7. The Environment is an issue. This is good news and bad news. The good news is that the environment should be an issue; the bad news is that this is happening because, in many parts of the United States, we're seeing clear evidence of the impact of global climate change. In California, we're suffering from a terrible drought and, of course, mammoth forest fires. (BTW, this week we had a heat wave that set records.)
In the California central valley, climate change will be the primary issue in several key races. For example, in CA 22 where incumbent Republican Valadao is running against Democrat Salas. In CA 22, wells are going dry. The Republican response is "Biden took your water." The Democratic response is "We have to stop giving a disproportionate amount of water to big agriculture -- for example, almond farmers -- and give better access to the people."
8. Democracy is on the ballot. A recent Quinnipiac Poll (Click Here ) found: "Americans 67 - 29 percent think the nation's democracy is in danger of collapse." We should be concerned that a large number of Americans support Donald Trump and many of them do not appear to support Democracy. In states controlled by Republican legislatures, they've made it harder to vote. They've continued to support egregious gerrymandering.
Recently, Joe Biden called Trump's political philosophy "semi-fascism." He's right. Trump has fomented an authoritarian cult. He's a threat to democracy.
9. Democrats are (relatively) united; Republicans are not. A recent NPR poll (Click Here) found that 61 percent of voters do not want Trump to run in 2024. Nonetheless, 67 percent of Republicans do want him to run. While this is dismaying, it indicates that in a contested race the Trump candidate will probably lose because the Democratic candidate will have the support of an overwhelming number of Democratic and Independent voters and a few Republicans. That's what's happened in the Alaska congressional race. (By the way, the Trump supporters are primarily "White Evangelical Christians" -- evidently motivated by Trump's moral conduct.)
10. Elections are determined by turnout. On November 8th, Democrats will prevail if they get out the vote. Will they? I think so.
Last year, in California, governor Newsom faced a recall. A lot of Democrats were worried. Then they got busy and turned out the vote. When the recall "dust" settled: 61.9 percent voted to retain Newsom, and 38.1 percent voted to recall.
It's time to get busy, Democrats. It's time to end the Trump madness. It's time to save Democracy.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
1
1
1
