Thurs 10/11: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me”.

(From Matthew 25:35 )
Well, here it is. The “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds” regulation page we hoped they had the sense and decency to kill before publication. (They don’t and they didn’t.)

Action #1 – COMMENT ON THE RULE!!!

This is the ONLY action that the government cares about. Due 12/10. Write early. Write often.

Comment here.

This is our current favorite example: (Always try to alter a comment to sound like you. Obvious copies may be culled.)

Comment: This rule is xenophobic and racist. Its provisions about refugees utilization of food stamps, Medicaid and other public services in the US as a factor to deny green cards or deport refugees is cruel. These immigrants are heavily vetted as is, and are some of the most positive contributors to their communities. They are engaged, hard-working and important members of the US society. I think this rule should be discarded entirely to protect newcomers to this country who often fled violence and persecution in their home country.

Other comments to look over here and we’ve listed some examples at the bottom of this post. 99.9% of the current crop of comments make us proud to be American.

Action #2 – Use the ACLU’s page to comment

Use their page, customize the comment, here.

Action #3 – Numbers Count! Get everyone you know to comment on this rule.

Continue reading “Thurs 10/11: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me”.” →

Thurs 10/11: Tell USA Today it failed Journalism 101.

https://twitter.com/owillis/status/1050000109432385536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1050000109432385536&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fentry%2Fusa-today-trump-op-ed-medicare-backlash_us_5bbe09f5e4b028e1fe43e069

Action #1 – Write to USA Today -Tell them to apologize, in large print, on their front page.

“…it is journalistic malpractice for any newspaper to give Trump unimpeded access to its readers. And yet, that’s exactly what USA Today has done in publishing Trump’s op-ed in today’s edition” on the Medicare for All Act.

One possible script: “Hi, USA Today editors. No, you don’t have to print everything the president says. If we want to read fact-free communications from him, we can check his twitter feed 24/7. We expected better from you, because you’re supposed to be actual journalists, not members of his PR team. If you had trouble fact-checking his editorial, you could have reached out to others with more experience. Here’s some sites that had no trouble at all fact-checking his claims. Truly, a motivated fourteen-year-old with an internet connection could do it.

Continue reading “Thurs 10/11: Tell USA Today it failed Journalism 101.” →

Wed – 10/10: Today is World Mental Health Day.

Action #1 – Spread awareness of this issue and commit to voting.

(a guest message from Alyssa Milano)

Health Care Warriors,

As one of the 40 million Americans who battle anxiety, I know firsthand the importance of having access to mental health care. And I also know how Republicans’ continued attacks threaten that care.

The GOP never ceases to amaze me with their dedication to ripping vital health care away from millions of Americans across the country. But I’m also continuously amazed by the efforts of Health Care Voters like you who never give up, and consistently fight back to protect our care.

Today, for World Mental Health Day, share this graphic to make sure your friends and family take our pledge, and commit to protecting our health care at the polls in November. Continue reading “Wed – 10/10: Today is World Mental Health Day.” →

Wed. – 10/10: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

(Quote by Martin Luther King)

Take a moment this morning and watch this amazing video.

Action #1 – Share your feelings after the Kavanaugh confirmation debacle.

The New York Times wants women’s responses to the following questions:

Whose accounts did you end up believing, Christine Blasey Ford’s or Judge Kavanaugh’s? Why?
What is your reaction to the vote? How do you feel the fight over his confirmation will affect women?
Most of the senators who voted were men. Would it have made any difference if more women were senators and able to vote? How important is it to have more women in public office?
Does this decision spur you to any kind of political action, such as voting in the midterm elections or attending political protests? If so, what do you plan to do? Or does it feel like meaningful change is out of reach?
If you were to pass down one lesson to your son or daughter from Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination and hearings, what would it be?

Share your thoughts here. This NY Times page does not count against free view access.

Action #2 – Don’t let him get comfortable.

Continue reading “Wed. – 10/10: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”” →

Tues 10/9: Be part of this. Today.

At a school or college:

Today, we’ll be helping out with voter registration at the Oxnard College Student’s Day of Action. Come join us. No RSVP required. More information here. If you’ve never done this before, we’ll teach you how. If you can’t come today, look for other dates that work better.

At your workplace:

In California, the law requires employers to give up to 2 hours off at the beginning or end of a shift without loss of pay. Advance notice to your company is required by law. Proof of voting is not required. The California Elections Code also requires employers, both public and private, to post a notice no less than 10 days before every statewide election explaining employees’ right to time off to vote. The notice must be posted in a conspicuous place at the work site.

Other state’s information on voting here. Continue reading “Tues 10/9: Be part of this. Today.” →

Mon 10/8: Steel has to go through fire to transform into a sword.

View of activists Anne Koedt and Carol Hanisch as they hold a banner that reads ‘Don’t Cry, Resist’ during a ‘Legalize Abortion’ demonstration in Times Square , March 1968.

We’ve had Sunday to mourn a loss. We KNEW there would be setbacks along the way. But unlike an actual battlefield, OUR TROOPS ARE STILL HERE! And we stand ready to march into voting booths and take power away from the criminals who’ve scrambled into our leadership.

In the meantime, Mitch McConnell thinks we’re sobbing into our sheets and is trying to push these new atrocities-in-suits through. Let’s surprise him…

Action #1 – Vote NO on Jeffrey Bossert Clark for Top Environmental Prosecutor

Clark was prominently involved in industry challenges to the EPA’s “endangerment finding” that set the scientific basis for all subsequent attempts to regulate greenhouse gases. Of course, Trump to make him the DOJ’s top environmental lawyer!

Minimal Script: I am calling from [zip code] to ask Senator [___] to vote NO on Jeffrey Bossert Clark for Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ Environmental and Natural Resources Division.

Additional Script if you want: Clark is a climate change denier whose opposition to environmental regulations and protections makes him unsuitable for the role of enforcing America’s environmental laws.

Reading:

The Sierra Club states that Clark is unfit to lead the DOJ Environmental and Natural Resources Division. (sierraclub)
Trump Names BP Oil Spill Lawyer, Climate Policy Foe as Top DOJ Environment Attorney (insideclimatenews)

Action #2 – Vote NO on Eric Dreiband for Assistant Attorney General

Continue reading “Mon 10/8: Steel has to go through fire to transform into a sword.” →

Sat – 10/6: Refocus. Help make and encourage new voters at Plaza Park today.

Today, this is true.

“The Republican-controlled Senate appears poised to confirm a Supreme Court justice who believes in presidential immunity to criminal investigation. He was handpicked by a president whose wealth was inherited through tax fraud, whose former personal attorney has implicated him in a federal crime, and who is the focus of an ongoing investigation into a foreign attack on American democracy.” (Adam Server, Atlantic Monthly)

But today, this is also true.

The next generation, 17-35-year-olds, are the largest voting demographic in America, and they are ready to take their place on the lines next to us. What happens now, with women’s rights, the environment, education, taxes, health care, labor rights, war, immigration…literally everything, will now directly effect them in a way they’ve never felt before.

Come out today and encourage students at today’s rally at Plaza Park, downtown Ventura, from 10:00 – 12:00. Facebook page with details here. Continue reading “Sat – 10/6: Refocus. Help make and encourage new voters at Plaza Park today.” →

Fri – 10/5: It’s time to do more than wait for your polling place to open…

Canvassing…Phonebanking…
These strategies help swing elections, but for us introverts, they can, at first, appear overwhelming and stressful.

“If you told me a year ago that I would be knocking on doors to talk to strangers about a candidate or to convince them to vote, I would not have laughed in your face. While I would have found the notion ridiculous, I would have just shrugged and smiled politely. That’s because I’m an introvert. I take my personal space very seriously, I’m usually exhausted (not energized) when engaging with others outside my normal sphere, and I try very hard to avoid confrontation.

Oddly enough, I’ve found that all of those traits make me a fairly ideal door-to door political canvasser…”

(click here for the rest of this great article on how introverts can shine at these activities.)

So here are activities for you to try out. We need everyone to help.

Action #1 – Sign up to phonebank

Continue reading “Fri – 10/5: It’s time to do more than wait for your polling place to open…” →

Fri – 10/5: Last day to roar! They’re voting on Saturday.

Action #1 – Do you have Maine or West Virginia connections! Light up their lines!

If you have any connections with Susan Collin’s district in Maine or Joe Manchin’s in West Virginia, now is the time to use them. Using the incomplete FBI report as a shield, indications are that they’ll vote for Kavanaugh. Tell the supporters you know that there’s a different shield to hide under…other lawyers won’t touch him with a 10-foot pole after his maudlin performance at his nomination hearing.

Action #2 – Other lawyers are worried about him…Tell your senator.

Minimal script for senators who support Kavanaugh: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [___] to carefully consider that a retired Supreme Court Justice along with thousands of law professors, including his former dean, co-workers and former supporters, no longer consider him to a good candidate for the Supreme Court.

More script if you need it: His partisan ranting will force him to recuse himself on numerous cases and revealed a temperament unsuitable to the court.

Minimal script for senators who oppose Kavanaugh: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [Feinstein/Harris, Senate Ethics Committee] to open a hearing on his perjury under oath at this and earlier confirmation hearings. Continue reading “Fri – 10/5: Last day to roar! They’re voting on Saturday.” →

Thurs – 10/4: The GOP has become completely lawless in their race for a SCOTUS seat. Is this where one would use the word “irony”?

Action #1 – It’s the lying. Call for a hearing on his perjury under oath.

Minimal script: I’m calling from [zip code] and I want Senator [___] to stop worrying about Kavanaugh’s temperament issues, as the GOP doesn’t care, and open a hearing on his perjury under oath at this and earlier confirmation hearings.

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