Rep Raskin, Dem debate, article and book to read, calendar updates

I’m not going to say much about Tuesday night’s Democratic debate except to aver that it was a dumpster fire of epic proportion, and FFS, the most important thing, Dems, is to beat trump. There is nothing more important. Stop yelling at each other, calmly and proudly discuss your platforms, and Katniss, remember who the real enemy is.

This past Sunday, two dear friends and I co-hosted a fundraiser for Congressman Jamie Raskin to benefit his financial and on-the-ground support of Dem candidates in swing and red districts in VA, MD, PA, and beyond as well as his youth activist program, Democracy Summer. Besides scoring a jar of his Honey Dill Mustard, I know I speak for all who attended when I say that we deeply appreciated his optimism and determination. As y’all might know, Raskin has endorsed Elizabeth Warren (I have too, FWIW) as he believes she would be a profoundly unifying force for the Party. I love her progressive spirit, her incredibly well-thought-out plans, her fire, and her sincere desire to truly care for all Americans.

For those who think her proposals are too far left, too progressive, too anything, consider this: most are unlikely to pass in proposed form due to who actually comprises Congress. Nonetheless, she is helping push the conversation towards an America of greater justice and equality, one in which more and too-often-voiceless voices are heard and valued, one in which more people will live and age better. That is an America I would love to live in. Plus, IT IS TIME FOR A WOMAN PRESIDENT. WAY.PAST.TIME.

During the Q&A with Mr. Raskin, guests offered up a number of organizations in which you can get involved and/or investigate. All are geared towards fair and unsuppressed voting and voter outreach.

NOPE! Neighbors : founded in a DC neighborhood in opposition to the Trump administration and its allies in Congress. DC residents are in the unique position of having no representation in Congress so NOPE focuses on the actions that they can take as unrepresented citizens. They welcome people from DC, Maryland, Virginia and across the country who share their goals.

Movement Voter Project (MVP): serves to funnel donations to small, grassroots organizations working year-round in underrepresented communities.  These organizations generally don’t have access to national fundraising access, but they work year-round on issues important to low-income workers, African-Americans, Latinx people, LGBTQ people, and young people, including registering them to vote and building their political power.

FairVote : Founded in 1992, FairVote is a nonpartisan champion of electoral reforms that give voters greater choice, a stronger voice, and a representative democracy that works for all Americans. Today they are the driving force behind advancing ranked choice voting and fair representation in multi-winner legislative districts that will open up our elections to better choices, fairer representation and more civil campaigns.

Anyway, the news continue to be hideously depressing, and so I am thankful for friends and family, my garden, exercise, acupuncture, drinks, my cats, that Harvey Weinstein was found guilty on two counts (if you haven’t read both She Said and Catch and Kill, you MUST!), and for good reading. Right now, I’m ensconced in the very gorgeous, fairly mesmerizing Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips, and earlier today, I read this article about and excerpt from the soon-to-be-released memoir by Greta Thunberg’s mother. As soon as I finished, I pre-ordered the book. What an amazing young woman and family.

Lastly, do remember to check the events calendar for a variety of ways to learn and get involved! Your country needs you, desperately.

Youth Climate Strike & We the People March & Margaret Atwood & Nancy P

My goodness.

Last Friday, after watching early Twitter returns of Global Climate Strike marches around the world, I hastily made a sign, pulled Jack from school early, and took him to the start of DC’s march downtown near the Capitol. The turnouts in Berlin, London, Dublin, Australia, New York, Uganda, and elsewhere across the globe were unbelievably moving. Greta Thunberg, the teen climate activist from Sweden, is such a heroine of mine. Did y’all see her speech at the UN? HOLY SH*T! Greta, I salute and support you!

The DC turnout wasn’t as large as I’d hoped but the energy was appropriately enraged and energized, and Jack and I saw some great signs. On the walk back to the Metro, he admitted to being extremely scared about the future he’s growing into. “Really buddy?” “Well, yeah, of course. The science is terrifying.”

While his worry makes absolute sense to me, it’s not something he’s articulated before, and my heart pinched even more than it already was.

That afternoon, two of my best girlfriends arrived from out of town in anticipation of the We the People March Saturday morning and afternoon and Margaret Atwood’s discussion of her new book and sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, The Testaments, that evening. While Saturday’s March was again not as large as I’d hoped (though the organizers said there were 10,000 people there), there were a number of satellite marches, and at ours the energy was fabulous. Signs too! And I met in real life an online friend of many years. Such a cathartic treat all around. I believe it is crucial that we keep up the pressure in support of American democracy as it seems imperiled in so many ways, and honestly, it really feels good to use your feet and voice to literally push your way forward sometimes.

After a huge lunch and much-deserved drinks, we rested, showered, and headed back downtown to The Lincoln Theater.

Y’all, Margaret Atwood is 80 and she is a boss. Sharp as a tack, funny, extremely intelligent and well-read (as you’d expect). Rebecca Traister, who I love, was interviewing her, but Margaret was all anyone could watch. A couple weeks back, I’d started rereading The Handmaid’s Tale to be prepped to read The Testaments. As the new intro reminds readers, nothing in the book is fictional except the characters and the way MA has woven together horrible truths from the world’s past. Reading it is.not.easy. It doesn’t seem outlandish or remote, just a bit removed.

Margaret cuts to the chase. She has zero time for bullshit and neither should we. Her words and wit are calls to action, they are funny at times, lacerating at others. She is thought-provoking, frightening, and utterly real. We were all enthralled.

And today, another strong woman, Nancy P, announced a move towards a real impeachment inquiry. I think all of us who marched on Friday and Saturday, all who applauded Margaret and who read her words with eerie trepidation and consideration, all who speak truth to power, and all who are sick and tired of America’s toxic, grifting, ignorant, bigoted, cheating, lying, nepotistic, assaulter-in-chief have a bit of hope right now.

Hope. It’s a powerful thing.