The Resistance: Actvism, protests and more! - Page 77 - Politics and Economics

Alexander Bisley
What can Trump opponents do?

Garry Kasparov
You have to reinforce the institutions, steadily and legally, and work through them. If you go too far, and react violently, it will only play into the hands of the Trump administration, which is already portraying all opposition as paid agitators and other ridiculousness straight from Putin’s playbook. When I talk about these things on Twitter or Facebook, I immediately receive a bunch of “Here too!” responses from people living in other authoritarian regimes, from Venezuela to Vietnam.

Riots will only frighten the “moderate middle” you will need as allies sooner or later. If Trump convinces them with lies that the opposition is controlled by dangerous thugs, you’re going to have eight years of Trump and another of his kind to follow. Stick to the facts, repeat them boldly and frequently, so his supporters see the would-be emperor has no bathrobe!

The courts are important, but things won’t really change unless enough Republicans start to see Trump as a liability to their fundraising and reelection chances. That could be quite soon if he can’t fulfill his many campaign promises. Making him look like a loser is crucial. Either the GOP will turn on him or he will be chastened and more likely to compromise. If a demagogue succeeds in claiming credit for wins and scapegoating his enemies for losses, he’s very hard to stop.

Trump will continue to push the limits, to find the cracks in the system that constrains him. America is finding out the hard way that much of its government is based on tradition and the honor system, and not explicit laws. There will be a crisis every day.

Everyone must do what they can themselves and not wait for others to act. If you want change, you have to initiate action, even at a personal level that might seem insignificant. As the motto of Soviet dissidents went: “Do what you must, and so be it.”

02-13-2017 , 04:36 AM

#1902

5ive

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All I know is that no matter what kind of activism you're doing, even if you're staying at home and phone bombing, you should always be wearing a peace symbol on your jacket and have 'born to kill' written on your hat.

02-13-2017 , 04:38 AM

#1903

5ive

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Noze

Bill Cassidy is actually showing his face in the New Orleans metro area for a town hall in about two weeks. Conveniently times on the exact day major Mardi Gras parades begin, just a coincidence obviously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zikzak

So parade right down to the town hall. Get that brass band up front and bring lots of beads.

Quote:

Originally Posted by einbert

Yeah I was gonna say Mardi Gras sounds like the perfect opportunity for a ton of people to get together and voice their opinions at the Town Hall. With music, naturally since it's New Orleans.

Aye, that's planets-align stuff right there.

02-13-2017 , 04:43 AM

#1904

PocketChads

guaranteed 42-10 finish

Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 22,449

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5ive

I think it says something about the duality of man

02-13-2017 , 07:31 AM

#1905

sportsjefe

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Quote:

Riots will only frighten the “moderate middle” you will need as allies sooner or later. If Trump convinces them with lies that the opposition is controlled by dangerous thugs, you’re going to have eight years of Trump and another of his kind to follow. Stick to the facts, repeat them boldly and frequently, so his supporters see the would-be emperor has no bathrobe!

This is legit what worries me the most.

02-13-2017 , 07:56 AM

#1906

raradevils

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Quote:

Originally Posted by sportsjefe

This is legit what worries me the most.

I pointed this out about a month ago and was called delusional. Keep it up, keep stalling, keep the delayed tactics going and the democrats will be destroyed in 2 years. This will have the exact opposite goals you are trying to achieve. The republicans will have a super majority in the house and senate.

This isn't the tactics the tea party used to gain traction.

02-13-2017 , 08:21 AM

#1907

zikzak

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Quote:

Originally Posted by sportsjefe

This is legit what worries me the most.

We haven't had anything close to a riot yet.

No, a couple broken windows from Antifa don't count, no matter how the right tries to portray it.

02-13-2017 , 08:24 AM

#1908

zikzak

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Quote:

Originally Posted by raradevils

That is the exact opposite of what Kasparov said.

02-13-2017 , 11:08 AM

#1909

einbert

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Resistance Action Items 2/13/2017

Senate Only
Filibuster Gorsuch for Supreme Court

Senate and House of Representatives
Vote NO on repeal/dismantling Obamacare (ACA)
Vote NO on any kind of wall
Vote NO on any Muslim Ban/Mass Deportation scheme
Vote NO on dismantling the EPA
Investigate Trump-Flynn-Russia connections as well as Trump's conflicts of interest.

www.contactsenators.com
http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

Find out about an upcoming local town hall.
www.townhallproject.com

Call Jason Chaffetz, head of the House Oversight Committee, and ask him to investigate Trump-Flynn-Russia connections as well as Trump's conflicts of interest.
(202) 225-7751

02-13-2017 , 11:27 AM

#1910

Jiggymike

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Have you tried calling Chaffetz's office yet? Just wondering what kind of response you've gotten. I think I'm going to start calling McCain's office about the Russia connection as well.

02-13-2017 , 11:52 AM

#1911

einbert

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiggymike

Have you tried calling Chaffetz's office yet? Just wondering what kind of response you've gotten. I think I'm going to start calling McCain's office about the Russia connection as well.

Well I've been getting funnelled off into voicemail, but today I just connected directly to his office (pressed 1 for residents of the district) and got to talk to somebody. I informed him about the Flynn issue, he wasn't quite up to date on it so I filled him in on some details. I talked about the Emoluments Clause, the Hatch Act, and how Trump is just making us a laughing stock in front of the world. We talked for about ten minutes and he said he would pass the concerns along.

02-13-2017 , 01:04 PM

#1912

Jiggymike

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Wonder if he was just humoring you but at the least the sheer volume of calls should have them thinking. McCain's voicemail is full and has a recording about how they are unable to record comments fast enough to reply to them, will be trying frequently and emailing as well, he is notoriously quick about replying.

02-13-2017 , 01:04 PM

#1913

einbert

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Focus, People
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/focus-people--2

Quote:

There's a side conversation occurring among Democrats today about whether protests are fueling momentum and organizing for a Democratic electoral comeback or diverting energy from it. For me, it's all of the above. I do not believe they're in opposition to each other at all. But for everyone who is worried, determined, angry or anything else to save the country from Trumpism, please focus on this. If all Donald Trump's nominees are confirmed by the Senate, which is quite likely, we will have in the next few months at least four House special elections for seats now held by Republicans. These contests are each critical for stemming the tide of Trumpism.

[...]
Second is Georgia's 6th congressional district, represented until days ago by Rep. Tom Price (R), before he was confirmed as the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Governor has called a special election for April 18th. This is the district I really want to talk about.

Georgia's 6th District is built on a series of affluent and highly educated suburbs of Atlanta. It's a conservative district. The arch-conservative Price has won it handily in the last three elections. He took 64.5% of the vote in 2012, 66.04% in 2014 and 61.7% just last November. But beneath those numbers there's a more complicated story.

In 2012, Mitt Romney won this district by 23 points (61-38). In 2016, Donald Trump won it by just 1 point (48-47). That's a massive drop off, which signals deep opposition to Donald Trump. What's more, the last three congressional cycles show another dimension of the problem. In 2012, Price spent $1.77m against $44k by his Democratic opponent. 2014 was similar. Price spent $1.724m while his Democratic opponent spent $14k. In 2016, at least according to the latest FEC filings listed on OpenSecrets.org, Price sent $2.462m against literally nothing spent by his opponent, Democrat Rodney Stooksbury. In other words, it seems fair to say that the current version of Georgia 6th has never been seriously contested by the Democrats.
[...]

But here's the key. You can't win elections without contesting. On one level, that's just a truism. But it's a more complex truth than many people realize. If Democrats were to win the 6th District that would of course put them one seat closer to winning back control of the House in 2018. But even if they don't, they will win other big advantages.

1: You learn new information. Just like you train to run a race, you often have to lose campaigns before you can win them. Operatives gain experience. Theories and messages are tested and either refined or discarded. You also learn things about particular states and districts. They're not all the same. Did Democrats know Hillary Clinton would win or come close in Texas 32nd or Georgia 6th? Probably not. They may not have known if they were contesting those seats. But they would have had a much better shot at it. They clearly lacked enough information about the situation in the post-industrial midwest. The same values and politics can't be expressed the same way in every part of the country. Precisely the same politics can't win or even be competitive in every part of the country. Whether you call it a "50 state strategy" or something else, this is one reason parties need to contest elections everywhere.

2. It improves recruiting. If a Democrat wins the 6th District in April, I guarantee you Democratic recruiting for 2018 will be transformed overnight. The most qualified candidates and those with the most potential generally don't want to run if they don't have a shot of winning. A win is a proof of concept. It shows it's not just possible but realistic. Even a close loss, though, in a district which is supposed to be solidly Republican would have a comparable if lesser effect. You can't take advantage of a wave unless you've done the recruiting that makes it possible and that has to happen months or a year in advantage.

3. Psychology and Community Shape Outcomes. Whether it's a state or a jurisdiction, if you live in a place where the party opposite from yours routinely wins by 70%, you're not likely to parade your politics that loudly. You're also much less likely to get involved in campaigns, let alone run for office. Are Democrats in Idaho or Pennsylvania more likely to get involved in state or congressional campaigns? The question answers itself. Now, it's not that Oklahoma is a diehard Republican state because all the liberals are quiet or don't know each are there. It's a very conservative state. That is a reality not a skewed perception. But 60-40 districts operate differently than 55-45 districts. Even relatively small differences have big effects. What's more, jurisdictions with vibrant oppositions have the capacity for persuasion at the local level which is quite different from parachuting in every two or four years. It's simple psychology or even physiology. You can't gain strength if you're already dead. And if you don't even exist or contest elections in a district or a state or any other electoral jurisdiction you're dead. Contesting elections means learning things, shaping politics suited to the particulars of a specific jurisdiction. It activates voters who might not otherwise be involved. That matters a lot even if a given race can't be won.

02-13-2017 , 02:09 PM

#1914

Shame Trolly !!!1!

Neo-Gorean

Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 4,841

Quote:

Originally Posted by einbert

Focus, People

Quote:

There's a side conversation occurring among Democrats today about whether protests are fueling momentum and organizing for a Democratic electoral comeback or diverting energy from it...

There's a ongoing mainstream conversation the regards the time spent organizing for the donkeys as wasted, at best. As a non-conservative labor activist, this is simply a given.

Right now, mainly because of their collective incompetence, the donkeys are enjoying all sorts of support from allies they don't normally have. These allies are simply not ever going to be roped into being good little donkey lovers. Tell us to 'focus', and we'll tell you to get f***ed.

My advice to the donkey lovers is this: ride the wave if you want, but don't ever try to imagine it's your break. Stop trying to coop civil society.

02-13-2017 , 03:05 PM

#1915

Loki

binary duo

Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 12,772

Quote:

Originally Posted by zikzak

That is the exact opposite of what Kasparov said.

It's also the exact opposite of the reality we just experienced in November. I guess the great retcon on 2017 has already begun.

02-13-2017 , 06:08 PM

#1916

TheNewT50

adept

Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,009

Quote:

Originally Posted by einbert

Focus, People
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/focus-people--2

They didn't bother discussing the mechanics of the Georgia 6 election at all.

There are currently about 8 republican candidates and 4 democrats. If in the election any one candidate gets >50% of the overall vote, they win.

But it's very likely that won't happen. In that case, the two candidates with the highest vote totals will go into a runoff election, regardless of party affiliation.

Being in the #5thdistrict myself I can't vote in it, and don't really know anybody in the 6th district, but my outsider's opinion is that they really need to narrow the dem field if they want any hope of getting a dem into the runoff election. If there are 2 republicans in the runoff, as is likely, there won't even be a chance to have this be a galvanizing "referendum on Trump" or whatever.

02-13-2017 , 06:58 PM

#1917

Huehuecoyotl

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02-13-2017 , 08:34 PM

#1918

zikzak

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SATELLITE RALLIES

Atlanta - 12:00 PM, Arts Center Station

Austin - 12:00 PM, Texas State Capitol

Boston - 12:00 PM, Boston Common

Chicago - 12:00 PM, Trump International Hotel

Concord, NH - 3:00 PM, New Hampshire State House

Denver - 5:00 PM, Colorado State Capitol

Indianapolis - 12:30 PM, Indiana State House

Marquette, MI - 12:00 PM, 3rd & Washington

Milwaukee - 6:00 PM, Ziedler-Union Square

Murphys, CA - 12:00 PM, Murphys Park

New York - 12:00 PM, Columbus Circle

Philadelphia - 12:00 PM, Thomas Paine Plaza

Portland, OR - 11:00 AM, Edith Green–Wendell Wyatt Federal Building

Salt Lake City - 9:00 AM, Salt Lake City and County Building

San Francisco - 12:00 PM, Civic Center Plaza

Washington, DC - 1:00 PM, Lafayette Square

02-13-2017 , 08:39 PM

#1919

5ive

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Quote:

Originally Posted by PocketChads

I think it says something about the duality of man

the Jungian thing, sir

02-13-2017 , 08:39 PM

#1920

goofyballer

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lol, one of these isn't like the other:

Quote:

Originally Posted by zikzak

Murphys, CA - 12:00 PM, Murphys Park

Murphys, CA, population ~2,200

Nice place though, underrated wine tasting area.

02-13-2017 , 10:33 PM

#1921

sylar

Ivan Drago's homeslice

Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 20,307

I'm having trouble believing in solely jamming congress people's mailboxes and phone lines with the same message. Do me a favor, look up three community leaders in the same district/state, and send them a copy of the postcard. Try to write to them personally.

02-13-2017 , 11:22 PM

#1922

BigRedChief

centurion

Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 182

Quote:

Originally Posted by zikzak

SATELLITE RALLIES

i don't like these not my President rally's. Besides the violence, it's the worse thing we can do to scare off the middle. And make no mistake, we need the middle.

02-13-2017 , 11:32 PM

#1923

Shame Trolly !!!1!

Neo-Gorean

Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 4,841

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

i don't like these not my President rally's. Besides the violence...

Do you have a time machine? Today's the 13th, how can you know there'll be violence on the 20th?

02-13-2017 , 11:32 PM

#1924

microbet

Solar Powered

Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 56,996

I don't think there will be much if any violence at these protests.

And, we need the middle to say "Not my President."

Waiting four years is not a good option.

02-13-2017 , 11:33 PM

#1925

Loki

binary duo

Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 12,772

The middle didn't seem to get too offended at the prospect of war crimes and jailing political opponents, maybe they aren't the dough-eyed snowflakes people like to pretend they are.

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