Len’s Letter #75 What we can do

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February 8th, 2025               Len’s Letter #75   What we can do

STOP ELON MUSK

Many of us feel uncertain about how to proceed confronted by Donald Trump’s “shock and awe” – his overwhelming and illegal effort to transform the United States’ government.   Named after the US bombing campaign that began the war in Iraq, that effort was intended to cow the Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime into surrender. “Shock and awe” began another failed American war.  The United States deposed Saddam and created unintentionally a quasi-democratic Iraq which was more responsive  to Iran than to the United States.

We do not have to be overwhelmed.  We can fight back.  Rather that quarrel about whether we are “opposing” or “resisting,” we should use what we’ve got.  Many political writers are discussing the disaster the Trump administration is becoming.  Take a look at Simon Rosenberg’s Hopium Chronicles’ “Job #1 is stopping Musk’s historic and dangerous crime spree.”

Here are four things we can do to stop Trump and Musk:

  1. Show up. Participate in rallies or protests.  The protests have just begun.  On February 4 two groups organized a rally in front of the US Treasury building to protest against Elon Musk’s children’s crusade to take over of the Treasury.  On February 5, New Yorkers rallied in front of the office building at 780 Third Avenue (between 48th and 49th) where Senators Schumer and Gillibrand each have their New York City offices.  Rallies have begun happening all over the country.
  2. Contact your representatives. If you are in New York, your Senators are Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. If you live in New York’s 12th Congressional distrrict, as I do, your Congressman is Jerrold Nadler.  Write a letter.  Send an email.    They say the best method is to call, that the political offices count calls for and against, count them by zip code to see where the energy is.  They say you should call every day.  You should call two locations – the Washington office and the local office.  That’s six phone calls a day until your issue is resolved (until a presidential nominee has been confirmed or denied, for instance).
  3. Join and/or give money to organizations that represent your point of view. Your membership and your money are the life blood of organizations.  Below, I have listed a few.
  4. Give money to and/or volunteer for political candidates who support your point of view. My personal focus is not only to give money to candidates but to write a blog or newsletter, which you are reading now —  Len’s Political Notes and Letters.  For the most part, I recommend that you particularly support incumbents and candidates for whom your support could make a difference in an election.    It’s free. Click on the link and use the subscribe box on the top right.  Forward this and other Len’s Political Notes and Letters to anyone you would like to receive it.

 

A phone call script

Hello.  I am (state your name).  I am a constituent of Senator Schumer.  (Revise as appropriate).  My zip code is (state your zip code).

I am calling to protest the illegal commandeering of the federal treasury by a private citizen, recently raised to the level of a temporary staffer. and his children’s crusade of young men.  Senator Schumer should initiate proceedings that lead to the impeachment and/or arrest of anyone involved in the illegal takeover of our money in the US Treasury

If there is a specific staffer assigned to this matter, please transfer me.  Otherwise, please pass along my strong concerns as a constituent.

Thank you.

An alternative middle paragraph

I want to express my dismay at the firing of Inspectors General, attorneys in the Justice Department, and the actions contemplated and taken toward the elimination of the US Aid Agency, the Department of Education, and the Environmental Protection Agency. I urge you to work with your fellow legislators to stop the destruction of the United States government.

Another alternative.

I want to urge, in the strongest possible way, that you oppose confirmation of Christian nationalist Russell Vought as head of the Office of Management and Budget.  The kind of man capable of saying: “Muslims do not simply have a deficient theology. They do not know God because they have rejected Jesus Christ his son, and they stand condemned.” should not be serving in the United States government..

Write your own middle paragraph.  Use what you’ve got, including your own opinions.  But write out what you have to say.  Keep it under 75 words. 

 If you live in District 12 in New York City, as I do, here are the phone numbers, you should call.

Call Senator Schumer’s Washington DC office at (202-224-6542)

Call Senator Schumer’s New York City office at (212-486-4430)

Call Senator Gillibrand’s Washington DC office at (202-224-44512)

Call Senator Gillibrand’s New York City office at (212-688-6262)

Call Representative Nadler’s Washington DC Office at (202-225-5635)

Call Representative Nadler’s Manhattan office at (212-367-7350)

If you live elsewhere, you can google the name of your Senators and Member of Congress.  Their official website will have a list of offices including their Washington office and their other offices.  You can find phone numbers on that list. 

 Here are some organizations you might want to volunteer for and/or contribute to:

  1. Move On — They describe themselves as progressive and committed to social justice. They were organizers of the Treasury building protest.  DONATE
  2. Indivisible — They describe themselves as a grassroots movement of local groups that work to elect progressives, sustain democracy, and defeat Trump’s agenda. They were also organizers of the Treasury building protest.  DONATE
  3. Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) — They say All Americans deserve a government that is ethical and accountable for its actions and transparent in its dealings.  DONATE
  4. Democracy Forward — They say they are a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress,  DONATE
  5. The Lincoln Project — Founded by former Republican strategists, they sought to defeat Trump in 2020 and want to ensure thatTrumpism fails. They say they are dedicated to the preservation, protection, and defense of democracy.DONATE
  6. American Civil Liberties Union — A legal organization, they say they “Defend the rights of all people nationwide.”  DONATE
  7. Vote Riders — They say they are a non-partisan, non-profit organization with a mission to ensure that all citizens are able to exercise their freedom to vote. They help citizens secure their voter ID. DONATE

 

If you want to help Democratic candidates generally:  You can donate to candidates or organizations dedicated to supporting Democrats.  The four major Democratic organizations are the DNC (the national party organization), the DCCC (for a Democratic Congress), the DSCC (for a Democratic Senate), and the DGA (for Democratic governors).

If you want to help specific Democratic candidates spring elections are coming up. Now would be a good time to Donate money directly to those candidates.

 Wisconsin – Election: Primary, February 18,  General Election April 1

State Supreme Court

Support Democratic County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford against former Attorney General Brad Schimel.   There is no primary for this position. Currently Wisconsin’s Supreme Court has a 4-3 Democratic majority.  Susan Crawford is running to replace a Democratic justice who is retiring.  A Republican win would give the court a 4-3 Republican majority.   This race is crucial for preserving the right to abortion in Wisconsin, for preserving an un-gerrymandered state legislature and eliminating voter suppression.  See Len’s Political Note #684

State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Support Democratic incumbent Jill Underly in the primary and in the general election.  Jill underly serves as a bulwark against right wing culture war positions.  See Len’s Political Note #693.

 

Florida and New York

 Florida:  Primary January 28, Special Election  April 1.

New York’s election will be scheduled after Elise Stefanic resigns to become Ambassador to the United Nations..

 By the time Florida and New York have their elections, Republicans could have a 217-215  majority.  Does that mean that a victory in all three elections would create a 218-217 Democratic majority.  Accurate, but unlikely.  All three districts are heavily Republican.  Keeping the Republicans below 60% would be a kind of triumph and encourage Democrats in their planning for 2026 Congressional elections.  It is worth donating to reduce the Republican margin and to take the chance that we could get lucky and win one or two of these race.

Florida 01: Gay Valimont is the Democratic nominee.  Gay Valimont is the former head of the Florida Chapter of Mom’s Demand Action, a gun safety organization.  She has returned to politics after two family tragedies.  She understands how Republican her district is. She is both courageous and willing to give it her all in a very tough cause. Her opponent is the former CFO for the state of Florida.  He proposed using Florida tax money to defend Donald Trump in his criminal trials.   DONATE to Gay Valimont.   See Len’s Political Note #694.

Florida 06:  Josh Weil is the Democratic nominee.  He is a teacher of middle school boys who have not been able to remain in typical classrooms, a job that may be even tougher than seeking election as a Democrat in FL 06.  Originally exercised by the 2020 Democratic losses in Florida, he describes his commitment to his own children and his students as energizing his campaign.  His opponent is Randy Fine, wealthy from the gaming industry, an opponent of rights for members of the LGBTQ community, an opponent of abortion, and is firmly convinced the God saved Donald Trump so he could be president.  DONATE TO Josh Weil.  See Len’s Political Note #704.

New York 21: Neither Democrats nor Republicans have a primary.  According to New York law the County chair or chairs selects party nominees when there is a vacancy.  The fifteen Democratic party chairs of the fifteen counties have just selected Blake Gendelbien, the owner and, along with his wife and three boys, the operator of Twin Mill Farms. He represents his colleagues and serves as Vice Chair of the Cooperative Board of Agri-Mark.  DONATE now.  Early money can help win this election.  We do not know who his Republican opponent will be. The Republican county chairs have not yet acted.

 The Other 2025 Governor Election:  New Jersey

Unlike Virginia, where one Democrat is running and one Republican is running, I count six Democrats and four Republicans.  We will know much more about the shape of the election after the June 10 primaries.