Wal(t)zing through the next 90 days

It's Governor Tim Walz for Vice President! The news outlets are filled to overflowing with the announcement and with details about the man and his life story. Here's how Talking Points Memo's David Kurtz succinctly summed up the choice: "A former teacher and coach and longtime National Guardsman, Walz has not been a prominent figure on the national Democratic stage. He was not known to have presidential ambitions. But in the weeks since President Biden ended his re-election bid, Walz’s solid record as a progressive governor, his perceived appeal in the critical Blue Wall states, and his direct, folksy manner had catapulted him into the top rank of vice presidential contenders for Harris."

Here's the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel approach: "after Harris' announcement [Wisconsin Democrats] pointed to Walz's working-class background as a former high school teacher, his military service and his six terms in Congress as experience that could appeal to voters in a key swing state like Wisconsin."

A lot of other news has been relegated to the virtual back pages by the sudden burst of excitement surrounding the presidential campaign. So here's a short list of stories you might find newsworthy. In the Arizona fraudulent electors case, former Orange Julius attorney Jenna Ellis is now cooperating with prosecutors. You can see coverage and a video of her statement at Politico.

In a sign of how potentially violent and intimidating our elections seem to have become, Arizona's Maricopa County "public school district isn’t opening its schools to voters as polling sites." It's not clear from the article in the Washington Post (gifted to you) exactly how widespread this phenomenon is: "Heightened school safety protocols and sustained attacks on voting systems and the people who run them — largely by Trump and his supporters — have prompted school leaders across America in both red and blue states to close their doors to the democratic process, according to interviews with nearly 20 school district leaders, county officials, school safety officials and election experts."

Don the Con is scheduled to be sentenced on September 18. Roger Parloff, Senior Editor of Lawfare, has taken A Close Look at Trump’s Immunity Objections to His N.Y. Convictions. "With the filing of Donald Trump’s reply memorandum on Aug. 1, briefing is now complete on whether the former president’s 34 felony convictions, handed down by a Manhattan jury on May 30, can survive the U.S. Supreme Court’s July 1 presidential immunity ruling. New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has pledged to rule on that question by Sept. 6 and, if he rules for the People, to then proceed to Trump’s sentencing on Sept. 18." Parloff recognizes just how fraught the territory Judge Merchan must cover and foresees the case traversing the trial and appellate courts in New York only to land yet again at the Supreme Court of the United States.

Before turning to more immediate and proximate matters, let's take a minute or two to poke the bear! The one RFK Jr. dumped in Central Park a decade ago. Unfortunately he posted his strange confession video on X(Twitter). But you really should hold your nose and go see it. He's telling this story to Roseanne Barr and some unnamed and unseen others, and they're all laughing it up. But it should not be funny. RFK recounts how he saw coverage of the bizarre events on the news, with "a mile of yellow tape, 20 cop cars and helicopters flying over it." So, the dead bear discovery involved an extensive public safety response. Ha ha?

The euphoria around our new Democratic ticket cannot blind us to the work we need to do in our own backyards. So here are some immediate ways for you to engage: On Saturday, August 10, and Sunday, August 11, we are volunteering with the Democratic Party to Get Out the Vote for next Tuesday's election. Even if you don't have a lot of contested races on your ballot, it is imperative that we all vote and VOTE NO on the two ballot questions you will find at the bottom of the second side or your ballot. In addition, we are knocking on as many doors as we can. So please pitch in. In general, you can find events near you by going to Mobilize, but here are some happening in the North Shore:

Shorewood, 4516 N Newhall St.
Whitefish Bay, 4845 N Newhall St.
Glendale, 6563 N Crestwood Dr.

If you can't canvass, show up for a shift and offer to navigate and drive for a canvasser. It will make a huge difference.

As you know, Jodi Habush Sinykin is running to represent state Senate District 8. The district encompasses Assembly Districts 22, 23, and 24. And Democrats have candidates running in all three of those districts, too. Jodi's campaign is already up and running and she needs our support for the five canvasses she has scheduled in August. (These are in addition to canvasses organized by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.)

Other Engagement Opportunities

Souls to the Polls needs people to drive citizens to the polls and people to staff the virtual call center to match drivers and voters. Go to their website volunteer. Sign-up.

Temporary Housing for Dem Staff: As the WisDems ramp up their operations, there is an unmet need for housing for the people the campaign continues to hire. If you have a spare room in your house, please use this form to indicate your interest in providing the temporary housing these hires need.

GRASSROOTS ALERT: WISDEMS is building a team of the strongest grassroots supporters to receive our Facebook Grassroots Alerts and keep up to date on the most important issues. If just 100 more folks sign up to join us for our Facebook Grassroots Alerts, we’ll have the online backing to take social media by storm and engage with voters like never before. So if you have not joined the rest of your grassroots team, do so today and tune into Facebook Grassroots Alerts from WisDems!

Swing States Write Postcards: We'll mail you free postcards, voter lists and instructions with three message options. IMPORTANT NOTES: You'll provide the postcard stamps and mail the postcards in October on the instructed date. Please allow up to 4 weeks to receive orders for 500 or fewer postcards. For orders of 1,000 or more, expect to receive them in about 7-14 days. We'll resume sign-ups for Ohio in mid-August. You can choose to mail these cards to voters in Wisconsin. So gather a few friends and get busy! Sign up.

EVENTS

Wednesday, August 7

"SHE-ZAUKEE" Assembly Candidate Fundraiser, 5:30pm
The Venue, 324 N Lake St, Port Washington
Join Wisconsin Assembly Leaders and local Democrats to help raise money to win the Assembly Majority! Meet our candidates and learn more about why our new maps plus these great candidates are a winning combination in November. With special guests Leader Greta Neubauer and Sheboygan Mayor Ryan Sorenson and Candidates for Assembly Rep. Deb Andraca, Joe Sheehan, Dana Glasstein, Jack Holzman, and Kay Ladson. Questions? Email [email protected] or call 567-203-3847. Sign up.

Thursday, August 8

Fundraiser for Assembly Candidate Joe Sheehan, 6:00 - 7:30pm
Three Lions Pub, 4515 N Oakland Ave, Shorewood
Join State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly and State Representative Deb Andraca to support Joe Sheehan's campaign for the State Assembly. Wisconsin needs public education champions like Joe Sheehan in the State Assembly! Come learn more about Joe and Democrats’ efforts to improve and fully fund public education in Wiscsonsin. Sign up.

Saturday, August 10

Neighborhood Canvasses, 9:00am - 12:00pm, 12:00 - 3:00pm

Shorewood, 4516 N Newhall St.
Whitefish Bay, 4845 N Newhall St.
Glendale, 6563 N Crestwood Dr.

Stand for Peace, 12:00 - 1:00pm
KK and Lincoln
Stand for Peace demonstrates for peace at a different intersection in Milwaukee County every Saturday.

Share the Love Block Party, 1:00 - 4:00pm
2034 W. Center St., Milwaukee
For more information, email [email protected].

Sunday, August 11

Neighborhood Canvasses, 9:00am - 12:00pm, 12:00 - 3:00pm

Shorewood, 4516 N Newhall St.
Whitefish Bay, 4845 N Newhall St.
Glendale, 6563 N Crestwood Dr.

Monday, August 12

Brookings Political polling: Strategies to overcome challenges, 1:00 - 2:30pm
Online
For decades, polling has been essential in investigating public opinion during election years, especially for political candidates in understanding where sentiment stands on make-or-break issues. But in this election cycle, polling is as important as ever. With declining response rates, emerging technology disrupting traditional methods of measurement, distrust of pollsters and the introduction of new online polling methods, how is polling done, and does it still work? RSVP to watch the webcast. Sign up.

Tuesday, August 13

2024 Partisan Primary, 7:00am - 8:00pm
at your polling location
Find your polling location and see a sample ballot at MyVote.WI.gov. Be sure to look for the two ballot questions. You will find them on the second side of your ballot at the very bottom. And don't forget to VOTE NO on both questions. For more information on the ballot questions, see our web page or visit the pages Wisconsin Votes No has provided.

Thursday, August 15

Waukesha Dems Monthly Meeting, 7:00pm
Southminster Presbyterian Church, 200 Richard St, Waukesha
This month we are joined by Judge Susan Crawford, the new announced candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court (April 2025 election). She will be squaring off against Waukesha's own and Scott Walker's personal lap dog Brad Schimel with the winner locking in a radical conservative or forward moving progressive majority for multiple years. We will also be joined by a representative of the Harris campaign to update us on the National landscape and how the path to the White House runs through Wisconsin and how to win Wisconsin they need crucial Waukesha County to show up like never before!

Saturday, August 17

Fox Point and Bayside Barbecue, 5:00 - 6:30pm
7632 N Beach Dr, Fox Point
Free food and great community joining together for our monthly Barbecue! Bring your friends! Sign up.

Tuesday, August 20

Social/Relational Organizing Glendale and Fox Point, 6:00 - 7:30pm
1065 W Fairy Chasm Rd, River Hills
Connect with your friends/family/acquaintances in an easy way and help democrats win! Sign up.

Wednesday, August 21

DPOC General Meeting, 7:00 - 8:00pm
1930 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 130, Grafton
Join us at our monthly general meeting, the 3rd Wed of each month at 7 pm at our Grafton Office. Get caught up on the latest local politics while helping us elect people to office. Thanks to Fair Maps, we have an opportunity to elect people to the 22, 23, and 59 Assembly Districts as well as the 8th and 20th Senate Districts. Zoom links for the meeting are sent to paid DPOC members.

SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, August 24

Maximize Your Home's Potential: Leveraging IRA Benefits for a Greener Wisconsin, 10:00am - 12:00pm
6737 W Washington, West Allis
Room 2135
Join the League of Women Voters Climate Action Group for "Maximize Your Home's Potential: Leveraging IRA Benefits for a Greener Wisconsin," an event to help homeowners take full advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to save money and fight climate change. Learn how to access up to $10,000 in rebates for home upgrades, including insulation, efficient heating systems, electric appliances, solar panels, and more, through programs like the Home Efficiency Rebate Program (HOMES) and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Program (HEAR). We'll provide essential tools and guides, like the IRA Incentive Calculator, to help you plan and execute your home improvements effectively. The event will conclude with a collaborative discussion on sharing this valuable information within our communities, ensuring everyone can contribute to a sustainable future. Register here.

Stand for Peace, 12:00 - 1:00pm
State and Harwood (in Wauwatosa)
Stand for Peace demonstrates for peace at a different intersection in Milwaukee County every Saturday.

Thursday, September 12

Save the Date: Oz Dems Annual Fundraising Gala, 5:00 - 8:00pm
Shully's, 146 Green Bay Rd, Thiensville
Here's to Winning More in 2024! The Democratic Party of Ozaukee County invites you to celebrate all the political wins of this past year and to prepare for action for this November at our annual Fall Fundraising Gala. Dine on Shully's cuisine while connecting with people who are moving Ozaukee blue. Hear and be inspired by our speakers including Representative Deb Andraca and our keynote speaker To Be Announced! Your attendance will help elect even more Democrats to office while supporting our local organization! We have an irresistible collection of silent and live auction items to bid on. Sign up.

Thursday, September 12