General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAll of "this" isn't about 2024. It's about 2022.
Waiting for 2024 as the big enchilada will be too late. The big lie fix is about putting 2024 out of reach for Democrats.
It doesn't do any good to bemoan that we should have been all over this from the beginning (We should have). Any progress made toward any decent legislation will be moot in less than a year if we don't grow numbers in the Senate and maintain the House.
2024 isn't the most important election in a century. That comes in a few months.
A good plan would be to stop pushing and arguing over any legislation and stop meetings and conferences and considerations. All attention should be on DOJ action on Voting issues. All Democrats should embrace all Democrats. Every Democratic seat matters. I'm not sure of the real source of the quote, but "If your first priority isn't winning, it doesn't matter what your second priority is."
This is it folks.

Wounded Bear
(63,264 posts)CrispyQ
(40,341 posts)I totally agree this is the most important election. If we lose either chamber nothing will get done & if we lose both, well, we just can't.
Spread this far & wide.
Calista241
(5,632 posts)Who was basically the perfect President and Presidential candidate. Anything less than him and everything about his Presidency seems like settling, and I know I shouldn't feel or think that way, though I think other, less interested voters may fall into that trap.
CrispyQ
(40,341 posts)I love this slogan!
We used to have to walk the precinct, which I always enjoyed, especially those years when autumn was particularly nice. And calling was limited to your own county/state. Today, there are so many GOTV outlets, you can call swing state voters from a solid blue area. That's what I do.
Now is the time to get people registered & aware of changing voting laws. Here are some GOTV sources. Please post if you know of others.
Democratic agenda
https://movement.vote - (I stole "Defy the Odds 2022" from this site.) MVP works to strengthen progressive power at all levels of government by helping donors big and small support the best and most promising local community-based organizations in key states, with a focus on youth and communities of color.
We support hundreds of incredible organizations that both turn out unlikely voters and organize communities to grow their power and create transformation, from policy to the streets. We believe that supporting local movement vote groups is the most effective and most cost-effective strategy to transform our country.
https://www.turnoutpac.org - Progressive Turnout Project is the largest voter contact organization in the country, specifically dedicated to mobilizing the Democratic Party and defending democracy.
Our mission: rally Democrats to vote.
https://swingleft.org - Swing Left is building a lasting culture of grassroots participation in winning elections for the Left by making it as easy as possible for anyone to have maximum impact on the elections that determine the balance of power in our country.
When you sign up with Swing Left, youll receive updates about ways to take impactful action.
https://fairfight.com - Fair Fight promotes fair elections around the country, encourage voter participation in elections, and educate voters about elections and their voting rights. Fair Fight Action brings awareness to the public on election reform, advocates for election reform at all levels, and engages in other voter education programs and communications. (I believe this is the org Stacey Abrams advocates for.)
https://postcardstovoters.org - Postcards to Voters are friendly, handwritten reminders from volunteers to targeted voters giving Democrats a winning edge in close, key races coast to coast.
Nonpartisan agenda
https://www.aclu.org - The American Civil Liberties Union has been at the forefront, defending Americans' constitutional rights since 1920 with its team of attorneys. The nonpartisan nonprofit has filed more than 20 lawsuits in states across the country so people living there can safely vote. In addition to its litigation efforts, it's launched the Let People Vote campaign to inform people on their voting rights and how to vote by mail in their state, and to notify them of election deadlines along with voting tips.
https://www.lwv.org - The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. We empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels.
https://floridarrc.com - The Florida Rights Restoration Coalition works to ensure the voting rights of formerly incarcerated people, or "returning citizens," in Florida. In 2018, Floridians overwhelmingly voted "yes" on Amendment 4 to restore voting rights to residents who had felony convictions. This returned voting rights to about 1.2 million people. Later, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law which requires the enfranchised voters to pay off all their court debts or they can't vote.
The coalition pays for the fines, fees, and court costs for returning citizens so they can vote. The average amount is $1,500 for each person. You can donate to its fines and fees fund here; 100 percent of it goes to this cause.
https://www.rockthevote.org - (nonpartisan) Rock the Vote is drawing on our decades of experience to deploy the most effective and impactful messages, tactics, and technology to uplift and empower the largest, most diverse generation in U.S. history. We do this while also pioneering innovative ways to make democratic participation more accessible and defending young peoples right to vote.
https://whenweallvote.org - When We All Vote is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable.
https://www.headcount.org - HeadCount is a non-partisan organization that uses the power of music to register voters and promote participation in democracy. We reach young people and music fans where they already are at concerts and online to inform and empower.

liberalla
(10,721 posts)lastlib
(26,903 posts)Give it more visibility! EVERY Dem eye needs to see this!! It's a powerful and helpful post, and needs its own thread for visibility.
MineralMan
(149,980 posts)Initech
(106,604 posts)It's almost as if they're cheerleading a MAGA takeover in the midterms because it will be good for ratings. Fuck that shit.
gab13by13
(30,166 posts)MSNBC could have made big bucks by bringing back Keith Olbermann, it didn't because Keith strays from the right wing narrative. keith has the ability to change the right wing narrative. The MSM is owned and managed by the right.
It is up to Democrats to force the narrative upon the MSM.
I_UndergroundPanther
(13,297 posts)Thats why the media has to be not for profit and not owned by 1 person. It needs to belong to all of us.
An owned press will never be a free press period.
A press that has to make profits are not free press either.
Press that has to pander to rich people and beg for donations
to survive isnt a free press either.
KS Toronado
(21,611 posts)Maybe we should be attacking MSM for why they want Rs in charge of everything? Remind them that Rs today
resemble a Fascist cult and Fascists always go after journalists to silence them. Make them ashamed for not
helping Democracy survive. Only reason MSM wants Rs in charge is for tax breaks, while unknowingly
cutting their own throats. They need to be painting all Rs (with a few exceptions) as Fascists out to turn
this country into something resembling Russia. We know how they treat journalists.
Initech
(106,604 posts)
Bettie
(18,984 posts)I think it is because those that own those outlets want more profit, which means more chaos.
If they win the House, they will bring that orange sack of shit in as majority leader and very likely strip every Democrat of committee assignments.
Extreme chaos and is what the media wants.
Initech
(106,604 posts)
Bettie
(18,984 posts)say it on a regular basis (bringing the orange scrotum in as speaker) and have said that they will remove committee assignments from several. I can't imagine the power not going to their heads and just passing a rule that only their guys can sit on committees.
empedocles
(15,751 posts)DENVERPOPS
(13,003 posts)plain and simple. If we lose majority in the House, or they pick up Senate seat(s) it is all over for all time.........
Katie Bar The Door........................
IronLionZion
(50,128 posts)the "liberal" media has been saying it's over for Dems for the last 2 years so we should just give up.
tiredtoo
(2,949 posts)Response to Jakes Progress (Original post)
traitorsgalore This message was self-deleted by its author.
Wild blueberry
(7,950 posts)And it's all the local races as well. In Wisconsin due to RepubliQan ratfucking, our extremely gerrymandered state legislative districts are locked for another ten years. We must reelect Governor Tony Evers, to counter the R-dominated legislature and corporate-owned Supreme Court.
gab13by13
(30,166 posts)we need to elect Shapiro as our governor.
This GOTV is fine and necessary and I agree, it's all we have left since the Senate failed to pass S1 and Kristen Clarke could have helped more.
We can win, we can keep the House and Senate, in a fair election, Democrats had better be ready for the rat fuckery.
I am still waiting for my absentee ballot in Pa., it is tied up in the state Supreme Court, more rat fuckery. I mean the primary is May 17th.
Sympthsical
(10,735 posts)I don't think it should be, but it is. That's just how the American people are rolling.
If you focus on solely that and not on what you're doing to improve current, tangible circumstances for voters, November will be a bloodbath.
This is incredibly bad advice seen strictly through a partisan lens. Any political consultant who followed it would be fired for malpractice.
gab13by13
(30,166 posts)what are you doing to improve current, tangible circumstances for voters? What can you do?
Sympthsical
(10,735 posts)My tenant is with a volunteer group that works with food banks, and one of my friends provides boxes of staples that we ferry around to help people with increased food prices.
I actually just talked about this yesterday:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=16608111
Outside of that, donations to various places I feel need it.
Not as glamorous as posting on social media all day, but it helps.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)hamsterjill
(16,664 posts)No doubt about it. Dems need to be pushing hard!
If we lose ground in 2022, its all over.
Thats why I feel that it is SO important that the DOJ charge Trump. I believe that many middle of the road voters voted for Dems in 2020 in order to get rid of Trump once and for all. These are the voters who, in my mind, will be apathetic and not come to the polls if they see no action as to Trump.
The efforts of the Republicans to destroy our democracy needs to be a constant talking point and front and center.
peppertree
(22,950 posts)Eastman laid it all out: they intend to use control of key swing states (if they get it this Nov.) to emit bogus Repug slates in '24: AZ, GA, MI, PA, WI - plus possibly VA and a few others.
All they'd need then is a majority of state delegations in the House - which they already have, thanks to our FUBAR winner certification system that would be called a sham in even 3rd world nations.
It's a wonder our democracy has lasted this long, frankly - and a testament to the integrity of all the many officials who've had a role over the years.
Up to now.
H2O Man
(78,098 posts)Glaisne
(605 posts)gain control of Congress, it's basically game over.
2naSalit
(98,285 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)I hate to be so cynical, but sometimes I think that we basically have only about 7 months of democracy left.
I don't want to think that way, but I am pretty sure that is what we will end up with.
Glaisne
(605 posts)Same here. We need to GOTV like our lives depend upon it. Because they do.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Gerrymandering, and the other pro-right wing voting legislation, that still may not be enough.
I hate to say it, but I think they have this sewn up, especially in the swing states. I will be more than happy to eat my words, but just watch. They will do it
WiVoter
(1,501 posts)Thank you for articulating this.
dobleremolque
(1,074 posts)to hire Mulvaney because they predict a Democratic wipe out in 2022.
Glaisne
(605 posts)like crazy it's our best hope. Huge turnout is needed.
Septua
(2,904 posts)No disrespect intended but how do we get DOJ to straighten out the voting issues? Mitch McConnell has said any new voter legislation is just a solution looking for a problem. You know, there ain't nothing wrong with the election processes and procedures as is.
Yeah, fuck you Mitch...
Jakes Progress
(11,213 posts)DU can't pass any legislation. DU can't bring traitors to court.
This is a discussion forum. If there is nothing DU can do, why would you post here?
What DU can do about issues raised in the OP is take to heart the idea of supporting Democratic candidates regardless of flavor. Stop the internecine battles regarding single issues. It wouldn't hurt to voice concern in missives to your representatives that you think they should concentrate on voting and gerrymandering issues. It wouldn't hurt to implore your elected representatives to worry more about taking states to court with the DOJ than getting another bunch of emails published.
No disrespect intended.