We are reaching the point where the Democrats have to start some sort of campaign to turn the House midterms around. Depending on Liz Cheney doesn’t seem like the best plan.

So I was pleased, in a certain way, to see my friend the economist Brad DeLong recommend this piece by Micah Sifry, about whom I know little. (His bio mentions being on the board of Consumer Reports, for whatever that is worth.) The point is that the Dems have to make politics back into a social experience, not try to flood the zone with more and more expensive TV ads.

The national Democratic party is like the Titanic with the iceberg in sight but no ability to steer, struggling to govern with a very narrow majority in Congress and failing to connect much with voters.… This rings true to me. Politics as it is practiced today, in the form of messaging wars on television and online, is just too far from most people’s lives. A well-made ad may “go viral” on social media and generate campaign cash, but there’s not much evidence voters pay much attention or get persuaded by paid media.…[A progressive consultant] goes on to describe what that needs to look like: “Candidates and party committees should be spending time doing things like sponsoring community events like [Ohio Senator] Sherrod Brown’s ‘movie nights,’ which he does in the old movie theaters of Ohio’s mid-sized towns, where the theme is to build community spirit and togetherness…

Micah Sifry: Messaging Won’t Save Democrats; Community Might

Lots of juicy stuff to discuss, the CA primary, the fall of Sheriff Ahern, the hearings, and more! Andy will analyze the primary results (from several other states as well) then short presentations on readings will begin with Naomi on important book Politics is for Power by Eitan Hersh — everyone is invited to talk about something they have read recently on politics. 

Then we will discuss our action agenda, including canvassing plans. Hopefully the primary and the hearings will have motivated everyone to roll up their sleeves and get moving. Everyone welcome. 

The site Judy recommended that we discussed today.

Note some of the protest voting for Greens didn’t seem as popular with us.

I received a request for info on the downballot races in the June primary.

Unfortunately, I myself know little about the candidates for County Superintendent of Schools, Controller, etc. So, perhaps we can all look into the values of these worthies, to discuss on Sunday.

The pro-choice video we saw at today’s meeting.

📺 NEW VIDEO

Republicans have taken away your right to choose. Now take away their right to govern. #GOPHandmaidsTale pic.twitter.com/uHZVjH5Qfh

— MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) May 3, 2022

The producers are technically a SuperPAC.

We can make predictions on what Putin’s Victory Day Parade will look like.

We can also discuss two articles Bruce links.

Echoing the Margaret Mead quote, Patti Crane—on the last statewide Indivisible call—shared an inspirational TEDxHamburg talk about small groups of activists causing major divestment from fossil fuels.  Check out the link when you need an energizing reprieve from the depressing news cycle.

I haven’t been able to think through the implications of the upcoming repeal of Roe; maybe it is not even my place to. I want to point out that today, Speaker Pelosi appeared in Texas for incumbent Henry Cuellar (TX–28), who is literally the last anti-abortion Democrat in the House. (He also had his home raided by the FBI, which appears to be looking into his financial relationship with Azerbaijan.) He is in a primary run-off against a progressive young woman, Jessica Cisneros. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders endorsed her.

Pelosi has been the most effective Speaker in memory in terms of holding her caucus together, but this seems tone deaf. The theory is that, with Democrats having done very badly in the Rio Grande districts in 2020, Cuellar has a much better chance of retaining the seat. Is it worth it, for the cost to the image of the party?

You have to admire the Republicans’ commitment to team play and the long game, as enforced primarily by Mitch McConnell and the oligarchs who back him. While Dems cheer the bend of the arc of history, he worked incrementally over decades to orchestrate the takeover of the government to bend it back.

Democrats seem more interested in not losing too badly. Keep the filibuster, so that we can mitigate damage after the Republicans win. (This even supposes a number of Republicans would still support the filibuster when it works to their disadvantage, which is far from certain.) Instead, Democrats celebrate individual performances in a losing cause. You can see this today in the persons enraged at the suggestion cancer-ridden RBG should have retired early in the Obama Administration. Ginsburg’s rhetoric will sound so good in Blue State textbooks, but her last public statement, released post mortem, was a wheedling, feckless request that her successor be nominated by the winner of the impending presidential election. Of course, once they finished laughing, the Republicans did no such thing.

We did not intend to change the off-week parity when we cancelled last week. However, we have some appropriate May Day activities!

The Focus for Democracy people are doing another fundraiser for their downballot election work.

To attend our next event for the States Project Sunday, May 1st, at 5pm PT/8pm ET, click here or below to register and a Zoom link will be emailed to you.

Bruce brings us some reading material for next week. (This may or may not preview on the web page, depending if WordPress notices which price plan we are on. If not, it should have a download option.)

And perhaps with the distance of time, the experience of these Assembly candidates may seem droll.

‘Zoom-bombers’ drop lewd video, racist comments at Sacramento candidate forum.

Due to Covid exposure concerns on top of other issues, we are cancelling our meeting for today. We will meet next Sunday May 8th for a gala re-charge for the election season. At the meeting we will celebrate the fact we helped get Mallory McMorrow elected in the first place (with Sister District), Bruce will lead a discussion of a complex political issue, Naomi will release her first Twelve Angry People production and Andy will look into his crystal ball to tell us about the future. Please stay safe during this period of continuing Covid challenges and collect your favorite slogans/memes/rants for our next meeting.

Postcards available in the Little Free Library and printed out Vote Forward letters on request. See everyone May 8th.