Voters will elect two commissioners on May 21 for District 2 (Clatsop Plains, Gearhart, part of Seaside) and District 4 (east Astoria to the county line). INCO encourages you to consider running for office if you live in one of those districts. Your values, wisdom, and experience matter when you serve the public.
Courtney Bangs has filed for re-election for District 4; John Toyooka has not filed yet for re-election to District 2. Both are conservative, opponents of the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), and are aligned with Republican policies. If you want a more progressive county commission, then please consider running or encourage someone who shares your values to become a candidate.
Indivisible leaders from Lower Columbia Indivisible in Longview, WA and INCO are working side by side to defend democracy, this time in Seaside last Friday. From left: Carolyn-LCI, Becky-LCI, Ken, Mary Beth, Sue-LCI, Laurie, and Carmen. Onward!
Learn about important state legislation already passed in the 2024 session and what important bills remain to be passed during that last week. While national politics seem to be completely dysfunctional thanks to Trump and his strangle-hold on the GOP, our state legislators are busy passing bills and working for all of us here in Oregon. Register at https://bit.ly/coin-mtg.
This organization, Movement Voter Project, was researched and recommended by Jessica Craven of Chop Wood, Carry Water. Giving money now helps local organizations build resources, staff, and momentum. If you're going to donate to political causes, now is a great time to do so!
"MVP is a one-stop shop for strategically investing in local organizations that win elections and transform policy.
"MVP does the research so you don’t have to, maximizes your impact by investing in the best local voter engagement organizations, and streamlines your giving — operating like a “mutual fund for political donations.”
"At a panel session Wednesday [of the Conservative Political Action Convention (CPAC)], right-wing conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec said without irony or sarcasm, “I just wanted to say, welcome to the end of democracy. We are here to overthrow it completely. We didn’t get all the way there on January 6, but we will endeavor to get rid of it.”
"He then held up a Christian cross and added, “We’ll replace it with this right here. That’s right, because all glory, all glory is not to government, all glory is to God." Was the remark in jest? No. And the crowd knew it.... no Republican attendee denounced Posobiec’s comments." -- Dan Rather, Steady, February 23, 2024
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
Lucian K. Truscott has a terrific political and medical review of GOP efforts to ban abortion and support the Life at Conception Act. He says this about Congressional Republicans: "Keeping up with these two or three faced bastards takes it out of you, doesn’t it? [They are] "soulless shape-shifters"...." -- Lucian K. Truscott newsletter, February 24, 2024
FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE .... NOT
Who are the Russians paid by Putin to help Trump get elected in November? You can sort out the spies, liars, funders, and Republican accomplices in Lucian K. Truscott IV's February 22 newsletter.
INCO INSIGHTS
"A love affair, a career, a revolution: these are ventures on which one embarks without knowing their outcome." -- Jean-Paul Sartre, author and philosopher
Indivisible defends democracy by opposing authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption. Comments, news, and photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com. Resources and other information at www.incoregon.org and www.indivisible.org. Encourage others to sign up for the INCO newsletter at our website or here. Look for the INCO column in Hipfish Monthly. We're on Facebook, too. INCO Weekly Newsletter February 26, 2024
Because we get to choose our President. Your voice and vote strengthen our country and protect our freedoms.
WRITE TO VOTERS AT WINEKRAFT
Rebecca Kraft has invited INCO to return to WineKraft to write postcards and letters to voters! She's an enthusiastic INCO supporter, and everyone who wrote there pre-Covid enjoyed her hospitality.
Tuesday, February 27 3-4 pm WineKraft -- NEW LOCATION: 77 11th St, Astoria On the Riverwalk, just inside the east end of the building, up the ramp on your left No purchase necessary
INCO will provide postcards, pens, and stamps. INCO will help get you started if you're new to writing voters. Questions? incoregon@gmail.com
IF YOU DON'T RUN, WHO WILL?
What do you want our Clatsop County Commissioners to do about taxes, housing and homelessness, wetlands and forests, and short-term rentals? Who do you want making those decisions?
Voters will elect two commissioners on May 21 for District 2 (Clatsop Plains, Gearhart, part of Seaside) and District 4 (east Astoria to the county line). INCO encourages you to consider running for office if you live in one of those districts. Your values, wisdom, and experience matter when you serve the public.
Fair taxation has been a theme for our democracy even before the US was a country. Remember the Boston Tea Party in 1773!
An Oregon bill calls for a study of the timber harvest tax, which was dramatically reduced some years ago. Most Oregonians want to have a fairer timber tax for community wildfire protection, increased county revenue, and watershed protection. Several pro-democracy organizations, including the Oregon League of Women Voters, Tax Fairness Oregon, and Mobilizing for Climate Action Team support this bill. Senator Golden's bill will attempt to bring stable funding while addressing conservation concerns.
Please submit testimony supporting SB1593-1 by 3:00pm Tuesday. Suggested talking points are here. To submit written testimony - even a few sentences - clickhere and type.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
INCO's Bebe Michel writes to voters nearly every day and knows that each postcard and letter to voters makes an impact. She recommends these options.
POSTCARDING OPTIONS POSTCARDS TO SWING STATES Rally Democrats to vote from across the country, from presidential swing states to competitive state legislative districts. turnoutpac.org—> click on Get Involved
RECLAIM OUR VOTE Educate and empower voters of color in voter suppression states. CenterForCommonGround.org —> click on Actions
OREGON CD5 TAKE BACK THE HOUSE PROJECT hosted by Makes sure that voters know that Lori Chavez-DeRemer is NOT the moderate she pretends to be. Sign up through COIN (Consolidated Oregon Indivisible Network) COINOregon.org—> scroll down to COIN’s 2024 Priorities and Strategy section —> Priority #1 —> click on postcarding link.
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS Friendly, handwritten reminders to targeted voters giving Democrats a winning edge in close, key races coast to coast. PostcardsToVoters.org—> information on the home page.
IF WRITING LETTERS IS YOUR THING VOTE FORWARD LETTERS Volunteers share their personal messages to encourage fellow citizens to vote. votefwd.org—> sign up and sign in.
PREDICTING THE WEATHER... AND MORE Ignore the Polls!
"Democrats have consistently overperformed in special and general elections since the Dobbs decision in 2022, even while the polls have failed again and again to predict their success. There is something fundamentally flawed about polling methodology, and it is increasingly irresponsible of the media to run with headlines that are not factually supportable because the polls they are based on are known to be inaccurate.
"In what other area would this ever be okay? It’s like warning there’s a good chance of severe storms or even a hurricane, but based on barometers that haven’t functioned properly for years." -- Jay Kuo, The Status Kuo, February 14, 2024
INCO INSIGHTS
"The secret of life is learning to live with interesting questions.” — Richard Cameron-Wolfe, composer
Indivisible defends democracy by opposing authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption. Comments, news, and photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com. Resources and other information at www.incoregon.org and www.indivisible.org. Encourage others to sign up for the INCO newsletter at our website or here. Look for the INCO column in Hipfish Monthly. We're on Facebook, too. INCO Weekly Newsletter February 19, 2024
If you want your money to be used effectively for Democratic victories this year
Jessica Craven, author of the Chop Wood, Carry Water newsletter, recently gave a superb presentation about how to maximize, prioritize, and optimize your political donations. It was a real eye-opener, and INCO encourages you to watch the video. Jessica is, as usual, dynamic and energizing in this hour-long recording. The event was hosted by Swing Left, San Gabriel Valley (CA).
You'll hear about outstanding grassroots groups that are strengthening current election efforts and building for the future. These groups register voters, get out the vote, support specific campaigns, and mentor and support people under 40 running for office. Your money can make a vital difference to groups that have a proven record of success.
You'll also learn why and how Jess ignores many frantic campaign texts and emails. She also provides this written summaryof her suggestions.
As a full-time activist for the last 7 years, Jessica volunteers with many grassroots groups. She also researches candidates, issues, and organizations, in addition to writing her popular newsletter, Chop Wood, Carry Water.
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Whether you are able to donate a little or a lot, INCO highly recommends you consider Jessica's advice. If you don't have time to watch the video, the summary of her talk includes links to her most highly regarded organizations.
Please share this info and these links with your like-minded friends, family, and groups.
IGNORE THE NOISE - SHARE THE TRUTH
You've probably heard the noise about President Biden's age, son, and memory, but very little actual news about all the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris policies. It's up to us to tell people what the headlines and online personalities aren't saying. Other voters might not have your determination to find out what's really happening, what the truth is, and what's at stake.
INCO INSIGHTS
"The worst four-letter word ever invented: can't." --Marin Alsop, American conductor
Indivisible defends democracy by opposing authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption. Comments, news, and photos to INCO at incoregon@gmail.com. Resources and other information at www.incoregon.org and www.indivisible.org. Encourage others to sign up for the INCO newsletter at our website or here. Look for the INCO column in Hipfish Monthly. We're on Facebook, too. INCO Weekly Newsletter February 12, 2024