4/5/24

Election countdown
7 MONTHS LEFT, BIDEN
STILL TRAILS TRUMP
So, there's lots to do before Nov. 5;
And some reasons to be upbeat

CREDIT: Illustration by Frank Gerardi

SEVEN MONTHS, that’s all that’s left  until the most fateful election of our lifetime.
     In the blink of an eye, April 5 will turn into Nov. 5,
    And we’ll know whether the United States has a future as a democracy under President Joe Biden, or becomes a dictatorship under Donald Trump.
     A lot can happen between today and the first Tuesday of November.
     Joe Biden’s age can catch up with him. Donald Trump’s age can catch up with  him. China can make a move on Taiwan.  We could betray Ukraine and let Putin have his way with that brave country.
     Many good things can happen. The Israel-Hamas crisis may find resolution. The majority of Americans could decide this spring and summer that Biden is one of history’s the best presidents.
    
     As of today, however, the race seems stuck where's it's been for months: Donald is leading Joe in the average of polls tracked by the Real Clear Politics website, 46.9 percent to 45.8 percent – a 1.1 point advantage for the dictator-in-waiting.
     We are warned not to put too much faith in such “early” polling – can you imagine you or any other rational person actually answering a phone with an alleged pollster on the other end?
     What we can conclude from the polls is that Donald Trump has substantial support, despite the fact that he is a repulsive, unqualified, traitorous, criminal  and cruel psychopath.
     What to do?
     Here are two positive suggestions:
     The first is to do the practical things within the reach of most of us. They might seem inconsequential, but when multiplied by thousands of people, they can produce thrilling results.
     The second is to stay positive, because there are reasons to be optimistic.

SEND A POSTCARD
     As to real actions: we can send postcards to folks in other states, people who may need a friendly nudge to do something they hadn’t considered: voting.
     Many groups have organized ways to do this. I’ll mention one: Activate America. The organization focuses on campaigns that can help Democrats control congress.
     Activate America has identified registered voters who might not be focusing on the election, but might be encouraged to vote, and vote Democratic. Volunteers sign up online, and Activate America emails a list of voters, and instruction of what to do.
     Volunteers supply their own postcards and stamps.    

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ACTIVATE AMERICA'S website. Click on the image to access the site

      Yesterday,  just to get started, I signed up for a list of 10 Arizona voters, who are to be asked to  consider Ruben Gallego, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. One suggested message, to be written on the back of the postcard:

 Dear (Voter’s name),
   MAGA Republicans support a national abortion ban. And that’s just the beginning. Republicans are also attacking birth control and fertility treatments.
   We all deserve freedom to make these personal decisions. Elect Democrat Ruben Gallego to the U.S. Senate to protect our rights.
  Thanks,
     Brian, a volunteer

     Activate America says to print the message, because some people aren’t familiar with cursive handwriting. Also, sign your first name only, with no return address. Stick to the wording – a lot of thought has gone into it.
     Let’s be real. No one of us can sit at our dining room table and change the course of history.
     It takes millions and millions of postcards to move just a  tiny fraction of voters. But many elections are close, and a relatively few postcards might make the difference.

AS FOR STAYING OPTIMISTIC
     A friend suggested looking at the website of Simon Rosenberg. It’s thankfully NOT titled “Simon Says,” but has a  mischievous name “Hopium Chronicles."
     Rosenberg is a glass half-full kind of guy, and is crazy positive about Biden’s and the Democrats’ chances this fall.
     If Biden is behind in the Real Clear Politics average of polls, Rosenberg cites 14 polls that since February have Biden ahead.
     He says he should be taken seriously, because he’s been right about Democrats’ success in recent elections.
     Rosenberg is two-note messenger:

• Worry less.
• Work hard. Work really, really, really hard. Donate to candidates, help key candidates, going door-to-door, calling on the phone, texting (and sending millions of postcards). Wishing won’t do. Elections are won because people act on their hopes.

     Rosenberg has a chant-like summary of his analysis, repeated over and over, including this version that appeared on yesterday’s website:

  Joe Biden is a good President. The country is better off. The Democratic Party is strong, unified, and winning elections all across the country. And they have Trump - the ugliest political thing we’ve all ever seen.

      Rosenberg is not a modest man, and he is obviously pleased -  very pleased - that he’s recently been interviewed by the New York Times, and, with no hesitation or apology, he linked to the article on his own site.

     In their back and forth, Rosenberg and Adam Nagourney, the Times' interviewer, don't get into the whether or not the fairy godmother is coming to rescue us.
     Which I find refreshing.
     In a democracy, it comes down to us, actual little people, with our postcards and our ballpoint pens.