” to my spouse about “babysitting”,…..
the pollyanna from hell
@schrodingers_cat: I don’t like the spoiler or jealousy by-play, and the dominance play is fun but unfunny, I’ll say better than usual with a kind of ceremonial objectivity, while the music is something I could listen to over and over. thanks
Jay
@StringOnAStick:
thank you,
I am not the least bit worried about it. People talk about how “essential “ they are to their department, I am the only guy who fixes tools. Took two weeks off last Christmas, left with 10 ,( waiting for parts), came back to 58, half our inventory.
I am currently questioning “using HR” and my 48 days of vacation time, and the “trauma” of the accusations, to disappear during the busiest time of year,
Basically a passive aggressive (insert banned adjective, my workspace apparently) you to the store, my department, etc.
schrodingers_cat
@the pollyanna from hell: In the movie AB’s character is high on bhang because it is Holi and has lost his inhibitions and is acting out. Rekha and AB have to get married to different people even though they love each other (story of many couples in the tradition bound India). His antics are embarrassing everyone in question. The lyrics are pretty suggestive.
EarthWind&Fire (formerly bluegirlfromwyo)
If Republicans were like a Russian warship, they could fuck themselves and leave our bodies alone.
EarthWind&Fire (formerly bluegirlfromwyo)
@Jay: No advice but I’m really sorry.
Yutsano
@Jay: You want me to grab MikeJ and we come north to have a conversation with some folks?
AM in NC
If Republicans cared about pedophiles they’d go after Matt Gaetz, Jim Jordan, and Jeffrey Epstein’s friends.
if Republicans cared about children they’d vote with Democrats to improve child care, education, and maternal health.
if republicans were strong on national defense they wouldn’t be retweeted by Russia Today.
if Republicans were for America then why do they attack so many Americans?
if Republicans were pro-woman why do they vote against equal pay for equal work?
if Republicans cared about the working man why are they trying to raise their taxes?
if Republicans cared about your kids’ futures why are they refusing to do anything about climate change?
if Republicans cared about ‘life’ they’d be pushing for fewer guns and better health care for Americans.
if Republicans cared about presidential nepotism they’d investigate Jared and Ivanka’s multi- billion-dollar deal with the Saudis.
Dangerman
I’m still distracted by the cobbler. If we ever have a BJ picnic …
Jay
@EarthWind&Fire (formerly bluegirlfromwyo):
Thank you.
@Yutsano:
no need. Paper work bs by drones.
they have to do, what they have to do, because “procedure”.
cain
@Jay: My dude – start looking for another job that pays better. You got that kind of experience – someone will want to pay you more.
WaterGirl
@AM in NC: Wow, we need to get you on the social media team!
cain
@schrodingers_cat:
That movie was sooo uncomfortable – given that AB was having an affair with Rekha – m wife hates Rekha. I dont have really have an opinion… Rekha is beautiful, but damn from a beautiful point of view – Smita Patel – I have never seen girl make a sari as something so absolutely sexy.
bbleh
@WaterGirl: Ok well here’s 5 off the top of my head. #5 is a little weak IMO so best to stop.
If Republicans cared about children, they would:
… instead of giving tax cuts to billionaires!
If Republicans cared about the teachings of Jesus, they would help the poor generously instead of slashing their assistance!
If Republicans cared about “voter fraud,” then big recent frauds:
… wouldn’t have been ALL by Republicans!
If Republicans cared about keeping America safe and strong, they would support our NATO allies instead of Vladimir Putin!
If Republicans cared about American workers, they would support companies who keep jobs here instead of giving tax cuts to companies that send jobs to Mexico and China
I don’t tweet, so that part is for others.
cain
I’m just commenting so that I get #60.
schrodingers_cat
@cain: I haven’t watched the movie. I was too young for the subject matter when the movie came out. But I like Rekha. And Amitabh can read the phonebook and I will watch it. Jaya and Sanjeev Kumar are both pretty good as well.
I am not a fan of gender relations in Yash Chopra’s movies in general. But love the music.
WaterGirl
@bbleh: Those are good, thank you!
As long as we can use your good ideas, there’s no need for you to tweet. :-)
acallidryas
If Republicans were good on national security, they would have caught Osama bin Laden.
If Republicans cared about the working class they’d support:
*Medicare and Medicaid
*Raising the minimum wage
*Paid time off
If Republics were the anti-pedophile party they wouldn’t support:
*Roy Moore
*Matt Gaetz
*Mark Foley
*Dennis Hastert
Nancy
If Republicans really valued children and families and full employment, we’d have affordable child care with well-paid staff.
. . . well-funded parental leave.
feel free to edit as needed.
WaterGirl
Thanks everybody, this is a big help.
neldob
If Republicans were good on patriotism they would love our country more than they love Trump.
If Republicans were conservative they would love truth more than lies.
If Republicans were good on Family Values they would support our public schools.
If Republicans were good on Family Values they wouldn’t attack our most vulnerable children.
If Republicans were conservative they wouldn’t support cheaters and liars.
Better late than never?