Such an excellent post. And it applies to so many areas of concern. We've given away our "we the people" power when it comes to the economy, the environment, etc. Just trudging along like obedient drones, waiting, hoping for someone else to solve all our problems.
That's spot-on. And while the realization feels stark, it's actually the first step in turning things around. We've got to recognize how much power we each have, individually, in order to flex it.
Your post inspired me to join Blue Missouri. I’ve been guilty of letting my sense of dread and fear of the ugliness happening in my state and our country render me paralyzed and feeling hopeless about how I can effectively change anything, but reading your post reminded me that I can direct my energy into something good and at least try to make a difference. So excited about being part of the BLUE movement in Missouri!
Oh wow, Tina, this is amazing – welcome to the movement! We CAN make a difference, especially when we work together. Thank you for sharing this with me!
Thank you from a fellow Blue Missouri donor! When I see my bank statement, I smile knowing I’m helping our Missouri candidates who really need money. It’s such an easy way to participate!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who smiles when she sees Blue Missouri on her credit card statement. 😂 So proud to be working alongside you to make Missouri a better place. We can do this, friend. 💪
That’s fantastic Tina!!! Chin up, & remember our chant when we first elected Obama “YES WE CAN!!” I’m donating to at least 30 Dem candidates & to the abortion initiatives in a few states. I’m a monthly donor to Lucas Kunce, I want Josh Hawley out SO bad. Cheering you on from NM.
Per your suggestion: watched The Center for American Progress presentation on Project 2025, started reading ON TYRANNY, signed up for Fourth Branch Action Project 2025 training, ordered postcards, upgraded my subscription to Small Deeds Done.
Whew! It has been quite a day. Thank you for your commitment and encouragemening us all to do one small thing. Or maybe even two.
I think you have coined a new term!! Encouragewomening! Love it. And thank you, so very much, for all that you're doing – and for your support. There are a lot of moving parts right now, but I'm so heartened by what I'm hearing from folks like you all over the country who are digging in, not giving up. We can do this! 💪
Please support Lucas Kunce to replace Hawley. Lucas will support the rights of Missourians and all Americans as he did honorably serving as a Marine defending our freedoms.
Michele, Brilliant and energizing once again. Another reason to run besides holding Red district GOP accountable — to show fellow Dems they are not alone.
That’s why I wear my Biden Shirt on every grocery run in S. Florida. I’m not changing any minds. I’m showing Dems we are not alone. And I get so many compliments, the result has been I don’t feel alone.
Thank you Michele for a great essay. I’ve watched (not engaged in) coverage of the threat to our democracy. I have acquired more than a couple of compromised joints so door to door is out. Post cards? My script is toast but lettering names and addresses works. Other activities I’ll consider on a case by case basis. $ is tight, living on Social Security. I’ll keep my dye out for your posts.
Thank you, Gary! I know plenty of candidates need people to phone bank if you're willing to spend some time on the telephone talking to potential voters. There are lots of ways to plug in and get involved – but I'm glad you mentioned not wanting to door knock or do postcards. I'm sure you're not alone. I'll be on the lookout for more variety!
On Tyranny is a must read. Thanks for reminding everybody of its importance. Resist, and fight now. Forget the nominee issue and spend time writing and publishing and defining Trump.
Exactly!! I don’t care if it’s Biden or Kamala at the top of our ticket, I’m voting blue all the way. We can’t roll over & let the religious extremists take over this country.
The problem with no D candidates is this: young people are too smart to play the Ugly Politics game! They don't want to grub for thousands to run a campaign, they don't want to put their job/integrity on the line to be smeared by lies (cuz that’s apparently ok today), and they don't want their family in the line of fire ( perhaps literally).
You're totally right – we can't blame folks for not wanting to run. It's why I want to do as much as I can to support the people who DO decide to raise their hand and run in these red, rural districts when there is so much on the line for them personally. Giving them enough funds for yard signs, mailers, and gas money feels like the very least we can do...
Fantastic post!!! Take a lesson from Texas. Well, in some races anyway. Dems don’t give up here until lack of funding forces it. Rarely is there national support for anyone challenging Republican held seats, until quite close to a national election and only if they seem viable. The DNC & DCCC have all but given up down here. There is some incredible grassroots work being done and it carries-all the major metro areas are pretty solid Blue but rural areas are solid bright Red. Even when the people actually aren’t! This is where Democrats need to step it up-with support & funding for candidates who ARE knocking on doors in the sticks. We hear the complaints from rural folks they’re not being heard-actually they are, but those who came to listen lost their election in the face of the GOP incumbent who had Republican money to spare winning that seat. Now, money isn’t everything in a race (Obama won his first with much less than McCain had) but in areas of small towns and bucolic countrysides it’s needed more than metro areas since rural populations are generally more economically depressed than cities.
Anyway, such a great point…thoughtful introspection, and a reminder to revisit On Tyranny.
I thought about this when the Biden campaign announced they were pulling their advertising after Trump got shot at. F that, they should double down. Republicans are going to screech about whatever they do anyway.
The fact that Howard Dean’s 50 states strategy was dismantled by Rahm Emanuel upon entering the White House has much to do with this problem. It is sobering to realize what a tremendous missed opportunity the Obama administration really was, on many levels.
Such an excellent post. And it applies to so many areas of concern. We've given away our "we the people" power when it comes to the economy, the environment, etc. Just trudging along like obedient drones, waiting, hoping for someone else to solve all our problems.
That's spot-on. And while the realization feels stark, it's actually the first step in turning things around. We've got to recognize how much power we each have, individually, in order to flex it.
The rat race was the best invention yet for the authoritarian
Yes. That, and culture wars on social media.
Your post inspired me to join Blue Missouri. I’ve been guilty of letting my sense of dread and fear of the ugliness happening in my state and our country render me paralyzed and feeling hopeless about how I can effectively change anything, but reading your post reminded me that I can direct my energy into something good and at least try to make a difference. So excited about being part of the BLUE movement in Missouri!
Oh wow, Tina, this is amazing – welcome to the movement! We CAN make a difference, especially when we work together. Thank you for sharing this with me!
Thank you from a fellow Blue Missouri donor! When I see my bank statement, I smile knowing I’m helping our Missouri candidates who really need money. It’s such an easy way to participate!
I'm glad I'm not the only one who smiles when she sees Blue Missouri on her credit card statement. 😂 So proud to be working alongside you to make Missouri a better place. We can do this, friend. 💪
That’s fantastic Tina!!! Chin up, & remember our chant when we first elected Obama “YES WE CAN!!” I’m donating to at least 30 Dem candidates & to the abortion initiatives in a few states. I’m a monthly donor to Lucas Kunce, I want Josh Hawley out SO bad. Cheering you on from NM.
Do you follow Jess Piper here on Substack? She’s from Missouri & such an inspiration
Yes, I do. Love her posts!
Per your suggestion: watched The Center for American Progress presentation on Project 2025, started reading ON TYRANNY, signed up for Fourth Branch Action Project 2025 training, ordered postcards, upgraded my subscription to Small Deeds Done.
Whew! It has been quite a day. Thank you for your commitment and encouragemening us all to do one small thing. Or maybe even two.
No more typing for me! "Encouragewomening" would have been good, too.
I think you have coined a new term!! Encouragewomening! Love it. And thank you, so very much, for all that you're doing – and for your support. There are a lot of moving parts right now, but I'm so heartened by what I'm hearing from folks like you all over the country who are digging in, not giving up. We can do this! 💪
Please support Lucas Kunce to replace Hawley. Lucas will support the rights of Missourians and all Americans as he did honorably serving as a Marine defending our freedoms.
I’m from small town NM & I am a monthly donor to Lucas Kunce, as well as many other Dem candidates all over America. Josh Hawley has got to go.
He & his wife are horrible people who do not care about women at all & they sure don’t care about Missouri
Michele, Brilliant and energizing once again. Another reason to run besides holding Red district GOP accountable — to show fellow Dems they are not alone.
That’s why I wear my Biden Shirt on every grocery run in S. Florida. I’m not changing any minds. I’m showing Dems we are not alone. And I get so many compliments, the result has been I don’t feel alone.
http://www.DemsMakeLifeBetter.org
If Dems deep red districts concede by forfeit, they leave the lonely lonelier. And they miss opportunities to snowball support.
Thank you Michele for a great essay. I’ve watched (not engaged in) coverage of the threat to our democracy. I have acquired more than a couple of compromised joints so door to door is out. Post cards? My script is toast but lettering names and addresses works. Other activities I’ll consider on a case by case basis. $ is tight, living on Social Security. I’ll keep my dye out for your posts.
Thank you, Gary! I know plenty of candidates need people to phone bank if you're willing to spend some time on the telephone talking to potential voters. There are lots of ways to plug in and get involved – but I'm glad you mentioned not wanting to door knock or do postcards. I'm sure you're not alone. I'll be on the lookout for more variety!
Thanks, Michele. I just caught my typo in my earlier remark. “I’ll keep my dye out for your posts.” I forgot to say I’m part squid.
😂 Our old arthritic fingers do that kind of thing all the time.
On Tyranny is a must read. Thanks for reminding everybody of its importance. Resist, and fight now. Forget the nominee issue and spend time writing and publishing and defining Trump.
Exactly!! I don’t care if it’s Biden or Kamala at the top of our ticket, I’m voting blue all the way. We can’t roll over & let the religious extremists take over this country.
The problem with no D candidates is this: young people are too smart to play the Ugly Politics game! They don't want to grub for thousands to run a campaign, they don't want to put their job/integrity on the line to be smeared by lies (cuz that’s apparently ok today), and they don't want their family in the line of fire ( perhaps literally).
Can we blame them?
You're totally right – we can't blame folks for not wanting to run. It's why I want to do as much as I can to support the people who DO decide to raise their hand and run in these red, rural districts when there is so much on the line for them personally. Giving them enough funds for yard signs, mailers, and gas money feels like the very least we can do...
I got a staffer, she asked what I needed help with?
A message for Dick Durbin.
Polite she was.
Polite I was.
Thank you so much for doing this! It makes such a huge difference. 💙
Fantastic post!!! Take a lesson from Texas. Well, in some races anyway. Dems don’t give up here until lack of funding forces it. Rarely is there national support for anyone challenging Republican held seats, until quite close to a national election and only if they seem viable. The DNC & DCCC have all but given up down here. There is some incredible grassroots work being done and it carries-all the major metro areas are pretty solid Blue but rural areas are solid bright Red. Even when the people actually aren’t! This is where Democrats need to step it up-with support & funding for candidates who ARE knocking on doors in the sticks. We hear the complaints from rural folks they’re not being heard-actually they are, but those who came to listen lost their election in the face of the GOP incumbent who had Republican money to spare winning that seat. Now, money isn’t everything in a race (Obama won his first with much less than McCain had) but in areas of small towns and bucolic countrysides it’s needed more than metro areas since rural populations are generally more economically depressed than cities.
Anyway, such a great point…thoughtful introspection, and a reminder to revisit On Tyranny.
I thought about this when the Biden campaign announced they were pulling their advertising after Trump got shot at. F that, they should double down. Republicans are going to screech about whatever they do anyway.
Excellent as always Michele!
Thank you, Lori! 💙
The fact that Howard Dean’s 50 states strategy was dismantled by Rahm Emanuel upon entering the White House has much to do with this problem. It is sobering to realize what a tremendous missed opportunity the Obama administration really was, on many levels.
Know things are super busy! Hang in there! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
It seems like Democrats are yielding the way Opossums play dead at the sight of a danger: https://urbanjunglewildliferemoval.com/blog/is-opossum-dead except, unlike an opossum, a Democrat has no strategy.
Florida Dems are running candidates in mos districts now.
Also
Postcard Campaigns
https://www.turnoutpac.org/postcards/
And
https://seniorstakingaction.org/
And
https://fieldteam6-partners.herokuapp.com/