2022 Elections

Open Thread: How to Help GOTV, Now & On Election Day

by Anne Laurie| August 25, 20225:14 pm| 106 Comments

This post is in: 2022 Elections, Open Threads, Readership Capture, Vote Like Your Country Depends On It

One way you can help fight for democracy? Be a poll worker! https://t.co/Xb4bhzUUf6 pic.twitter.com/lQt8ynHqnZ

— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) August 16, 2022

Signing up to be a poll worker is one of the most effective things you can do to help make sure our democracy works—and to push back against anyone who tries to spread confusion and chaos on Election Day. Learn more at https://t.co/yIThxIT1cQ.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 16, 2022

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Want to join the text bank?

Shifts start tomorrow at 9 am EST to remind Georgians to request their absentee ballots.

Let’s keep @ReverendWarnock in the Senate and send @staceyabrams to the governor’s mansion.

— Data Bear, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🇺🇦 | Blue Georgia 🍑 (@dataandpolitics) August 23, 2022

TikTok to teach influencers about US mid-term election rules https://t.co/V8dpyeOSTt

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 17, 2022

The video platform has announced new steps to ensure influencers understand that paid political ads are prohibited.

Following 2020 US election the company admitted it needed to do more to ensure influencers followed its rules…

Over the coming weeks TikTok said it would publish educational content and host briefings with influencers and advertising agencies “so the rules of the road are abundantly clear when it comes to paid content around elections”.

It warned that if it discovered that political content was paid for and not properly disclosed, it would be “promptly removed from the platform”…

… TikTok’s actions go beyond paid content. All posts, whether paid for or not, must also not violate its policies.

Election misinformation, harassment – including that directed towards election workers – hateful behaviour, and violent extremism are all banned, TikTok says.

Content may also be fact-checked and the company is taking steps to limit the spread of posts while that process is under way…

TikTok also announced it will launch its election centre six weeks earlier than in 2020.

The election centre aims to provide voters with authoritative information and other resources.

And we can use TikTok legitimately!

Good morning, today is a great day to check your voter registration. Because Republicans are running a fear campaign fueled with lies and they’re gonna vote. pic.twitter.com/dlCY7Xsj6u

— ?? ?? I HONOR VETERANS (@veterans_i) August 15, 2022

The NBA will not schedule any games on Election Day, Nov. 8, this year in an effort to encourage fans, players and officials to vote, the league said on Tuesday. All 30 teams will play the night before as part of a “civic engagement night.” https://t.co/vBuxnWF8WT

— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 16, 2022

as somebody that has registered a ton of voters and gotten a few republicans to vote democrat, you just have to get them to do it once. you just have to get a guy to vote across party one time and then he’ll do it again and again. it’s that first time that is the berlin wall.

— World Famous Art Thief (@CalmSporting) August 16, 2022

Martha and Snoop need you to know—if you have a felony, you can vote! Register now: https://t.co/UyTaSn7gFO pic.twitter.com/dSnaTKkYXt

— One Pennsylvania???? (@OnePennsylvania) August 15, 2022

(At least in some states… )

Another proposal?

Don’t ban felons from voting, require them to, in their home or release district (no prison gerrymandering). And not after their years of probation or lifetime of paying off fees. It’s part of civic responsibility and rehabilitation. Maybe some people wouldn’t like the results?

— Reality Winner (@reazlepuff) August 23, 2022

Open Thread: How to Help GOTV, Now & On Election DayPost + Comments (106)

Open Thread: Dr. Oz Is Bad At Politics

by Anne Laurie| August 23, 202210:49 pm| 93 Comments

This post is in: 2022 Elections, Local Races, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

I had a stroke. I survived it. I'm truly so grateful to still be here today.

I know politics can be nasty, but even then, I could *never* imagine ridiculing someone for their health challenges. pic.twitter.com/0fJHESjt4l

— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) August 24, 2022

It’s been a *thing* since at least the Roman republic: Rich guy decides a Senate seat would be the perfect centerpiece for his vanity room. Buying a sports team or sponsoring this year’s hot-celebrity tour is *much* less risk of embarrassment, guys!

The crudité is the point. https://t.co/NzTwVI4RAK

— lanekisonak (@lanekisonak) August 23, 2022

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Open Thread: Dr. Oz Is *Bad* At PoliticsPost + Comments (93)

Election Watch: Florida Primary Edition

by Betty Cracker| August 23, 20225:15 pm| 153 Comments

This post is in: 2022 Elections, Open Threads, Politics

I think this was the first drawing I ever posted here. It illustrated a post that attempted to explain the Florida electorate in the context of the 2012 GOP primary. Not much has changed except The Villages is bigger and now merits its own regional designation that is distinct from Orlando, which could be labeled something like “MIGHT AS WELL BE INDIANA.”

But 10 years and change later, it’s primary election day in Florida again.

Things I’ll be watching for tonight:

Val Demings’ acceptance speech
How off that poll showing Fried beating Crist was (I voted for Fried, but I’ll believe it when I see it)
Whether MAGA cult weirdo Laura Loomer knocks off garden-variety corrupt Repub. Daniel Webster in the FL 11th.

On the latter point, if Loomer wins the GOP primary, she wins the general election. Period. Doesn’t matter how fucking nuts she is or how strong her resemblance to the love child of Elvira and Max Headroom. That’s the way the 11th rolls. Recent reports show her out-raising Webster and winning The Villages Trump-Hump Hookup Hoedown straw poll (not the real name of that organization, but I’m too lazy to look it up).

That said, when DeSantis tore up the map approved by his Republican sycophants in the Florida statehouse and redrew it himself to disenfranchise black people even more, he nudged the Florida 11th to the east a bit and dragged the coastal border of the 12th north, meaning we won’t be represented by either Loomer or Webster because now we’re in the 12th. Our rep will be a different garden-variety corrupt Republican.

Open thread.

Election Watch: Florida Primary EditionPost + Comments (153)

Open Thread: Somebody Throw Thiel’s ‘Hillbilly Whisperer’ Another Anchor

by Anne Laurie| August 22, 20228:42 pm| 52 Comments

This post is in: 2022 Elections, Local Races, Republican Stupidity

This is the kind of email you send if you think your donors are as dumb as the most insulting caricature of a hillbilly. https://t.co/KK7tVX5bH0

— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) August 22, 2022

Spending $28 million to bail out Peter Thiel's hand-picked little fascist in a state Trump won by 8 points. Things are going great. https://t.co/59eXJhDjrL

— Centrism Fan Acct ?? (@Wilson__Valdez) August 18, 2022

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https://t.co/PDwNrZU67q

— Sam Lawrence (@SamforOhio) August 22, 2022

Let's get one thing straight: when Mitch McConnell was holding up the biggest investment in Ohio manufacturing in a generation, JD Vance was nowhere to be found.

Glad to see the good news made it all the way to him out in California. https://t.co/o1VrTCn1BI

— Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) August 10, 2022

I have no idea if polls aren’t accurate (and suspect they aren’t) but I do know who is actually worried about those polls. https://t.co/SbqqMupNwT

— Mike L. Goodman (@TheM_L_G) August 18, 2022

The Repubs are so desperate, they’re importing *new fan faves* that Vance can open for…

JD Vance, Ron DeSantis hold campaign rally in Liberty https://t.co/Kk8NPImzWH

— usa jaun news (@UsaJaun) August 20, 2022

Know why every MAGA goes to Ohio to fluff @JDVance1? Not cause they like him, it’s cause every focus group identifies one simple fact: people who see Vance think he sucks. A dud. See through. Poseur Yale lawyer. But if you want Thiel’s cash ya gotta genuflect to his sunk cost.

— Dan Barkhuff VFRL.org (@DBarkhuff) August 21, 2022

Bump https://t.co/f82FVJADnC

— Tom Scocca (@tomscocca) August 16, 2022

By contrast Vance's whole deal seems to be that being from rural Ohio is something he perceives to be considered shameful in the elite rungs of American society that he spent his life trying to break into. I would not like hearing that message were I a proud Ohio resident!

— Michael Tae Sweeney (@mtsw) August 16, 2022

JD Vance's sham non-profit brought a Purdue Pharma apologist to the parts of our state hit hardest by the opioid epidemic, to spout lies about the drugs poisoning our communities.

This is a slap in the face of every Ohio family touched by this crisis. https://t.co/E3RYcgAani

— Tim Ryan (@TimRyan) August 18, 2022

Former Bush staffer and lifelong Republican who knows and has worked with both Tim Ryan and JD Vance explains why he is supporting Ryan. If you know a persuadable OH voter, share. https://t.co/8uB04W3Caa

— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) August 14, 2022

Open Thread: Somebody Throw Thiel’s ‘Hillbilly Whisperer’ Another AnchorPost + Comments (52)

The Troll-Fu is Strong With This One

by John Cole| August 20, 20228:11 pm| 85 Comments

This post is in: 2022 Elections

I really hope all Democrats are paying attention to the Fetterman campaign. He officially joined tiktok, and he is following exactly ONE other account.

Wegner’s.

This is DougJ level trolling.

The Troll-Fu is Strong With This OnePost + Comments (85)

I’m Loving It

by John Cole| August 19, 20229:49 pm| 37 Comments

This post is in: 2022 Elections

After years and years of mealy mouthed Dems and sternly worded letters, I am just loving this shit from this new aggressive, in your face breed of Dems.

Imagine losing your shit defending a bigot… just ditch the fucker. Why keep endorsing a bigot unless you are trying to keep the bigot vote. ⁦@KariLake⁩ https://t.co/bipzCoxE4D

— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) August 20, 2022

Between him, Fetterman, Beto, Mandela Barnes, and others, this is the life we need. Bring on these younger more aggressive Dems. About god damned time.

Also, I am still alive. I have been really busy.

I’m Loving ItPost + Comments (37)

TGIFriday Morning Open Thread: Don’t Stop Believing

by Anne Laurie| August 19, 20229:27 am| 159 Comments

This post is in: 2022 Elections, Music, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Republicans in Disarray!

(h/t commentor Origuy)

We have four new polls from two new states from Fox News pic.twitter.com/MKz73VfEm7

— Political Election Projections (@tencor_7144) August 18, 2022

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The other big problem is the main stuff the party in power has done is stuff people like

— 90k IRS SpecOps of Joseph Biden (@lampsofgold) August 19, 2022

Mitch McConnell has a sad!

So he’s saying his operation did a crappy job of candidate recruitment & support. https://t.co/aF7GHIppIx

— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) August 18, 2022

Analysis: McConnell’s grim 2022 expectation-setting https://t.co/tkg1LnsqAM

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 19, 2022

The expectations-setting for the 2022 midterm elections is off to an early start, and this entry is a doozy.

In an appearance back in his home state of Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) downplayed the odds of Republicans reclaiming the Senate — and, by extension, him reclaiming the title of majority leader. In doing so, he suggested that “candidate quality” was a key factor…

In one way, this merely acknowledges an emerging reality. The generic ballot has tightened in recent weeks, and polls show Republican candidates struggling in some states — such as Arizona, Georgia, Ohio and Pennsylvania — that are key for McConnell’s path back to majority leader. Some prognosticators now have Democrats as favorites to keep their majority.

It’s also convenient for McConnell to set the bar lower in this way, such that an adverse outcome on election night is laid at the feet of those specific candidates (or perhaps someone who endorsed them), and is not seen as a referendum on the broader political strength of his party.

But viewed another way, it’s pretty striking that McConnell’s even in this position — that is, of having to manage expectations. And it’s abundantly clear that he’s not particularly happy with it…

"my shit doesn't work when you idiots nominate maniacs everywhere" https://t.co/wpG6kBjvWK

— post malone ergo propter malone (@PropterMalone) August 18, 2022

That deep keening sound you're hearing is historical tendencies—& conventional wisdom as of last month—groaning under the weight of all the actual evidence we have about how the election is going (at least in the Senate)

— chatham harrison is tending his garden (@chathamharrison) August 18, 2022

it feels awkward to unironically use that emoji like some Boomer but how else am I supposed to react to Republicans dropping $28m to defend Ohio in a year where they’re trying to flip the Senate by netting literally one seat

— Marbury v. Mad Online (@NickTagliaferro) August 18, 2022

TGIFriday Morning Open Thread: Don’t Stop BelievingPost + Comments (159)

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

The gop couldn’t organize an orgy in a whorehouse with a fist full of 50s.

Just because you believe it, that doesn’t make it true.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

It looks like winning debates is a black job!

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

If you cannot answer whether trump lost the 2020 election, you are unfit for office.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

The arc of the moral universe doesn’t bend itself. it’s up to us.

You cannot shame the shameless.

Don’t expect peaches from an apple tree.

Putin dreamed of ending NATO, and now it’s Finnish-ed.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

Let’s finish the job.

Dead end MAGA boomers crying about Talyor Swift being a Dem is my kind of music. Turn it up.

“I never thought they’d lock HIM up,” sobbed a distraught member of the Lock Her Up Party.

Open Thread: How to Help GOTV, Now & On Election Day

Open Thread: Dr. Oz Is Bad At Politics

Election Watch: Florida Primary Edition

Open Thread: Somebody Throw Thiel’s ‘Hillbilly Whisperer’ Another Anchor

The Troll-Fu is Strong With This One

I’m Loving It

TGIFriday Morning Open Thread: Don’t Stop Believing