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It will all come down to who wants to win - October 19 Good News Roundup [1]
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Date: 2022-10-19
Dicentra (bleeding heart) is a spring flower, but I continue to employ it as a symbol of the dawning renewal of the liberal spring.
Good Day, Gnuville and Happy Wednesday!
Well, I see that three weeks out, the enemies of democracy are pulling out all the stops to deflate and defeat our side psychologically, so that they may defeat us at the polls. How about we don’t let that happen, hmm?
x Look, I get on this website and check the latest polls and worry like the rest of you. But the thing is, these races are all close and will decided by how hard we work over the next three weeks. So, get off this website, pick and campaign, and volunteer, or call, or give. Thanks. — Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) October 18, 2022
This is an extremely important election, not only for us, but for the opposing side, too. They know that if they lose, we will shore up democracy like nobody’s business and their chances of pushing us this close to the edge will be lost again for another generation or three. They are going to fight like hell — fight dirty, cheat, intimidate — they’ll do anything to win. And they have lots of powerful backers and allies in the media.
That’s the enemy we face — so let’s quit hoping that the media will report fairly right now. Let’s stop expecting the Republicans to finally feel shame, finally experience shock at their own depravity, finally come up to a red line even they won’t cross. It isn’t going to happen. For them, it’s war and they will do anything.
So, no more wasting precious energy being angry that the papers and the TV are flogging the R talking points, holding Democrats to a higher standard, normalizing the cruelty and criminality of the MAGA movement. We need to buckle down and get the work done! Because we are the majority — even if our numbers are under attack and voters are being suppressed — we still have more voters than they do if we can GOTV!
That’s it. That’s the whole ballgame right there. We GOTV: we win. And this midterm election is going to come down to who wants to win. I say, WE DO! WE WILL!
L👀K at Georgia! What a start! (and definitely not what the pollsters were predicting based on conventional midterm wisdom). The polling will be of very limited value this year because it seems to be based on historical midterm patterns but this is is no ordinary midterm election. The events of the past 18+ months — beginning with January 6 and going right through to the egregious SCOTUS decisions — have changed everything and the voters are already proving it:
x Record midterm turnout on Day 1 of early voting in Georgia: About 124,000 in-person votes cast, smashing the previous high of 71,000 on the first day of early voting in 2018.
https://t.co/nnobjHw2G8 pic.twitter.com/X4UWjOJeQn — Mark Niesse (@markniesse) October 18, 2022
Read this excellent thread:
x This is a major development in our understanding of the 2022 election.
Turnout in GA on first day early vote is way way above record turnout in 2018 and May come close to 2020 general election.
https://t.co/9SoQQx33SD — Simon Rosenberg (@SimonWDC) October 17, 2022
Generation Z don’t have landline telephones and know how to block unknown callers on their cell phones. And they definitely aren’t showing up in “likely voter” lists because having only been eligible to vote for (at most) 2 election cycles, there’s no history to point to “likely voter”. They are not being represented fully in polling. As Mrmuni12 likes to say, that’s a Dem undercount:
x Just your occasional reminder that pollsters’ likely voters screens fail to account for the record high youth turnout we’ll see in November. — Santiago Mayer (@santiagomayer_) October 18, 2022
Ignore the polls and keep working! Get all your family and friends to vote — EARLY. If there are impediments to voting (and for many people, especially in red states, there will be), by voting early you give yourself time to sort them out.
x Is any pollster modeling an electorate that even comes close to presidential turnout? Obviously, this doesn't mean we will, but it shows how all of our reliance on polling & quotes from consultants could be problematic.
https://t.co/GZTqnLoif8 — Brian Rosenwald (@brianros1) October 18, 2022
Last word on the subject from Politics Girl (this will get your blood pumping!)
x Stop saying the Democrats are going to lose. It’s defeatist bullshit. pic.twitter.com/ugRnHRcuBb — PoliticsGirl (@IAmPoliticsGirl) October 16, 2022
💪💙 Joe Biden and the Dems Deliver 💙💪
Biden vows abortion legislation as top priority next year, Seung Min Kim, AP, October 18, 2022.
“If you care about the right to choose, then you gotta vote,” Biden said during remarks at the Howard Theatre in Washington. He urged those in attendance to recall how they felt when the Supreme Court in late June overturned the landmark 1973 ruling legalizing abortion, and repeatedly lambasted Republicans nationwide who have pushed for restrictions on the procedure, often without exceptions. Biden said “the only sure way to stop these extremist laws that are putting in jeopardy women’s health and rights is for Congress to pass a law.” He acknowledged that right now, “we’re short a handful of votes” to reinstate abortion protections at the federal level, urging voters to send more Democrats to Congress. “If we do that, here’s the promise I make to you and the American people: The first bill that I will send to the Congress will be to codify Roe v. Wade,” Biden said. “And when Congress passes it, I’ll sign it in January, 50 years after Roe was first decided the law of the land.” x "President Biden said that the conservative Supreme Court majority and extremist Republicans are about to find out about the political power of women"
https://t.co/F51KgloyoO via @politicususa — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) October 18, 2022
Biden just took a big swing at lowering gas prices ahead of the midterm elections, Juliana Kaplan, Business insider, October 18, 2022.
8 Million Americans have already used Biden’s easy, fast student loan forgiveness website
x 12 million applications submitted since last Friday!
https://t.co/yCquAX1qLL — Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) October 18, 2022
x Who’s eligible?
1. You must have a balance on a federally-owned student loan.
2. Your income must be less than $125K ($250K for married couples)
If you are a Pell Grant recipient, you are eligible for up to $20,000 in student debt relief. — Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) October 18, 2022
Democrats make hearing aids available over the counter & far less costly
x Starting today: Americans can buy hearing aids over the counter, without a prescription or exam.
This will lower the price of a pair by nearly $3,000 – providing more breathing room for an estimated 30 million Americans. pic.twitter.com/u5U1vF2EbV — The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 17, 2022
This looks like a good place to insert some more perspective on polls and the election:
x New @MorningConsult poll:
- Dems lead 48-45, unchanged from last week
- Biden approval 46%, highest in 2022
- Dems have growing enthusiasm edge, improving scores on the economy 4/
https://t.co/eXWnGTs3GH — Simon Rosenberg (@SimonWDC) October 18, 2022
Take the media slant with a grain or 3 of salt:
x The beltway media seems curiously invested in the false narrative that Republicans have taken lead in the generic ballot (based e.g. by flacking one outlier poll & ignoring all others). Dems remain in the lead. The latest polls from @538politics:
https://t.co/NV2nazBqzS pic.twitter.com/K9aoypDRUz — Prof Michael E. Mann (@MichaelEMann) October 18, 2022
x The Ds are staying loyal to the Ds 😊 Nobody that I talked with said they were converting and voting R or I- they know what is at stake. — Teri Mills MS, RN, CNE 😷 💉🇺🇦👩🏿⚖️ 🌊 (@NurseTeriA) October 17, 2022
⚖️ Justice ⚖️
JUST IN: Steele Dossier Source Danchenko Acquitted in Yet Another Blow to Durham Investigation, Kipp Jones, Mediaite, October 18, 2022.
Durham has now lost two cases in federal court in relation to the origin of the dossier. It is widely believed the case brought against Danchenko was his final attempt at a criminal conviction. Trump had predicted Durham’s investigation would uncover what he called the “crime of the century.” Instead, it appears the investigation will wrap up within a year without a single conviction. x Durham is done. His grand jury has expired. Over several years, all he got was one guilty plea from a low level FBI agent who didn't serve a day in prison. The Russia investigation was NOT A HOAX, and now that's been proven.
https://t.co/Li5np4CQg2 — Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) October 18, 2022
And if you need to remind anyone you know…
x If Merrick Garland had shut the Durham prosecutions down instead of letting them proceed to these embarrassing losses, we wouldn’t have such clear examples for the MAGAts that their conspiracy theories were just that. To those who attacked Garland: maybe he knew better than you.
https://t.co/w64xMxfOt1 — CCJ (@NastyOldWomyn) October 18, 2022
Co-operating OathKeeper testifies/could help take down the rest
‘Conquer or die’: Oath Keeper testifies that the group was ready to stop the election ‘by any means necessary’, Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN, October 18, 2022.
CNN — A member of the — A member of the Oath Keepers who is cooperating with the Justice Department’s investigation of the far-right militia group told a jury Tuesday that he packed his car full of weapons and traveled to Washington, DC, to stop Joe Biden from assuming the presidency “by any means necessary.” ✂️ He made clear that members of the extremist group intended to try and keep then-President Donald Trump in power by intimidating Congress, which was meeting on January 6, 2021 , to certify the election results. ✂️ His jaw-dropping testimony is critical as prosecutors seek to establish that Oath Keepers members methodically prepared to stop the certification of the 2020 election – and what they were prepared to do if Congress didn’t comply. The jury was gripped by his testimony, furiously taking notes and watching Dolan on the stand, and members of the jury gasped when Dolan’s firearms were brought into the room. Four of the defendants – Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Jessica Watkins and Thomas Caldwell – watched intently as Dolan testified. The fifth defendant, Kenneth Harrelson, did not appear to look at Dolan. All five have pleaded not guilty. x The anti-government militia movement has been gaining traction for decades.
Taking these guys down is a big deal.
https://t.co/8jjEF4Y8Oy — Teri Kanefield (@Teri_Kanefield) October 19, 2022
It’s reassuring to know that rogue county or district Rs are being caught. In Colorado, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and now in Pennsylvania (so do not let Gloomers convince you that “they’re alllll getting away with ittttt”….they’re not) :
x The PA Secretary of State today filed a request with the PA Supreme Court requesting Fulton County be held in contempt and sanctioned for allowing this access to their voting machines.
They say it violates the court’s order blocking third-party access, among other things.
https://t.co/4lR8cUCrTS — Jonathan Lai 🙊 賴柏羽 (@Elaijuh) October 18, 2022
🗞 Other News 🗞
Investors think EVs are where the money is soon to be (and like insurers, they are weathervanes pointing to reality not rw propaganda):
This startup wants to democratize electric-vehicle ownership by bringing charging stations to fast-food restaurants — starting with a Taco Bell in California, Nancy Luna, Business Insider, October 18, 2022.
Electric-car sales have prompted the rise of EV-charging startups like ChargeNet.
The San Diego startup is installing public charging stations at fast-food chains such as Taco Bell.
It says the fast chargers at a California Taco Bell can provide a 100-mile charge in 20 minutes.
Roughly 120 California Taco Bell restaurants owned by Diversified are set to add EV stations in the coming months. The move came after the California Air Resources Board said in August it would require all new vehicles sold in California by 2035 to be electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles .
An inflation silver lining
You might pay less in taxes for 2023 because of inflation, Juliana Kaplan, Business Insider, October18, 2022.
Sky-high inflation might mean smaller tax bills in the 2023 filing season, according to the IRS.
The agency released its inflation-adjusted tax brackets for tax year 2023 on Tuesday.
The adjustments might offer some relief — in 2 years — to workers whose wages haven't kept pace with inflation.
Filers will also be able to deduct more from their taxable income, with the standard deduction rising to $13,850 for individuals and $27,700 for married couples. The earned income tax credit, which is targeted at lower-earning families, also sees a big boost with families eligible for a $7,430 credit. Conversely, if you're planning on inheriting a fortune in 2023, it'll have to be worth more than $12,920,000 to be eligible for the estate tax.
💙 Humanity at its best 💙
x Guelph Symphony Orchestra is a Guelph (Ontario) based group of incredible musicians. We met at the University of Guelph. For joy, hope, positivity and togetherness, we merged "Third Movement of Autumn by Vivaldi" music with Punjabi Bhangra dance steps & Dhol drum. @guelphsymphony pic.twitter.com/SBFR3pZQNd — Gurdeep Pandher of the Yukon (@GurdeepPandher) October 15, 2022
What a dear, loving man was Fred Rogers:
x If you’re going to accept a prize and you have to give a speech, then here’s your blueprint, here’s possibly the greatest acceptance speech ever made - by FRED ROGERS upon receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1997 Emmy’s.
Beautiful beyond belief. pic.twitter.com/2Ccm7V9eZj — Michael Warburton (@MichaelWarbur17) October 14, 2022
🐩 💙 CG’s Picks 💙🐩
Hello Everybody! It’s me, Curlygirl! Dog, I cannot catch a break these days! I am STILL under the weather with this stupid infection and last Friday I had to have a “procedure” and now this Friday I have to have another! I wish it would just STOP! (nifty here: it’s true, CG has been sick for weeks and weeks with a really persistent infection which has been no fun for either of us, but the good news is that last week’s procedure seems to have worked! And this week the vet will deliver the knockout blow to that infection 🤞).
Anyway, enough about that yucky subject. Check out this dog! 😄
x the only ambulance I want picking me up
(jukin media) pic.twitter.com/P5uTLo6Tw5 — theworldofdog (@theworldofdog) October 15, 2022
Next, for cat-loving gnusies (I like cats and so does Mama!), here is a story about the cool cat, Larry, who lives at the PM’s residence in London. He chased a wild fox off the property! (I have to say, though, I wish it hadn’t been a fox, because we like foxes a lot around here — I wish it had been something else like a weasel or a badger or something...but Larry is still a very cool cat!):
Cat v fox: what made Downing Street’s Larry so brave? Hannah Devlin, the Guardian, October 18, 2022.
Larry, the Downing Street cat, stepped up from mouser duties this week to chase an urban fox off his patch. The burly tabby was caught on camera intently stalking the fox before launching into a fully fledged pursuit when the trespasser tried to take cover in a flowerbed. Larry emerges the victor, but the encounter has led some to wonder what gives cats the brazen confidence to take on larger animals such as foxes or dogs. Experts say cat behaviour is strongly shaped by instincts that date back to their wild ancestors. Domestic cats are far more similar, genetically and in behaviour, to wild relatives than dogs are to wolves. As solitary hunters, establishing and maintaining control of territory in which to hunt and mate is central to the cat lifestyle. x My good pal @hannahdev has written this excellent piece explaining why I gave that fox short shrift last week.
In short: Don’t f*%k with cats…
https://t.co/edJZSksu1c — Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) October 13, 2022
Here is a busy beaver!
x This Beaver is in a rehab facility and decided to build a dam at the doorway - LOL. You can take the animal out of the wild but you cant take the wild out of the animal. pic.twitter.com/ygr2iWca9j — Sue (@SueM2022) October 17, 2022
⚡️ Lightning RoundUp ⚡️
⚡️ EXCLUSIVE: INSIDE THE SH*TSHOW THAT WAS THE TRUMP-BIDEN TRANSITION, Chris Whipple, Vanity Fair, October 12, 2022.
⚡️ On the core weaknesses of authoritarian states: More Proof That This Really Is the End of History, Francis Fukuyama, the Atlantic, October 17, 2022.
⚡️ Excellent story about women helping women (gift article, no paywall): Desperate pleas and smuggled pills: A covert abortion network rises after Roe, Caroline Kitchener, Washington Post, October 18, 2022.
⚡️ Helpful for teachers and anyone trying to teach critical thinking skills: Lesson plan: How to spot 'pink slime' journalism — misinformation in long-trusted local news, PBS, October 17, 2022.
⚡️ Greeting neighbors in passing is good for you! Forget marriage – if you really want to be happy, spend more time with strangers, the Guardian, October 18, 2022.
⚡️ “Ageism” only against females is sexism: There are more women on TV but ageism persists, says new study, Elizabeth Blair, NPR, October 18, 2022.
⚡️ JD Vance, Blake Masters, Peter Thiel, and Their Anti-Big Tech Hypocrisy, David Corn, Mother Jones, October 18, 2022.
⚡️ John Durham Failed Because the ‘Russiagate’ Conspiracy Never Happened, Jonathan Chait, New York Magazine, October 18, 2022.
⚡️ Why the book bans and censorship? Those who rule want to crush knowledge — and freedom, Chris Hedges, Salon, October 18, 2022.
⚡️ Interview: These elections "are the most important in our lifetime": Democracy advocate on America's choice, Chauncey Devega, Salon, October 18, 2022.
💗 How Can You Help Build Our Democracy Back Better? 💗
Here’s a visual to help us keep our eyes on the prize:
💙 RoundUp WIndDown 💙
That’s it from me and CG for another Wednesday.
Be of good cheer, Gnusies, and don’t let the campaign of negativity get to you. Keep up the good work. Every little thing each one of us can do is vital to help elect Democrats and save this country from the madness of the Republican MAGA party. We don’t have to do everything, but we can all do something!
Remember to take care of yourself — protect yourself from viruses and negativity. Get some rest. Eat nutritious food and try to spend a little time outdoors each day. The fresh air will refresh you.
I didn’t have much time for music this week, so you just get the cozy jazz — though I quite like this for background music as I make the coffee. I hope you will, too!
Happy Wednesday, Gnusies!
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