They used to be called the lunatic fringe. Now they're called Republicans.
Today's Republican Party is under the control of people who are a danger to ... all the rest of us. They love Putin. They love TFG. They hate democracy. They hate Democrats. They are irrational human beings who can, very possibly, destroy our Constitution and all of our freedoms.
Perhaps about a third of Republican voters and politicians are pro-Putin and anti-Biden. Think about that for a moment. They want Putin, a war criminal, a man who condones and orders torture, rape and mass murder, a man with no morals or conscience, to be a model for our "leader." They love Putin. They hate Joe Biden.
And perhaps a majority of them believe that the election was "stolen" from TFG and are doing everything possible to "right this wrong." Some elected Republican idiots, (Marjory Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Gym Jordan, Louis Gohmert and their ilk), actually believe this shit. Others, who are more educated, (Cruz, Graham, Cotton, Hawley, etc.), are using deadly lies to further their ambitions. It's impossible to understand how any sane person can buy into this collection of beings who are either total fools/morons, or those who represent total evil.
So here's the point. Many have given in to the belief that it's inevitable that these crazies will take over the House and perhaps even the Senate in this year's elections. And given their gerrymandering and the insane voter suppression laws passed in many states, it's hard to disagree. HOWEVER, if they win, America is over. We can't match the incredible propaganda machine of our enemies. (Yes, they are our domestic enemies.) Yet, somehow, someway, we can't allow our way of life to be stolen from us. We need a GOTV effort far beyond what any of us can imagine. And we also need a Department of Justice moving quickly to prevent the theft, or the non-counting, or the "loss" of legal votes.
Joe, Chuck, Nancy, are you listening? We're at a turning point in American history. Time to drop the niceties. Time to call out the Republicans who are trying to destroy our country. Time to make clear that if Republicans win, we'll lose our way of life. Time to use the megaphones you've been given and that none of the rest of us have. You've been put into positions of power. It's past time that you used that power to its fullest extent.
= new reply since forum marked as read
We used to have to walk the precinct to GOTV, 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 even if you live in solid blue area.
Now is the time to get people registered & aware of changing voting laws. Here are some GOTV sources.
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, you’ll 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 people’s 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.
Here's another great DU post with a ton of GOTV links. https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216380145
Also, here is DU's Activist Headquarters group: https://democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1011
We just need to make sure our Dem voters stay informed and motivated.
That has always been our greatest challenge.
