Regarding my earlier reply about being an election worker for the past two and upcoming two days..We are an extraordinary group of 12, making up the crew overseeing the discharge of the very core of our Democracy that is in such peril in this moment..
There’s me, a white retired Jew, then we have a black LBGTQ fellow, a few Mexican American middle aged ladies, a black county worker, a couple Mexican American fellas, a retired Black lady a run of the mille white guy, an ex-white Britt at retirement age..and a Russian IT support Tech..literally only in the country 10 months..Many of whom are family folks with kids..
What I’m trying to point out is that we are the very picture of America..At least the America I believe the founders had envisioned…A diverse collection of people from different walks of life and backgrounds, strangers Saturday at 9am, by 7:30 pm today friends..and by the time the polls close on Tuesday we will be family..
It is truly an ordinary thing, made extraordinary in this moment..
Nov 7, 2022·edited Nov 7, 2022Liked by Joyce Vance
In your closing remarks, you talk about being dismayed that trump's Secret Service agents allowed trump to basically go up to speak to the crowd on January 6th. I'm amazed that they did KNOWING that there were people armed in attendance. I recall trump saying not to use the metal detectors because those people weren't there to harm him or something to that effect, but that should've been alarming to the SS agents imho. Unless, the SS agents felt reasonably assured that trump wouldn't be harmed by them, which would stink to high heaven.
As for Tuesday, having mailed in my ballot, I volunteered Friday for 3 hrs outside the Elections Administrative Offices in downtown Bryan, TX for Common Cause as a Protect The Vote non-partisan ready to help anyone who had questions about voting. I'll do the same on Tuesday from 7am-10am. I am scared to death about outcomes, and I will simply cross my fingers in high hopes that enough Americans have taken this election seriously knowing what is at stake, our freedom to vote, Social Security & Medicare, and of course the chance to codify Roe v Wade. Thanks, Joyce.
I'm coping by keeping my feet moving. I went out today to get out the vote (GOTV) to likely Democratic voters who had not yet voted. It was a cold dull Seattle day, but the response was encouraging. In 29 houses, we hit one Republican voter. Many people had already mailed in their ballots and said they had voted for the D's. Many others held up their ballots and said they were mailing them tomorrow. We urged them to drop off their ballots at the ballot box outside of their community library.
It’s hard to function in a country that is dysfunctional. Everything revolves around Trump. What he wants. What he doesn’t want. What he’s planning to do next. If Republicans take any kind of control after the election, Trump will enjoy a new kind of freedom. His life and behavior will continue to be the news as he goes about flaunting his victory over democrats. And sadly I believe he will never be convicted for any crime. To stay sane through these most stressful days in politics I lean on this newsletter. Seriously. So thankful for your help.
I am happy to note that my two grandkids of voting age have done their part in protecting our democracy. One is an active advocate for women’s reproductive health, having learned from her midwife mother along the way. I, too, am selectively restricting what I read, but your posts and those of a few others keep me informed and grounded. What you all do is invaluable to those of us who follow carefully but, at times, must be cautious in order to take care of ourselves. I think some of us are older, been through a number of battles and need a breather before the next. It’s been a long haul. Thank you for your continuous input and encouragement. It’s if great value. Thank you for your MSNBC commentary and #sistersinlaw. Keeping me grounded !
How am I staying sane you ask? Oddly enough, along with the Xanax, I've spent Sat & Sun, and will spend Mon & Tues as an election worker at my local precinct..On Nov 9th I will participate in a after action election Q&A zoom session with Steve Schmidt of "The Warning" on the Substack platform..Along with many of his subscribers..You would like it Joyce, he's one of us..
I’m thinking that post election I’d like to find a way to support constitutional ammendments to get rid of the electoral college and make voting mandatory. I’d also like to support rank-choice voting and encourage young people to run for office. If anyone has any suggestions on how to do any of these things I’d appreciate any suggestions.
Although I thought it was IMPOSSIBLE to be interested in anything except the VOTE, by Gawd, Joyce! You took the pressure OFF by revealing there are OTHER quite interesting events ahead! Thank you!
We have so much going on in our life that I’ll be easily distracted until Tuesday, although I can’t help browsing the news online several times a day. As for Tuesday, I decided this year to become an “election inspector” (New York State’s term for temporary poll workers), so I’ll be up and at a polling place here in Rochester by 5 a.m., staying until after 9 p.m., until everyone’s voted and the machines, ballots, etc., are all secured and delivered. By the time I get home, I’ll probably be ready to have a quick Martini and some food while I take a quick look at coverage, then collapse into bed. Hopefully Wednesday morning will at least bring a clear picture of what’s coming in January—and a peaceful holiday season. We shall see.
The J6 Committee needs immediately to release all of its documents and transcripts. Who cares about the Committee report? We all need to see the source materials otherwise just worthless like the Mueller Report. Rule of law is a joke. It is just a dog whistle now and both sides just use it as a throw away to justify whatever they want. Just like “democracy is on the ballot” which implies we have a democracy now. We never have in reality. Women got the vote in 1920, with gerrymandering and other suppression, one could still argue African Americans and other minorities still do not have the effective right to vote. Look at AZ’s vote gathering rules designed to suppress the Native American vote with their Pueblo system. This is about obtaining a democracy, not keeping one. Heading back to guessing the number of jelly beans in a jar to get to vote. I voted absentee and have checked it online. I could because I am over 65. Like Alabama, my backwards state of SC requires a reason. I am curious how many ballots will be tossed because they were not folded, signed, witnessed and dated correctly which I believe may have been the reason Graham “defeated” Jamie Harrison in the last election. Apologies for the length.
I'm going to be hanging out on Mary Trump's YouTube livestream on Tuesday night so I don't go insane all by myself in my apartment that night. I need to be in community. I'm so worried about how dumb the American electorate is.
I continue research into a screenplay—my first. I hope it's a thriller. TBD. :o)
Both my wife and I voted in New Mexico, blue straight down the line. We feel we don't have an alternative until Republicans abandon their flirtation with authoritarian rule. The false electors gambit freaked us out.
Crossing fingers, there are conflicting reports about which candidates are ahead. We have the resources to continue to give a few hundred dollars to tight race Democratic candidates almost daily.
Well, I’m not at all sure what to do. I have just moved from IL to IA. I, of course voted before this took place. I do want to stay busy the best part of the day. I agree w/all here that it makes for a stressful day to listen to it all. I will probably pray a lot!!! I can stay busy and will be tired by evening so that will be good. So much riding on this is an understatement. Wish I had some “chickens” to talk too. My dog is good too.🤣.
I see where the RNC said that once Trump declares himself as a candidate in 2024 that they will no longer pay his legal bills. They have already paid over $2.3 million so far over the lawsuits in NY against the Trump organization & his real estate business. He might think twice about incurring that liability if he declares, although he might really believe if he does declare then the DOJ won’t indict him.
I live on the central east coast of Florida, & the NHC is predicting a storm, perhaps hurricane strength, at least wind & rain, on Tuesday. I did early voting last Tuesday & it went smoothly. I love early voting! I am hoping that all the Democrats either voted early or mailed in their ballots, & that the Republicans will stay home so they don’t get wet.
I don’t have TV (by choice), but I do have internet. I’m not sure how I can stay away from the drama but I really do need a plan! 🤔
Regarding my earlier reply about being an election worker for the past two and upcoming two days..We are an extraordinary group of 12, making up the crew overseeing the discharge of the very core of our Democracy that is in such peril in this moment..
There’s me, a white retired Jew, then we have a black LBGTQ fellow, a few Mexican American middle aged ladies, a black county worker, a couple Mexican American fellas, a retired Black lady a run of the mille white guy, an ex-white Britt at retirement age..and a Russian IT support Tech..literally only in the country 10 months..Many of whom are family folks with kids..
What I’m trying to point out is that we are the very picture of America..At least the America I believe the founders had envisioned…A diverse collection of people from different walks of life and backgrounds, strangers Saturday at 9am, by 7:30 pm today friends..and by the time the polls close on Tuesday we will be family..
It is truly an ordinary thing, made extraordinary in this moment..
I’m staying away from TV until Tuesday night returns. Hearing over and over what talking heads think might happen is nerve racking. Got a good book.
In your closing remarks, you talk about being dismayed that trump's Secret Service agents allowed trump to basically go up to speak to the crowd on January 6th. I'm amazed that they did KNOWING that there were people armed in attendance. I recall trump saying not to use the metal detectors because those people weren't there to harm him or something to that effect, but that should've been alarming to the SS agents imho. Unless, the SS agents felt reasonably assured that trump wouldn't be harmed by them, which would stink to high heaven.
As for Tuesday, having mailed in my ballot, I volunteered Friday for 3 hrs outside the Elections Administrative Offices in downtown Bryan, TX for Common Cause as a Protect The Vote non-partisan ready to help anyone who had questions about voting. I'll do the same on Tuesday from 7am-10am. I am scared to death about outcomes, and I will simply cross my fingers in high hopes that enough Americans have taken this election seriously knowing what is at stake, our freedom to vote, Social Security & Medicare, and of course the chance to codify Roe v Wade. Thanks, Joyce.
I'm coping by keeping my feet moving. I went out today to get out the vote (GOTV) to likely Democratic voters who had not yet voted. It was a cold dull Seattle day, but the response was encouraging. In 29 houses, we hit one Republican voter. Many people had already mailed in their ballots and said they had voted for the D's. Many others held up their ballots and said they were mailing them tomorrow. We urged them to drop off their ballots at the ballot box outside of their community library.
It’s hard to function in a country that is dysfunctional. Everything revolves around Trump. What he wants. What he doesn’t want. What he’s planning to do next. If Republicans take any kind of control after the election, Trump will enjoy a new kind of freedom. His life and behavior will continue to be the news as he goes about flaunting his victory over democrats. And sadly I believe he will never be convicted for any crime. To stay sane through these most stressful days in politics I lean on this newsletter. Seriously. So thankful for your help.
I am happy to note that my two grandkids of voting age have done their part in protecting our democracy. One is an active advocate for women’s reproductive health, having learned from her midwife mother along the way. I, too, am selectively restricting what I read, but your posts and those of a few others keep me informed and grounded. What you all do is invaluable to those of us who follow carefully but, at times, must be cautious in order to take care of ourselves. I think some of us are older, been through a number of battles and need a breather before the next. It’s been a long haul. Thank you for your continuous input and encouragement. It’s if great value. Thank you for your MSNBC commentary and #sistersinlaw. Keeping me grounded !
How am I staying sane you ask? Oddly enough, along with the Xanax, I've spent Sat & Sun, and will spend Mon & Tues as an election worker at my local precinct..On Nov 9th I will participate in a after action election Q&A zoom session with Steve Schmidt of "The Warning" on the Substack platform..Along with many of his subscribers..You would like it Joyce, he's one of us..
I’m thinking that post election I’d like to find a way to support constitutional ammendments to get rid of the electoral college and make voting mandatory. I’d also like to support rank-choice voting and encourage young people to run for office. If anyone has any suggestions on how to do any of these things I’d appreciate any suggestions.
Although I thought it was IMPOSSIBLE to be interested in anything except the VOTE, by Gawd, Joyce! You took the pressure OFF by revealing there are OTHER quite interesting events ahead! Thank you!
We have so much going on in our life that I’ll be easily distracted until Tuesday, although I can’t help browsing the news online several times a day. As for Tuesday, I decided this year to become an “election inspector” (New York State’s term for temporary poll workers), so I’ll be up and at a polling place here in Rochester by 5 a.m., staying until after 9 p.m., until everyone’s voted and the machines, ballots, etc., are all secured and delivered. By the time I get home, I’ll probably be ready to have a quick Martini and some food while I take a quick look at coverage, then collapse into bed. Hopefully Wednesday morning will at least bring a clear picture of what’s coming in January—and a peaceful holiday season. We shall see.
The J6 Committee needs immediately to release all of its documents and transcripts. Who cares about the Committee report? We all need to see the source materials otherwise just worthless like the Mueller Report. Rule of law is a joke. It is just a dog whistle now and both sides just use it as a throw away to justify whatever they want. Just like “democracy is on the ballot” which implies we have a democracy now. We never have in reality. Women got the vote in 1920, with gerrymandering and other suppression, one could still argue African Americans and other minorities still do not have the effective right to vote. Look at AZ’s vote gathering rules designed to suppress the Native American vote with their Pueblo system. This is about obtaining a democracy, not keeping one. Heading back to guessing the number of jelly beans in a jar to get to vote. I voted absentee and have checked it online. I could because I am over 65. Like Alabama, my backwards state of SC requires a reason. I am curious how many ballots will be tossed because they were not folded, signed, witnessed and dated correctly which I believe may have been the reason Graham “defeated” Jamie Harrison in the last election. Apologies for the length.
I'm going to be hanging out on Mary Trump's YouTube livestream on Tuesday night so I don't go insane all by myself in my apartment that night. I need to be in community. I'm so worried about how dumb the American electorate is.
I continue research into a screenplay—my first. I hope it's a thriller. TBD. :o)
Both my wife and I voted in New Mexico, blue straight down the line. We feel we don't have an alternative until Republicans abandon their flirtation with authoritarian rule. The false electors gambit freaked us out.
Crossing fingers, there are conflicting reports about which candidates are ahead. We have the resources to continue to give a few hundred dollars to tight race Democratic candidates almost daily.
I just want to hide this week.
Well, I’m not at all sure what to do. I have just moved from IL to IA. I, of course voted before this took place. I do want to stay busy the best part of the day. I agree w/all here that it makes for a stressful day to listen to it all. I will probably pray a lot!!! I can stay busy and will be tired by evening so that will be good. So much riding on this is an understatement. Wish I had some “chickens” to talk too. My dog is good too.🤣.
I see where the RNC said that once Trump declares himself as a candidate in 2024 that they will no longer pay his legal bills. They have already paid over $2.3 million so far over the lawsuits in NY against the Trump organization & his real estate business. He might think twice about incurring that liability if he declares, although he might really believe if he does declare then the DOJ won’t indict him.
I live on the central east coast of Florida, & the NHC is predicting a storm, perhaps hurricane strength, at least wind & rain, on Tuesday. I did early voting last Tuesday & it went smoothly. I love early voting! I am hoping that all the Democrats either voted early or mailed in their ballots, & that the Republicans will stay home so they don’t get wet.
I don’t have TV (by choice), but I do have internet. I’m not sure how I can stay away from the drama but I really do need a plan! 🤔