CALL TO ACTION #986: Rescue the Post Office from Trump (August 17, 2020)
78 Days
Until the November 3rd Election
We’ve been calling it the November 3rd election, but it really takes place in OCTOBER. Mail service could be iffy this year with Trump and DeJoy attacking the USPS. We urge you to vote early, use a ballot box if you can get to one, then track your ballot (more on tracking once the ballots are mailed).
Important Dates:
October 13: Last day to register to vote; postmark or online by 11:59 pm
October 14-20: Voter’s ballots mailed
October 20: Last day for county Voter’s Pamphlet distribution
November 3: Ballots must be in a ballot box or with the county clerk by 8 pm
Our Recommendations for November
What Voting Blue means to us: We Steering Committee members are pragmatic progressives with no “purity or litmus tests” for our key issues. Rather, we will support the candidate that comes closest to our positions, which means that moderate Joe Biden is much preferred to fascist Donald Trump. And, electability matters; one can’t govern from the sidelines. Sometimes that means backing someone who looks less blue than their opponent, someone who is in a better position to be elected and actually help us. Finally, some candidates might want us to maintain our distance for political reasons specific to their constituencies. We respect that, so people we would otherwise recommend may be missing from this list.
President: Joe Biden
U.S. Senate: Jeff Merkley
U.S. Congress CD2: Alex Spenser
Secretary of State: Shemia Fagan
State Treasurer: Tobias Read
State Attorney General: Ellen Rosenblum
State Senate District 2: Jerry Allen
State House District 4: Mary Middleton
State House District 5: Pam Marsh
State House District 6: Alberto Enriquez
Jackson County Commissioner: Terrie Martin
***Today’s Call To Action***
Rescue the Post Office from Trump
Good news! Calling Congress works! For weeks we have been demanding that the postal service be protected from Trump’s predations, contributing to Speaker Pelosi pulling out the stops:
- Members are returning from recess next week to pass protections for the USPS
- The House Oversight Committee has moved up Postmaster General DeJoy’s appearance to August 24—opening day of the Republican convention.
- Pelosi called for a national day of action: House members will appear at local post offices to show America the damage already done.
(Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, left, is escorted to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office in Washington on August 5th)
Progress to be sure; however, nothing is certain yet. We must keep up the pressure on Congress to protect the postal service and pass the Heroes Act. And we must redouble our efforts to dump Trump, ditch Mitch and flip the Senate on November 3rd.
Rescuing the USPS from Trump will help us flip DC BLUE!
Please make your calls; write your letters and postcards; keep making noise!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY and WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am thrilled and relieved that Speaker Pelosi is moving to protect the postal service. I am calling the Senator to support the House by:
- Demanding that the Senate vote on “Delivering for America,” the House bill that will prohibit any changes to postal service procedures in place as of Jan. 1, 2020.
- Holding events at post offices to show America exactly how the USPS is being damaged.
- Calling for Postmaster General DeJoy’s resignation.
- Passing the Heroes Act.
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR RON WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump’s war on our Constitution, democracy, and fair elections has reached new heights. He’s now sabotaging both the Post Office and the 2020 Census. It is time for Greg Walden to put country over party, vote for HR. 7034—which ensures that the census is truly representative and that the Census Bureau is sufficiently funded and given until April 30, 2021 to complete this task—and demand that your Senate colleagues do likewise.
Where’s Walden? History is watching; Greg’s legacy is at stake.
Thank you.”
COMPLICIT GREG WALDENDC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**
August 17, 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ongoing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
#MyORHealth Support is available for Oregon’s “helpers”
Lines for Life has created a Virtual Wellness Room to offer support to helpers, mental health professionals, first responders, social workers and anyone considered an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. Each check-in call will have a facilitator to guide the conversation.
“We at Lines for Life want to thank you for all the work you do to keep our communities safe,” the organization said. “We are offering a place for helpers to exchange stories of hope and areas of need. We especially want to hear what things are coming up for you personally and explore how we can cheer one another on to continue the good work you are already doing. We ultimately want to create space to breathe out stress and breathe in hope.”
The meetings are held using Zoom conference calls from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this link: https://zoom.us/j/4848426773. Please share this invite with anyone in your network of Oregon helpers.
Letters to Voters and Garden Party – Medford and Virtual
August 18 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/letters-to-voters-and-garden-party-medford-and-virtual/
Ongoing Action: ORD2 Indivisible Virtual Postcard and Letter Writing Parties
Postcards to Voters:
Our postcard team is temporarily suspending the delivery of postcards to your door. However, the good news is that you will find everything you need to continue writing from home (including templates to print your own or purchase pre-printed cards) here: https://postcardstovoters.org
You can sign up through https://postcardstovoters.org/volunteer/
To avoid unnecessary trips to the post office, order stamps directly from the USPS:
https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/coral-reefs-postcard-stamp-S_745104
…and voila, you’re ready to go! Send an e-mail to with any questions.
Letters to Voters
We encourage our team of volunteers to sign up with Swing Left to start writing letters to voters in 12 swing states. It is super easy to join. Check out their website, sign up, and let’s start writing! https://swingleft.org/
Send an e-mail to if you would like more information about how to get involved.
Virtual Letter-writing Parties
We encourage you to join virtual letter-writing parties hosted by Oregon Indivisible / Swing Left. The parties are held at noon every Saturday and on the last Tuesday of every month. Here are the links for the next two parties:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/267146/
**Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. We also encourage you to submit events to be added to the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar and help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/