Posts



84 Days

Until the November 3rd Election


 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***

TRUMP ATTACKING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE


The HEROES Act, which passed the House in May, reveals the difference between Democrats and the Trump-McConnell’s GOP. Democrats care about our struggles and want to help us. Trump-McConnell’s GOP doesn’t care about us. They use our suffering to grab more money and power for themselves. They don’t care that their greed exacerbates the impact of long-standing racist policies that have left BIPOC communities more vulnerable to COVID-19. They care only about themselves—hardcore political corruption, plain and simple. 

Republicans pretend their egregious behavior helps us. McConnell and Trump refused to negotiate, blaming Democrats for rejecting their demands. McConnell ignored the HEROES Act, proposing last-minute, trickle-down “economic stimulus” bills even his Republican Senate wouldn’t pass.

Wannabe Mad King Trump will do ANYTHING to protect himself. He usurped power granted to Congress by the Constitution with potentially illegal Executive Orders that cut unemployment benefits and gut Social Security and Medicare. His sycophant postmaster general continues to sabotage the USPS, targeting ballots to steal the election by slashing essential services and jobs.

Democrats must use every available method to publicly call out this Trump-McConnell lawlessness, voter suppression, and the GOP’s responsibility for mass suffering and death.


**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]. 

It is past time to investigate Trump’s lawlessness, especially his:

  • Deliberate sabotage of mail service to steal an election
  • Unconstitutional use of executive order to cut unemployment and gut Social Security and Medicare.

Democrats must use every available method to publicly call out Trump and McConnell’s lawlessness, voter suppression, and responsibility for mass suffering and death. While the Senator keeps pushing for the HEROES Act, the Senate must immediately allocate $25B to USPS and investigate Trump’s lawlessness and abuse of the USPS.

Thank you.”

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]. 

I am appalled that Trump is undermining the post office when vulnerable people will die without their medicines and take enormous risks voting in person—simply to further suppress voting that does not seem to be going his way. I am also appalled that he does not respect the Constitution, instead violating separation of powers and using executive orders to cut unemployment and gut Social Security and Medicare. It is up to Republicans like Greg Walden to stand up for our democracy and for his constituents.

To remain silent on this is a moral outrage. If that’s Greg’s decision, I call on him to resign his office effective immediately. 

Where’s Walden? History is watching; Greg’s legacy is at stake. 

Thank you.”

COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN

DC (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 10, 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 Zoom & Garden Parties
Today: August 11 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/letters-to-voters-zoom-garden-parties/


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/


SOURCES:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/07/trump-fiasco-just-got-worse-that-gives-biden-hidden-opening/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-dealmaker-congress-coronavirus/2020/08/09/8a5b13c0-da52-11ea-809e-b8be57ba616e_story.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/08/10/trump-coronavirus-stimulus-congress/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-executive-orders-payroll-unemployment-coronavirus_n_5f2f0fc2c5b6e96a22b35fcc

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/08/trump-executive-order-coronavirus/

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/08/08/executive-order-stunt-no-substitute-real-relief-says-progressives-legally-dubious

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/09/trump-has-no-problem-letting-billionaires-profit-off-the-pandemic?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/white-house-refuses-democratic-compromise-offer-2-trillion-coronavirus-aid-n1236174

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/09/trump-has-no-problem-letting-billionaires-profit-off-the-pandemic?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-struggled-summer-coronavirus/2020/08/08/e12ceace-d80a-11ea-aff6-220dd3a14741_story.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/08/08/trump-payroll-tax-cut/

https://www.oregoncapitalinsider.com/news/brown-calls-aug-10-special-session-to-balance-state-budget/article_95adca0e-d5b3-11ea-b2b1-6bb8daecd40f.html

https://www.postandcourier.com/business/feds-seek-to-limit-pension-and-401k-plan-options-for-socially-minded-investments/article_9be67e12-d274-11ea-b5ed-8f70327f55b0.html

https://apnews.com/277772d59418c8bc79e0aff3fef946e6

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/08/trump-coronavirus-deaths-timeline.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/10/us-ppe-coronavirus-shortage-america?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

USPS & Voting:

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/08/07/friday-night-massacre-us-postal-service-postmaster-general-major-trump-donor-ousts

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/07/postal-service-investigation-dejoy/

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/08/07/leading-demand-ig-probe-warren-accuses-trump-and-new-postmaster-general-sabotaging

https://www.theskanner.com/news/usa/30338-us-reps-adams-and-defazio-call-on-postmaster-general-to-resign

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/08/trump-wants-to-cut-mail-in-voting-the-republican-machine-is-helping-him-392428

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-threat-to-us-elections-is-real-and-frightening-the-public-has-a-right-to-know/2020/08/07/366dba0e-d8dd-11ea-930e-d88518c57dcc_story.html

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/protecting-vote-pandemic

Other Lawlessness

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/abrupt-change-to-census-deadline-could-result-in-an-undercount-of-latino-and-black-communities/2020/08/09/1d074eb6-d8b7-11ea-930e-d88518c57dcc_story.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/08/magazine/us-russia-intelligence.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/world/asia/pompeo-russia-afghanistan-bounties.html

https://apnews.com/dbdeb5089c20812f953fb02e7c509b39

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/06/politics/trump-advisers-fears-military-options/index.html

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/10/ron-johnson-subpoenas-documents-fbi-director-chris-wray-393007

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/07/dhs-homeland-security-rogue-agency?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/08/border-agents-us-force?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-ppp-loans-data-disclosure/?sref=DOTC0U32&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=business&cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic