Something More Productive than BooFriggingHoo

My impulse is to say "cry me a river" to business leaders worried that they might not be able to speak their minds under a Trump presidency:

That style, including his opaque personal financial dealings and his sudden shots at certain companies, has helped unnerve a corporate America that traditionally craves stability. Some business leaders and economists have worried whether executives can speak their minds about the president-elect or his policies without fear of facing Trump’s rage.

But after taking a deep breath or two, I'm wondering...are there alliances that progressive leaders can build with the business community under this Administration? Is there a way to find common ground pushing back on policymaking that is based on personal interest/vendetta?

Needy Chicago Organizations

Torrey Barrett, The CEO of K.L.E.O., an amazing community center in the South Side, provided me with the names of a few great organizations that serve African-Americans in Chicago.

Brightstar Community Outreach - Christopher Harris
Growing Power - Erika Allen
Greater Englewood CDC - Glen Fulton
Phalanx Family Services - Tina Sanders


Please consider donating your time and/or money to K.L.E.O. or these other worthwhile organizations. 

Pre-Action Prep: Leaning on Dems on ACA and Medicare

I read this little columnfrom Talking Points Memo yesterday on how badly the GOP will want some Dems to join them in ACA repeal and Medicare privatization votes and it struck me that this is definitely something to mobilize around. We need to pressure our more conservative party-members like Manchin and McCaskill to stick with the party on this and not provide the GOP any political cover for stripping millions of people of health care coverage.

 From what I'm reading, the prospect of actually taking health insurance away from millions of constituents is giving some GOP voters and officials serious second thoughts. Obviously, my biggest hope is that we can stop any repeal of the ACA and privatization of Medicare from happening and I think that keeping up pressure on Dems will help since GOPers know that making these moves unilaterally would hurt them in the polls. Aside from targeting our Senators and Reps, what can we do to pressure conservative Dems?

Sassy Action: Hold Rauner Accountable

IL Peeps: Gov Rauner is doing Facebook Live at 7:30pm tonight. Tweet him questions at @GovRauner or post on FB. Among other things ask him why he vetoed automatic voter registration based on specious fraud concerns. Make your voice heard!

Race for the DNC

A follow up post to Bridget's about the new Chair for the Democratic National Committee.  Ilyse Hogue, who I mentioned in a comment to that post is the current head of NARAL, is throwing her hat into the ring.  Daily Kos just endorsed her and linked to her platform.

Ilyse would be taking this on as a full-time position, not part-time like current members of Congress. I think that is super important and, though I like Ellison a lot (he hasn't released a platform yet but he just did another interview with more on his approach), I just don't think he can dedicate the time and energy that revitalizing our party needs.

Some of what I like about Ilyse's platform:

• Co-opting the "system is rigged" messaging with a focus on voter suppression, gerrymandering etc.  

• A focus on local politics, party and policy as a way to create a pipeline for federal elections but to also build momentum and support for the party.

• Creating a more inclusive, strategic and equitable primary process. 

• Starting all messages with values that are shared across the culture.  Repugs do this annoyingly well.  

Interested in your thoughts on other candidates and whether there are ways we can get involved in this process.