The work ahead. U.S. REP. SETH MOULTON.

 David,

We’ve been through a lot together over the last year—the COVID-19 pandemic, the end of Trump’s presidency, and now, a new day for America.

It’s been a bumpy ride and I feel lucky to have you on my team.

While sheltering in the Capitol with the rest of Congress during the January 6th Capitol attack, I thought to myself, “Is this what we want America to be?”

The simple answer: No.

For the most part, we live in a beautifully complex but well-functioning democracy. Most of us want to see our neighbors succeed and help each other through this pandemic. Most of us revere the democratic process and the law. Most of us believe in science and trust vaccines. Most of us want the best for each other, even when we disagree.

The American Rescue Plan—something made possible only by the work of fired-up Democrats like you—is one of our greatest legislative achievements. It represents the best of government and the best of America.

But, David, there is still work to do. Despite our shared belief in America and common goal of making it the best it can be, there is a disturbing trend in our politics right now. Right-wing extremism has taken shape in a way we haven’t seen before. Disinformation and conspiracy theories are more prevalent than ever. And a class of ultra-rich Republican mega-donors and dark money super PACs are clinging to power by fueling divisiveness in our political system.

Our hard-won Democratic majorities offer hope today—but we can’t afford to get complacent. Republican political strategists are already looking at the map to see where they can flip seats and poke holes in our unified Congress. Donald Trump has floated launching his own Super PAC and even mounting another presidential bid. Trump and his Republican allies are going to do everything they can to reverse the progress we’ve all fought so hard to achieve.

I look forward to working with all of you for the next two years to preserve and expand our critical majorities in the House and Senate.

Thanks for all you do.

Onward,

Seth

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Abbott and the GOP are trying to restrict our right to vote. BOOT TEXAS REPUBLICANS.

 

David, Governor Greg Abbott is leading a draconian, nationwide effort by Republicans to restrict voting rights and we need your help to fight back. This week, after already making voting legislation an emergency issue, Abbott indicated he will back legislation in the Texas statehouse to outlaw election measures like those used in Harris County during the 2020 election aimed at expanding safe access to the ballot box during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s not news to us that Abbott wants to suppress voter turnout in Texas, but this fight is heating up and we need to respond. Add your name to our petition calling on the Texas legislature to vote down this ridiculous attempt to make it harder for Texans to make their voices heard. The bill Abbott is championing would make it much harder for Texans with disabilities to vote by mail, eliminate drive-through voting, cut early voting hours, threaten election officials with fines if they don’t purge voter rolls, and more. It’s a Frankenstein bill of the worst attempts around the country to restrict access to the ballot box -- and it has nothing to do with the alleged “voter fraud.” Abbott and the Texas GOP know exactly what they’re doing. They’re perpetuating Donald Trump’s big lie about the 2020 election while attempting to pave the way for voter suppression in the 2022 elections and beyond. He can see the writing on the wall and will do whatever it takes to steal elections from Democrats in the coming years. Any attempt by legislators or leaders to make it harder to vote -- to make it harder to engage in our democracy -- should be strongly rejected. We must do all we can to stop Abbott and the Texas GOP from turning this bill into law. Thank you, Boot Texas Republicans DONATE »

BLAST FROM THE PAST: LETTING THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, AND THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, OFF THE HOOK.

The Special Counsel defined "coordination" as an "agreement-tacit or express-between the Trump Campaign and the Russian government on election interference."

IF THIS IS THE ONLY DEFINITION USED, THE SPECIAL COUNSELS REPORT CLEARS UP NOTHING, AND OPENS UP SOME DISTURBING POSSIBILITIES.

HOW SO?

IF WE ACCEPT THAT THE ABOVE DEFINITION IS THE SOLE MEASUREMENT FOR PROSECUTION, IT LEAVES US WITH  THE FOLLOWING POSSIBLE SCENARIOS:

SCENARIO #1- A RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT OPERATIVE ENLISTS A TRUMP CAMPAIGN WORKER WITH A PLAN TO AID DONALD TRUMP, BY GATHERING AND DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION THAT IS ANECDOTAL IN NATURE, AND FULL OF INNUENDO AND UNSUBSTANTIATED INFORMATION.

SCENARIO #2- A TRUMP ELECTION OFFICIAL APPROACHES A RUSSIAN NATIONAL,WHO CONDUCTS BUSINESS IN THE U.S. THE REASON? HE ASKS THE BUSINESSMAN IF HE COULD OBTAIN "SPECIAL INFORMATION" THAT WOULD AID DONALD TRUMP IN WINNING THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THESE ARE EXAMPLES, NOT ACCUSATIONS. THE POINT IS THIS: IF SCENARIOS LIKE THIS, OR OTHER SIMILAR ONES DID OCCUR, NO LEGAL ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN BY THE SPECIAL COUNSEL. WHY? BECAUSE IN NEITHER CASE WAS THE DEFINITION OF PROSECUTORIAL CONDUCT MET.

REMEMBER, IN THE ABOVE DEFINITION, THE "TRUMP CAMPAIGN," AND THE "RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT" HAD TO BOTH BE INVOLVED, NOT JUST ONE. THE EXAMPLES OF A TRUMP CAMPAIGN WORKER, OR A RUSSIAN BUSINESSMAN, SHOW US THAT "COLLUSION," OR "ELECTION INTERFERENCE" COULD OCCUR. HOWEVER, THE CONCLUSION OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN BEING INNOCENT OF SUCH ACCUSATIONS, AS THE SUMMARY LETTER IMPLIES, WOULD BE VALID, EVEN IF CRIMINAL ACTS WERE PRESENT IN BOTH SCENARIOS.

THE CONCLUSION IS SIMPLY THIS: THE DEFINITION USED BY THE MUELLER COMMITTEE IS SO NARROW, WHEN REFERRING TO "COORDINATION" TO VIOLATE ELECTION LAW(S), THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT, AND JUST ABOUT ANYONE ELSE COULD HAVE COMMITTED ACTS OF "CONSPIRACY" OR "ELECTION INTERFERENCE", BUT WOULD NOT BE CHARGED UNLESS THERE WAS A FORMAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO. 

THIS DOES NOT EXCLUDE AGENTS OF ONE, OR BOTH, ACTING INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT THE "OFFICIAL " APPROVAL OF THE LEADESHIP. IN FACT, AGENTS OF ONE OR BOTH COULD HAVE BEEN "ENCOURAGED" TO ACT IN A CERTAIN MANNER TO BENEFIT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, BUT WITHOUT AN ACKNOWLEDGED AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE "OFFICIAL LEADERSHIP," NO ONE COULD BE CHARGED CRIMINALLY. THIS EXTREMELY NARROW DEFINITION ESSENTIALLY MADE "CONSPIRACY", "COORDINATION", OR "ELECTION INTERFERENCE" PERFECTLY LEGAL.

Tell the Senate to Eliminate the Undemocratic Filibuster. Bob Fertik, Democrats.com.

 

DAVID - If we want the Senate to better represent us -- and actually act in the interest of the American people, not just the powerful few -- we must immediately eliminate the filibuster. The filibuster is a practice that wasn’t routinely used until recently. As utilized, it requires 60 senators to vote to start and end debate on most bills -- so unless the majority party has secured 60 votes in favor of a bill, a minority of senators can effectively, and sometimes secretly, kill it. In practice, this has meant that a small group of senators -- who represent a disproportionately white minority of the country’s population -- can shut down legislation on anything from voting rights and racial justice to climate change and healthcare. The filibuster is completely undemocratic -- it’s outrageous that a bill supported by the vast majority of Americans can be blocked by a handful of self-serving politicians. It’s a parliamentary trick that’s been used repeatedly to diminish the political power of Black and Brown voters and the lawmakers who represent them. That’s why we’re calling on the Senate to make abolishing the filibuster a priority. This is hardly a radical idea -- the filibuster has changed many times over... major political figures from various ideological backgrounds support eliminating it... and it doesn’t appear in the Constitution, which specifically outlines instances when a supermajority vote is needed. It’d only take a simple majority vote in the Senate to get rid of the filibuster. But unfortunately, some Democratic senators in the new Congress have hesitated to back the idea. That’s why we must let them know that the American people are counting on them to do what’s right for our democracy. If you agree that it’s time to abolish the undemocratic filibuster, add your name today. Thanks for all you do, Bob Fertik