INCO Weekly Newsletter 5/14

Winners and Winners Everyone wins when democracy thrives. We applaud the candidates, the campaigners, and everyone who helped get out the vote in this primary. Regardless of Tuesday's results, we’ll set political differences aside and work together to defend democracy. With your help, INCO will work to disrupt the Trump-GOP corruption, incompetence, and disregard for our democracy. With your help, we'll Storm the Midterms to get progressive victories in the November election. Onward! Deb and Laurie Ballots are due tomorrow, Tuesday, May 15, by 8 pm.  Take your ballot to a voting drop box by 8 pm tomorrow, locations here. It is too late to mail your ballot. Progressive candidates can't win if progressives don't vote. If you need a ballot, contact the County Elections Office, 503-325-8605. Candidates' Interviews Local journalist Joan Herman interviews candidates on "Perspectives" on KMUN radio, 91.9FM. Her questions are spot-on, with time for meaningful answers.    County Commissioners, Districts 1 and 3 - podcast is here.  County Commissioners, District 5 - podcast is here. Oregon House of Representatives, District 32 - podcast is here. Clatsop Care Health District Bond Issue  and operating levy for the Warrenton Police Department  - podcast is here. INCO is not endorsing or fielding candidates in the May 15 election.   Help INCO protect democracy for the next generation, and the generations to come.     ACTION PRIORITIES  www.indivisible.org  Sign up for the weekly Americans of Conscience Action Checklist. Follow up on this week's Checklist issues you care about. Contact elected officials here.   Democracy Equality Fair elections Compassion and kindness Respect for all people •  Act on your values with the Americans of Conscience Action Checklist. Jen Hoffman was a dynamo speaker at INCO's Turn The Tide 2018 summit in January. She and other volunteers compile an outstanding checklist of quick and effective ways to resist authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption. The Checklist even highlights good news and ways show gratitude.   • Tell your senators to reject Gina Haspel as CIA Director. The first hearing on her nomination for CIA Director is Wednesday, May 9. She personally helped torture detainees in a secret CIA-run prison during the Bush administration. She then made sure the video evidence was destroyed. Beyond waterboarding, detainees were sexually assaulted, beaten, isolated and starved. They faced mock executions, threats to their families, and psychological experimentation. More info here. Another article is here. • Tell your senators to vote YES on the Congressional Review Act (CRA) Resolution to overturn the FCC’s plan to end net neutrality. Sometime next week, the Senate could vote to repeal the FCC's plan to end net neutrality.  Without net neutrality, giant ISPs could destroy the open Internet by dividing it into “fast lanes” for those that can pay and “slow lanes” for everyone else.  • Tell your Members of Congress to uphold the rule of law and protect our democracy. Especially if Trump fires Rosenstein or Mueller or otherwise tries to stomp on the rule of law. More info here. We're Turning Our Country Around We're writing postcards to voters in key elections around the US. Postcards To Voters Writing Party Friday, May 18 4:30pm - 6pm at Bebe’s house in Gearhart. Postcards, pens and postage provided — we just need you! And afterwards let’s go to McMenamin’s Sandtrap Pub for sustenance and libations.  Contact Bebe at littlebylittle4change@gmail.com for address.   HAPPENINGS Check for details and new posts on our events page. All Indivisibles are welcome at all these events and meetings.   THIS WEEK Tuesday, May 15 - BALLOTS DUE by 8 pm. Postmarks don't count. Take your ballot to a drop box near you. Wednesday, May 16 - Vote the Future Team Meeting - 6:30 pm, Seaside Library Board Room Friday, May 18 - Postcards to Voters Party, 4:30 -6 pm, at Bebe's in Gearhart. Postcards, pens and postage provided — we just need you!  And afterwards let’s go to McMenamin’s Sandtrap Pub for sustenance and libations. Contact Bebe at  littlebylittle4change@gmail.com for address.   UPCOMING Saturday, June 2 - Astoria Community Group, 8:30 a.m., location TBD. We're starting to Storm the Midterms! Saturday, June 2 - Warrenton Community Group, 11:00 am, at Dooger's Seafood and Grill in Warrenton.  No purchase necessary. Saturday, June 9 - Walk with INCO in Riverwalk PRIDE Parade, 12 noon, leaves from the Riverwalk at 4th Street; INCO table at PRIDE Block Party, 1-8 pm, Riverwalk at Barbey Maritime Center; incoregon@gmail.com for details. Tuesday, June 12 - Seaside/Gearhart Community Group Meeting , 6:30-8:00pm at Kathleen Macdonald’s house, 77 7th Ave, Seaside. We will be planning our participation in the 4th of July Parade in Seaside.  Wednesday, June 13 - INCO Book Club, 6:30 pm, at Carolyn's, Astoria. Contact cebeady@outlook.com for directions. This month's book is Moral Politics: How Liberals and Conservatives Think  by George Lakoff.  Either the second edition 2002 or the third edition 2016 works. The author analyzes the unconscious world-views of liberals and conservatives, explaining why they are at odds over so many seemingly unrelated topics. Vote like your rights depend on it. It's essential to elect leaders who value civil rights and civil liberties. Here's more info about ACLU Voter,  the massive mobilization campaign to build a powerful nationwide voting base to take back our democracy.      INSIGHTS  "A population that believes its elected representatives will fail them will stop demanding success, or truth, or competence, or ethics. We won't throw the bums out. We'll grow accustomed to living with them.” —Matt Lewis      We're Ready!  Here's INCO's plan if Trump crosses one of three red lines that threatens the rule of law as it relates to the investigation: fire Mueller, fire Rosenstein, pardon key figures. We'll take to the streets to Rally for the Rule of Law at 8th and Commercial in Astoria. If the red line is crossed before 2 pm local time, we rally at 5 pm that day; if it's crossed after 2 pm local time, we rally at noon the next day. Indivisibles across the nation will be gathering according to this schedule.   We'll post info about a Rally for the Rule of Law on our INCO Facebook page and email an Action Alert. You can also sign up (RSVP) for a notification here.

USE YOUR VOICE Inform and inspire others with a letter to the editor (LTE) to the Daily Astorian. Letters are among the most popular features in the paper. Even a paragraph or two makes an impact. Rules and directions for submitting your letter are here.  Write about an issue you care about. Suggested topics for this week:   The Mueller investigation, restoring net neutrality, responsible gun laws, EPA's expensive, self-indulgent leadership and this administration's policies undercutting laws protecting clean air and water COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS INCO has Community Groups in Manzanita-Cannon Beach, Seaside-Gearhart, Warrenton, Astoria-East County, or the Washington Peninsula. All INCO Indivisibles are invited to get active with INCO's Events Team, Oppose Bigotry Team, Vote the Future Team, and Book Club. Contact incoregon@gmail.com for more information.   Questions, suggestions, & photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com Elections, voting, issues, and more at INCO's Vote the Future website:  incovotethefuture.org.  Join INCO's closed Facebook group for more actions, information, and discussion. Share this newsletter and our website with other resisters. INCO is supported entirely by donations. Please donate here. Deb Vanasse and Laurie Caplan, INCO Co-chairs INCO Weekly Newsletter   May 14, 2018