Election day is November 8. Mark the date on the calendar in red, circle it, put a reminder up on the fridge, or, better yet, get the ducks in order and send in your mail-in ballots. There is no excuse for not voting this time around because this could be the last chance Americans have to cast a ballot that counts in an election. There are people running in multiple states who, if they are elected, and they get their way, will work to do away with individuals casting ballots in elections and a new ruling class will emerge which controls politics, abolishes term limits and listens to crazy, baseless, false conspiracy theories instead of the truth.
The biggest advantage that Democrats now have on their side in this midterm election is Donald Trump. Yes, that's what I meant to say. Even though the orange headed buffoon hasn't announced his candidacy for President, and he's not running in this election, he is on the ballot in the form of every election denier, conspiracy theorist, extremist and rich one percenter who is. It's pretty clear that most Americans, a clear majority that shows up in polls as a consistent 60% who do not approve of him, can't stand him and have no desire at all to see him ever live in the White House or serve as President again. If the Department of Justice does its job, his next government residence will be federal prison.
But the voters, which includes all but a handful of Democrats, over 65% of independent and third partiers, and a growing number of Republicans in double-digit percentages, don't want him back. And that means that they must show up at the polls in record numbers, especially for a mid-term, and beat back all of the extremist nut jobs who have won nominations for office. I believe there are enough of these people, even in some of the southern backwaters, to send a decisive message and give government the legislative power it needs over the next two years to enact legislation and get court rulings to block any attempt by Trump Fascists to have any influence.
The opposition to Trump, which includes Democrats, a large majority of independents and third partiers, and some Republicans, has been handed some political gifts over the past few months that, in spite of some pollsters resistance to change their factors, is showing up anyway. The Supreme Court, dominated by conservatives, gave us the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. I believe that was the clincher, though I think the January 6th hearings, and then the news that Trump was still holding classified documents at Mar-a-Lago has also motivated voters to move to the left on their mid-term ballot. We've come a long way since Watergate toppled Richard Nixon. There's a virtual expectation of some kind of allowance for Trump's corruption and criminal behavior that has given him an advantage and stymied the legal system. But I think the voters will call this out. Even some Evangelical leaders have their limit when it comes to insurrection and potential treason.
And what are the Republicans offering, except to feed the conspiracy theories, deny that the most secure elections in the world aren't, and letting trillionaires take our hard earned dollars?
Encouraged by Democrats in Red Country
Watching news clips of Beto O'Rourke campaign rallies in county seats of conservative stronghold counties in Texas is exciting. Proportionately, when a thousand people show up and pack out a venue at a school or fairground in a place like Mineral Wells (population 15,130), most of them Beto supporters, and they drown out the few Abbott supporters who have come out holding signs, it sends a message. Abbott isn't showing up in those kinds of places, he prefers the millionaire's clubs in the suburbs of the big cities.
It appears to be working. Voter registration in Uvalde County has been headed upward since the school shooting, and it surged after O'Rourke's visit there. There are still pundits who say he won't quite make it, that Abbott, as distasteful as he is, isn't disliked as much as Ted Cruz, whom Beto almost defeated in the senate race. But these rallies are focusing on Democrats in areas where they haven't really turned out very well since the GOP became predominant in the state, getting voters registered and going door to door making sure people get out and vote. And as close as it appears to be, I wouldn't bet against Beto at this point, especially since Abbott isn't showing up in those places.
At the top of the list is Stacey Abrams. I would bet on her becoming the next governor of Georgia. She was massively under-rated the last time she ran for statewide office, and it appears that the GOP's tactics to suppress the black vote only helps her organization register and get more black voters out. It also picks up a lot of support from independents and third partiers. Then there's Cheri Beasley, who, without a lot of help from the DNC, is tied with her Republican opponent in North Carolina. That's another election where I'd bet on the Democrat. She, too, is not assuming anything and is rallying Democratic voters in predominantly Republican areas of the state, something that I don't believe is a waste of time.
So Do You Get the Point?
We need to do everything we can to make sure the voter turnout on our side, and for our candidates, is an overwhelming flood of resolve that sends a clear message to the conspiracy theorists, extremists, fascists and Trumpies. We don't want you in our government! In addition to votes, I think this effort will probably also take courts and protesters to convince reticent GOP election officials that the power lies with the people of the United States, and not with a judge or a state legislature.
Let's do this!
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