Why do I do this?
I don’t know how long this will be so bear with me.
A mass email went out three hours ago to some 58,000 email addresses of our #PostcardsToVoters volunteers. As expected, we get a flood of responses. Some of them hit REPLY and those go to me.
/1
I don’t know how long this will be so bear with me.
A mass email went out three hours ago to some 58,000 email addresses of our #PostcardsToVoters volunteers. As expected, we get a flood of responses. Some of them hit REPLY and those go to me.
/1
/2
We’ve been writing in support of Louisiana’s Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards since last Tuesday (?) and we have until this Saturday since the LA runoff election is Nov 16 and this Monday is a postal holiday.
If you know anything about JBE, you know he is...
We’ve been writing in support of Louisiana’s Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards since last Tuesday (?) and we have until this Saturday since the LA runoff election is Nov 16 and this Monday is a postal holiday.
If you know anything about JBE, you know he is...
/3
...exactly the kind of Dem who can win in the Deep South. I should know. From the age of maturity, I’ve lived and voted as a Democrat in TX, AZ, and GA. (I know that AZ is not part of the South. I’m just giving my credentials as a liberal in unfriendly territory.)
...exactly the kind of Dem who can win in the Deep South. I should know. From the age of maturity, I’ve lived and voted as a Democrat in TX, AZ, and GA. (I know that AZ is not part of the South. I’m just giving my credentials as a liberal in unfriendly territory.)
/4
I’ve had to square my progressive values with pragmatic candidates. With centrist Dems. With Blue Dog Dems.
As a gay male, I had to endure a string of Dem candidates (and even so-called liberal friends) tell me earnestly that it wasn’t time for marriage equality.
I’ve had to square my progressive values with pragmatic candidates. With centrist Dems. With Blue Dog Dems.
As a gay male, I had to endure a string of Dem candidates (and even so-called liberal friends) tell me earnestly that it wasn’t time for marriage equality.
/5
I never boycotted my Party. I never refused to vote for any Democrat when they went head to head against a Republican. Not once. Not ever. No matter what.
I have read plenty from people this past week about JBE and how people cannot stomach him for this or that.
I never boycotted my Party. I never refused to vote for any Democrat when they went head to head against a Republican. Not once. Not ever. No matter what.
I have read plenty from people this past week about JBE and how people cannot stomach him for this or that.
/6
To my knowledge, none of these volunteers live in Louisiana. Or in the Deep South. I am certain they appreciate that a Dem winning statewide in a state like LA cannot be cut from the same cloth as a Dem in CA or NY. But, they can choose to sit this out.
Totally fine.
To my knowledge, none of these volunteers live in Louisiana. Or in the Deep South. I am certain they appreciate that a Dem winning statewide in a state like LA cannot be cut from the same cloth as a Dem in CA or NY. But, they can choose to sit this out.
Totally fine.
/7
Sit it out. Let the rest of us write to defend a Dem Governor against a Trump acolyte. It’s a statewide effort and instead of 49 days like we had with KY, we barely have 11.
If JBE loses by a landslide, fine, you can crow how you were right. But, if he loses by a little...
Sit it out. Let the rest of us write to defend a Dem Governor against a Trump acolyte. It’s a statewide effort and instead of 49 days like we had with KY, we barely have 11.
If JBE loses by a landslide, fine, you can crow how you were right. But, if he loses by a little...
/8
...then for the next four years, I want to hear a vigorous defense of how principled Democrats can justify the horrible acts with which a GOP Gov and legislature will terrorize its residents.
And explain to me how much further behind LA will be set trying to see any Dem...
...then for the next four years, I want to hear a vigorous defense of how principled Democrats can justify the horrible acts with which a GOP Gov and legislature will terrorize its residents.
And explain to me how much further behind LA will be set trying to see any Dem...
/9
...win statewide there. Do you think that the bench of qualified Democrats-in-waiting are going to be super encouraged to see JBE lose barely knowing that other Dems couldn’t be bothered to lift a finger? Or will it push Dems to move further to the right to secure wins?
...win statewide there. Do you think that the bench of qualified Democrats-in-waiting are going to be super encouraged to see JBE lose barely knowing that other Dems couldn’t be bothered to lift a finger? Or will it push Dems to move further to the right to secure wins?
/10
I started this thread asking. “Why do I do this?”
I do this work to advance Dems up and down the ballot across the country. I introduce myself as Tony The Democrat because I want it to be clear that I am firmly partisan. Any Democrat is always better than any Republican.
I started this thread asking. “Why do I do this?”
I do this work to advance Dems up and down the ballot across the country. I introduce myself as Tony The Democrat because I want it to be clear that I am firmly partisan. Any Democrat is always better than any Republican.
/11
I never vote for an Independent or Green Party unless there is no Dem in that contest. And I will vote for any Dem against any non-Dem without a second of hesitation.
Because there are downstream benefits to having every seat filled with a Dem. Every time. Always.
I never vote for an Independent or Green Party unless there is no Dem in that contest. And I will vote for any Dem against any non-Dem without a second of hesitation.
Because there are downstream benefits to having every seat filled with a Dem. Every time. Always.
/12
My dinner is getting cold as I commit to this thread. But the fire in my belly for this cause of getting more Democrats to strengthen their voting habits so that more Dems win elections will make up for it.
If you want to sit out the election, you have that right.
My dinner is getting cold as I commit to this thread. But the fire in my belly for this cause of getting more Democrats to strengthen their voting habits so that more Dems win elections will make up for it.
If you want to sit out the election, you have that right.
/13
But, if you’re going to insinuate that I am less of a Democrat or less of a progressive or less of a liberal, we’re going to have to refrain from further conversation.
In this case, the residents of Louisiana who are working two jobs, raising a family without a living...
But, if you’re going to insinuate that I am less of a Democrat or less of a progressive or less of a liberal, we’re going to have to refrain from further conversation.
In this case, the residents of Louisiana who are working two jobs, raising a family without a living...
/14
...wage or without adequate health insurance they need us. They need JBE as Governor. They may not even be aware of the runoff election or the stakes. But we do. We can’t turn our backs on them over any difference with JBE. It’s a runoff against Trump-lite.
Write on!
...wage or without adequate health insurance they need us. They need JBE as Governor. They may not even be aware of the runoff election or the stakes. But we do. We can’t turn our backs on them over any difference with JBE. It’s a runoff against Trump-lite.
Write on!
