The Georgia run-off elections for two US Senate seats happens today. Tomorrow, the 117th Congress meets in joint session to count the electoral college votes. Both events will try progressives' souls: the election in Georgia because it is sure to be followed by litigation and acrimony; the formal tallying of the electoral college votes because more than a few Republicans — including our own Senator Ron Johnson — plan to disrupt the purely ceremonial event with spurious "objections" to accepting the votes of certified electors from various states these seditious officials will claim are "contested." They aren't. All the litigation over the validity of the votes in these states has long since been settled. And all the electors and their votes from these states have been certified by the governors of those states. The results are clear and will ultimately be formally acknowledged by the 117th Congress. But for a dark view of how bad — and nutty — the process could be, see Ed Foley's op-ed in today's Washington Post.

But the question remains: what to do about those who are prepared to abuse the process? Especially those who represent the states whose electoral college votes they are challenging. The Milwaukee Journal has already castigated Representative Tiffany for his part in this seditious charade. In an editorial today, the headline calls Senator Ron Johnson "unfit to represent Wisconsin in the U. S. Senate." The editorial has it just right: "Johnson's disgraceful display should not go unpunished. While there is no way to recall a sitting senator — and censure or expulsion (though deserved) is unlikely given the politics of the moment — we urge voters to remember what Johnson has done. Hold him accountable. Demand that qualified challengers, Republican and Democrat alike, run against him if he has the audacity to break another promise and try for a third term in 2022." The end of the piece asserts that "He has violated his oath of office and in doing so, Johnson has forfeited his right to represent the people of Wisconsin."

Aside from firing Senator Johnson if he runs for re-election in 2022, the important business in front of us is the upcoming nonpartisan elections. There was such spectacular (and welcome) engagement for the fall 2020 election. Wouldn't it be great if we could keep up that level of enthusiasm for our local and judicial elections? Our Elections 2021 pages will help keep you informed of the offices up for election in 2021 as well as the candidates who have been officially nominated. Nomination papers are due today by 5pm in most cases so we should have all that information available within the next few days. So start becoming informed! You can apply for an absentee ballot for the primary (February 16) and/or the general election (April 6) at myvote.wi.gov. Get it out of the way now!

This week's event list is more, well, eventful. I especially want to highlight the People's Map Commission public hearing on Thursday, January 14 (time TBA). There's nothing more important to democracy than fair electoral maps. As we have seen in Wisconsin over the last 10 years under our partisan gerrymandered maps, it's a lot more difficult to hold elected officials accountable for the positions and votes they take when politicians can choose their own voters instead of voters choosing their politicians. And that's what a partisan gerrymander gives us: elected officials who are not responsive to anyone who does not vote for them. If you'd like more information about gerrymandering and want to help do something about it, come to the organizational meeting of the Fair Maps and Voting Rights Issue Team on Thursday, January 7 at 6pm on Zoom.

If you are interested in the other Issue Teams Grassroots North Shore is now forming, contact Paul Geenen. There will be organizational meetings for teams focusing on Criminal Justice Reform and on the Environment soon. Or let him know of any other current issue you want to engage.

EVENTS

Wed Jan 6, 2021

Suspended: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Bounce Milwaukee is closed, including delivery and carryout, until the COVID-19 spread in our area is under control. More information.

ACLU: Racism in Criminal Justice, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Zoom
Join a webinar about the ACLU's multiyear effort to reduce the U.S. jail and prison population and to fight racism in the criminal legal system. Information on joining the webinar will be sent after registration. Register.

Info: Laughing Liberally MKE, 8:30pm - 9:30pm
Online
For information on the latest Laughing Liberally offerings go here.

Thu Jan 7, 2021

Postponed: DPMC Issues Committee Meeting, 4:30pm - 4:30pm
Amalgamated Transit Union, 734 N. 26th St., Milwaukee
The Democratic Party's Issues Committee holds its meeting on the first Thursday of each month. All Democrats are welcome to participate.

Issue Team for Fair Maps and Voting Rights, 6pm
Zoom
This organizational meeting is is a nonpartisan action team for folks of any political persuasion who want Wisconsin to get fair maps during the next redistricting. We will kick off our Thursday meeting with a “Gerrymandering 101” presentation by Carlene Bechen, the statewide Fair Maps Coalition organizer. We will learn how the Democrats wanted to do it and how the Republicans did it. We will learn about the People’s Map Commission and the rulemaking hearing coming up at the Wisconsin Supreme Court. There will be plenty of time for questions, and we will start thinking about our action goals. Feel free to tune in and decide later how engaged in “action” you want to be. Sign up.

League of Women Voters State Superintendent Candidate Forum, 7pm
Zoom
The Wisconsin Public Education Network, in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, is hosting a virtual forum for the 2021 candidates for state superintendent on Thursday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m. This forum is our chance to get to know the candidates for Wisconsin’s highest education office, hear where they stand on the issues that matter most for kids, and learn about their visions for our public schools, educational equity, the role of the state superintendent’s office. The forum is open to the public, but you must RSVP in advance to attend.

Sat Jan 9, 2021

UN Ass'n of MKE: Justice and Peace, 10am - 11:30am
Zoom
A virtual Zoom presentation and discussion with members of the Whitefish Bay High School Model United Nations Program on the topic: From the Peace Palace in the Netherlands to the United Nations in New York City: An Eye on Justice and Peace. Advance registration (required).

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Forest Home Avenue & 43rd Street, Milwaukee
Stand for Peace is at this time scheduled to resume in-person events. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Mon Jan 11, 2021

Grass Roots South Shore Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Cudahy Library, 3500 Library Dr., Cudahy
Grass Roots South Shore holds its monthly meeting on the second Monday of each month. For more information call Jim Balk, 414-218-5944.

Tue Jan 12, 2021

Drinking Liberally Grafton/Mequon, 6:30pm - 8pm
Water Street Brewery, 1251 Gateway Dr. Grafton
TBA

Virtual Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Zoom
Drinking Liberally MKE will get together on Zoom. More information.

350 Milwaukee Virtual Meeting, 7pm - 8:30pm
Online
350 Milwaukee is part of the global organization building a grassroots movement in 188 countries to address global warming and solve the climate crisis. 350 Milwaukee usually meets every month on the second Tuesday. Check the following link for information on whether a meeting will occur. More information.

Wed Jan 13, 2021

Grass Roots South Shore Virtual Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
TBA
Check the following page to see if Grass Roots South Shore will have a virtual meeting. More information.

Suspended: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Bounce Milwaukee is closed, including delivery and carryout, until the COVID-19 spread in our area is under control. More information.

Thu Jan 14, 2021

4th CD People's Maps Commission Hearing, 6pm - 8:30pm
Online
The virtual public hearing will include testimony from subject matter experts and also provide Wisconsinites the opportunity to express howthey have been affected by legislative redistricting and share their ideas for how Wisconsin can work together to achieve fair maps. Each speaker will have three minutes to speak. Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis, with priority to residents of Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District. (The time listed is approximate.) Registration for the public hearing (required). For anyone unable to join the virtual hearing, written comments are strongly encouraged. Written comments can be submitted at any time using the feedback form available on the People’s Maps Commission website. Written comments will be reviewed by the commissioners and are public record. Submit written comment. A similar hearing is scheduled for the 1st Congressional District on January 28.

Drinking Liberally West Allis
TBA
For information on whether the event will take place, check here.

Sat Jan 16, 2021

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
TBA
Stand for Peace may be canceled due to the skyrocketing Covid numbers. Check for more information. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Mon Jan 18, 2021

Milwaukee Dems Virtual Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Zoom
Milwaukee County Democrats meet monthly to discuss party business, hear speakers on current topics, pass resolutions, and network with other progressives. All interested Democrats are invited. Information about how to access the meeting will be sent after registration. RSVP for Zoom meeting.