Monday, August 13, 2018

INCO Weekly Newsletter 8/13

Stamp Out Authoritarianism, Bigotry, and Corruption
Help INCO's postcard writers encourage 1000 or more Oregon voters to roll over Trump loyalist Greg Walden and elect progressive Jamie MacLeod-Skinner to the US House of Representatives from Oregon's 2nd Congressional District on November 6.

A roll of 100 postcard stamps costs $35.00. Please contribute here or here so we can buy more postcard stamps to reach more voters. You can also donate at INCO events and by mailing your check to INCO, PO Box 536, Warrenton, OR 97146. 

 
We're almost halfway there! As of Friday, you've contributed  $140, which paid for 400 stamps! Donate here to help buy more stamps!
 
Countdown: Only 85 days until the midterm election on November 6!
Really Do Care and Speak Up! with Chris Lehmann on August 8th
The Under 40s at the INCO Really Do Care event show they care deeply and want to get active to help defend our democracy - and Storm the Midterms, too! THOMAS ROGERS, with the microphone, shared his experiences and expertise as campaign manager for TIFFINY MITCHELL's campaign for the Oregon legislature. Thank you BEEB, KATHLEEN, and DEB for making this happen.
Guest speaker CHRIS LEHMANN shared valuable insights about the corrupting power of money in American politics and attitudes, in conversation with INCO's DEB VANASSE at INCO's Speak Up! event on August 8. Thanks to the many Indivisible volunteers who helped make our events a success. Copies of Chris' books signed by him are available at Beach Books, in Seaside. 
ACTION PRIORITIES 
for us and our Members of Congress
We MUST Storm the Midterms 
•  We encourage you to focus your energy on the issues you care most about.
•  Help INCO create the blue wave our nation needs. Check out Storm the Midterms below.
•  Don't be distracted by Trump theatrics or by the hate and fear he promotes.

•  Check out Jen Hoffman's suggestions for positive local action, reflection, and optimism.
 
Tell Your Members of Congress to:
• Uphold the rule of law and protect our democracy.  • Condemn this administration's authoritarian speech, actions, and policies. • Pressure your GOP colleagues to assert Congress' role as a co-equal branch of government, not as a servant of the President. • Protect Mueller, Rosenstein, and the Russia investigation that has already led to indictments and convictions of Trumpsters and Russians. • Restore trust in the judiciary, media, and in all the other civic institutions being purposely undermined by Trump and his administration • Defeat the administration's white supremacist actions and promotion of bigotry against people of color, naturalized citizens, foreign students, and non-Christians. 

• Stop the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh as the new Supreme Court Justice. Here's the latest guide from Indivisible. Delay the hearings and confirmation until after the winners of the November election take office.  Mr. Kavanaugh is a well-known Washington insider, anti-environmentalist, and right-wing extremist, even in his judicial decisions. 

•  Develop and enforce a humane, practical bipartisan immigration policy.

• Protect all Americans. • Stand with people who need help getting medical care and enough food to eat. • Stop the administration's attacks on America's allies and embrace of America's totalitarian enemies. • Demand effective government actions to deal with climate change. • Provide meaningful help for Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricane Maria. • Oppose  nominees to be federal judges who fail to support equal rights for all people. 
 
www.indivisible.org    Contact elected officials here.
Sign up for the weekly Americans of Conscience Action Checklist, compiled by Jen Hoffman and a volunteer team.
Your country needs you to show up, stand up, and speak up -
and make the Blue Wave happen!
Three - 3! - INCO Websites
1. Welcome to our newest website: Really Do Care INCO Under 40s. It's designed for people under 40-ish who want to fit activism into their already busy lives - and also for those who are curious but not yet ready to jump in. Thanks to Beeb Ashcroft for the concept and design and content - and for being the INCO Under 40s team leader.  

2.  Catch up on candidates, ballot measures, election news, voting rules, opinions and information at INCO's Vote the Future website

3.  Our original Indivisible North Coast Oregon website has events, contact information for elected officials, newsletters, a ton of resources on the right side of the page, and much more.

We'd love your your feedback and your submissions for any of these sites. Send to incoregon@gmail.com. INCO also has a closed Facebook group; simply ask to join Indivisible North Coast Oregon.
A shoutout to all who worked to get out the progressive vote in WA-3. We’re organizing now to keep the momentum going for Democrat Carolyn Long to defeat Trumpster Jaime Herrara-Buetler in WA-3, a race that could be key in flipping Congress. #StormTheMidterms

SIGN UP HERE to #StormThe Midterms and Stop The Menace.
Sign up and choose what suits you best —texting, tweeting, postcarding, phone banking, door-to-door canvassing— for INCO's endorsed candidates as well as progressive candidates in nearby swing districts. You can make a difference from home or working with others!
Let's Start Storming! 
Democratic victories in November won't happen if Democrats don't vote! 
PHONE BANK:  Sign up to save SCOTUS by phoning voters in states with flippable Senate seats.

TWEET: Search #FlipThe3rd and #ReplaceJHB, then retweet messages that show why GOP Representative Jaime Herrera-Beutler needs to be defeated in WA-3, our closest swing district. For more messaging to amplify, join our tweet room by messaging @indivisibleNCOR with the message TWEETROOM.

 
TEXT: Sign up at textthevote.com to help get out the vote in upcoming elections nationwide. We’ll be adding local texting options soon.

POSTCARDS: Attend a Storm the Midterms Postcard Party in Gearhart or Manzanita - or host your own! Details below! Our goal is five new postcard parties by August 15.

DONATE to a candidate willing to stand up to this administration.
 
Sign up here to be part of INCO's Storm the Midterms team.
Order 'I am the Storm' t-shirts here. 
INCO in the Astoria Regatta Grand Land Parade on August 11
Thanks to Monica, Nancy, and Kay for organizing us, and to Lady Liberty, Uncle Sam, Betsy Ross, Abe Lincoln, Ben Franklin, and other stellar Americans who added to the fun!
HAPPENINGS
Check for details and new posts on our events page.
All Indivisibles are welcome at all these events and meetings.
 
THIS WEEK
Tuesday, August 14 -  Seaside/Gearhart Community Group Meeting6:30-8:00pm. We will be enjoying a BBQ Potluck social time.  Email kathleenannmacdonald@yahoo.com for location

Wednesday, August 15  INCO Vote the Future Team, 6:30 pm, Seaside Library Board Room. All Indivisibles interested in voting and elections are welcome.

Friday, August 17 - Postcards to Voters Writing Party - Gearhart, 4 - 5:30 pm.  Contact Bebe at littlebylittle4change@gmail.com for address. Most Fridays, same time, same place. We appreciate donations ($1-5) to help defray costs for postage. If you can, join us afterwards for food and drinks at the Sand Trap.

Friday, August 17 - Postcards to Voters Writing Party - Manzanita,  4-5:30; Contact incoregon@gmail.com for the address. There will be snacks, and we will finish in time to make it to the Farmers' Market

Saturday, August 18 - Warrenton INCO Community Group Meeting, 11 am, Dooger’s Seafood and Grill, Highway 101, Warrenton. No purchase necessary. 

UPCOMING
Saturday, September 8 - Astoria INCO Community Group meeting, 8 a.m., Street Fourteen Cafe, 1410 Commercial; no purchase necessary.  On the agenda: another group LTE. What do you want to write about?

Saturday, September 15 - Town Hall with US  Representative Suzanne Bonamici, 1 - 2 pm, Seaside Heights Elementary School, 2000 Spruce Drive, Seaside

Wednesday, September 19 - INCO Book Club, 6:30 pm, in Astoria. We're back after our summer break! The book we’ll discuss is THE AGE OF AMERICAN UNREASON IN A CULTURE OF LIES by Susan Jacoby, Vintage Books, New Updated Edition, 2018. Contact cebeady@outlook.com for directions.

Wednesday, September 19 - Seaside AAUW C
andidates Forum, 7 - 8:30 pm, Seaside City Hall. Confirmed as coming are candidates for Seaside mayor, Seaside City Council, Gearhart City Council, and Tiffiny Mitchell for Oregon Legislature, HD 32.    

 Tuesday, September 25 - INCO and National Voter Registration Day. Voter registration plans underway for Clatsop Community College, Tongue Point Job Corps, Seaside, and Warrenton. To help, please contact incoregon@gmail.com.
Why Postcards? 
Your handwritten postcards are one of the most effective ways to increase voter turnout.  Write anonymously to anonymous voters to support progressive candidates in key elections elsewhere.  INCO provides you a Postcards to Voters (PTV) starter kit with postcards, pens, and postage. Bebe Michel will show you how to get started. Contact Bebe at littlebylittle4change@gmail.com for details. 
 
See Happenings in every newsletter for dates and places of postcard parties.
 
Send Postcards to Voters on your own 
It's easy to sign up for www.postcardstovoters.org - they'll send you guidelines, and you can anonymously contact anonymous voters elsewhere at your convenience.
INSIGHTS
The tax which will be paid for the purpose of education is not more than the thousandth part of what will be paid to kings, priests and nobles who will rise up among us if we leave the people in ignorance.

 -- Thomas Jefferson
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, or pardon key figures. 
  • If actions are triggered BEFORE 2 p.m. local time —> events will begin @ 5 p.m. local time.
  • If actions are triggered AFTER 2 p.m. local time —> events will begin @ noon local time the following day.
We'll take to the streets to Rally for the Rule of Law at 8th and Commercial in Astoria. 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.  
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
INCO has Community Groups in Manzanita-Cannon Beach, Seaside-Gearhart, Warrenton, Astoria-East County, and 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 Laurie at 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.

INCO's new website is Activism for Really Do Care INCO Under 40s
 Join INCO's closed Facebook group for more actions, information, and discussion.
Share this newsletter and our website with other resisters. Check spam if you can't find it.
INCO is supported entirely by donations. Please donate here.

Deb Vanasse and Laurie Caplan, INCO Co-chairs
INCO Weekly Newsletter   August 13, 2018