The SDC Weekly for 8/29/22

Greetings Staunton Democrats !

This is the weekly email that will contain news, opportunities, future and past event details, and pleadings for volunteers and funds and whatever else we think of. We hope you will look forward to this email every Monday and use it to keep fighting for our democratic values and dedication to all members of our communities.

Wait ! What ? But it’s not an email!

Yes, we are trying something a little different. For the next few weeks, we are going to post the SDC Weekly Email to the SDC Blog. We are tying this for several practical reasons. Also, by posting it to the blog you can have access to all of the past posts. Give it a try for a few weeks and let us know what you think. While you are reading this on the SDC Blog, please enjoy (and hopefully learn from) the rest of the content.

You will still get a weekly email on Mondays but it will be a short email with info about the rest of the content and other important or urgent information that you may need.

If you wish to submit information to be published by the SDC then please email the information to publicity@sawdemocrats.care . We can publish to email (weekly), and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc) more frequently. Please send all comments and feedback to publicity@sawdemocrats.care .

And now for the show !

This week:

Opportunities and calls for action !
Fan Mail !
Events

Candidate Forum (sponsored by the SDC)
SDC Coffee

The SDC blog - NEW SECTION and posts
BIDEN ON FIRE !
Democratic achievements and news
Meanwhile, the Republicans …
Ben Cline (Sigh!)
Jennifer Lewis (YAY !)
Staunton City Council and School Board races
More from the Lincoln Project !
Personal Stories

Opportunities and Calls for Action !

ANYTHING That You Can Do Is Helpful !

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PUT ON THE CANDIDATE FORUM ! See the information about the Candidate Forum in the Events section. Please sign up here - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44A8AF2DABF4C25-help

Donate to the Staunton Democratic Committee

Where will your money go ?

Donations may be used in election related activities (mailings, radio issue ads, events for voter registration and candidate support, door to door canvassing for local regional candidates, etc).
Donations can also be used to support the SDC office and printing capabilities that are needed during the non-stop elections seasons. We are also looking towards the future since there is a Virginia Legislature election in a year then the 2024 elections. The fight is a continuing effort !

Join the Staunton Democratic Committee and Join an SDC Committee (SDC membership is required)

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. Without volunteers you would not be reading this very fine publication !

Volunteer - door to door canvassing for candidates

The SDC is trying to organize some canvassing efforts and some individuals are interested in canvassing their neighborhood on their own. Regardless, we NEED volunteers since leaflets don’t distribute themselves.

Spend a few hours staffing the SDC Headquarters – answer phones, talk to visitors, data tasks, distribute canvassing and electoral information, etc. Sign up here.

Many other opportunities

The Jennifer Lewis for Congress campaign needs volunteers to help. Get in touch with Peri Price at peri@friendsofjenniferlewis .

Fan Mail and Reader Contributions !

Faye Cooper says “The SDC is doing a great job compiling pertinent and useful information. Keep it up!”

Deborah Sullivan contributed a great letter prompting me to write a Ben Cline post on, guess what, a NO vote !

DJ Murphy from Fishersville submitted a letter to the editor about Republican candidates across the country avoiding public discussion of the issues and its effect on democracy - Thank you !

Stephen Maxwell wrote a letter to the editor regarding a recent major legislative accomplishment with direct and tangible benefits for Americans and the world - Thank you !

Events !

Candidate Forum

Tuesday 9/13/22 at 7 PM the SDC is holding a non-partisan Candidate Forum
We have invited all the Staunton City Council and School Board candidates as well as VA 6th Congressional District candidates Ben Cline and Jennifer Lewis.
A moderator will officiate and ask questions of the candidates that we hope will reveal the differences between them and allow the public to make a more informed voting decision.
The doors open at 6:00 pm food available, the forum starts at 7:00 pm. Use the entrance for Tempest Bar and Lounge on North Central Ave.
SAVE THE DATE !

URGENT CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PUT ON THE CANDIDATE FORUM !

Please sign up here - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44A8AF2DABF4C25-help

SDC Coffee at Serendipity – what could be better than sitting at a local coffee shop with a great cup of their fresh brew (supplied by the SDC) and talking to compatriots about the news of the day.

I have been attending the SDC Coffee at Serendipity Java Bar and Eatery since I joined the SDC in May 2022 and have met wonderful people and learned much in the subsequent discussions.
This happens on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 9-11 AM.
Donations are welcome to help pay for the coffee or you can order something else for yourself (including food).
Serendipity is located at https://bit.ly/3Pru44b . You can find this event and many others at the SDC Event Calendar on the SDC website at https://www.sawdemocrats.com/calendar .

The SDC Blog

The SDC blog is coming along slowly but nicely. Now there are 6 sections !

Learning from our Readers - NEW SECTION ! - We are now publishing letters to the editor from our readers. Three letters just this week. Go read them to appreciate our fellow local Democrats

Staunton Democrats Speak ! - this section is more issue specific and currently has 2 articles “Vote Like Your Pants Are On Fire !” and “Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, is my HERO !” We plan other posts called “My Wife is not a Second Class Citizen”, “On the Chopping Block” and others (I will give you a cookie if you can guess the topics behind these titles).

Ben Cline. Where’s the beef ? - this section is dedicated to the appalling and anemic performance of our current VA 6th District Congressional Representative. With your help we can retire this section on November 9, 2022. Snippets of his record will occur weekly in this Email with more discussion of the bills and vote on the SDC blog.

Thoughts from Yvonne Surette – Yvonne is a well known local columnist who always (to use a basketball reference) swishes her jumpshots.

Democratic achievements – Democrats are generally humble people and think more about the world as a whole rather than just themselves. Thus, we are generally very bad at tooting our own horn when we do something good. Talking points included.

Community Voices - In this section the Staunton Democrats hope to soon publish content from users and organizations from the Staunton area that have a unique perspective on life and where they fit into the American melting pot. There are many voices that are not often heard so we hope to help them ! This may include contributions from the LGBTQ community, from younger voters, those who are struggling to help others and those who are just struggling. We want to hear about your lived experience. Knowing and caring about our neighbors better is why we are Democrats.

Of course I am going to ask for volunteers and writers and any ideas and feedback you may have.

The SDC blog is at https://blog.sawdemocrats.care

New posts to the SDC Blog:

He Who Shall Not Be Named plans for the future

New Ben Cline voting record posts

New letters in the “Learning from our Readers” section !

Soon we will also have a section for thoughts from the SDC Chair.

BIDEN ON FIRE !

Biden spoke at a Democratic National Committee rally in Rockville Maryland on 8/26/22.

You have got to watch these clips on a twitter thread ! He talks about voting, survival of the planet, Biden on Trump, banning assault weapons, big pharma and medication prices, insulin, climate change, deficit reduction, the power of women, social security in the hands of Ted Cruz and MTG, Roe v Wade. The clips are muted so click on them to unmute.

Hear the full speech.

And there is More !

A recent Biden White House Twitter post shows hypocritical Republicans complaining about student loan debt reduction:

MTG complained about student loan debt reduction while she has benefited from $183,504 in PPP loans forgiven.
Congressman Vern Buchanan complained even though he had $2.3 million in PPP loans forgiven.
Congressman Markwayne Mullin complained even though he had $1.4 million in PPP loans forgiven
Congressman Kevin Hern complained even though he had $1 million in PPP loans forgiven
Congressman Mike Kelly (PA) complained even though he had $987,237 in PPP loans forgiven
Congressman Matt Gaetz complained even though he had $482,231 in PPP loans forgiven

Democratic Achievements and News

Democrats continue to fight for abortion and women’s rights in Tennessee, Texas, Idaho and North Dakota and Tennessee where trigger band soon take effect.

Fighting in the courts to argue that abortions restrictions are unconstiutional (state), fighting against laws that prohibit patients from going to another state for services, and others.
Moving Abortion services to nearby friendly states trying to continue the care for their patients.
Again, Kansas has provided a major inspirational boost to Democrats, Independents and those who care about people and rights in America.

Breaking news ! Update on the litigation regarding the Idaho abortion trigger ban as detailed in the next section - US Disctrict Judge Winmill blocked a portion of the Idoaho trigger ban related to prosecuting a healthcare provider - “Idaho can still have a strict abortion law in place. But in issuing a preliminary injunction, Winmill ruled that a doctor cannot be punished if he or she performs an abortion to protect the health of a pregnant patient.”

Biden to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt. President Biden said Wednesday he will cancel up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt for many borrowers — and double that amount for Pell Grant recipients — a move that could offer some level of forgiveness for up to 43 million people. The Biden administration also proposed creating a new repayment plan tied to borrowers’ earnings, capping monthly payments for undergraduate loans to 5 percent of a person’s discretionary income instead of 10 percent. It also would raise the amount of income that is considered non-discretionary, and forgive balances after 10 years of payments, instead of 20 years.

See this Brian Tyler Cohen video for a good summary and commentary on the student debt cancellation.

Biden extends the pandemic pause on student loan payments through 12/31/22.

California moves toward banning new cars running only on gas by 2035. The major climate regulation to be proposed by the car-clogged state could have far-reaching effects on the auto industry

Brian Tyler Cohen video analysis and commentary on Dr. Oz, the wealthy and the GOP.

How Republicans Could Steal The Next Presidential Election by one of my heroes Robert Reich. Very important to maintain our democracy. More information about the independent legislature theory by the excellent Brennan Center for Justice.

More Breaking News ! The Washington Post is reporting that “The day before a near-total abortion ban would have taken effect in North Dakota, a judge put that law on hold Thursday afternoon, pending the conclusion of a legal challenge being mounted by the state’s former sole abortion clinic.”

Teen activists - I don’t know if they are democrats or not but I wish I was that smart and mature when I was 17 ! Article and video .

Remember to vote BLUE in Roevember !

Meanwhile, the Republicans …

A cascade of abortion trigger bans in Tennessee, Texas, Idaho, and North Dakota are taking effect this week.

Texas bans the procedure almost entirely.
Idaho has a near total abortion ban starting 8/25/22 (current ban above 6 weeks). Idaho also followed the Texas civil enforcement law (a bounty law that allows citizens to sue abortion associated people in civil court) that goes after healthcare providers.
In North Dakota the trigger ban is set to take effect 8/26/22 erasing 50 years of abortion access in the state. The trigger ban would put into effect laws that would make abortion illegal in the state except in cases of rape, incest and the life of the mother, all of which would have to be proven in court. Otherwise, a doctor who performs an abortion would face a felony.
In Tennessee a trigger ban on all abortions without exceptions for rape or incest takes effect soon. The law also lacks explicit exceptions for medical emergencies, although it includes a provision that would allow doctors to mount a defense against felony abortion charges by arguing they intervened to save a pregnant woman's life or avoid the "serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function.

Last Week in the Republican Party from the Lincoln Project

Republicans don’t agree with student debt cancellation. “Canceling student debt is expensive, inflationary and unfair to those who paid their student loans and most likely illegal,” said Brian Riedl, a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute, a center-right think tank. On Wednesday, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) said, “This is a slap in the face to those who never went to college, as well as borrowers who upheld their responsibility to taxpayers and paid back their loans. It’s a signal to every freshman stepping foot on campus to borrow as much as they can because taxpayers are picking up the tab.”

GOP members of Congress — compare the federal government to “the Gestapo” of Nazi Germany

Trump shared on social media an article titled “The Fascist Bureau of Investigation”

Trump states “To drain the swamp and root out the deep state, we need to make it much easier to fire rogue bureaucrats who are deliberately undermining democracy,” he told the America First Agenda Summit, “or at a minimum just want to keep their jobs.” ********** ((See my commentary on the SDC Blog about stripping job protections from federal workers))

A Michigan library refused to remove an LGBTQ book. The town defunded it.

At the urging of Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry, the state’s [Louisiana] bond commission voted 7 to 6 on Thursday to temporarily block a $39 million line of credit — which the city [New Orleans] planned to use for a power station to combat flooding in an area ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 — until the Democratic mayor and council rescind vows to defy the state’s new abortion ban.

Lies, lies and more GOP lies about 87,000 armed IRS agents coming for you ! Debunked !

CNN reveals that Republicans voted against major Democrat led legislation then later take credit for it.

The Washington Post reports that “On Thursday, a[n abortion] trigger law took effect in Texas and raised the civil and criminal penalties for doctors who perform an illegal abortion to include a $100,000 fine and up to life in prison.” I wonder how many emergency physicians, OB/GYN’s and other healthcare providers will be leaving or not coming to Texas.

Here is Ted Cruz at his worst and Bernie at his best.

Ben Cline (sigh!)

This section of the SDC Weekly Email has been voted the hands down favorite of our readers ! Not really but like a fender bender on the highway you cannot avert your eyes from Ben Cline’s appalling voting record !

More detailed information about Ben Cline’s voting record is located on our Staunton Democrats Speak ! Blog – Ben Cline has his own section called “Ben Cline. Where’s the beef ?”

Ben Cline voted NO against the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021

Ben Cline voted NO against passing a bill that requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to automatically enroll veterans who are eligible for VA health care into the VA health care system.

Ben Cline voted NO to the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act that expands workplace protections for employees with a need to express breast milk.

Ben Cline voted NO to holding Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a January 6 Committee lawful subpoena.

Ben Cline voted NO to supporting the health of Americans by voting NO against the PFAS Action Act of 2021 which helps to mitigate the use of and reduce the environmental concentrations of these potentially hazardous chemicals according to the CDC.

Ben Cline voted NO against the LGBTQ Business Equal Credit Enforcement and Investment Act which supports and enforces fair lending practices by financial institutions.