#from the ballot list yet.

[codacheetah]

Which one will you vote for?

[astriiformes]

I'm glad to see posts circulating listing some of the significant legislation Tim Walz has supported as governor of Minnesota, but there's one I haven't seen mentioned yet that I think is really important for young voters to know about--the North Star Promise program, aka the reason I can afford to finish my Bachelor's degree.

Some of you may remember me posting about my financial aid offer being a lot more generous this year. That because Minnesota just implemented a scholarship program that makes undergraduate college tuition free for students with family incomes of less than $80,000 attending state or tribal colleges. As in, if after other grants and scholarships have been applied, you still owe money for tuition, the state of Minnesota will pay the rest.

Obviously tuition isn't the only expense associated with being a college student--I still am taking out student loans to help cover things like rent and other cost of living expenses--but it is the biggest one. As a low-income, non-traditional student paying my own way through college (and with a disabled partner who cannot work), I was genuinely unsure if I was going to be able to finish my degree before the North Star Promise program was implemented, and it has freed me from so much stress and worry.

A lot of factors had to combine to make a program like this possible --activists had to push for it, Minnesota had to vote in a Democratic majority in the state legislature to pass it, and we had to have a governor willing to sign the program into law--but it is still significant it was something Walz was willing to put his name on. And I cannot fathom how many lives it would change if he was willing to push for something similar to this at the federal level. So, keeping in mind that we have to vote up and down the ballot as well as keep the pressure on our elected officials to support programs like this once folks are in office, let's make it happen.

[violsva]

BC Election

Hey BC! You are probably sick of hearing about the American election by now. This is not about that!

The British Columbia provincial election is Saturday October 19th. That’s tomorrow. You need to vote.

If you received a Where to Vote card in the mail, your voter card will have your assigned voting location on it (but you can go to another one if it's easier). If you did not receive a Where to Vote card, or you’ve lost it, you can absolutely still vote. You can find voting locations HERE.

You will need to bring ID that has both your name and your address on it. Proof of address is important because the staff need to know you’re voting in the right district. There’s a list of ID you can use HERE.

The polls are open from 8AM to 8PM. Voting is quick and usually simple. What time they’re busy depends on what your neighbourhood is like.

Information for voters with disabilities is HERE. If you have feedback on accessibility, there are ways to provide that HERE.

Elections BC does not call voters - if someone called or texted you to say the time or location has changed, that’s fraud. Check the website for accurate information.

If you got a mail-in ballot and you have not sent it yet, you can drop it off in person at any polling place before 8pm.

More information here. Translations available here.

EVERYONE GO VOTE.

[meret118]

“I have yet to find one of them that I felt was credible enough for me to actually file documentation for that voter,” he said. “So as a good steward for voter registration, which is what I’m charged with doing, I should not act upon stuff that is proven to be not credible.

”This year, election officials like Wilcox have spent valuable time sorting through pages of these mass voter challenges. And voting rights advocates worry that the trend could result in eligible voters being removed from the rolls, or from accommodations like being on lists to automatically receive ballots in the mail.

. . .

But experts and election officials who spoke to HuffPost said voters should confirm their registration status now — before the November election season heats up — just to be safe.

. . .

The month following that election, True the Vote teamed up with Georgia Republicans to challenge the eligibility of more than 364,000 voters in the state, based in part on U.S. Postal Service address-change data.

. . .

Some voters only found out their registrations had been challenged when they didn’t receive requested ballots in the mail for Georgia’s January 2021 U.S. Senate run-off election. Ultimately — after courts stepped in — the vast majority of these challenges were rejected. True the Vote’s list “utterly lacked reliability” and “verge[d] on recklessness,” a federal judge later observed.

. . .

At least one Georgia county has signed a contract to use the software, and in May, the director of the Florida Division of Elections sent county officials a list of 10,000 names to review that a local “concerned citizen” had generated with EagleAI.

. . .

Other efforts are state-based, including the “Pigpen Project” in Nevada and “Soles to the Rolls” in Michigan. Some even go so far as to go door to door to ask voters to confirm their information, raising concerns about intimidation. The Republican Party is also involved in the effort — in June, a federal judge rejected a GOP lawsuit alleging Nevada officials had failed to properly maintain voter rolls. (The GOP’s data was “highly flawed,” the state said.) A similar suit, against the state of Michigan, is ongoing.

And some states have made mass challenges even easier. In Georgia, S.B. 202, passed in 2021, allowed anyone to formally challenge an unlimited number of registrations, and S.B. 189, passed this year, requires voters to defend their registration against even frivolous challenges, sometimes at in-person hearings. It faces a lawsuit.

More at the link. Check your registration!

[ty-bayonet-betteridge]

ME: Okay gang, it's my birthday. How are we going to celebrate?

VOICE OF THE OPPORTUNIST: You should go to that cafe we really like! You deserve it, don't you think?

VOICE OF THE HERO: Isn't that place expensive as hell, though? We don't have a job.

VOICE OF THE OPPORTUNIST: Coooooome oooooooon, it's our birthday! We should treat ourselves!

VOICE OF THE SKEPTIC: We should go. Order something cheap, but we need to ask if they're hiring anyway.

VOICE OF THE HERO: Can't we just... call them and ask?

VOICE OF THE PARANOID: No. Nope. No phone calls. Don't you know phone calls never lead to good things?

VOICE OF THE HERO: ...I don't think that's true.

VOICE OF THE SMITTEN: Oh, what does it matter what we do for our birthday? Neither of our partners has wished us a happy birthday yet! Clearly, we've lost their hearts, and with them, any hope for a purpose in this cruel world.

VOICE OF THE HERO: It's four in the morning. They're probably both still asleep.

VOICE OF THE CHEATED: No, I'm with the sappy one on this. It doesn't fucking matter if we waste our money or not, cause we're never going to get hired. Not when corporations keep posting these fake fucking job listings!

VOICE OF THE COLD: It doesn't matter if we get hired or not. Whether it's in a ditch in six months or in a hospital bed in ninety years, we're still going to die.

VOICE OF THE OPPORTUNIST: Exactly! So why not enjoy life in the moment? While we can!

VOICE OF THE COLD: But if we're going to go out to eat, we should go someplace new. We've been to that cafe too many times to count.

VOICE OF THE OPPORTUNIST: You know, that is a great idea. You're full of great ideas.

VOICE OF THE CHEATED: No, it's not a great idea! If we go somewhere new, the food could be bad. I don't want to get bad food on my birthday!

VOICE OF THE CONTRARIAN: What if... we just go to the cafe and another restaurant?

VOICE OF THE HERO: We definitely don't have enough money for that.

VOICE OF THE CHEATED: We would have, if you lot hadn't made us quit our last job!

VOICE OF THE OPPORTUNIST: Now, now. That decision was made democratically.

VOICE OF THE CHEATED: Well we all know that direct voting is fucking bullshit. We just turned in our ballot, after all.

VOICE OF THE PARANOID: That reminds me. What if the ballot arsonists spread down here? How will we ever know if our ballot was counted?

VOICE OF THE HERO: That is a wildly disconnected thought. Where did that come from.

VOICE OF THE PARANOID: We have to stay vigilant.

THE NARRATOR: I'm fixing a drink. Tell me when you've made a choice.

[reasonsforhope]

I keep seeing news about charges and what-not being piled onto Trump, and all I can keep saying to myself is "but is he going to experience one (1) single consequence of this?" So... is there any iota of a hope that something could come of this circus that will make the slightest ding in his capacity to run in 2024?

So, the answer to this is a bit complicated - partly because there are a lot of factors and a long time scale, and partly because it depends on how you define "consequences"

If you mean "any serious consequences at all," good news, that has already happened!

If you need to catch up on the whole "cases against Trump" situation, read this: The Cases Against Trump: A Guide. Via The Atlantic, November 1, 2023

1. The New York Fraud Case

A judge has ordered that the Trump Organization must be dissolved in a ruling that is being widely described as a "corporate death penalty." This is an incredibly rare ruling, and a huge deal.

The details will take a while to hash out - currently, Trump's kids are in the middle of testifying in a trial for this fraud case, but it's not to determine whether he's guilty - only the extent of the damages and the outline of how the org will be dissolved. It's extraordinarily unlikely Trump will be able to get out of this one. And high up on the list of things he's probably going to lose? Trump Tower itself.

Now, admittedly, this actually isn't because of, you know, the whole attempted coup thing. It's because the Trump Organization's finances were built on decades of absolutely massive fraud - including the very wealth that Trump lied about in order to explain why people should vote for him.

Oh, and let's not forget that in this case, Donald Trump spent weeks absolutely shit talking the judge to try to "poison the jury pool" (make sure that people on the jury would go in with a negative opinion of the judge already). ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THERE IS NO JURY IN THIS CASE because his attorneys forgot to request one, so the sole arbiter of his fate is the judge he just spent weeks absolutely slandering in an attempt to win over the jury! And all else aside, judges very infamously do not like being insulted

Oh yeah, and the prosecutors are seeking a permanent ban on Trump doing business in the state of New York

Fraud trial explainer (New York Times, no paywall) Sources: x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x

2. 14th Amendment Lawsuit

Okay so I did all the other sections first, then came back and wrote this one. It's shorter because of that, and because this issue is a lot newer and doesn't have nearly as much legal stuff or investigations going on yet.

What's happening here is that several states have people who are filing petitions and lawsuits to try to get Trump taken off the ballot for the 2024 election, under the 14th Amendment, which was passed in the aftermath of the Civil War and bars anyone who has committed insurrection from holding office.

So far (as of the first week of November, there are cases to kick Trump off the ballot in about 20 states. Oral arguments have started in Colorado and Minnesota.

Basically, my take on the short version is that this could happen, but we'll have to wait at least a few more months to see how likely it is.

However, even if it does go through, Trump would only be kicked off the ballot on a state by state basis. So, if Colorado kicks him off the ballot, he'll still be on the ballot in the other 49 states, and the process would have to be repeated in each one. Still, even if it was just one state, that could be a big deal, voting-wise - and if he gets kicked off the ballot in more than a couple states, he might not end up being the Republican nominee anymore, given the size of that disadvantage.

Correction, 6 min after posting: It's expected that if Trump DOES get kicked off the ballot in any state, the Supreme Court will hear the case and weigh in. The decision would be binding for all states. Supreme Court probably unlikely to ban Trump from the ballot since they cheated their way into a conservative supermajority and 3 of them are Trump appointees

Explainer: Trial to kick Trump off the ballot in Colorado Explainer: Strengths and weaknesses of cases to kick Trump off the ballot Sources: x, x, x, x, x, x, x

3. The Classified Documents Case

So, the fraud case above is actually a civil case (that is, not a criminal case). The classified documents case, however, is a criminal case, and it's arguably the one most likely to lead to legal and political consequences for Trump, in large part because everything's very clear cut.

Like, Trump has literally admitted he retained classified documents on purpose - which is super against the law! Trump is just arguing a variety of nonexistent technicalities for why that law doesn't apply to him. But he did it! We know he did! We have photos of classified documents stored in the Mar-a-Lago bathroom! We have testimony from the employees he ordered to secretly move the boxes before the FBI probe. We have records proving he asked Mar-a-Lago's IT guy about erasing the surveillance footage of the move! We even have proof that a) he stole nuclear secrets, and b) a recording of him waving around the "plans of attack," bragging about them to other people!

All super damning.

(Post continues below, at length; sources at the end of each section.)

And another thing that's extremely key: Trump is charged in this case with violating the Espionage Act. And the Espionage Act explicitly does not give a single fuck about why you retained documents, or whether there's any proof you intended to show anyone. Any and all hoarding of national defense documents is illegal under the Espionage Act - EVEN if they're not classified, which is great since "I declassified them with my brain" (not how it works) is Trump's main defense here.

So, this case is basically the surest criminal conviction - and the most likely to have electoral consequences. Partly because Republicans, as few issues as they care about, generally are security hawks - "Trump stole nuclear secrets and showed them to people" is giving Repubs pause in a way that the insurrection just isn't, probably esp in the military and ex-military demographic.

Trump could also serve jail time if convicted in this case (which again he probably will be).

However, violating the Espionage Act doesn't ban you from running for or holding public office, which imho seems like a pretty major oversight.

Classified documents case explainer Sources: x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x

4. The Insurrection

So, this is where things get really complicated, because the case is complicated and so many things about it are so unprecedented.

There are two different cases here: a criminal case in the state of Georgia and a federal criminal case (that's the one run by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is also running the classified documents case).

I definitely can't summarize all of this huge situation here, but here's some key points re: whether there will be legal consequences:

I actually have a pretty high level of trust in Jack Smith, in large part due to his record: he's serving as special prosecutor while on sabbatical from his normal job of prosecuting war crimes at the Hague. And he's specifically been prosecuting war crimes from the wars and genocides in former Yugoslavia in the 80s and 90s. That specifically gives me a lot of confidence because - as someone whose family is from the region - I think it's a really strong demonstration of his abilities. It means he has a lot of experience prosecuting high-level government and army officials, in a complicated, multi-year, multi-war conflict, where there were way more sides and factions than we have, along with way less documentary evidence (bc 90s), and a lot of history of political corruption and coverups. I find that really reassuring, especially the "experience prosecuting high-level government and army officials" thing in a situation with, shall we say, extremely contested and variable national leadership, during the course of multiple civil wars

"Schwendiman compared it to prosecuting Kosovo’s equivalent of Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton. “If you indict these people, you’re saying, ‘The founding fathers of Kosovo have committed atrocities, and I’m ready to prove it, in an independent court, with independent judges and rules that apply to everyone.’” And that was Kosovo's founding president. So yeah, I think Jack Smith can handle Trump. Source

Okay now to the points you might have actually heard of lol

The Georgia case is a state level case, which means that no matter what, Trump can't pardon himself in that case

The Georgia case is also charging Trump under the RICO act - aka the rackeeting act, usually used to prosecute organized crime. And convictions under the Georgia RICO Act come with MANDATORY jail time

I think the evidence here is pretty compelling, see: the congressional Jan 6 hearings

There is a pretty high chance that, in a massively unusual step, filming will be allowed inside the trial/hearings. This is HUGE, especially because Trump supporters would actually be watching it too (unlike, generally, the congressional hearings), and that evidence all laid out looks really goddamn bad

Also, if yesterday's fraud trial testimony is any indication, Trump is likely to end up yelling and screaming at the judge, etc. in the trial, which is going to look wildly unprofessional

The federal trial will be taking place in Washington DC, where it should be very doable to get a jury that isn't stuffed with Trump cronies (unlike, say, if the case was brought in Florida)

Trump has attempted witness tampering on a lot of occasions, and tried to poison the jury pool, and he got caught so now he's under a gag order that restricts what he can say re: both of those.

Important note: Jack Smith has brought the narrower of two possible cases against Trump. He's filed against Trump with several conspiracy charges, including "conspiracy against rights," which was historically created to prosecute the KKK for racial terrorism

However, Jack Smith did not actually charge Trump with inciting an insurrection. There are a lot of possible reasons for this, but it mostly boils down to the fact that "inciting an insurrection" is significantly less objectively provable, in this case, esp since "insurrection" isn't actually defined in the relevant law

So, Jack Smith has traded a broader case (the one including insurrection charges) for a case that is much simpler and quicker to argue, and that he's sure he can prove

Jack Smith absolutely knows that he has an effective deadline of November 2024 (aka the next election, because a Republican president would shut down the investigation immediately), and he's planning accordingly

Look. Federal prosecutors - and the prosecutors in Georgia and the other NY case, for bribery of porn star Stormy Daniels - would not be bringing these charges if they did not feel sure they would win. Democracy aside, if any of them lose their cases? That is almost guaranteed to end their careers. So they have a very vested self-interest in only taking on what they are absolutely sure they can prove

The judge in the federal Jan 6 trial is the judge who has given the harshest sentences against any of the Jan 6 rioters, and she is the only judge to have sentenced rioters to more time than the prosecutors asked for

Jan 6 charges against Trump, explainer Sources: x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x

A Very Hot Take: It might not be a bad thing that Trump is still allowed to run

So, this is my personal take on the situation - I acknowledge that it's a very hot take on the Left, and that I might well be wrong about this. I might be totally misreading the field here. But I genuinely do think that Trump being the Republican candidate for president could be a good thing, and in fact I'll genuinely worry significantly more if Trump isn't the Republican nominee for president.

The why all basically comes down to this: I think Trump will be easier to defeat in the 2024 general election.

Again, look, I may totally be misreading this, and that would be really bad, but here are my thoughts:

Trump is super popular with the far right base - but that same strength makes him a huge liability in the general election. You CAN'T WIN a presidential election without the support of independents and moderates (including "moderates"). This is a really common problem for Republican candidates, actually: the more they move to the right to win the core Republican base, the more they risk hurting their chances in the general election

Independents and moderate Republicans - again, who Trump needs to win with to get the presidency - are significantly more likely to care about, you know, all the stealing classified documents and committing treason things

I can't think of anything that will guarantee people on the left get their asses to the polls better than "Vote or Trump is president again." A lot of the time, with someone who hasn't been president before, voters can lie to themselves and go "Oh it won't be that bad once he's in office," esp among moderates. But now we have proof that isn't the case!

Look, I don't know if Trump is getting dementia or what, but his faculties really do appear to be declining. They'll likely be significantly worse in another year - his speeches are already way worse than there were in 2016. He just can't track what he's saying well enough anymore. This makes it harder for him to make his case to the electorate

He's also the only actual Repub candidate that's about the same age as Biden - which will do a lot to stop the Right from using Biden's age as an effective weapon to get a Repub in office

Honestly, my biggest worry is that DeSantis will be the Republican nominee. I am way more scared of Biden vs. DeSantis than Biden vs. Trump.

Reasons I would absolutely rather Biden face Trump than DeSantis include: DeSantis is way younger and he has way less baggage. Because he hasn't been president yet, voters can do that self-delusion thing that he won't be that bad - that he'll be better than Trump - and that unlike Trump's, his plans will work. People on the left and in the center often don't know who he is yet, and there's not such a huge current of electoral energy to get them to the polls. And most of all - unlike Trump, DeSantis is actually smart. And as part of that, he is capable of a deep and absolutely premeditated cruelty that Trump just doesn't have the attention span or the patience for. Biggest example: actually literally kidnapping undocumented immigrants and sending them to Martha's Vineyard, and all the awfulness that went along with that, including the part where he started a goddamned trend.

Nikki Haley I'm less worried about because her core support base - conservatives - is also the country's core support base for misogyny. I hate to be glad about misogyny, but it genuinely would make it harder for her to turn out ultraconservative votes, especially evangelicals.

Sources: x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x

So, yeah, all told I don't actually have "Trump still gets to run for president" super high on the list of things I'm worried/mad about.

Also worth saying that we don't want just being indicted (aka charged with a crime) to disqualify people from running for office, because then all Republicans (or anyone) would have to do to disqualify an opposing candidate is find literally any excuse to charge them with something

But back to your original question! I genuinely DO think he'll face legal consequences, and I genuinely DO think he'll probably face jail time. Which obviously I am rooting for very hard

[mugiwara-lucy]

Now while all of this is all good news I would just like to remind everyone that the fight is NOT over yet!!!

There’s still so much work to be done and while Kamala is doing her part; she has literally been on the road for the PAST WEEK, WE HAVE TO DO OURS!!

Do NOT get complacent and think we won because if we do we get PRESIDENT VANCE!!!!

Deadlines to register to vote are coming up and here’s the post below to register if you haven’t already!!

Also, your own vote isn’t enough! Get as many people as you can to vote for Kamala be it your friends, cousins, parents, grandparents, old friends from high school and college, coworkers, boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives, stepchildren (if they’re 18 and over) and the list goes on and on but every vote counts! ALSO PLEASE check your registration DAILY because MAGA WILL purge your voter registration!!

And early voting has started! And if you don’t wanna vote on November 5th, Early Voting is another option! Like I said get as many people as you know and try early voting that way you can avoid MAGA fuckery on November 5th!

And Mail in Ballots are ANOTHER option I highly recommend!! And like I said get as many people as you can to take advantage of this option! BUT if you decide to go with Mail In/Absentee Ballots; PLEASE mail your ballots at the ACTUAL USPS office!! That way MAGAts won't fuck with it.

And I’ve seen Democrats abroad take advantage which I HIGHLY suggest so here it is!!

Guys….today is Kamala’s birthday.

What BETTER gift to her would be giving her the presidency of the United States after four months of hard work?!

But she can ONLY get it if we do OUR part!! Make phone calls, knock on doors, send out posts, call friends/neighbors/family/exes and most importantly….V-O-T-E!!!!!

[kissitbttr]

oh em gee do you think reader and miguel would be homecoming and queen?!?1!1 judging from their reputation from what i’ve read i feel like they’d defo win the titles tbh. imagine them winning it thoo 🥹🥹

“what do you mean i won?” you mutter to yourself as you look around, all eyes are now set on your frozen figure,

“oh my god this is actually crazy. homecoming queen has always been from sorority girls, never a cheerleader. babe you’re making a history!” gloria squeals, squeezing your hand,

this can’t be happening. you didn’t even know that you made it to the candidates list!

miguel, who’s already standing on stage with a big smile on his face and a crown perched on his head. hands clapping louder than the people in the room, mainly cheering for himself because now he doesn’t have to worry about dancing with a random girl.

gloria nudges you in the elbow to get you moving, making you glare at her but your legs finding themself to begin walking towards the stage. with a nervous yet awkward smile, you nod your head to some who congratulates you.

you even catch some of the sorority girls giving you a disgusting look while whispering to each other.

‘fuck. you’ you mouth before blowing a sarcastic kiss, catching them by surprise,

miguel chuckles at your attitude, internally patting himself in the back for having a sassy girlfriend. your gaze move to his, and in seconds your smile turn into a genuine one. big beautiful eyes smiling at him too,

it’s amazing how he can easily tell the difference between your fake and reals ones, isn’t it?

as you begin walking up to the stage, miguel goes breathless. raking his eyes up and down your body shamelessly. he thinks that you look gorgeous every day but tonight is different.

a very simple yet elegant, golden satin dress that hovers just a little bit above the ankles. a slit on the left of your thick thigh, giving him the perfect view of his favorite features from you. the v cut of the dress, giving him a perfect view of your plump breasts. long hair settles into its natural flow.

overall, you look like an angel. and he has a hard time keeping his eyes off of you.

“your homecoming queen and king, ladies and gentleman!” the host announces, making the crowd erupt in cheers,

you giggle at how gloria and beck cheering for you the loudest, giving them a wave. then you finally look over to the side only to see miguel is already entranced with you. his eyes taking you all in. if a gaze could speak, it would tell you that not enough words in dictionary could describe how perfect you look tonight, and how he still needs to wrap around the fact that he gets to call you his.

“why are you looking at me like that?” you smile when he reaches out to slides his hand between yours, pulling you to him,

he shrugs, guiding you down to the dance floor. “you just.. fuck… how is it possible, mi amor? para lucir así de perfecta”

your cheeks warms under his gaze. “i-i don’t know”

“speechless aren’t we?” he pulls a joke, making you roll your eyes,

“don’t make me even more nervous. this feels weird” you confess, his arms move down to your hips. “did you put my name on the ballot or something?”

“i didn’t i swear.” he shakes his head, “but that sounds like something i would do”

“i know” you rest your chin on his chest as you both slowly sway side to side. the song ‘one sweet day’ by mariah carey and boyz ii men playing in the background. both of your favorites.

something, somehow comes over miguel. the way your beautiful eyes glinting with love while looking up to him, soft smile perches on your pretty lips. the crowd circling around the two of you, watching the beautiful couple sharing a dance as a newly wed and—

wait. shit

newly wed?

“thinking quite hard there, baby” you drop a comment at the way his eyes seem to look.. gone. “care to elaborate?”

“just… this” he gestures,

“us dancing? why?” your hands on his chest now, head tilting to the side in curiosity,

“it’s like taking a glimpse of us getting married someday” he blurts out,

and there’s where you feel your heart fails to find a steady rhythm of its beat. his eyes wander across the room, mentioning a couple of things about how he would love it if ice sculptures didn’t make it at yours and his wedding. he thinks it’s useless,

you guess he can’t exactly spot the look on your face being both stunned and warmed by his confession. too busy taking notes on what you both should and should not have at the reception.

he.. thought of getting married ? to you ?

“would you like that, muñeca? white and pink flowers too. for the decorations. they would look so pretty”

all of these words jumping off his mouth seems like nothing to him, because maybe he thinks of it as one that he is so sure of and that you would probably agree with.

but little does he know, it’s everything to you. and you are trying your best to act your cool

“as long as i get to pick the flavor of the cake” you smile up at him

[mama-qwerty]

Okay, I'm gonna get political here.

I've been seeing some alarming posts going around, in which people seem to think that Biden is somehow as bad as, or worse than, Trump. And a lot of the reasoning seems to come down to how he's dealing with Israel. He's not doing enough to stop Israel and is actively supporting them. Which, he has to, because the US is Israel's ally.

Is it ideal? Is it great? NO. It absolutely sucks, and we really should not be involved, and be doing more to stop them.

But that seems to be the single issue most people mention when talking about not voting for him. And my question to them is, do you seriously think Trump will handle it any better??

And let's put Palestine aside right now. I know it's terrible, I know it's my privilege to look away for a moment, but I implore you, I fucking BEG you to remember that the US president affects laws and policies here, which affects each and every American who lives here.

This post lists, in a convenient little checkbox format, what each candidate is for and against. As you can see, Trump will support Israel, too. Moreso than Biden. But he will also remove rights and destroy protections for countless other groups.

Both candidates are absolutely NOT THE SAME. Biden, while not perfect, has done a lot of good for the country, it's just not reported because negative things get more views than positive. He had A LOT of cleanup to do after Trump finally dragged his ass out of the White House. And he's done what he could.

I get that Biden isn't ideal. He's not who I would want, either. But he's the Democratic candidate, and we absolutely cannot afford to "send Washington a lesson" by abstaining or voting third party. We are a two party system, and with Trump on the ballot, we cannot, CAN FUCKING NOT afford to split our forces.

Every Republican will be out in droves, casting their vote for Trump. One vote for a third party candidate, is a vote for Trump. If you do not vote for Biden, you are essentially handing Trump the victory.

This country will not survive another Trump presidency.

I sincerely believe that. The damage he did the first time around was bad enough, when he didn't know what he was doing. But now? Now he's had 4 years to scheme and plot and work behind the scenes with his cronies so that when/if he gets back into office, he can go all in on gutting the government, stacking the Supreme Court, enacting whatever laws he likes, and simply declaring himself dictator and never leaving office again.

And the Republicans will help him.

Every one of those spineless bootlickers will be trailing behind him, nodding like a fucking bobblehead, agreeing with whatever asinine idea tumbles out of his third grade brain.

"For the good of the country," they'll cry, as they gut support for the poor.

"For the helpless little babies," they'll weep, eliminating health care services for women and removing any help for families.

"Make America Great Again," they'll chant as they send the military to drag children away from parents and lock them in cages because they dared come to the US--a country that was founded on the backs of immigrants--for a better life.

Republicans only care about keeping themselves rich and in power. They don't care about the poor. They don't care about women or minorities or LGBTQ+ rights. They don't care about YOU. They only care about themselves. They've proven it time and time again, yet they always try to convince their base that it's really the Democrats and radical Left who are the bad guys. Because they constantly want to *checks notes* make sure people are safe, healthy, and cared for.

And that's not the America the Republicans want.

I am begging all US voters to look past Palestine, for just a moment, and realize that choosing the wrong man in November will have very, very, VERY long lasting repercussions for this country. We can't afford to "send a message". We can't afford to simply not vote. We can't afford to throw out the old "they're all the same" line.

THEY'RE NOT.

Please, please, please. Think about the people who will be hurt under another Trump administration. Think of those who will lose their support, lose their aid, lose their protections. Think of those who can't protect themselves.

The only message we need to send to Washington this November is NOT TRUMP. NEVER TRUMP.

[whenyoulookupatnight]

WORRIED?

About the state of the U.S.? Of the world?

Me too.

But I am tired of just being worried.

First of all, VOTE! If you haven’t yet!Time is running out!! See my recent repost, but also it’s long, so very short tl;dr: go to vote.org ! And then if you still have all the requirements to go vote, hurry to your nearest polling station!

But after that? Here’s some honesty, and gentle advice, from yours truly:

My New Year’s resolution, two months early, is to take more direct action to make the world a better place. I have before, but I want to return to doing that, and I hope you do too, no matter the election result.

Here are four videos I find extremely important. You might dislike the people relaying the messages, and hey, that’s fine, but even so, please give them a chance. They aren’t too long each (16 min, 4.5 min, 1.5 min, and 13 min respectively). Comforting is not the right word, but I feel a good deal more motivated after watching them:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8N4Sgk5HTE

After you vote, I would say you are allowed to tune out for a moment. For just one evening. Cast your ballot, but then leave your worries to rest as best you can, just for this evening. Try not to obsess over the live polls or electoral maps or the news stations live reporting. Watch TV or a movie, or read, or play a game, or knit, or listen to music, etc etc- whatever calms you down, whatever puts you at ease.

But tomorrow? Or as soon as you can?—Make an action plan.

You can start small! You’ll be surprised with how you can improve your life with just a small change. Just one. It can be a small thing. Do your laundry, take a shower, take a walk, listen to some of your favorite music. Baby steps. Will you crack open that planner or calendar finally, and just start with today and tomorrow first, making a to-do list? I struggle to do that, but it always helps.

What I need for myself right now is just that, to make a wellness plan. I always share the oxygen mask metaphor: the emergency information for planes is to put your oxygen mask on before helping someone else. You cannot help anyone if you do not start with little things for yourself. And yes, that is easier said than done. But again- baby steps.

First, make changes for yourself.

And then, soon—when you feel able—make a change for another person.

Will you call or text a friend you haven’t talked to in a while?

Will you get together to support friends and family today and tomorrow? Or next week?

Will you do a random act of kindness, for your neighbor? For a stranger?

And then—and only then—but also not too long from now: How can you take direct actions to change your community, and your world, for the better?

Will you start the process of joining a union, to demand better pay and conditions for you and your coworkers?

Will you search online, “[issue important to you] [organizations/activism/activist group]”—and make a commitment to get engaged? Show up for a meeting?

Will you choose to volunteer somewhere?

Will you write a letter to or call a lawmaker about an issue you care about?

Will you go to a local city council meeting? (Boring, sure, but you may be surprised by what you learn!)

Will you do one of these things, today?

This week?

Will you add one or two more, this month?

The next three months? The next six? Twelve?

I am not sure what I will do first. But I will take it one step at a time. And after some self care steps, I’m going to make a plan to take care for my friends and family. Then, some small acts to engage and support in my community. Then, I will organize with people take direct actions to make the world a better place too.

*That* is what truly squashes the seemingly endless dread, the anxiety, and yes, the worry.

Thank you all. Thank you for reposting my recent longwinded election post.

Lastly, a loving reminder:

You are valid.

You are loved.

You deserve the same love for yourself that you give to others. (That is a tough ask, I know- but in the near future, recall it as best as you can).

And you are not alone, no matter how bleak it seems right now.

Let’s love ourselves as best we can, love our friends and family and neighbors and strangers and community and the people who make up countries and the people and animals and plants and everything that makes up our scary yet endlessly beautiful world.

With all that said:

Love. 💙

Peace.✌️

And? Sooner, rather than later?

Let’s hit the pavement, and get to work y’all!

Let’s go!! ✊

[anonymusbosch]

quick PSA!

I'm part of a phone bank calling voters whose mail-in ballots had mismatched or missing signatures.

If you're getting calls from phone banks and you don't know for sure that your mail-in ballot was received and counted (e.g. by checking with a ballot tracker), please do answer the phone!

Your ballot may have an issue and we want to help you fix it! My ballot had an issue in 2016. I didn't know and didn't fix it! You've got a chance still (deadline depends on the state).

Someone will likely keep calling you until they can confirm your ballot was fixed. It's a better use of their time to reach people who haven't fixed their ballot yet.

If you want them to stop calling, you can say "stop calling me" and we will take you off the list immediately. (This doesn't mean other phone banks will stop.)

[notchainedtotrauma]

I saw a lot of posts where many OPs were shaming and yelling at people to vote (and when I said I saw, I looked for them so I could be fair). This is what I didn't see.

"When Max Himsl opened his electronic ballot on Friday, he was dismayed to see a candidate missing from the list of options.  

Voting absentee electronically while living abroad, Himsl saw that under the options for president, only Republican Donald Trump and Independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. were listed. Missing was Democrat Kamala Harris. "

I want to add something. Whose demographic has been the most deadfast in continuously voting Blue ? Black women. Anita Hill never FORGAVE Joe Biden, who only decided to apologize a few years into his term, for the sexual harrasment, the humiliation, the dismissal of someone that just wanted to lay out the facts. Yet, she voted for him. She voted for the man that had abused her and saddled her with this history of victimization, while saying he had no idea about what he had done.

Two election workers, and I'm going to call the mother by her nickname, Lady Ruby, found themselves housebound because Rudy Guliani, propped by Trump, heavily accused them of election fraud so that Joe Biden could win. They then had to run away from their home and I believe, the state (Georgia) They made the decision to be election workers out of commitment to democracy and civic life, and then got their life threatened by Guliani, Trump and...Kanye's manager (this isn't a joke).

If you didn't hear about it, it's because as far as I know, Biden/Robinette has acted as if they never existed when they ended up having to run for their lives just to perform their civic duties.

What do you think this looks like to the most marginalized your people keep telling are going to be protected when they were in very basic ways left to fend for herself ? Trump said: "Unleash the hounds" and the hounds were unleashed, and the Black women that have worked steadily so that the results would be fair and square found no support from Robinette.

Where do you go from here ?

[v-tired-queer]

It feels like America looked at people like me and everyone else who even just vaguely doesn't fit the white cishet social requirements and expectations and went "Fuck you."

Almost every man I'm related to has served this country in one way or another via the military. Mostly through the army, but sometimes through the other branches, too. I was raised to be very patriotic, to be proud to be an American. I grew up celebrating every single American-centered holiday there is here. I grew up wearing red, white and blue, singing God Bless America, watching the fireworks and celebrating being free.

Apparently, I grew up lied to.

I can't be proud to be an American when people left and right are being stripped of the basic freedoms that aren't courtesies given by the government, but a necessities for human life. Healthcare, housing, food, shelter, reproductive rights and so many more I can't even begin to fathom the length of the list let alone write it all out here, should not be up for debate. And yet here in America, every four years, those very issues are on the ballot, asking if we've grown in our mindsets, begging us to know that people are people regardless of gender, race, sexuality, national origin, disability, ethnicity, culture, religion, or class. And yet we answer, "No they're not," and have outcomes like this.

I'm tired of an America that would rather have a convinced felon who has fucked us over before over a woman of color with every qualification be our president.

I'm tired of an America that continues to see women, people of color, and other minority groups as somehow lesser than the white cishet male standard that dominates our government.

I'm tired of an America where people would rather see others suffer at the hands of those who should be supporting and uplifting the people than expand their own viewpoints and empathy.

I'm tired of this being the America that I was raised to love.

It's okay to be tired, lost, scared, confused, hurt and grieving. I know I am. But while these next four years will undoubtedly be hard for most of us, we can and will get through it. We'll do it together, fighting for each other and trying to support, love and uplift one another in the face of a government who couldn't care less.

I'm not proud to be an American, but I am proud of the people who will walk away from this result today with a new passion and sense of justice not just for themselves, but for their friends, family, and neighbors, known and unknown. I'm proud of the people who will stand strong and keep fighting. I'm proud of the people who will keep living after this, going on in life despite the setbacks. It's a beautiful "fuck you" to the powers that be.

I'm not proud of America. But I am proud of us.

[mariacallous]

From Taiwan and Finland in January to Croatia and Ghana in December, one of the largest combined electorates in history will vote for new governments in 2024. This should be a cause of celebration and a vindication of the power of the ballot box. Yet this coming year is likely to see one of the starkest erosions of liberal democracy since the end of the Cold War. At their worst, the overall results could end up as a bloodbath or, marginally less bleakly, as a series of setbacks.

At first glance, the stats are impressive. Forty national elections will take place, representing 41 percent of the world’s population and 42 percent of its gross domestic product. Some will be more consequential than others. Some will be more unpredictable than others. (You can strike Russia and Belarus from that list.) One or two may produce uplifting results.

However, in the United States and Europe, the two regions that are the cradles of democracy—or at least, that used to project themselves as such—the year ahead is set to be bracing.

It is no exaggeration to say that the structures established after World War II, and which have underpinned the Western world for eight decades, will be under threat if former U.S. President Donald Trump wins a second term in November. Whereas his first period in the White House might be regarded as a psychodrama, culminating in the paramilitary assault on Congress shortly after his defeat, this time around, his menace will be far more professional and penetrating.

European diplomats in Washington fear a multiplicity of threats—the imposition of blanket tariffs, also known as a trade war; the sacking of thousands of public officials and their replacement with politicized loyalists; and the withdrawal of remaining support for Ukraine and the undermining of NATO. For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the return of Trump would be manna from heaven. Expect some form of provocation from the Kremlin in the Baltic states or another state bordering Russia to test the strength of Article 5, the mutual defense clause of the Western alliance.

More broadly, a Trump victory would arguably mark the final dismantling of the credibility of Western liberal democracies. From India to South Africa and from Brazil to Indonesia, countries variously called middle powers, pivot countries, multi-aligned states—or, now less fashionably, the global south—will continue the trend of picking and choosing their alliances, seeing moral equivalence in the competitive bids on offer.

The greatest effect that a Trump return could have would be on Europe, accelerating the onward march of the alt right or far right across the continent. Yet that trend will have gained momentum long before Americans go to the polls. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are looking over their shoulders as the second wave of populism affects the conduct of government.

The wedge issue that is threatening all moderate parties is immigration, just as it did in 2015, when former German Chancellor Angela Merkel allowed in more than 1 million refugees from the Middle East in what is now seen as the first wave of Europe’s immigration crisis. This time around, the arguments propagated by the AfD (the far-right Alternative for Germany party), Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France, and similar groups across the continent have permeated the political mainstream.

The past 12 months have seen European Union decision-making constantly undermined by Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary, particularly further support for Ukraine. For the moment, he stands alone, but he is likely to be joined by others, starting with the newly returned Prime Minister Robert Fico in Slovakia. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has struck a tacit deal with Brussels, remaining loyal on supporting Ukraine (against her instincts and previous statements) in return for effectively being given carte blanche in Italy’s domestic politics.

In September, Austria seems almost certain to vote in a coalition of the far right and the conservatives. A country that has (ever since the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1955) prized its neutrality and been keen to ingratiate itself with Moscow has already been uncomfortable giving full-scale support to Kyiv. We can expect that support to soon be scaled back.

One of the few countries with a center-left administration, Portugal, will see it join the pack of the right and far right when snap elections are held in March. The previous incumbent, the Socialist Party’s outgoing Prime Minister Antonio Costa, was forced to quit amid a corruption investigation.

The most explosive moment is likely to occur in June, with the elections to the European Parliament. This reshuffling of the Euro-pack, which happens once every four years, was always seen in the United Kingdom as an opportunity to behave even more frivolously than usual. In 2014, the British electorate, in its inestimable wisdom, put Nigel Farage and his U.K. Independence Party in first place, setting in train a series of events that, two years later, led to the referendum to leave the EU.

Having seen the damage wrought by Brexit, voters in the remaining 27 EU member states are not angling for their countries to go it alone. However, many will use the opportunity to express their antipathy to mainstream politics by opting for a populist alternative. Some might see it as a low-risk option, believing that the European parliament does not count for much.

In so doing, they would be deluding themselves. It is entirely possible that the various forces of the far right could emerge as the single biggest bloc. This might not lead to a change in the composition of the European Commission (the diminished mainstream groupings would still collectively hold a majority), but any such extremist upsurge will change the overall dynamics across Europe.

Far-right parties in charge of governments will see themselves emboldened to pursue ever more radical nativist policies. In countries in where they are junior members of ruling coalitions (such as in Sweden), they will apply further pressure on their more mainstream conservative partners to move in their direction.

Conversely, countries that saw a surprising resurgence of the mainstream in national elections this year are unlikely to see that trend maintained. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s success in staving off the right was achieved only by cutting a deal with Catalan separatists. This led to protests by Spanish nationalists and a situation that is anything but stable.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s victory in Poland was at least as remarkable because the far-right Law and Justice party (PiS) government had used its years in government to try to skew the media and the courts in its direction. Expect PiS gains in June.

The most alarming result of 2023 was the return to prominence, and the verge of power, of Geert Wilders. The Dutch elections provide a how-not-to guide for mainstream politicians. The willingness of the center-right party of the outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte to contemplate a coalition with Wilders’s Party for Freedom emboldened many voters who had assumed their vote would be disregarded.

In Europe’s biggest economy, Germany, the so-called firewall established by the main parties to refuse to govern with the AfD is beginning to fray. Already, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is working with them in small municipalities. Friedrich Merz, the CDU leader, has dropped hints that such an option might not be out of the question at the regional level.

If the AfD gains the largest number of seats in the June European Parliament elections (opinion polls currently put it only marginally behind the CDU and ahead of all three parties in Scholz’s so-called traffic light coalition), then the momentum will change rapidly. It could go on to win three of the states in the former communist east—Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg—next autumn. Germany would enter unchartered territory.

These dire predictions could end up being overblown. Mainstream parties in several countries may defy the doom merchants and emerge less badly than forecast. Given recent trends, however, optimism is thin on the ground.

There is one election, however, due to take place in the latter part of 2024 that could produce not just a centrist outcome, but one with a strong majority in its parliament. Britain, the country that left the heart of Europe, the island that until recently was run by a clown, could emerge as the lodestar for modern social democracy. The irony would be lost on no one.

[foggyfanfic]

Mirabel Thoughts

Writing from the perspective of a villager and trying to decide how the different Madrigals look from the outside, and Mirabel is the one I’m having a hard time pinning. As usual, putting the thoughts to screen helps.

So obviously Mirabel doesn’t receive the same level of admiration as Isabela or Abuela, and she doesn’t seem to be relied upon as heavily as Luisa and Julieta. The warm color branch of the family seems to be high charisma, so they’re probably popular in the more traditional sense. And of course we know that Bruno is the least liked Madrigal. So what social niche is Mirabel fulfilling?

She doesn’t seem to be disliked, although she is shown to be pitied by the villagers (the “not special” special), she’s probably looked down upon just a little. She probably had to deal with some bullying from other kids, but not Complete Social Pariah levels. The threat of being the next Bruno is looming over her head but she’s not quite there yet.

I think, since she must fall somewhere on the middle of Popular to Pariah scale, she’s the sort of person who gets voted Everybody’s Best Friend in school. Idk if you had any one like this at your school, but when I was fifteen I had a few people who I didn’t think of as popular because they weren’t endlessly charismatic, constantly the center of attention, or noticeably cooler than the rest of us. But looking back, everyone liked them because they were just so nice. I’m picturing the girl who eventually ended up being voted Homecoming Queen for my grade specifically. I’ll name drop because it wasn’t her legal name and it’s a very common one.

So, Mary had a lot in common with Mirabel. She was intelligent, easy to talk to, and always happy to help. I didn’t think of her as being glamorously beautiful the same way Mirabel isn’t designed to be the next Disney Princess, but she was pretty and Mirabel is too. I didn’t think of her as being cool or an A-list kid or anything because she sometimes said things in an awkward way, or embarrassed herself, like Mirabel falling over stuff in the movie. While there were people that felt “cool” and who I therefore wanted to impress, Mary was just plain old pleasant to be around, I wanted to talk to her because I felt comfortable around her and enjoyed our conversations. And I thought of her as a friend because she treated me like a friend, she treated everybody like a friend, even people I thought sucked. She was very much down to earth and probably a lot more mature than I was at the time. I remember being pleasantly surprised to see her name on the ballot for homecoming queen, and even more so when she beat out the girl who fell more in line with what TV told me popular looks like. It really reframed the way I saw people. While it’s true that snobs and bullies sometimes gain social currency by convincing people they’re at the top of the ladder, being a genuine friend gets you farther than you realize.

I doubt Mirabel is a one to one comparison to this real world person I knew in high school, but I figure she probably has similar social standing. She has the social currency of being a Madrigal, then add in the fact that she would seem so much more down to earth than the other Madrigals while still being friendly and helpful, and you end up with a Mary. People probably don’t flock to her, but if I were fifteen and in the Encanto you could bet your ass I’d be happy to sit with her at lunch or see her at a party. I’m sure impressionable young me would be just as star struck as the rest of the villagers when it comes to Camilo and Isabela, and wiser adult me would of course want to hang out with Bruno, but I would be pleasantly surprised to see Mirabel’s name on the ballot for Harvest Festival Queen or whatever, and I would vote for her because “that’s my friend”.

Furthermore, Mirabel reminds me of somebody who has some sorta neurodivergence but flies under the radar with it. Considering the Madrigals seem to have a family history of anxiety disorders, Mirabel could too, autism is also in the running since Bruno and Antonio both show signs of it. She does remind me of a guy I knew at college #2 who had an anxiety disorder that bordered on being a physical disability rather than straight neurodivergence. For the most part his anxiety didn’t bother him, then every once in a while his body would decide “Ok! It’s panic attack time!” and he would start experiencing all the physical symptoms of a panic attack with no warning. The first time it happened to him he straight up thought he was having a heart attack because it was so out of no where. He was also not cool, but very kind and friendly, so I’m going to choose to believe that’s what Mirabel has going on. This figures into the equation because I’ve noticed that neurodivergent folks that fly under the radar usually get labeled as “quirky” and it’s considered a good trait, a relatable trait, but not necessarily a cool trait.

Conclusion: I am now convinced that Mirabel is considered the least “popular” Madrigal, but everybody sees her as their friend. She probably has the most genuine connections with the other residents of Encanto, followed by Félix and Agustín, then Luisa and Pepa (who work with the villagers doing odd jobs or watering the crops), then Alma and Dolores (Alma having real friends from before she was A Big Deal, and Dolores having earned a few very loyal friends by keeping their secrets), then Camilo and Julieta each have one or two friends outside the family but are much beloved/admired in a more superficial way, then Isabela is the most popular but also technically the most lonely since not even her family gets hints at her real self until after the movie. Bruno is, of course, in a league of his own because he’s in the walls, so yeah. And Antonio is five, so it’s a little too soon to judge.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

The New Yorker

* * * *

[Robert Hubbell Newsletter]

I want to begin by acknowledging the many emails I am receiving from volunteers across America sharing uplifting stories of positive interactions with voters. I have read them all but could not respond to any emails today. I thank all of you for your hard work. And I also acknowledge the comments and emails about hostile reactions and incivility from voters. It takes a special kind of fortitude to tolerate such abuse and continue the hard work of reclaiming democracy one voter at a time.

Jill and I spent the day completing six different canvass lists with the help of a rented van, Jessica Craven, and readers Steve Hill, Ellen Hill, and Mary Bartlett. It was a little tougher going today as some of the neighborhoods became more insular and upscale, but when we were able to connect, it was almost always positive and productive.

Jessica continues to be a star canvasser. With all six of us packed in the van, we drove up to a residence with a long driveway and expansive lawn. Jessica volunteered to get out and knock on the door. A young woman (who identified as a registered Republican) came out and engaged in conversation with Jessica. The rest of us watched from afar in the van. After about five minutes, Jessica did an “endzone dance” and hugged the voter. We knew she had added another vote to Kamala’s column!

I continue to be impressed by the incredible organization, efficiency, and technology of the MeckDems. The process of canvassing is seamless and automated. Voters who answer the door and say, “I already voted,” are impressed as we are able to ask about others in the same household who have not yet voted.

We covered about 150 residences consisting of voters identified as Democrats and Undecideds. After a full day of canvassing, we saw only two residences with Trump “door hangers” on the front door. We respectfully placed door hangers for Harris / Walz on top of the Trump literature and moved on after receiving no response to our knock. I have been surprised by the general absence of signs, literature, and billboards for Trump.

Later in the evening, the out-of-state canvassers gathered at a local restaurant to hear from Drew Kromer, the Chair of the Mecklenburg Democratic Party. Drew told us that over 1,000 readers of Today’s Edition and Chop Wood Carry Water newsletters have volunteered for MeckDems. Without getting into specifics, the results are encouraging. To all who have or will volunteer for MeckDems, please know that you are making a difference that may make a difference in the electoral college count and statewide races in North Carolina.

The same goes for every reader who is volunteering across the nation. I wish I could capture the enthusiasm and excitement exuded in the emails that flood my inbox. Every vote in every race everywhere matters. We must win up and down the ballot. And we must ensure that Kamala Harris has a commanding margin of victory in the popular vote to protect the integrity of the election.

At the gathering on Sunday evening, Jessica and I gave remarks. I include the notes of my remarks below—because they apply to all of you, dear readers, who have helped us arrive at this moment filled with hope and promise!

Remarks 11/3/2024

First, let me introduce you to a true patriot and hero of democracy. Turn to your left and your right. Give a pat on the back and hug to the person standing next to you. Everyone where is a true hero and patriot. Bless you all for your work to save democracy!

I want to recognize what it took for us to arrive safely at this moment—one that is bursting with possibility and hope. We are here because your work carried to the point where we stand on the verge of victory.

For many, the journey began with Hillary’s devastating loss in 2016. But you did not give up. You picked yourselves up and vowed to do whatever it took win back our democracy.

You fought and won in 2018 in the midterms.

In 2020 with Joe Biden’s victory.

In 2021 in special elections.

In 2022 in defeating the predicted “red wave.”

In 2023 in special elections.

And now, in 2024, you will carry us to victory again.

We have arrived at this moment because you have abided, because you have kept the faith and maintained your spirits by

-gathering in community; -calling; -postcarding; -doorknocking; -fundraising; -Zooming; and -lifting up friends, neighbors and family members when they flagged from fatigue, anxiety, and despair.

We arrived safely at this moment because you refused to give up.

Because you refused to wait for permission to act.

Because you refused to “get in line” or “wait your turn.”

You took democracy into your own hands and saved it.

I am hopeful about this moment because I believe that pollsters and pundits have made the grievous error of underestimating

-the grassroots movement; -women, who have been denied the full liberty afforded all other citizens; -Black and Hispanic voters; -young voters; -older voters; and -voters who care about democracy.

I am filled with confidence about the future of democracy because we are not going back!

It doesn’t matter if we win the Electoral College by 200 votes or lose by 2; we are not going back! This moment has changed us. We will not quit—no matter what happens on election day. We are not going back.

Historians will look back on this period and your efforts. They will conclude that you saved democracy. Literally. Not figuratively. Not metaphorically. Literally. You saved democracy.

So, as we head into Election Day, we should be

-confident;

-proud; and

-joyful.

Because we are on the right side of history. We are going to win. There is no question about our ultimate victory. The only question is when the full, final, and redemptive victory will occur.

If we keep the faith, if we work, if we fight, and if we vote, we will win.

Concluding Thoughts

Polling, predictions, and punditry are red hot. Ignore them. Votes are real. That is all that matters.

Jill posted a video blog about our canvassing and attending the Kamala Harris rally in Charlotte on Saturday. See Everyday With Jill, Canvassing, Rallying, & Celebrating FOR KAMALA!

A reader who is a friend and former law partner, Brent Rushforth sent a note that resonates in this moment.

On my way home from canvassing for Kamala in Gettysburg yesterday, I stopped at the battlefield along a fence line adjacent to the field through which Robert E Lee sent General Pickett's massive assault against the Union forces dug in on Cemetery Hill. It was Lee's audacious gamble to end the war and permanently establish the confederacy.

The Union troops, at enormous cost, held—and the United States survived. Now Trump is once again seeking to render us asunder . . . I am filled with hope over the next couple of days that the center will hold and that the Union Jack will stand proudly over our republic as it did on Cemetery Hill twice our lifetimes ago.

“Twice our lifetimes ago,” Americans gave their lives to defend the Union created by the Constitution in 1789. Now, two lifetimes later, we are asked to once again save our Union. But all we need do is vote—and convince others that they must do so, too.

We can do that. We are doing it. Votes are real. That is all that matters at this point. Vote and urge others to vote!

Talk to you tomorrow!

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]