time for a breather...not!

The news biz went crazy both with the TFG's announcement of a target letter setting him up for indictments in his multiple efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and with the superseding indictment in the documents case. It seemed like all they could talk about for the last week and more. But we do not have to follow suit. If you want a more fulsome explanation of one of the elements in the target letter — the one that mentions 18 U. S. C. section 241 — you might want to read An Overlooked January 6 Charge: The “Stop the Count” Scheme by Ryan Goodman and Andrew Weissmann on the Just Security site. The piece looks at how the Justice Department has used the charge in the past and how it applies to the current inquiry.

I would rather look more carefully at the voting patterns from the special election for AD 24. It's a bit of an exercise in reading tea leaves: with the low turnout, it does not necessarily translate into highly likely predictions for the future. But it still shows gains in some of the redder areas of our state. In an email to supporters, Bob Tatterson pointed out that although he lost the overall election (though only by 7%), he did win five of the seven communities in the district. And it's true! He won the Village of Grafton, Mequon, and Menomonee Falls, as well as the Town of Germantown and the one ward of Port Washington in the district. That Port Washington ward is my favorite: there were all of 2 voters and BOTH voted for Bob! I've compiled all the data so you can look at it yourself. Download a pdf of the spreadsheet.

Democrats have made steady gains in the WOW counties in the last several elections. The results from the special election continue that trend. In last week's newsletter, Ben Wikler linked to what we used to call a tweet by Anthony Chergosky, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Chergosky points out that the "district was Trump +24 in 2016, Trump +17 in 2020, and Melotik (the GOP candidate) +7 today." As I said in the last paragraph, comparisons with past elections as a way to understand the political landscape may be skewed by the lighter-than-average turnout. For a special election in the middle of summer, though, the turnout was more robust than expected: in the mid-to-high 20s in three communities in Waukesha and Washington counties and in the mid-30s in the Ozaukee county communities. (Port Washington's one ward, of course, had a turnout of 100%! I'm not counting that as a realistic view of what the future holds.) That trend is an excellent reason not to take too long a break from working toward future elections. The Democratic party is certainly not resting for long. They've scheduled deep canvassing events for at least one weekend a month through November. You'll find the first of these in the North Shore in the Events list.

Deep canvassing is a way of holding conversations with voters when there's no election in the offing and the goal is to elicit voters' concerns. The technique was first developed in 2012 and has been studied since then. Professors David Broockman and Josh Kalla have conducted six studies and "have found that deep canvassing does have measurable effects" (See Deep Canvassing in Wikipedia). For a readable, non-academic account, see Andy Kroll's article Can Millions of Deep Conversations With Total Strangers Beat Trump — and Heal America? in Rolling Stone (July 15, 2020). I'm told the group of voters the party wants to contact have been somewhat neglected of late. And this is a good way to expand the pool of likely voters for 2024. So look for the opportunities near you and sign up for a shift.

Our friends at Swing Left Milwaukee are working closely with WisDems on bridge building canvasses this summer and fall. You can join their group for a weekend of action on August 19-20, where they'll be talking to voters we don't have as much data on yet – which will be crucial to laying the groundwork for 2024. If you can't make it this time but you're interested in working in Bay View or other city areas, join Swing Left Milwaukee's group email list to stay in the loop on future ways to get involved with voter registration, canvassing, phone banking, letter writing, and texting. Please sign up if you'd like to try it in Bay View. For more information, contact Dale Nook, 414-690-0311.

And in joyous news, Judge Janet Protasiewicz becomes Justice Janet Protasiewicz today. The investiture ceremony is completely booked, unfortunately. So if you have not already RSVP'd, it's too late. But even if you can't watch her "fly up" as it were, you know that her presence on the Supreme Court of Wisconsin (SCOWI) foretells legal rulings that will impact many lives in our state. A lawsuit challenging our partisan voting maps is likely to be filed within days of the investiture. And because the suit basically appeals an earlier SCOWI ruling, it will go directly to the Supreme Court without the lower courts ruling first. If the court is reasonably expeditious, Wisconsin could have new maps — presumably both congressional and state assembly/senate maps — before candidates for those offices will have to begin circulating nomination papers in spring 2024. Election maps that define more competitive districts will begin to reshape the sour politics we have endured in this state since Scott Walker's first election. And wouldn't that be welcome!

A fun blog post on Daily Kos Monday, quotes from the judge who dismissed TFG's suit that argued to quash the report of the Georgia Special Grand Jury and "demanded that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis be barred from prosecuting any cases against him, claiming she is biased." Both the demand to burn the report and to remove D.A. Willis from the case were denied. The footnotes to the opinion are priceless. For example, the blogger notes that in footnote five, the judge uses an idiom — "a blot on an escutcheon" — that derives from the heraldic shield, also known as an escutcheon, and means a stain on one's reputation. The full context of the remark is "in this situation, movants overwrought allegations of prosecutorial overreach and judicial error do not suffice to show there is a significant risk of a ‘wrongful’ indictment (or even a blot on an escutcheon)." On pages 7-8, he quotes this passage: "The drumbeat from the District Attorney has been neither partisan (in the political sense) nor personal, in marked and refreshing contrast to the stream of personal invective flowing from one of the movants." We don't even need to guess who he means.

Finally today, I leave you with this bit of wisdom from Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo. By Every Imaginable Measure, Trump Crushing GOP Primary Race. Marshall begins, "the Times is out today with a poll that is absolutely devastating for Ron DeSantis. But in truth it is devastating for every Republican candidate not named Donald Trump. It is only devastating for DeSantis inasmuch as he is the only candidate who appears to be in the race at all rather than running what amounts to a novelty or lifestyle campaign." In a head-to-head comparison of TFG and DeSantis, the poll asks whether a specific word better describes *rump or what Marshall dubs "the Jebbite" candidate (a reference to the Jeb Bush campaign in 2016). DeSantis has his best showing with "likable" and "moral." But Marshal focuses on "fun," unpacking what TFG supporters take it to mean:

This question seems to ask something quite different: who is more fun to watch. It’s a measure of the entertainment factor. That “fun” factor is an anchor of Trump’s support. Another article out this summer captured it in a different way. A central feature of the MAGA movement is how much fun its adherents find in it, this article explained. Indeed, they have a hard time understanding how those outside the movement don’t see it in the same way but rather see it as threatening, dark, ugly. . . .

It’s no accident Trump’s supporters still call him President and don’t believe he legitimately lost power. In a sense he is running as the incumbent. He’s still the leader of the party on that basis. Everything comes into focus when you see it in those terms.

I think Marshall is right on the money. No number of indictments, civil suits, or convictions will derail that candidacy. We need to get and stay busy to defeat him here in Wisconsin.

PS: Someone left a black sweater at the July 9 Grassroots North Shore event at Doctors Park. It's a Chico’s Size 1 Black Rayon/Polyester Sweater. If this belongs to you, please email or call Ginny Goode: [email protected](414) 460-5686. Thank you.

 

 

SAVE THE DATE

Wednesday, August 16

Ozaukee County Dems Monthly Meeting, 7:00 - 8:00pm
Ozaukee Democrats Office, 1930 Wisconsin Ave., Grafton

Join us at our Grafton Office as we gather to hear speakers and catch up on the local and state politics influencing Ozaukee County – while spending time with like-minded people. All interested people are encouraged to attend.

Saturday, August 19

WisDems Canvass in Bay View! 9:00am - 12:00pm, 12:00 - 3:00pm, 3:00 - 6:00pm
Address upon sign-up

Our friends at Swing Left Milwaukee are working closely with WisDems on bridge building canvasses this summer and fall. Join the group for a weekend of action on August 19-20, where they'll be talking to voters we don't have as much data on yet – which will be crucial to laying the groundwork for 2024. Sign up for a shift with Dale's team in Bay View! Can't make it this time? Join Swing Left Milwaukee's group listserv to stay in the loop on future ways to get involved with voter registration, canvassing, phone banking, letter writing, and texting. Work with fellow activists across the border in Illinois and around the country to support actions like the ballot initiative in Ohio, which will help determine the future of women’s right to choose In Ohio. For more information contact Dale Nook, 414-690-0311.

Grassroots North Shore Poster Party, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Shorewood Public Library, 3920 N Murray Ave, Shorewood

In preparation for the September 10 rally and march to Keep Our Kids Safe at School, we're holding a Poster Party to make signs people can hold during the event. We'll be at the Shorewood Library. Village Meeting Room (lower level) at 10am. Even if you cannot attend on September 10th - others can carry your message — come create posters. See you at the party!

Grassroots Glendale Deep Canvassing, 12:00 - 3:00pm
6563 N Crestwood Dr, Glendale

Join Grassroots Glendale to knock doors and talk to voters about the issues that matter most to them! Sign up.

Fox Point/Bayside Dems Friendbank, 12:00 - 3:00pm, 3:00 - 6:00pm
7632 N Beach Dr, Fox Point</span
Join the Fox Point/Bayside team for a friendbank! We will be getting together and texting our networks to learn about their top issues using the Reach app for relational organizing. Never even heard of Reach? No problem! Our organizer will walk you through everything you need to know before you start texting. It is never too early to engage our circles in progressive politics and ensure that we elect Democrats up and down the ballot in 2024! Sign up.

Sunday, August 20

WisDems Canvass in Bay View! 9:00am - 12:00pm, 12:00 - 3:00pm, 3:00 - 6:00pm
Address upon sign-up

Our friends at Swing Left Milwaukee are working closely with WisDems on bridge building canvasses this summer and fall. Join the group for a weekend of action on August 19-20, where they'll be talking to voters we don't have as much data on yet – which will be crucial to laying the groundwork for 2024. Sign up for a shift with Dale's team in Bay View! Can't make it this time? Join Swing Left Milwaukee's group listserv to stay in the loop on future ways to get involved with voter registration, canvassing, phone banking, letter writing, and texting. Work with fellow activists across the border in Illinois and around the country to support actions like the ballot initiative in Ohio, which will help determine the future of women’s right to choose In Ohio. For more information contact Dale Nook, 414-690-0311.

Fox Point/Bayside Dems Friendbank, 12:00 - 3:00pm, 3:00 - 6:00pm
7632 N Beach Dr, Fox Point</span
Join the Fox Point/Bayside team for a friendbank! We will be getting together and texting our networks to learn about their top issues using the Reach app for relational organizing. Never even heard of Reach? No problem! Our organizer will walk you through everything you need to know before you start texting. It is never too early to engage our circles in progressive politics and ensure that we elect Democrats up and down the ballot in 2024! Sign up.

Grassroots Glendale Deep Canvassing, 12:00 - 3:00pm, 3:00 - 6:00pm
6563 N Crestwood Dr, Glendale

Join Grassroots Glendale to knock doors and talk to voters about the issues that matter most to them! Sign up.

Tuesday, August 29 through Tuesday, September 26

WISDOM 5 Week Fall Training Series, every Tuesday from 6:30 - 8:00pm
Online

Please join us for our 5-week Fall Training Series every Tuesday night from August 29-September 26. We are excited to cover a variety of topics about community organizing. Whether you're a new WISDOM member, an old timer or need a refresher - we welcome you to come learn from our leaders within our network! Once you register, you will recieve your Zoom information within a few minutes. It is the same Zoom link for all 5 sessions. You can choose to attend one or all sessions. If you have any questions please contact Amanda Ali, WISDOM's Digital Organizer.

Wednesday, August 30 - Tuesday, September 5

The Golden Rule, an historic sailboat, docks in Milwaukee
The Golden Rule, a storied sailboat that helped bring about an end to atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons, will stop in Milwaukee Aug 31 - Sep 5 as part of a 15-month, 11,000-mile voyage to inform and educate the public about the dangers of nuclear weapons proliferation. A number of public events will be held, and speakers / crew members will be available for presentations at schools, churches or other venues during the four-day visit. Boat tours and visits with the crew will be offered every afternoon. (See a real-time map of the boat's journey.) The Golden Rule is a project of Veterans For Peace.

Sunday, September 10

Keeping Our Kids Safe at School Rally, 12:30pm
North Point Water Tower Park, 2288 N Lake Dr, Milwaukee

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER SHOOTING: After each new horrible mass school shooting, we ask ourselves “how can we demand that our elected officials pass common sense gun safety legislation?” If you’re tired of hearing about “thoughts and prayers” as if they were solutions, join Grassroots North Shore together with WAVE, Moms Demand Action, and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, at a rally on Sunday, September 10th, at 12:30, at North Point Water Tower Park. State Senator LaTonya Johnson and speakers from WAVE, Moms Demand Action, students, and Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence will fill us in on upcoming Lobby Days and recently introduced legislation. We’ll briefly march along North Avenue to Murray Avenue and loop back to hear our speakers. Then address already printed postcards to your legislators. We will stamp and mail them. RSVP.

Before the rally and march, join us for a poster-making party from 10:00am to noon on Saturday, August 19th at the Shorewood Library Village Meeting Room (lower level). Join the fun!


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