No abortions, no exceptions

On Thursday evening on a way to a meeting in Lehighton, I noticed that someone had put a homemade sign that said “No abortions, no exceptions” next to an array of Mastriano, Oz, and Scheller signs.  Two days later it was gone.  If there is one thing Republicans want you to forget, it is that they would deny women the right to control their bodies, even if this means they would die from medical complications of pregnancy.  

If you don’t believe me, believe Mastriano, the candidate for governor of Pennsylvania.  He has said “no abortions, no exceptions.”  

Dogs vs. chickens

Today’s Morning Call featured a letter from a person concerned about the Bethlehem City Council’s discussion of backyard chickens.  She claimed that chickens caused epidemics like bird flu and other health problems.  (Rabies was not mentioned.)  What caught my eye was this statement:  “Many of us have dogs and chickens would prompt the dogs to bark or attack the chickens.”

First of all, why are your dogs running loose?  Second, barking is far more annoying than chickens clucking.  Take care of any noise problem simply by banning roosters.  

I have been bitten by large dogs and pecked by hens on the nest.  Dog bites are worse.  

 

Campaigning in Carbon County

First we had to stuff small plastic sleeves.  Approximately 15 people put three separate pieces of material in 5000 sleeves–a slate card for Shapiro, Fetterman, Susan Wild, and Richard Kost along with a stand-alone flyer for Susan Wild and a small insert on the Carbon County Democratic Party.  

We then obtained lists of Democrats in Carbon County boroughs.  Next we went out hanging the plastic bags on people’s door knobs.  The “we” in that includes an operative from California who flew here to help out.  Just today we completed Nesquehoning and Summit Hill; we also covered most of Palmerton and Upper Jim Thorpe.  Tomorrow we will blitz Weissport.  

The other towns are covered by teams who canvass.  Canvassing involves actually talking to people.  It is more effective, but it also takes longer and covers fewer voters, since many residents are not home or refuse to answer their doorbells.

Incidentally, remember when you were a kid and flipped a coin and said, “Heads I win, tails you lose.”  That seems to have become the mantra of the Republican candidates.  If they get the most votes, Democrats lost.  If Democrats come out on top, somehow the Democrats cheated and Republicans have won anyway. 

In praise of Summit Hill, PA

Four of us did another lit drop in Summit Hill today.  We had material for Shapiro, Fetterman, and Susan Wild in little plastic bags.  The bags have holes in the top to slip them over door knobs.  It is inevitable that you meet people on their porches or on the street.  Everyone we met was pleasant.  Some thanked us, some discussed the election, some told us we had their votes or said they had already voted.  

If I had to pick one trait that distinguishes most Democrats from most Republicans, I think it would be the lack of anger among Democrats.  An example is the literature we distributed.  All of it was upbeat, explaining what our candidates were hoping to accomplish.  Republican opponents were not mentioned.  We came across literature on some doors left by supporters of Oz and Lisa Scheller.  The pieces were full of vitriol, stoking fear and attacking the Democrats as being soft on crime and acting as socialists.

Summit Hill, by the way, has a lot of Democrats.  Maybe that’s one of the reasons I like it so much. 

Stealing Democratic Signs

Many Republicans don’t understand how democracy works.  I have delivered Fetterman, Shapiro, and Wild yard signs for people’s yards, then delivered a second set after the first set was stolen, then delivered a third set after the second set was stolen. Democratic signs in the right-of-way have been stolen; Republican signs are untouched.  Today I found Democratic signs in the creek that flows though the Palmerton park.  

So listen up, you sign-stealing jerks.  It is one thing to take the signs, but please don’t throw them into creeks or woods.  Show some respect for nature even if you don’t understand fair play.

Susan Wild rally featuring Jill Biden

Tonight we drove to Muhlenberg College in Allentown to attend a rally for our Congressional candidate Susan Wild.  The rally, crowded and standing room only, heard Congress member Wild detail her fight to lower drug prices.  Jill Biden then spoke about the importance of electing Democrats, not only to help pass the Biden agenda, but also to preserve American democratic values.

Political rallies are supposed to energize supporters.  We were out doing a lit drop for Shapiro, Fetterman, and Wild today in Jim Thorpe, and I was thinking of slacking off tomorrow.  I can’t slack off.  We will be back out there tomorrow.

2000 Mules

This is a movie put out by election deniers that claims that operatives have been stuffing ballot boxes for mail-in ballots.  The movie is a total lie, but millions believe it.  

There is an article in today’s Times about the lies sweeping Pennsylvania. Those lies are used in an effort to discredit not only candidates, but also the whole electoral process.  Anyone with a lick of sense would see through this crap, but people believe it.  When did the citizens of this country become so stupid? 

Trump voters claim liberals look on them with contempt.  It is hard not to.