There is so much going on! It’s a good thing we can walk and chew gum at the same time. At least on our good days!
Exciting news from Iowa!
The House special election win itself is huge – no more supermajority for Republicans in Iowa!
Interview with the Democratic candidate who won.
And it’s generating a lot of energy – people are jazzed, people are pumped, people are hopeful – and that’s exactly what we need to do in Virginia, too.
We need a cascade of wins – as tsunami, if you like – to roll over the other side and give them pause.
Virginia Candidates
So I’m hoping we can get some momentum going for our two Virginia candidates. These races tick all our boxes, right?
- strategic races
- great candidates or organizations
- promoting communities of color or reaching voters who are otherwise underrepresented
- in swing districts
- where our money isn’t like salt in the ocean
So we have kind of a 3-legged stool thing going on here with Virginia.
- Four Directions working with the Native vote (done!)
- 2 great candidates (in progress)
- National Ground Game (something new and different)
We talk a lot here about how the Republicans not only have the mainstream media on their side, but they also won social media in the 2024 elections.
Now for something new and different
To repeat myself, the world is not neat and tidy.
Nothing is in a schedule that we can control, and we’ve got a lot of important things going at once.
It’s a good thing that we can keep our eye on the prizes, because between now and November we are gonna have to walk and chew a lot of gum at the same time.
You may remember National Ground Game. We supported their work for the Florida special elections.
Well, here’s our chance to do something new with National Ground Game that directly addresses the social media side of things and has the potential to support the GOTV side of things in Virginia this fall.
National Ground Game is challenging Charlie Kirk on his own ground in Virginia.
- Charlie Kirk is going to Liberty University in October
- National Ground Game plans to be there, too
- They have a key influencer – Destiny – lined up
- They have commitments from CNN and the Washington Post to cover them
- They will use video and media that comes from that event to raise funds for a massive GOTV effort in October
I’ll share more information in another post, but this will get you started if you are interested.
Like the other groups we support: They don’t spend funds on consultants or TV. They spend money on staff and field operations. Exception: they do spend money on texts and emails to raise more money.
We raised $20,000 for them in the Florida special elections and I’d like to support them again. If the can get going here in Virginia, I think this group can be a real powerhouse in 2026 with the audiences we are missing.
What do you guys think? Too wild and crazy, or just what we need?
I am on Team This Is Another Tool In Our Belt.
Speaking for myself, I am ready to take the fight to them, and challenge the piece of shit Charlie Kirk who has the balls to tell Taylor Swift that she is basically nothing and should submit to her man. He lies and spews propaganda like we breathe air.
My contact with this group is Zee, who is a force of nature! She is happy to come zoom with us if there is interest. If you need a shot in the arm, I recommend coming to the zoom. (date and time not set yet)
Updated to add the contribution from Omnes: Who Dares Wins (credit to the British SAS, also)
WaterGirl
Guessing that this will get promptly stepped on by the usual evening posts, so I will likely repost this later tonight so people can see it.
I know this post is way longer than my usual. Apologies for that; there is just too much to say.
Dmkingto
In for $100 to National Ground Game to start it off!
WaterGirl
@Dmkingto: Thank you!
edit: I am tired of ceding ground to these pieces of crap.
Cheryl from Maryland
Gave to help the Good Kim in Va a few days ago. On track to write 200 postcards in support of the Democratic ticket in VA. Remember, early voting for Virginia starts September 19th! We can do this!
JerseyBeard
I think this is a time that calls for trying new things. Thanks for adding another tool to the toolbelt!
Belafon
This was a hiring event:
In Arlington, Texas, no one showed up to the ICE Gestapo Event. Only Protesters showed up 🤣😂🤣😂🤣. #iceout #texas
bsky.app/profile/chefquirky.bsky.social/post/3lxf3c5hoak23
Almost Retired
This is great. I’m in for the Virginia candidates and the Ground Game – a nice follow up to the potential momentum from the Iowa state Senate special election. My democratic friends in Iowa (where I was born) are stoked and enthused.
I”m also in for the gofundme for valued commenter Eolirin, whose partner is a victim of this country’s woefully inadequate safety net, especially for the disabled.
gofundme.com/f/help-sarah-overcome-crisis-and-rebuild-her-life
Baud
@Belafon:
That’s nice to see.
Scout211
I like it! Added $100
I hope we can support other state races through the National Ground Game PAC for the mid-terms.
WaterGirl
@Belafon: That is awesome!
WaterGirl
@Scout211: Charlie Kirk may have invented this game, but more than one side can play it.
The more Charlie Kirk whines about National Ground Game, the more it helps the good guys.
Another Scott
Thanks for this WG.
Donate to all 3.
Forward!!
Best wishes,
Scott.
WaterGirl
@Another Scott: Thank you!
something something favors the bold, right? Or maybe it’s the brave.
Either way, I don’t see how we can go wrong by shaking things up a bit.
WaterGirl
@Belafon: Only Nazis would not be surprised when no one shows up for their gestapo hiring event.
stinger
Maybe this is a better post topic for a link to an interview with yesterday’s Iowa senate winner, Catelin Drey.
stinger
@WaterGirl:
They did Nazi that coming!
HeleninEire
“The World is Not Neat and Tidy.” What a remarkable saying. I was 6 years old when my mother got cancer. I was 12 when she died. For a very long time that was my life. It never occurred to me that my life was CRAZY.
It was my life. Other people have better lives? Like, normal lives? Never occurred to me.
rk
So we’ve started the rinse and repeat cycle. Republicans start to destroy. The population cries Mommy and votes for Democrats, who do their best, but it’s not enough. And we go round the eternal loop of stupid.
WaterGirl
@stinger: Thank you! I added the link up top.
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: The British SAS has the motto “Who Dares Wins”.
Tim in SF
God, I love watching Destiny debates. They give me hope for the future.
(#destinydebates on YouTube, where you can watch full debates, or watch clips on tiktok by searching for destiny)
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: ooh, I like that better.
Stealing!
WaterGirl
@HeleninEire: That’s a hard way to grow up, and then to lose your mom. Makes me sad to think you went through that, but at the same time I think you are an amazing person and everything in your life made you who you are.
WaterGirl
@rk: I’ll be grateful if we get back into power and can stop the destruction.
Of course, some of the destruction that has been set in motion can’t be stopped, but hopefully a lot of it can.
Jackie
Here’s something to celebrate!
Teeheehee! :-D
rk
@WaterGirl:
I understand what you’re saying but I want severe consequences for those who voted for this and those who did not bother to vote. I don’t have an ounce of sympathy for their suffering. I hope it’s severe and painful. When I start to feel sympathy I remember the prison in El Salvador, the USAID destruction, the horrors of ICE, the destruction of our scientific research.
I know someone with pancreatic cancer who voted for Trump. He benefits from cutting edge medical research and voted for the dumbest, most evil man on the planet!
dnfree
@HeleninEire: I had the opposite experience. My life growing up was relatively “normal”, and I was completely unaware of the challenges facing some of my classmates. Becoming friends with them 50 years later on Facebook, I learned that some were abused at home.
HeleninEire
@WaterGirl: Thank you. My sister and I talk about it all the time. Who would we be if Mommy was still here. I think…not the person who I am now. And that’s grand I think. This stupid life made me what I am. And I like who I am.
HeleninEire
@dnfree: Yeah. I guess there is really no “normal ” even though we think there is.
Eric S.
I am not a Swiftie. Not in any sense of the word means in current vernacular. I don’t like her music. That’s not a judgement of it’s quality or of people that do enjoy it. It’s just a statement of my personal tastes.
I do respect the hell out of her for her independence and music biz acumen and her overall independence. Almost nothing could make me snicker more than hearing some MAGA upset about her or her relationship with Kelce or…..
Anyway, I’m in for $100 on that alone. F*** Kirk.
HeleninEire
@dnfree: Yes. I am very careful about talking about how hard my life was. So many people (especially girls) had it so much harder than I did.
MattF
Speaking of ‘not neat and tidy’, reports that Susan Monarez was fired are disputed by Susan Monarez (and her lawyers):
Eric S.
@Eric S.: 1/2 bottle of wine and I start repeating myself. 🤣
WaterGirl
@Jackie: Wow. He is so used to cheating opening in public that he doesn’t even think twice.
WaterGirl
@rk: It’s mind boggling.
They simply cannot handle any sort of cognitive dissonance, and since they are basically part of a cult, they just dismiss the actual facts and hold on tight to their beliefs.
WaterGirl
@HeleninEire: @dnfree:
Shortly after my mom died I joined a kind of group therapy group (redundant, I know) thru church that wasn’t really led by anyone, just a bunch of us talking.
So one evening one of the women starts talking about how her dad used to wake her up in the middle of the night and make her go stand in the closet for a couple of hours.
She recounted to us how she had made some casual reference to that to a friend in college and that she had been shocked at her friend’s response.
This girl had thought everyone’s Dad woke them up in the middle of the night and made them stand in the closet for a couple of hours. So she never mentioned it to anyone or asked for help.
WaterGirl
@Eric S.: I enjoyed reading what you wrote.
How are you repeating yourself?
edit: oh, did your original comment accidentally show up twice?
HeleninEire
@WaterGirl: Yeah that is what I mean. My life was not great, but I try so much to not be angry. So many others had so many horrible things to cope with.
billcoop4
Re: Utah.
I’m OK with pulling citizenship for the members of that cult. But that’s me. Guess I don’t like weird undies.
BC
dc
Taylor Swift doesn’t care or probably even know this asshole exists. “Telling her” anything he is not, he’s performing for his audience.
Jackie
@WaterGirl:
This is heartbreaking! I honestly believe this, or incidents such as this, happen way more often than we realize – because kids really think what’s happening in their home is NORMAL.
WaterGirl
@Jackie: It was shocking at the time. And it’s definitely heartbreaking.
Maybe it’s a lesson to all of us who interact with kids to say, hey, tell me about your day. Or whatever. Something open end where they can just talk.
WaterGirl
I know we need a new post, but I keep thinking that Cole or Adam is about to put one up.
Jackie
@WaterGirl: Cole must have crashed in his recliner with Maxwell LOL
Eric S.
@WaterGirl:
I praised her independence twice. Not that it isn’t worth calling out repeatedly, but was not my intention.
frosty
@HeleninEire: My world was pretty much neat and tidy and normal growing up. The most recent eye-opener on how normal was having my son thank us for being such good parents. Like, wha?? He’s friends with two sisters whose father is a domineering asshole and makes their lives miserable and he’s glad he never had to face any of that. And told us!
Suzanne
The Spawns and Mr. Suzanne and I have been having great fun today, laughing at soon-to-be Mr. Taylor’s past dumb tweets. This one is my favorite:
He’s so fucken dumb OMG, I hope the D is incredible.
WaterGirl
@Eric S.: I didn’t even catch that. I was just nodding along agreeing with what you wrote. :-)
WaterGirl
@Jackie: I would rate that possibility as HIGH to VERY HIGH.
WaterGirl
Can I just say that the salsa we made last night with tomatoes and 4 or 5 different kinds of peppers from my garden – that we rated “okay enough” when we tasted it an hour later – turns out to be absolutely outstanding today.
i guess it just needed time to come together.
frosty
@WaterGirl:WG, you don’t understand. It’s not cheating, it’s simply what he is owed for being treated so unfairly for so many years.
And he’s going through so much work to pick up five more seats in Texas. He can’t start losing them in Utah, now, can he?
Eric S.
@WaterGirl: I wrote it. Went to the top of comments. When I reached my own comment I realized what I’d done but it was too late to edit. C’est le vie.
WaterGirl
@Suzanne: Who do you think is so dumb?
Also, I have no idea what this is in reference to? I feel like I missed the prerequisite!
WaterGirl
@frosty:
Isn’t the idea that you can understand that creature rather frightening to you? :-)
Suzanne
Suzanne
WTF just happened to my comment?! #eated
frosty
@WaterGirl:
Well, he’s explained it to us IN ALL CAPS Many Times of the course of Several Years. How could I not “understand” it?
WaterGirl
@Eric S.: That’s a good approach.
I am trying to get myself to stop saying “fuck me” so much. Your version is much gentler.
I will try yours starting tomorrow.
WaterGirl
@frosty: I mostly can’t bear to read most of what he writes. That’s my excuse.
WaterGirl
@Suzanne: I take it that you didn’t accidentally hit the eraser (which clears the whole comment) and then hit post or update?
edit: nothing in pending, spam or trash.
HeleninEire
@frosty: Yeah. It is so weird. But many years ago, maybe 30 years after my Mom died…I decided to embrace it. And that decision is what has kept me sane. And it has made me what I am. And I would not trade that for anything. And let’s be clear. In November my Mom was dead 50 years
Just crazy.
Jackie
@WaterGirl: Salsa always takes time to merge those flavors. Then it’s chef’s kiss!
2liberal
In for $100
Eric S.
@WaterGirl: I have accepted I’m a bad proofreader, especially of my own writing in real time.
At work, I’ll write an email and whenever possible come back to it an hour or two later. By that time I’ve “forgotten” the syntax I was trying to write but remember the meaning. At that point I’m able to evaluate what I previously wrote. I learned this technique from a previous boss. It works in biz most times but not so much in “real time” conversations. So… mistakes happen.
Suzanne
@WaterGirl: I have no idea! I don’t think so, but I suppose it’s possible.
Was just explaining that Travis Kelce’s old tweets have been resurfacing today and they are an absolute riot. Talking about Charlie Kirk wanting Taylor to submit to to this good-natured doofus made me think of it. Here’s another winner:
I hope he makes her so happy. LOL.
SuzieC
$25. to each Va. candidate. I want the trifecta.
WaterGirl
@2liberal: Much appreciated! I think this effort could have outsized impact.
WaterGirl
@Suzanne: I can’t imagine that he’s dumb. I guess that’s why I couldn’t understand what you were getting at.
Those two tweets you referenced are things I can picture Cole tweeting, and he’s not dummy. Just blurts out whatever thing he’s thinking at the moment.
I think it’s charming.
WaterGirl
@SuzieC: Thanks so much!
I want that, too! Think how much harm can be prevented if we can do that.
frosty
@WaterGirl: I can’t read it any more either. I got about halfway through his rant on Utah and gave up. It’s the same old same old. And OMG the pity party he’s throwing himself!
WaterGirl
@Eric S.: My problem with proofreading these days is that I am impatient. I can’t imagine what might be going on that could be affecting me in that way. //
WaterGirl
@frosty: I had to stop watching the late night shows during the pandemic because I couldn’t bear when they played clips or even mimicked his voice as they read something.
Eric S.
@WaterGirl: Tis a mystery
stinger
BTW, love the artwork in this post!
mrmoshpotato
@Jackie: How is he such a whiny manbaby in his 70s (hopefully close to stroking out, or syphilis taking him, or a massive heart attack)
ETA – or Putin’s cock choking him to death. (I couldn’t pass that up.)
Jackie
@mrmoshpotato: You’re asking ME? That’s a question for his MAGA adorers to answer.
Bostondreams
Traitor getting full military honors
fox23.com/news/air-force-grants-full-military-funeral-honors-to-ashli-babbitt/article_3dd7963d-2835-…
Scout211
The latest from California.
Trump has threatened to sue and there will likely be other challenges but this one is the first ruling.
WaterGirl
@stinger: Thank you! I did try to find something that would go with the theme. :-)
WaterGirl
@Bostondreams: Oh geez, that makes me want to vomit.
A lot of people in the administration are seeing their traitorous wet dreams come to pass.
WaterGirl
New post up, if anyone cares.
Jackie
@Bostondreams: Jesus F’ingChrist!
Sorry, but I have no better words in response to this blasphemy.
Jackie
@Scout211: Yay!
As you said, more lawsuits will follow, but this gives me hope!
WaterGirl
@Jackie: thank you for writing what I wanted to write!
Timill
@Bostondreams: The appropriate funerary honors are those accorded to Oliver Cromwell…