Sunday Morning Coffee 8 November 2020

Yesterday afternoon following the announcement that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won the election the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo tweeted this: "Welcome back America!" How very true. Welcome to the Victory Edition of Sunday Morning Coffee. Politics, religion and opinion every Sunday Morning for years.  Let's go.

Done Yet?

Just hours after watching Joe and Kamala address the nation I started thinking about the future...in the short term. If you are done cheering and feeling a bit hung-over from last night know there is work to be done, NOW! You need to know that the rich folks that run Wall Street are cheering a divided government because they know it will be impossible to get tax roll-backs through the senate. It will be tough to get mega-corporations, that currently pay no tax, to pay their fair share. It will be tough to get health care for Americans. In fact, it will be impossible for the Biden White House to do much of anything because standing in the way is the United States Senate.

We've been here before. We know that Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will do what he did to President Obama...stonewall. That, my friends is how it works.

So, if you are done celebrating it's time to get to work in Georgia. The election there is on January 5.  Right now you can donate, volunteer and make a difference for the positive election of Rev. Raphael Warnock to the U.S. Senate. Right now you can donate, volunteer and make a difference for the positive election of Jon Ossoff to the U.S. Senate.

Look, nothing...NOTHING...gets done unless we wage war in Georgia and get this done. You can make a difference. Let's do this. (Photo: Politico)

Then...

Then we can start working on ridding ourselves of the tragedy that is Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA). This embarrassment has got to stop. She sold her soul and the souls of hundreds of Iowans for a red cap of shame. She is unfit for office and, just like her idol, has failed in her basic duty to keep Iowans safe.

We can argue, later, about who is the best person to take her on but right now we need to unite behind that mission. It's going to be tough because we failed at retaking the Iowa House and Senate. Do not think for a moment that she and her cadre are going to "moderate". They are going to double down on making life in Iowa a living hell. You want proof?  Yesterday Sen. Bran Zaun (R-Urbandale) was whipping up the faithful at a MAGA rally on the steps of the Iowa State Capital.  They are not gone or silent they are motivated to attack.

Partly Personal

I know a short cup but I'm pissed off. Many of my friends lost on Tuesday...too many. While we can enjoy the victory the nation gave us we should hang our heads in shame for what Iowa did on Election Day. Yes, we were able to return Cindy Axne to Congress. Yes, it looks like Rita Hart, with a lead of only 163 votes, will go to Washington. But, that ain't good enough.

You want to win in Iowa? Start listening to the people of Iowa and not the DCCC or the DNC. Yeah, I'm pissed off.

But, there is this. I have never met Wendy Martin in person. She works in Washington D.C. and we met a couple of years ago because she handles payments for the organization she works for.  So, Wendy and I met...on the phone.  Last night, after Shabbat, Wendy called me. We had talked earlier in the week, expressing our concern about the election and where it was headed. Last night we cried in joy and talked about the future of our nation.  There is something magical about chance meetings...because they are not "chance" at all. Wendy is all in for the Georgia Senate Race on 5 January. Can we do...less?

Thanks for reading. Have a great Sunday...now let's go!

 

Comments

[Janet Lark]

We need to rebuild the Democratic Party.... the boogie man of Socialism used by GOP hurts us. Start looking around for leaders NOW. 2 years will go fast!

[George Ensley]

Dems must never EVER forget that personal door knocking works ... face to face ... telephone and texting and postcard writing and social media are BS compared to face to face. The Iowa Dems did a HUGE zig instead of a zag, and cost us way too many seats from supervisors to legislature to senator to president.
The contrast in tactics couldn't have been more stark. Socially distanced door knocking handing out lit or phone calling/texting/postcard writing.
I am SOOOOOOO damned pissed!!!
I am still trying to monetize the value of a jumbo jet landing at an airport to give a speech. In the old days these were called "whistle stops", and they won elections . And trump did 4 or so a day.
JD had Sioux City Sioux, and this year even that wasn't enough.
I still keep wondering what would have happened with a really effective national promotion based on socially distanced door knocking plus other proven tactics.
In Boone County we got wiped .... worst ever, up and down the line.

I gave up being County Chair because I failed to increase our registered Dem numbers enough.
This year BC Dems fell further behind by about 250 registrations by failing to have a registration effort. I don't know what they did with the $18,000 warchest, but I do know not a single local / statehouse / national office Dem was elected to anything at all, up and down the ballot in Boone County.

At least back in 2014, with the "All-inclusive" brochure that I put together .... ONE person lost (to Chip Baltimore). It highlighted each candidate and several fundamental Dem belifs and how they benefited people. I was criticized then .... but the DAMNED THING WORKED!!!

WHAT a damned waste in money!!! We had the resources, and they were wasted!!!

[Michael P Libbie]

George, thanks for the comment and I feel your pain. We both know that nothing can really replace personal interaction. I too questioned the call...we should have been able to do door drops. (I know we did here in our Windsor Heights neighborhood and contacted each of the registered 1,800+ Dems and it made a difference. There are high quality ways to get this done...but, as you know it takes a hell of a lot of work. Thank you for your continued support...we've got 5 January to work on in Georgia and then 2022. It never really stops.... Best to you my friend! Michael

[Michael P Libbie]

Janet: That is right...we are never really "done". Much will be asked of our volunteers and it truly is for the soul of our cities and state. Once we get through 5 January in Georgia we can start on 2022. If you can, join me in that effort. We've got two excellent candidates going against some really flawed sitting senators. If you can chip in a couple of bucks to Jon and Raphael that would be great. Thanks for reading and for your comment! - Michael