Can Hope & Trumpism Coexist?

EXTRA EXTRA:  URGENT ACTION REQUESTED

Dejoy can be indicted.  You were perhaps wondering as I was why no one had suggested saying like that aloud.  New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell. Jr. seems to have thought of it. According to Daily Kos. Pascrell has made a criminal referral in New Jersey, asking that a grand jury be empaneled to indict DeJoy on charges of deliberately interfering in a federal election—not destruction of government property, but interfering with an election. This is the water tight case to get behind. 

 

IMMEDIATE ACTION: Call 202-225-3121 and tell your senators and representatives to join Pascrell in asking for a criminal indictment against Louis Dejoy for deliberate interference in a federal election.

 

Hope & Trumpism

From my own perspective. I gave up hope for Lent years ago, way before our current Saturnalia. I think hope tends to be a slippery, misleading word, evoking an equally fuzzy concept. It strikes me what it’s angling for is evasion of personal responsibility. Often when they use the word “hope,” people really mean “Let Joe Do it.” But Joe retired some years ago and there is no forwarding address. Instead, I favor a thing people call faith, faith in human kind and its ability to learn to feel its own pain, and feeling that, to feel the pain of others—and faith in this week’s “roses amidst the thorns” because they reflect the work of millions of people of good will pushing against the tide.

 

We already know the obvious: anyone, even a functionary like Dejoy, committing more than $1,000 damages to government property is a felon, yet Congress—so far at least—seems to be doing its regulation skirt swishing. The great majority of people living in America like to defer to higher authority, it knows best, otherwise it wouldn’t be a higher authority, now would it? And whenever functionaries or politicians make a promise, of course they intend to keep it, don’t they? Of course they do!

 

That’s a mold that never quite appealed to me. I disfavor circular reasoning. I like to question accepted truths, and I am fortunate to know a number of people who indulge in that type of speculation as well. So this week, I prefer not to bore my readers by repeating myself. Not having worn skirts for a number of years, I’m not given to skirt swishing and this newsletter has already talked about a coup before any other news sources got around to it, not any that I know of anyhow.

 

Let me share something else I’ve learned, not so much by my own efforts, but from the kind people who’ve shared bits of knowledge with me this week as I write postcards to some of the reluctant or intimidated voters in states like Texas, and Michigan. A web site exists that instructs people in the exact particulars of voting state by state. How to request an absentee ballot. How soon votes can be cast. Where to deposit completed ballots in their signed envelopes (preferably with county and city clerks offices or in dedicated blue post office box drops explicitly designed for that purpose). It is an active website and asks that, as knowledge changes—which it invariably does—people contact its authors and bring those changes to their attention. Its very magnitude is a thing of beauty, and I invite all readers to take a look. Fivethirtyeight (538) is the name of project behind it and the website link is   https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/how-to-vote-2020/ 

 

The newsletter has always been free, but this week I ask my readers please to forward the link (and if you like the entire newsletter) to everyone you know and please ask them to forward it (like one of those letters we used to receive telling us that if ten people forwarded it in an uninterrupted chain, each one of us would receive manna from heaven, and other assorted treats.) By a very long shot, this treat just might be Democracy!

 

Note: My blogger keeps changing its template in the true American tradition of always needing to make things better, a dangerous idea, because it doesn’t always work. But no matter, it keeps people in their jobs inventing better ways of doing things. As a result, I had trouble loading pictures and no self-respecting newsletter can breathe without pictures. So this week I will try again to load one or two of last week’s  particularly good pictures. Wish me luck!

 

                                        ACTION

Call 202-225-3121 and tell your senators and representative to join Pascrell in asking for a criminal indictment against Louise Dejoy for deliberate interference in a federal election.

 

JOIN the #SaveThePostOffice August 25 National Day of Action  

 

Phone Bank to call inconsistent voters in swing states

 

Oppose hauling dangerous nuclear waste across America

                 ROSES AMONGST THIS WEEKS THORNS

 

Takoma and Wenatchee postal workers defy order to not restart sorting machines.

 

Despite an  Aug., 14 gag order, postal workers from carriers to union chairs and processors are sounding the alarm about what they’re seeing.

 

UN Secretary General calls for a global cease fire so people in war torn regions can have life-saving air to fight the pandemic.

 

Belarus gets it, why can’t we: factory workers heckle Belarusian strongman “go away!”: as nationwide general strike kicks off.

 

West African mediators arrive in Mali to push for coup reversal.

 

Nice try: Belarus color revolution already dead as west-back candidate flees to Lithuania.

 

Australia secures deal for potential COVID vaccine, will provide it free to all citizens.

 

Australia rules out mandatory immunizations.

 

#45 backed Venezuela regime change alliance dwindles.

 

Venezuela’s Maduro thanks Iran for helping oil industry overcome U.S. sanctions.

 

As U.S. vaunts “Plan Colombia,” Colombia opens case against Ivan Duque over financial scandal.

 

Historic bill would penalize Israel for annexation and apartheid.

 

Global South  calls for sanctions on apartheid Israel.

 

Extinction Rebellion activists launch ocean-focused offshoot with direct actions targeting luxury cruise liner.

 

“We’re back”: after meeting with Merkel  Greta Thunberg kicks off third year of Fridays for Future protests in Germany.

 

In Ontario near Caledonia city, 1492 Land defenders begin reoccupation in opposition to construction of a housing development on unceded lands.

 

Federal government agrees to protect green sea turtle habitat.

 

A stunner: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which represent many of the corporations which would benefit most from suspension of FICA—has announced its opposition to #45 attend to defund social security by fiat.

 

Headline “first” by Daily Kos: Postmaster General Louis Dejoy can be indicted, impeached, sued, and removed! (Actually this newsletter said it first.)

 

Rep. Bill Pascrell asks grand jury be empaneled to indict Dejoy on charges of election tampering as well as filing an indictment against #45 and other White House functionaries negating #45 immunity from the law.

 

Very bad news for #45 as federal judge reject his claim that tax records subpoena amounts to “harassment.” putting Manhattan DA one step closer to #45 tax returns

 

Watch that pardon clock ticking: Greasy White House strategist and Nazi wannabe Steve pulled off billionaire’s #28 million yacht, arrested by law enforcement agents from the USPS, and charged with conspiracy to commit fraud for stealing up to a million bucks, and money laundering.

 

More than 6 years after Flint water crisis began, Michigan officials announce $600 million settlement for city residents.

 

War Resister activists block entrance to Combined Systems with giant tear gas cans and masks, calling out the names of all cities where tear gas has been used against people.

 

Protesters bang pots and pans nice and early last Saturday at PM general’s Dejoys condo.

 

Community-based farms rise to the occasion as big food supply chains stall.

 

State attorneys General appear ready to sue #45 over changes at the USPS.

 

Congressional candidates and voters sue to stop #45 sabotage of USPS.

 

Public Citizen and LDF announce suit  to stop sabotage of USPS. ahead of Nov. elections.

 

Dems demand McConnell bring Senate back into session to “protect USPS and our election.”

 

Rep, Katie Porter demands IG probe into whether #45 violated ethics laws by putting pharma exec in charge of COVID vaccine effort.

 

Katie  Porter ready to grill DeJoy  as he agrees to testify before House Oversight Committee.

 

Postal Service board member who resigned over #45;s meddling will brief House Democrats.

 

“It’s going to take everyone”: demonstrations planned nationwide to ‘save the Post Office from #45.

 

Kentucky relaxes absentee voting requirements.

 

LA places “Reimagine LA “ with provision for community investment, opportunity and care on Nov. Ballot

 

N.Y.C. Mayor DeBlasio shifts $1 billion from NYPD, at least on paper. and Minneapolis city council members vow to dismantle police department and build new model of public safety.

 

BLM, antifa overwhelm armed white racists in Stone Mtn., Ga.

 

After organizing mass sick-out, Arizona teachers and school staff applauded for bold collective action to stop unsafe reopening.

 

Campus workers sue UNC system over unsafe working conditions.

 

School bus drivers lead protest to safely reopen Los Angeles Schools.

 

Detroit teachers vote overwhelmingly to authorize safety strike.

 

New York teachers union to strike against school reopening.

 

“It ain’t gonna happen, #45: Goodyear workers rally in Akron after #45 calls for boycott. because of company regulations prohibiting MAGA hats at work.

 

DNC workers at 9 local in 23 airports win pandemic negotiations victory.

 

Jailer who organized assault on inmate sentenced to prison.

 

Georgia police officer fired after viral TikTok showed him tasing a Black woman outside her home.

 

                             SUNDAY FUNNIES

 

Three surgeons compare notes:

First surgeon: I  removed a patient’s testes, and in 6 weeks he was looking for work.

Second surgeon: That’s nothing: I replaced a patient's brain and within two weeks he was looking for work.

Third surgeon: That’s nothing: I excised a man’s testes, replaced his brain, and any day now, he’ll be trying to run for a second term!

 

 

 

 

COUP IN PROGRESS

The U.S. of Amnesia has joined Honduras, Bolivia, Venezuela, Haiti, and other little shit hole countries: We now have our very own coup-in-progress, but, although the LA Times calls #45’s kneecapping of the PO a terrorist attack, so far at least, no one seems to be taking it particularly seriously, except for the Shut Down D.C. and No Drones folks who stepped up to the plate early yesterday morning, banging their pots and pans outside Trump-appointed dismantler, Postmaster General DeJoy’s digs.

 

 

So far: We know that, unless the next bailout contains another billionaires’ giveaway, #45 has announced he’s blocking funding, although he and his clan vote absentee from Florida;  we know that DeJoy fired 23 PO executives, we know that mail sorters have been removed from POs in Iowa and other states. We know that the distribution centers serving Colorado and Wyoming have been shut down. Internal postal service documents reveal that removing 671 high volume high volume postal sorting machines is just “natural business adjustments.” According to Politico, postal service has been ordered to remove blue Post Box mail drops in massive numbers in key swing states such as Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Oregon Rep Peter DeFazio wants the Post Office Board of Governors to terminate DeJoy, and the Post Office has gone on record warning that 46 states will have mail-in voter ballots trouble.       

         

According to item 18, #1701 of the U.S. code, obstruction of U.S. mails is a federal crime and is punishable by fines and imprisonment. Which is why DeJoy must be arrested and charged forthwith. He has committed a federal crime. 

“Let ‘em eat cake”

Only difference with Marie Antoinette is queen McConnell wears a suit.  If you thought #45’s war on democracy just added to our national Saturnalia, here’s a pincer movement coming from Mitch McConnell, and the Congress he was all to happy to adjourn for a one month luxury vacation as at least 28 million renter’s moratoriums ran out, with many of them seriously running out of food. By November, unless tents under highway overpasses can be identified as formal residencies, many of these folks will have lost their address of record; they will have become automatically disenfranchised. 

 

Responding to #45’s coup attempt, the American Bar Association has come out backing full voting rights for incarcerated people, and Rep. Gerry Connolly has demanded a rapid IG probe into postmaster General Dejoy’s machinations, but our (the ineffectual Congress and public citizens) BIG MISTAKE is assuming we are still playing by the rules. That time has long ended.  These people are Nazis, every bit  as determined as Adolf and his minions were in 1938. Every petition we sign lulls us to sleep and keeps us off the streets one day longer. Denial will kill us unless we wake up. 

 

For Intercept’s detailed speculation of how these events may play out, Frances Fox Piven’s article analyses the probability of various political scenarios.

Here’s the letter a colleague of mine wrote to Sen. Merkley of Oregon:

“The most important issue right now is not money for Oregon or the election of other Democrats. The paramount issue before every US  citizen is to STOP THE CRIMINAL SABOTAGE OF POSTAL SERVICES to thwart our election process and democracy. This is an open and blatant coup  by a US president. So what are the Democrats doing?  Just talk  and hot air.  They certainly were more vigorous in prosecuting Russiagate.  Trump's blatantly illegal activity goes far beyond Russiagate. It calls for an emergency and muscular response by Congress.  Democrats act like deer in the headlights with silly calls for resignation of the Postmaster General.  I demand  his ARREST!.  I INSIST Democrats go into Court and get an injunction to stop the Postmaster General from destroying the postal service and to re-instate all the processes he has disrupted.  And right here in Portland!!
Time is of the essence. What are YOU DOING?  Nothing else the Democrats do after this will matter if they don't stop this!”

 

And here’s the link giving voting regs, methods, and deadlines state by state:

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/how-to-vote-2020/?ex_cid=story-facebook&fbclid=IwAR2j_ylLKIVfV0VB-uwA3zoSXFliKV4Kj30DsrySutp2PbWLhD9qmIh-sKs

 

If #45’s stubby fingers have trouble dialing the movers, here’s what we the people have to do:

 

Vote as early as your state allows. A post card organizer wrote me this morning: “In most states the number of polling places has been reduced by 80% or more. Most elders who usually staff polling places are not signing up to do so this year because of the virus. If people wait to vote on Election Day they will wait for days and will never get to vote and will likely be exposed to the virus. People should vote as early as possible (e.g. MI starts early voting 45 days before election day). Take [their] completed ballot to [their] county elections office or use ballot drop boxes and early voting locations as much as possible. Help drive people to them who can't get there. Fill out ballots and return them as soon as [they] receive them. Montana stopped the removal of blue post boxes in their state this week with loud bipartisan noise. It can be done.”

 

We must encourage young people to step up to the plate and volunteer as poll workers, and wherever we can, we must deliver our completed ballots to our polling stations on election day. “Neither snow nor rain or heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” can be your motto, too. Bring mask, yardstick, a camping stool and an umbrella. 

 

AND HIT THE STREETS!!!

 

                                     ACTION

Sign to save post office distribution centers.

Donate to mobilize millions of Americans to opposed crippling this necessary public service.

Watch VoteVets ad and donate.  

                       

        ROSES AMONGST THIS WEEK'S THORNS

Bald eagle attacks drone and  wins.

Report of U.S. seizure of Iranian fuel cargoes a false one, according to Iran’s ambassador to Venezuela.

Lessons from street playbook: Lebanese protesters occupy building as army uses live ammunition.

Coalition of two alternative parties content the coup regime and form to face new elections in Venezuela.

In Portland vs. FCC, 9^th circuit hands down opinion that cell towers must be treated differently from other types of equipment .

Rep. Betty McCollum introduces bill that would block U.S. funding from being used to annex Palestinian land.

UN Security Council rejects U.S. bid to extend Iran arms embargo.

AMLO promises Mexicans to receive COVID vaccine free.

Shut down DC protesters gather outside USPS Postmaster General DeJoy’s DC home amidst voter suppression crimes.

Montana stops DeJoy’s removal of blue post boxes from the state.

Supreme Court (for once) protects absentee voters from unnecessary witness requirement.

Victory for democracy as Supremes block ‘merciless’ GOP effort to  restrict mail-in voting in Rhode Island.

DOJ Roy Cohn, and Bill Barr, AG constitutionally powerless to intervene in a state-led indictment of a sitting president if #45 is re-elected.

On heels of Supreme Court ruling that declares the president not immune to state criminal investigations, New York grand jury will subpoena #45’s financial records in effort spearheaded by Manhattan District DA Cyrus Vance.

New CEO salary calculator how how super wealthy could repay your mortgages in less than 8 minutes now available from Simple texting.

Major milestone for workers as California judge rules Uber and Lyft must classify drivers an employees.

Southern Poverty Law Center sues farm labor contractor for underpaying H-24 guest workers.

Largest private sector strike of year at Maine’s Bath Ironworks heads for union victory.

Even game writers make history by going on strike! and winning.

Sanders joins other congress people calling for removal of Post Master General over efforts to suppress the vote and undermine democracy.

Dread DNC announces progressive champion AOC to speak at convention.

Ilhan wins primary hugely.

Climate activists push Biden to cut ties with industry-friendly energy advisers.

In Caledonia, Ont. bordering Six Nations of the Grand River’s eastern border defenders rebuild camp despite new injunction.

Progressive groups pressure Biden and #45 to include nuclear disarmament in campaign platforms.

Protesters block Teal Jones logging road near Port Renfrew.

Mountain Valley Pipeline water permit denied.

A campaign ad worth watching: Sen. Ed Markey’s campaign 2020 praised for highlighting America’s broken social contract.

Federal judge sets out to bring down law shielding police from legal liability.

Memorials and protests in Ferguson on the 6^th anniv. of Michael Brown’s murder-by-cop.

Portland’s Wall of Vets continues long legacy of vet activism.

Seattle makes stab at defunding its cops. Elsewhere cops quit in droves.

As Seattle’s Police Chief resigns, more than 6 others join who’ve stepped down under pressure from the Geo Floyd uprising.

Washington’s Gov. Inslee announces $40 million fund for Undocumented Communities.

Major study calls for ban on  recognition in schools (that should be in the Sunday Funnies).

Youth lead movement for police-free schools.

Scores of education  experts call on schools tor eject screen-saturated return to learning.

Utah teachers oppose schools reopening.

Florida teen wins trans rights suit in federal court.

                  SUNDAY FUNNIES
 

Statement issued by United Working Families and 3 City Council members:

"Billionaires don't need to sash windows to loot."

In COVID We Trust!

 

Caught on the dual horns of COVID and the White House plague, Congress (especially the Senate, which in certain respects corresponds to the UK House of Lords) still balks at digging out the country’s citizens (the ones who do the work and pay rent and taxes). Many—at least 28 million—are without income, are about to loose their unemployment benefits, unable to pay their rent, unable to buy food, and within days will be dispossessed by the landlord class. They face dispossession from their homes and hunger. New York City alone will dispossess ½ of its 8.3 million population. Of these, 3 million are said to be immigrants. We know that the renting class tends to vote Democratic, and Mr. Trump knows that, too. Meantime the Senate handed out extra billions to the Pentagon to immiserate even more poor people, mostly people of color, outside continental U.S. before leaving for the long weekend.

 

Deliberate Default

Until now, this administration’s dereliction has seemed beyond incomprehensible to this writer. Obviously I must not have been thinking with the same sewer-pipe mind as this president and his minions, the faction which wants to stay in office regardless of the human or economic cost. Why hadn’t my own mind been sufficiently contaminated to realize that if all these tax paying working class folk are dispossessed now, in October they will no longer be able receive their ballots by mail because their addresses will have been wiped out, automatically cancelling their vote? And by default, they will have become disenfranchised! No need even to strike their names from the rolls. Greedy landlords will see to that.

 

Likewise, by doing nothing effective to manage this pandemic, (and on 8/6 the government blocked the UN Security Council from taking action regarding the pandemic) this administration guarantees the demise of disproportionally black, disproportionally brown and disproportionally elderly and disabled people in our prisons, jails, detention centers, and nursing homes. A Win-Win Death situation, the best part of which is the government can’t be accused of doing something because it doesn’t have to do anything. On no books is incompetence a crime. The elderly and disabled will fall off the social security and disability rolls, and the elites will exert their genocidal impulses in the noble tradition of the original Do-Nothing Party. Best of all, although his tweets still can, his golfing can’t lie, but regardless, Fearless Leader will tweet and golf to his tin heart’s content because he rests assured the vote is already in the hole. He knows he mustn’t lift a finger. Now it’s up to a Do-Noting Congress to take a giant step. Will it fill the vacuum? 

 

 ACTION FOR THIS WEEK

Phone. Call your congress persons daily to urge action posing #45 strategies to suppress the vote. Local numbers in California:          

                        Senator Feinstein 415 393-0707

                        “             Harris  415 981-9369      

                        Representative Barbara Lee 510 763-0370

                        Representative Nancy Pelosi  415 556-4862

 

Phone your Senators now at (202) 224-3121 tell them to oppose #45  executive order defunding Social Security.

 

Sign. Oppose #45 attack on Vote-By-Mail.

 

Attack. Write Post Cards to send to reluctant or intimidated voters.

 

Phone. Call reluctant voters needing a nudge.

 

Donate.  Chip in $5 to support Daily Kos get out the vote campaign.

 

Donate. Organizations in five crucial swing states need your support. Here’s the link:

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dkendorses2020civicall?refcode=20200806esallstatesbump&link_id=2&refcodeEmailReferrer=email_882761&can_id=655968a96e1bce05c463b2f640bf633c&source=email-with-the-postal-service-sabotaged-and-more-voters-than-ever-relying-on-vote-by-mail-election-day-is-happening-sooner-than-you-think-and-we-need-these-organizations-to-ensure-that-voters-in-key-states-have-what-they-need-to-protect-our-democracy-3&email_referrer=email_882761&email_subject=re-with-the-postal-service-sabotaged-and-more-voters-than-ever-relying-on-vote-by-mail-election-day-is-happening-sooner-than-you-think-and-we-need-these-organizations-to-ensure-that-voters-in-key-states-have-what-they-need-to-protect-our-democracy

 

   ROSES AMIDST THIS WEEK'S THORNS

 

Amazon Frontlines announces lawsuit by indigenous groups defending Amazon territory of Ecuador against oil exploitation has been reinstated.

 

Starting in Brussels, European communities community land trusts build social housing.

 

New report accuses #45 of ‘intentional disregard’ and attack on Democracy throughout failed COVID response.

 

Social media sites pull #45’s posts for violating COVID misinformation rules.

 

At last, Deutsche Bank turns over #45’s finances in response to NY district attorney subpoena.

 

House Dems call postmaster general to testify as Trump continues attacks on mail voting.

 

New York AG Letitia James files lawsuit dissolving NRA for diverting charitable funds.

 

No Ban Act passes after years of delay.

 

More than 700 medical and scientific professionals sign letter call FCC out for failure to acknowledge harms from 5 G ultra-high wireless radiation frequencies.

 

Court of Appeal upholds decision to prohibit offshore aquaculture in Gulf of Mexico.

 

Nevada passes Vote-by-Mail.

 

Open the Government announces progress demanding COVID data be appropriately collected and distributed.

 

House progressives pass D.C. statehood bill although Senate Repugnicans stall.

 

More than two dozen Senate Democrats urge inclusion of undocumented workers in pandemic relief.

 

Prohibited from holding police officer to account, federal judge calls on Supreme Court to overturn qualified immunity which gets killer cops off every time.

 

 

                    Polish parliament votes for LGBT rights.

 

Federal judge Chhabria is currently reviewing cases of all persons detained at Yuba County Jail and Mesa Verde Detention following  the class action Zepeda Rivas v. Jennings filed by a legal organizations coalition.

 

CoreCivic private prison corporation agrees to pay $3.7 million for recording private detainee-lawyer exchanges.

 

Alleging ICE has ‘lost right to be trusted’ federal judge orders mandatory testing at detention center hit by COVID.

 

Black Lives Matter protest leader, 44 year old nurse, Cori Bush defeats veteran MI congressman in huge upset.

 

MI voters overcome Repugnican efforts to block Medicaid expansion.

 

People for the American Way congratulates Rashida Tlaib on primary win.

 

Outraised 250-1, Progressive Marquita Bradshaw upsets establishment opponent.

 

‘Don’t let anyone fool you,’ says Sanders. Primary wins show progressives ‘transforming American politics.’

 

Iowa governor ends voting ban for people with felony convictions.

 

Teachers and students in more than 35 cities mobilize to demand safe schools.

 

Across the country, thousands of teachers go into street Monday to oppose the unsafe opening of schools which ahs potential to infect millions of children and their families with COVID.

 

Pennsylvania immigrants win right to complete citizenship process blocked by pandemic.

 

LA announces it will shut off power at homes throwing ‘COVID parties.’

 

San Francisco’s Community Choice Aggregation  rejects PG&E’s offer of up to 350,000 megawatt hours/year of free nuclear power generated by Diablo Canyon.

 

Striking Amazon workers block delivery trucks for hours.

 

                                SUNDAY FUNNIES

 

Headline: Corporate Lobbyists Vote to Keep Corporate Lobbyists in the DNC.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS: