Good morning good newsies, gnusies, regulars, looksies and newbies! I hope you all have your cup of preferred beverage and are staying cool or warm, huddled up for the good news. Here we are. I can see it out my window, so close that blue wave is. It once seemed so far away and out of reach and now here it is, calling us to keep the momentum up for just a little bit longer. Keep up the encouragement, GOTV, donate, phone bank, text, write. We are almost there.
A bit of advice:
Freaking Out About the Election? I’ve Got Some Advice for You.
I wish I could copy and paste this whole thing, but I cannot so go read it.
I’ve seen and heard from a surprising number of liberals who feel like they need to be talked off the ledge over the upcoming election. In one sense, this is hardly surprising after 2016. If Donald Trump could pull an election victory out of thin air four years ago, what’s to say he can’t do it again? I am here to talk you down from this particular ledge. Consider:
- First off, it turns out that the 2016 polls weren’t actually off by more than two or three points at most. There’s really no reason to worry that this year’s polls are likely to be wildly off.
- What’s more, in this year’s polls Joe Biden is much farther ahead than Hillary Clinton was in 2016. The Economist has him 8.4 points ahead. 538 has him 10.2 points ahead. Real Clear Politics has him 8.6 points ahead. Even an error of two or three points wouldn’t change things much, and there’s a limit to how much the national polls and the Electoral College can diverge. If Biden ends up five or six points ahead nationally on Election Day, it’s all but impossible for him to lose the Electoral College.
- That said, pollsters are being much more careful this year and they’re paying a lot more attention to important state polls. Both the Economist and 538 have Biden ahead of Trump in the Electoral College by more than 50 votes.
Finally, since everyone agrees that Trump could win, get out there and do some door knocking or phone banking if you’re truly on the ledge right now. It will take your mind off things and help reduce Trump’s chances at the same time.
The reelection chances for tRump are collapsing around him and he is losing it. He has no care for anyone other than himself and his “messages” are not gaining him any votes. I was not in anyway shocked when he caught “the Covid” but I thought he might milk it. Heh, does he really think by saying how strong he is and that he beat it will go over well with voters? Please, the main thing on people’s mind is Covid and all the ramifications it has brought. I suppose it is a good thing for us that he and his minions are so stupid.
New York early voting starts Saturday, but the hubby and I are going Sunday thinking it may be less busy. I cannot wait to cast my ballot! Blue all the way down the ticket!
Onward!
Let’s start with why we love Joe.
'Friendship, empathy, kindness, and compassion': Biden leans into Mr. Rogers comparison
The iconic children's TV host was trending Thursday night after Mercedes Schlapp, a senior adviser for President Donald Trump's reelection campaign, compared the former Vice President's town hall to Fred Roger's beloved show.
“Feels like I am watching an episode of Mister Rodgers Neighborhood,” she wrote in a now-viral tweet, which sparked dialogue online about Mr. Rogers' legacy. Schlapp was criticizing the different tones between the Biden and Trump town halls and insisted ABC moderator George Stephanopoulos went easier on Biden than NBC moderator Savannah Guthrie went on Trump.
Listen if they can do it, so can we.
'A Source of Inspiration' for Egalitarians Everywhere: Progressive International Celebrates Triumph of Democracy in Bolivia
On the heels of socialist candidate Luis Arce's decisive victory in Bolivia's momentous presidential election, Progressive International on Tuesday praised the people of the South American nation for their courage, calling this week's "triumph of democracy" after last year's military coup that ousted then-president Evo Morales and installed a brutal right-wing regime a "source of inspiration for progressive forces everywhere."
"Bolivia's election not only showed the world how to defeat authoritarianism and its imperialist allies," Progressive International (PI) said in a statement. "It also revealed the power of international solidarity to defend democracy around the world."
David Adler, general coordinator of PI and a member of the delegation, called the election in Bolivia a "watershed moment" that marks the end of "the era of authoritarian impunity."
"A new wave of popular power is now rising to restore democracy and reclaim the institutions of the state," Adler added, "taking inspiration from the people of Bolivia in their heroic struggle this year."
IMHO, there is going to be a sound rejection of these autocrats well into the future.
Voting and getting out the vote, let’s go.
'Exciting and Historical Moment': Their Rights Restored, 67,000+ Former Felons Set to Vote in Florida Amid Record Early Turnout
A motivated electorate in Florida weathered downpours Monday to shatter the state's first-day early voting record, with 350,000 people casting ballots, including some of the more than 67,000 former felons who have registered to vote in the two years since the approval of a constitutional amendment restoring their voting rights.
Sixty-seven thousand is a small fraction of the 1.4 million Floridians who regained voting eligibility in 2018, a reflection of the extent to which a 2019 law passed by the state's Republican lawmakers that requires residents with past felony convictions to pay off all court fines and fees before they are allowed to register to vote—a "modern-day poll tax" upheld in September 2020 by right-wing federal judges—has reproduced disenfranchisement.
Nonetheless, voting rights advocates called Monday's turnout, which included the first-time participation of some residents with past felony convictions, an "exciting and historical moment," particularly "for those who have gotten their voting rights back."
Desmond Meade describes himself as "a formerly homeless returning citizen who overcame many obstacles to eventually become the president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy, and a graduate of Florida International University College of Law."
The 53-year-old activist lawyer told Politico reporter Gary Fineout that "this will be the first time he has ever voted in a presidential election."
"There is no doubt in my mind that there are thousands upon thousands of energized and inspired returning citizens throughout the state that will not be denied, that will be a voice, and will have an impact in determining who wins Florida," Meade told reporters Monday.
Silicon Valley megadonors unleash a last-minute, $100 million barrage of ads against Trump
A little-known Democratic super PAC backed by some of Silicon Valley’s biggest donors is quietly unleashing a torrent of television spending in the final weeks of the presidential campaign in a last-minute attempt to oust President Donald Trump, Recode has learned.
The barrage of late money — which includes at least $22 million from Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz — figures among one of the most expensive and aggressive plays yet by tech billionaires, who have spent years studying how to maximize the return they get from each additional dollar they spend on politics. Moskovitz is placing his single biggest public bet yet on the evidence that TV ads that come just before Election Day are the best way to do that.
The super PAC, called Future Forward, has remained under the radar but is spending more than $100 million on television and digital in the final month of the campaign — more than any other group — on behalf of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden outside of the Biden campaign itself. And it has been leading a separate, previously unreported $28 million proposed campaign to elect a Democrat to the US Senate from Texas, Recode has learned.
Future Forward’s size and strategy is now moving more into the public view. It plans to report to the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday that it raised $66 million in just the 45 days between September 1 and October 15 — a haul powered by Silicon Valley billionaires like Twilio founder Jeff Lawson, longtime Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and Moskovitz, who has been one of the most enigmatic Democratic megadonors of the Trump era.
I know, yuck Facebook and the rest of them, but let them spend their bucks to help Joe and Kamala!
A New Virtual TikTok House Of Young Influencers Is Trying To Rally Votes For Joe Biden
In a bid to mobilize Gen Z voters, a group of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris supporters in the tech and marketing industries has created a virtual TikTok house comprising popular young creators.
The TikTok house is the work of a new political action committee, or PAC, called the 99 Problems.
"We were looking for TikTokers, who first and foremost aligned with the values we wanted the house to stand for: social justice, protecting the planet, opportunity and equality for all, and ultimately a belief in the collective, the 'we' over the 'me,'" Katie Longmyer, the PAC's co-founder and former chief of staff at WeWork, told BuzzFeed News.
"We are looking to create content that makes participation personal, sharing their POV on issues that affect them as individuals, and using that to motivate action in their peers," said Stollak. "We will also look to weave in facts about the Biden/Harris policies on issues we know this generation cares about."
A Boston Woman Has Gone Viral For Voting At Fenway In A Pats Jersey With Her "Dunkies"
Hey, every vote counts!!!
And the dumpster fire….
Trump’s new attack: Biden “wants to listen to Fauci”
In the final weeks of his reelection campaign, President Donald Trump is facing harsh polling in key states and a major financial disadvantage, plus a pandemic that has left more than 220,000 Americans dead and millions in dire economic straights. In response, Trump has debuted a new line of attack on former Vice President Joe Biden: “He wants to listen to Dr. Fauci.”
Trump may have a hard time rallying more supporters by vilifying the 79-year-old public health expert. A Morning Consult poll conducted October 9-11 among 1,986 registered voters shows that “nearly 2 in 3 voters rate Dr. Fauci’s coronavirus response as excellent or good.”
Trump has become obsessed with toilets. Is it because he is a busted flush?
This is another I wish I could post the whole thing, short but to the point. The orange one is a sad case.
With the election just around the corner, Donald Trump seems to be feeling the pressure. And the pressure, apparently, is just not good enough. During a rally in Nevada on Sunday the president launched into a bizarre rant about water pressure. First, he talked about subpar dishwashers, and how he called a guy in Ohio, did a deal, and now the dishwashers “work beautifully”. Then, I am sorry to say, he moved on to his bathroom issues.
“It’s the shower, it’s the sink, and you know the third element in the bathroom,” Trump complained. “But I don’t say it, because every time I say it, they only talk about that one,” he said, gesturing vaguely towards reporters. “Because it’s sort of gross to talk about, right? So I won’t talk about the fact that people have to flush their toilet 15 times. I will not talk about it. I’ll only talk about showers.” Trump, a man of his word, proceeded to talk about showers.
Desperation, projection, loser? Oh yeah!
Let’s switch gears.
Advocates Welcome 'Inspiring' Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act as 'Exactly What America Needs Right Now'
Leaders of climate and conservation groups on Tuesday welcomed House Democrats' introduction of landmark legislation that aims to address the ocean impacts of human-caused global heating and reform federal ocean management—recognizing that, as Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva put it, "a healthy ocean is key to fighting the climate crisis."
The Arizona Democrat, who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, unveiled the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act (pdf) during a virtual press conference. He was joined at the event by co-sponsors—including Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), chair of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis—and various backers of the legislation.
"The ocean feeds and sustains, it connects us. The ocean is our past and our future. The ocean has indeed been a victim of climate change, but it also holds powerful solutions," added Lubchenco, former administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean at the State Department. "This bill will tap those solutions, and everyone benefits."
14-Year-Old Girl Wins $25k For a Scientific Breakthrough That Could Lead to COVID-19 Cure
With the impact of the pandemic continuing to spread far and wide, people around the world are waiting for news on a possible treatment for the virus.
There’s good news on that front, as a 14-year-old girl from Texas has discovered a molecule that can selectively bind to the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2.
Binding and inhibiting this viral protein would potentially stop the virus entry into the cell, creating a viable drug target.
As part of her research, Frisco’s Anika screened millions of small molecules for drug-likeness properties, ADMET properties, and binding affinities against the spike protein using numerous software tools.
The one molecule with the best pharmacological and biological activity towards the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was chosen as the lead molecule that can be a potential drug for the effective treatment of COVID-19.
And this is just the beginning of Anika’s COVID-19 work. She explained, “how I develop this molecule further with the help of virologists and drug development specialists will determine the success of these efforts.”
Okay, if any of the Peeps are reading today this is for all of you. And the Gnusies too.
A giant cat picture was just discovered among the Nazca Lines
Oh, there are goats…
I Hung Out With 20 ‘Eco-Goats’ and It Was a Blaaaaast
It will likely come as no shock to you that I’m having a pretty unhappy time right now. I know I’ve got it pretty good, all things considered. But what with the global covid-19 pandemic and economic decline, the onslaught of election news, the ever-worsening existential threat of climate change, and also, uh, life stuff, this is kind of been a depressing time to be alive. But there is one thing that is keeping me going, and it, my friend, is goats.
I don’t just mean cute goat videos on YouTube or my Instagram feed (which I am also very into). I mean actual, live-and-in-person goats in the middle of Baltimore. Yesterday, I kicked it with 20 goats
at a park by my house.
The park’s board elected to hire the goats because they needed to deal with overgrowth on a big grassy hill, about 0.65 acres in size. Lawnmowers can’t handle the steepness of the slope, but the cute little four-legged workers can, so they made a deal with a goat-mowing firm known as—I kid you not—“Eco-Goats” about 90 minutes away. The project is called “Goats on the Slope,” adding an extra dose of twee to an already whimsical idea for tidying up a Baltimore city park. On Thursday, the company drove the goats over in a little trailer, and they’ll be staying at the park for up to a week, grazing until the weedy hill is trimmed short. I plan to visit every day, obviously.
If only goats could vote!
Newest ad:
This is my last time writing the Roundup before the big day. I know we can and will do it. I know we will take our country back. There is so many working so hard to ensure this happens. Work as hard as you can in any way you can, have faith in humanity, support each other and take care of yourselves along the way. It has been a long black road but the blue is coming to wash it away.
Remember to follow Yosef52, check out The Shade and Goodie is almost to the end of the loving Biden series, we love Biden!
Please share all the news I missed in the best comment section ever.
Peace!