I agree with your realistic assessment, Tom. The exuberant Blue projection leaves so much lop sided margin that it risks encouraging lackluster approaches, which lends itself to the oftentime disappointing results.
I am encouraging everyone I know the check their registration now to make sure it is up to date (https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/) and to vote early in-person. You can find the most convenient early voting sites in NC here: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/EVSite/
The board of elections did start mailing out ballots to those that have requested them starting today. If someone wants to vote by mail, please encourage them to request their ballot ASAP (https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-mail), to sign up for ballot tracking (https://northcarolina.ballottrax.net/voter/) and to return there completed ballot ASAP.
In addition to mailing them back to the board of elections, they can be returned during normal business hours to their county board of elections or to an early voting site during the early voting period. Only close family members (spouse, parent, step parent, child, stepchild, grandchild, etc. can return someone else's ballot unless the voter is disabled in which case they can designate anyone. (I'm not sure what establishes a disability, however).
NC Dems are hosting a series of very helpful Know Your (Voting) Rights trainings. They are a prerequisite for becoming a poll observer, but anyone can sign up for one: https://www.mobilize.us/nc-coordinated/event/953390/.
We just drove through Haywood County yesterday on the way home from a tour of Mid-America. What was different this time from other such sojourns was the absence of Trump branding everywhere. This wasn't just in WNC, it was all the way to Missouri and back. Through some of the reddest and heretofore Trumpiest parts of the Eastern US.
And I still say don't sleep on NC 09. Especially now that the 82nd Airborne just got their Middle East deployment extended into 2027.
People are catching on, and if Donald was *trying* to throw the midterms he wouldn't do anything any different than what he's doing now.
That is good to hear. I am involved with our local Indivisible chapter and usually participate in several protests each week. We sponsor 2 dozen of them each week (although lately several of the afternoon ones have been cancelled due to extreme heat and/or thunderstorms). We have been doing these protest for more than a year for some of the locations and we have all noticed a significant shift in attitude.
Far more people are honking, waving and giving us a thumbs up or a peace sign. We still get the occasional middle finger or are told to F-off, but the number of people who yell "I love Trump!" is WAY down. For some reason many think being called old or told to get a job is an effective insult! Most of us are old and retired, so we laugh it off.
I'm not gonna say the fever has broken yet, but the indication is that it's going to. There's a national organization called Leaving MAGA (https://leavingmaga.org) started by one guy who found his way out of the cult, and started telling others that the doubts they were having were legit. Meeting people where they're at. And now he's got billboards up all over Trump country saying "Having doubts? You're not alone."
The same model was used by Bill W. and Dr. Bob when they founded AA, and we've seen the success that's had. Just like nobody can convince a drunk better than another drunk, the best coach for a MAGA who's had enough is a MAGA who's already in recovery. And I say that as someone with 9806 days behind me, and one day in front of me. It works if you work it.
FYI, Leaving MAGA has a free support guide for people who want to reach out to friends and/or family members enmeshed in the MAGA movement but who are at a loss on how to do so.
I agree with your realistic assessment, Tom. The exuberant Blue projection leaves so much lop sided margin that it risks encouraging lackluster approaches, which lends itself to the oftentime disappointing results.
I am encouraging everyone I know the check their registration now to make sure it is up to date (https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/) and to vote early in-person. You can find the most convenient early voting sites in NC here: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/EVSite/
The board of elections did start mailing out ballots to those that have requested them starting today. If someone wants to vote by mail, please encourage them to request their ballot ASAP (https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-mail), to sign up for ballot tracking (https://northcarolina.ballottrax.net/voter/) and to return there completed ballot ASAP.
In addition to mailing them back to the board of elections, they can be returned during normal business hours to their county board of elections or to an early voting site during the early voting period. Only close family members (spouse, parent, step parent, child, stepchild, grandchild, etc. can return someone else's ballot unless the voter is disabled in which case they can designate anyone. (I'm not sure what establishes a disability, however).
NC Dems are hosting a series of very helpful Know Your (Voting) Rights trainings. They are a prerequisite for becoming a poll observer, but anyone can sign up for one: https://www.mobilize.us/nc-coordinated/event/953390/.
Anyone who would like to volunteer with the voter protection team should check out the Volunteer info session: https://www.mobilize.us/nc-coordinated/event/953396/
Thomas, contact Anderson Clayton and urge her to push hard on groups that access younger voters to turn out. Use whatever works
I’ll rest easier when I see the final tallies, certified and accepted without challenges.
We just drove through Haywood County yesterday on the way home from a tour of Mid-America. What was different this time from other such sojourns was the absence of Trump branding everywhere. This wasn't just in WNC, it was all the way to Missouri and back. Through some of the reddest and heretofore Trumpiest parts of the Eastern US.
And I still say don't sleep on NC 09. Especially now that the 82nd Airborne just got their Middle East deployment extended into 2027.
People are catching on, and if Donald was *trying* to throw the midterms he wouldn't do anything any different than what he's doing now.
I’d fine Such absence of MAGA Red props efreshing!
That is good to hear. I am involved with our local Indivisible chapter and usually participate in several protests each week. We sponsor 2 dozen of them each week (although lately several of the afternoon ones have been cancelled due to extreme heat and/or thunderstorms). We have been doing these protest for more than a year for some of the locations and we have all noticed a significant shift in attitude.
Far more people are honking, waving and giving us a thumbs up or a peace sign. We still get the occasional middle finger or are told to F-off, but the number of people who yell "I love Trump!" is WAY down. For some reason many think being called old or told to get a job is an effective insult! Most of us are old and retired, so we laugh it off.
I'm not gonna say the fever has broken yet, but the indication is that it's going to. There's a national organization called Leaving MAGA (https://leavingmaga.org) started by one guy who found his way out of the cult, and started telling others that the doubts they were having were legit. Meeting people where they're at. And now he's got billboards up all over Trump country saying "Having doubts? You're not alone."
The same model was used by Bill W. and Dr. Bob when they founded AA, and we've seen the success that's had. Just like nobody can convince a drunk better than another drunk, the best coach for a MAGA who's had enough is a MAGA who's already in recovery. And I say that as someone with 9806 days behind me, and one day in front of me. It works if you work it.
FYI, Leaving MAGA has a free support guide for people who want to reach out to friends and/or family members enmeshed in the MAGA movement but who are at a loss on how to do so.
https://leavingmaga.org/support-group/reaching-out/
Sounds like the Al Anon side of the comparison. 😁