November 4th
Dear friends,
It is not a good morning. As you know, the president has illegitimately claimed victory in a race that is not over. While it appears dire, and we feel dire, it is not over. I will be on an organizing call at 9 (there’s a slim possibility that you’ll hear from me again today). You need to be in the streets today if you can. Go to Protect the Results if you put it off. Make a simple sign: Count Every Vote. Presidents DO NOT certify election results. Unfuck the System.
Incredibly, to me, it looks as though the Republicans will have a net gain of House seats and are likely to hold the Senate. Inhale and exhale. This isn’t pretty.
This news item roiled my upset stomach:
“The U.S. Postal Service turned down a federal judge’s order late Tuesday afternoon to sweep mail processing facilities serving 15 states, saying instead it would stick to its own inspection schedule. The court order came after the agency disclosed that more than 300,000 ballots nationwide could not be traced.”
If a government agency “turns down” a court order and the executive branch is in the hands of criminals, we have a problem.
We were warned about a “red mirage” — early counts favoring Republicans — and the promise of a “blue shift” as absentee votes are counted and the totals favor Democrats. Early this morning, Geoffrey Skelley on Nate Silver’s 538 team wrote about PA:
There, Trump leads by 11.5 points, according to ABC News, with 75 percent of the expected vote reporting. However, we know that a large number of predominantly mail-in ballots still have to be counted, and that they will likely be heavily Democratic. So as those are counted, we will see a “blue shift” toward Biden. Now the question is, is there enough such movement for Biden to take the lead in the state?
Wisconsin may get announced today. Nevada’s secretary of state announced that they will report no new electoral totals until Thursday. Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan remain close and counting continues.
Hold on, hold on.
Eat breakfast, be especially kind to people, look at the horizon, and put your shoes on. I will see you in the streets.
with love,
L