QOTD -- Abortion Ballot Initiatives

 

"If you’re tired of breathlessly following the horserace polling of the presidential and congressional races, you might consider instead breathlessly following the horserace polling of ballot initiatives to protect reproductive rights. In a sense, they’re more revealing.

"Pending some outstanding court challenges from Republicans – whose dogged commitment to “leaving this issue to the states” curiously disappears when they realize they’re going to lose – up to 10 states will have abortion referendums on the ballot this year. And it happens that they’ll share that ballot with competitive Senate races in states like Montana, Nevada, Arizona, Florida and Maryland.  [snip]

"Sure, maybe touting Taylor Swift’s endorsement on Instagram or sending Barack Obama to juice voter registration on TikTok will move the needle. But with women under 45 citing abortion as their most motivating issue this election, it would seem wise to keep spotlighting a rare issue that is both persuasive to swing voters and galvanizing for young activists..."  -- Katrina vanden Heuvel, writing in The Guardian about the necessity to keep the reproductive rights freedom issue highlighted entering the final weeks of the election.  She makes the point that popular ballot initiatives protecting reproductive rights freedoms, especially in a few swing states like Arizona and Nevada, can provide the margin of victory for Democrats.  Good read.

 

QOTD -- Acting Big And Boldly

 

"Speculating about the prospects of future elections is a parlor sport that will be pervasive as the election approaches. With the odds against Democrats, a strong economic recovery is necessary but not sufficient. Republican division may end up more sound than fury.

"To break through, Democrats need to follow through on Biden’s working assumption: act big and boldly. That means reforms that make a material difference in people’s lives, counter the efforts to suppress the votes, and limit the effect of big money on our elections. [snip]

"If Democrats are to buck the historical trends, it isn’t a question of changing rhetoric or dodging Republican insults, it is about getting big things done. If that happens, the odds of Democratic victory will improve dramatically — as will the odds for our democracy." -- Katrina vanden Heuvel, in "Can Democrats beat the odds in 2022?"  Getting big things done that make lives materially better, protect the planet and our democracy is the key, and Democrats can't quaver in the face of the odds or of the opportunity presented.  Far too much is at stake.