Posts

188 Days

Until the November 3rd Election


First ballots being mailed today for

May state and local elections! 

 

Important Dates

TODAY, April 29: First ballots are mailed*

May 19: Primary Election Day

*You can’t vote if you don’t get a ballot! Check here to track your ballot.

Don’t delay. Urge all of your like-minded friends and family to do the same. Progressive activism means working the entire ballot, including seemingly obscure local boards and commissions.

Make the BLUE WAVE wash over every level of government!



Today’s Call To Action

TRUMP PRESSURES STATES TO REOPEN

HOPING TO BOOST REELECTION CHANCES


America has always risen to the challenge of actually BEING the UNITED States when faced with a crisis, focusing the nation’s resources and problem solving skills on national emergencies. But when confronted with COVID-19, Donald Trump punted to the governors who reacted in fifty different ways. Think Washington, Oregon and California compared to Georgia, Kentucky and Florida. Trump is too lazy and selfish to lead.

Governors made the hard decisions to close schools and workplaces. People aren’t able to work and the economy has faltered. Trump selfishly worries this spells trouble for his reelection, rather than worrying about our health. Health officials warn that opening too soon, without testing and tracing, will result in spikes in cases and deaths, prolonging the outbreak. Trump wants businesses to open as quickly as possible because he thinks it will boost his reelection chances. He is too selfish to lead.

Trump is enlisting Bill Barr’s Justice Department to help him get reelected; Barr is threatening to challenge governors’ lockdown orders in court. Trump encourages well-armed Tea Party terrorists to threaten governors’ personal safety. He has announced that he will sign an executive order to force meat plants to remain open WITHOUT PROTECTING WORKERS, claiming the plants are “critical infrastructure. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself.

States are on their own to do testing, protect front-line workers, scramble for medical supplies and pay for everything. They are self-organizing into regional pacts, replicating the role the federal government abandoned. It’s helping to protect our lives but the cost to businesses and employees is monumental. 

States should not have to fight the pandemic AND Trump’s

corrupt federal regime at the same time  


**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY and WYDEN:

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].

Trump is pressuring state governors to relax social distancing measures to revive the economy. At the same time, health experts warn that opening prematurely, without testing and tracing, will result in new spikes in cases and deaths. And it will prolong the outbreak.

He’s enlisted the Attorney General as well as heavily armed thugs to intimidate governors.

Please ask the Senator to fight for our health by calling out these actions as serving only Trump’s political ambitions for November. In addition, ask him also to work for testing and tracing on a national level. Our economy will recover when we are healthy. 

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]. 

Trump is pressuring state governors to relax social distancing measures to revive the economy. At the same time, health experts warn that opening prematurely, without testing and tracing, will result in new spikes in cases and deaths. And it will prolong the outbreak.

He’s enlisted the Attorney General as well as heavily armed thugs to intimidate governors.

Tell Greg Walden to fight for our health by calling out these actions as serving only Trump’s political ambitions for November. In addition, ask him to work for testing and tracing on a national level. Our economy will recover when we are healthy. 

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**

Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Ongoing Event: Oregon Health Authority Coronavirus Update Zoom Conference Calls
TODAY: April 29, 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.

Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Fire and Climate Summit Webinar Series: Preparing for Wildfire Season During the COVID-19 Pandemic- Virtual
May 5 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-fire-and-climate-summit-webinar-series-preparing-for-wildfire-season-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-virtual/

ORD2 Indivisible Virtual General Meeting: Candidate Meet & Greet – Your Home!
May 11 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/ord2-indivisible-virtual-general-meeting-candidate-meet-greet-your-home/

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:

Washington Post, April 28, 2019: “The Daily 202: Barr memo threatening lawsuits against coronavirus restrictions is a warning shot”   https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2020/04/28/daily-202-barr-memo-threatening-lawsuits-against-coronavirus-restrictions-is-a-warning-shot/5ea7a78e88e0fa3dea9c4414/?itid=hp_hp-top-table-high_daily-202-1055am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans  

New York Times, April 17, 2020: “Coronavirus Testing Needs to Triple Before the U.S. Can Reopen, Experts Say”  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/04/17/us/coronavirus-testing-states.html   

UPI, April 28, 2020: “Barr tells prosecutors to watch for unlawful coronavirus policies”  https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/04/28/Barr-tells-prosecutors-to-watch-for-unlawful-coronavirus-policies/9011588063489/   

Bloomberg, April 21, 2020: “Barr Threatens Legal Action Against Governors Over Lockdowns”  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-21/barr-says-doj-may-act-against-governors-with-strict-virus-limits   

Washington Post, April 28, 2019: “Text of Barr’s memo”  https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/attorney-general-william-p-barr-s-memo-balancing-public-safety-with-the-preservation-of-civil-rights/749fc86a-f81c-4baf-b002-b68deb3f1ade/?itid=lk_inline_manual_2  

Washington Post, April 28, 2020: “Trump to order meat plants to stay open in pandemic, person familiar with action says — Facilities will be declared ‘critical infrastructure’ for their role in the nation’s food supply even as many become virus hot spots”   https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/28/trump-meat-plants-dpa/      

CNN, April 27, 2019: “Attorney General William Barr tells prosecutors to be on watch for ‘overbearing’ coronavirus measures”   https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/27/politics/barr-prosecutors-coronavirus-civil-liberties/index.html   

New York Times, April 24, 2020: “Vanquish the Virus? Australia and New Zealand Aim to Show the Way”  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/24/world/australia/new-zealand-coronavirus.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab