A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
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The orange pinpoints are the location of each organized group of Daily Kos readers.
If you'd like to join a group, click on a point and a box will pop up showing contact links.
If you'd like to start a group, contact navajo for instructions.
View Interactive Map of Daily Kos Regional Communities in a full screen version.
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Election Results?
I was going to write two diaries, one for the BIG WIN and one for the Live to Fight Again. But my oldest daughter and family moved in with me over the past 10 days. By that, I mean we moved an entire two bedroom apartment into my 1030 square foot, 2 story faux cape cod, 100 + year old house.
Everything that was in my bedroom is now in my outdoor storage building (approx 10 x 12 ft). My bed is at the end of the living room.
It looks (and I'm being kind here) like a tornado tore through this place twice or more. Crap is strewn from hell to breakfast and I can't find anything outside of the kitchen. So at least we can still cook.
I've also taken over the daycare of my (almost, on the 10th) year old grandchild, while my daughter is at school (mornings, three days a week) or work (the other two mornings and some of the evenings). I can't remember when I felt this tired. But it's all in a good cause.
Because it's reducing my daughter's expenses and allowing her to sleep an extra hour each day (instead of getting up earlier and bringing the kids to me before she heads to Portland for school or the east county for work).
So, no extra time to write two different versions of this diary, reflecting how the Election turned out...
and right now (6:21 pm Pacific Time... and got called away and now it's 6:37 pm Pacific Time) per the NYTIMES online:
Yes, Mitch McConnell won in Kentucky, the very first result I saw tonight, making me think that perhaps if Alison Lundergan Grimes (in a red, red State or not) had tied herself to the PPACA and the President instead of distancing herself from them she might have appealed to more of the Democrats in Kentucky. The MSNBC commentary this evening mentioned this, as have a number of diarists here over the past couple of months.
Still, being outspent over 2:1 (with a cool $2 Million dumped just in the past couple of weeks by McConnell) and ending with a 41.10% (Grimes) to 55.82% (McConnell) [with the Libertarian (Patterson) taking 3.07%] is not so bad - but it IS a loss I was truly hoping would be a Win.
:-(
I'll pick this up early in the am (around 6:00 am Pacific Time) to add more Results and hopefully some of them will be WINS not expected by the Mainstream media.
So, tell me which race you were most interested in, and how the result turned out - and how it makes you feel about 2016, which is likely going to be the Talk of the Beltway by 5 pm tomorrow night.
And it (sadly) didn't take until 6:00 am to discover that our Party has been tossed out on it's ass. Nationwide. The crazy and fearful have won the day. The question is, what sort of nation will they make of our beloved country over the next two years?
Lost:
Alison Lundergan Grimes: was it that she ran from the President or that she has a really, really (way too long) name? Maybe both.
Wendy Davis: History seldom repeats itself when you're looking for a good outcome, and Ann Richards is probably kibitzing with Molly Ivans (who is saying, "Bless their hearts", about the idiot voters who put Greg Abbott in the Governor's Mansion next year).
Most of the rest of the Democrats running for office in 2014.
I want to offer up some uplifting and progressive ideas to tamp down the
sad I'm sure is widespread today across the Liberal Left. But I'm sort of short on hope.
So instead of discussing the election (which you are welcome to do in my rant from last night, which you can find here: Post-Election Rant) how about you all post SOMETHING HAPPY.
I don't care if it's a video of cats washing dishes (I saw this on Facebook this week, I kid you not); a picture of your newest addition to the family (2 legs, 4 legs or anything in-between is fine by me); a joke you heard last week at work or whatever.
So long as it has NOTHING to do with politics and puts a smile on someone's face (mine is the one I'm hoping for) that's what I want to see TODAY.
I imagine my despair will fade (as it did after John Kerry went down like a sock full of concrete in 2004) and I'll come back ready to Wage War against the GOP Horde.
It just isn't happening today. Still I leave you with my regular end-of-post meme, because if only our Party could find the wisdom to use short, easy to remember ideas like this? Maybe we might starting winning more than the Presidency because the Voters we've been searching for might remember that it's the Democratic Party who is looking out for their future - and not just our own.
#StrongerTogether for a better future for OUR posterity |
Latest Updates on Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
by cooper888 ♥ for Sacramento Kossacks
We heard from navajo and Meteor Blades about the initiative by Daily Kos to have active Kossack groups in each of the state capitals. DK is looking for engaged Kossack's ready to roll up their sleeves and participate in many different types of activism/advocacy. For example, delivering petitions to the state capitol, participating in various protests, marches, rally's at the capitol, etc. As Meteor Blades pointed out this won't happen over night and is a long term strategy but I think if we all take the lead in our respective states we can make this dream happen sooner than DK leadership expects.
L-R: Front row: Sychotic1, tgypsy, tb92, trevizolga, Mrs. side pocket. Second row: Arundsdel (sp?), Laurel in CA, Kestrel, Meteor Blades. Third row: Kestrel's two friends, smileycreek, paradise50, Dave. Back row: Clif, Mr. Arundsdel, Neil, cooper888, side pocket, Left foot forward, got mooned & Nate
Please visit cooper888's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Sacramento Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to cooper888.
by John Crapper ♥ for Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks
On Saturday 10/4/14, the Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks had the chance to have lunch with Seattle City Council member Kshama Sawant.
...In 2012, Kshama ran as a Socialist Alternative candidate for WA State Legislature and surprised everyone by winning 29% of the vote. The momentum continued in her campaign for Seattle City Council where she boldly ran on a platform of fighting for a $15/hr minimum wage, rent control and taxing the super-rich to fund mass transit and education. In November she defeated a 16-year incumbent Democrat to become the first socialist elected in a major US city in decades.
Kshama Sawant now chairs Seattle City Council's Energy Committee which covers Seattle City Light, alternative energy sources, energy policies and air pollution regulations.
bleeding blue videotaped the address and the Q&A session that followed:
Please visit John Crapper's diary for more details and photos of the event. You can still REC it. You can join Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to John Crapper.
by randallt ♥ for DKos Asheville
The Dkos Ashevillites got together again to take a break from registering people to vote. A special thanks to Gordon20024, who drove in from Roanke, for providing all the food!
All the attendees went around the table and talked about what they're involved in at Daily Kos. Details about this on each attendee can be read at randallt's diary. Out-of-state special guests were Land of Enchantment and jnhobbs from Nashville! Love that kind of support!
Dkos Asheville is setting a great example of how to Connect, Unite and Act! Kudos to the whole group that is making this team strong!
Please visit randallt's diary for photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join DKos Asheville by sending a Kosmail to randallt.
by susans ♥ for Los Angeles Kossacks
At the monthly meeting of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners, SEIU, airport workers and Daily Kos (represented by susans and Joshua Bloxom) presented them with a 48,000 signature petition demanding safer working conditions. Also present were representatives of CLUE, Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice, who submitted a letter of support to the board.
[...]
The SEIU organizers led a short rally outside of the building at One World Way after the meeting. SEIU represents people who do a lot of different jobs at LAX: they work in the terminals as wheelchair pushers, door openers, janitors, various other positions and on the ramp (outside). Some of them spoke at the rally, again in English and Spanish. They asked me to speak, something I was totally unprepared for. I briefly told them about DK and that I would be writing about the event and posting it online.
A special thank you to Josh, who took multiple trains up from Orange County to support airport workers and represent Daily Kos. It was great talking to you and I look forward to another opportunity to spend some time together.
Please visit
susans's diary for more details. You can still REC it. You can join
Los Angeles Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to
susans.
by Sara R ♥ for Koscadia
Koscadians got together one more time to Stamp Money Out of Politics
L-R: also mom of 5, loggersbrat, Quill, pdxteacher, J Orygun, KitRMP, HRM & Arenosa
Please visit Sara R's diary for more photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Koscadia by sending a Kosmail to Sara R.
by mimi ♥ for New York City
Here's a great photo recap of all the Kossacks marching in NYC at the People's Climate March on September 21, 2014.
L-R: Raines and Tool holding the banner
L-R: ?, mole jr., Mrs. Mole333, boatsie, The Poet Deploreate, WarrenS, ? mole333 and kathny
Please visit mimi's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join New York City by sending a Kosmail to kathny.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, November 8th
Four Corners Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 3:00 PM
LOCATION: Carver's Brewing Company
1022 Main Ave • Durango
ORGANIZER: Send Thinking Fella a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Thinking Fella
2. nzanne
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Spiking the Ball or Crying in our Beer: Time will Tell. Announcing a Four Corners Kossacks Meet-up!
Saturday, November 8th
Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks - Meet Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon
Representative Joe Fitzgibbon, 34th Legislative District, Deputy Majority Whip and Chair of the Washington State House of Representatives Environment Committee will be our next guest speaker sharing his thoughts and plans for Washington State and the Seattle Puget Sound Area.
Cost with Set Menu: $25.00 per person (includes non-alcoholic beverage, gratuity, tax and your choice of food from a limited-choice menu)
TIME: 12:30 PM - No seating after 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant
1201 First Avenue South • Seattle
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. John Crapper's SO
3. Cinnamon68
4. bleeding blue
5. momomia
6. Larissa W.
7. Ted
8. Heather
9. Marcee
10. Robin - Sierra Club
11. Mary - Seattle Environmental Activists
12. Weldon
13. Penny GC
14. TBoneAbollo
15. Piren
16. Eagle Keeper
17. Lefty Coaster
18. doingbusinessas
19. Nelson
20. Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks - Meet Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon - Nov. 8th
Sunday, November 23rd
SFKossacks & Silicon Valley Kossacks Support Native American Netroots Protesting the Washington R*dsk*ns Mascot Use
TIME: 10:00 AM
LOCATION: Levi's Stadium
4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way • Santa Clara
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. bahesmama
2. navajo
3. Meteor Blades
4.
5.
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Maybees: |
Saturday, December 13th
SF Kossacks Holiday Party at Daily Kos HQ
The usual Pot Luck drill - sign-up list posted soon
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Daily Kos HQ
Address given privately by kosmail • Berkeley
Near Ashby BART
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Markos
2. Will Rockafellow
3. Susan Gardner
4. Meteor Blades
5. Faith Gardner & Roxie!
6. navajo
7. side pocket
8. Mrs. side pocket
9. smileycreek
10. paradise50
11. remembrance
12. Glen The Plumber
13. TLO
14. jakedog42
15. edrie
16. dharmasyd
17. catilinus
18. boatsie
19. liberated spaces
20. citisven
21. kimoconnor
22. susans
23. maggiejean
24. 714day
25. Steven Payne
26. scaboni
27. skywriter
28. jpmassar
29. jotter
30. aha aha
31. jeremybloom
32. norm
33. Lorikeet
34. cooper888
35. got mooned
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Maybees:
Thinking Fella
high uintas
tmservo433
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navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.