INDIVISIBLE Lambertville NJ / New Hope PA

Category: Call to Action

  • How Shall We Impeach Thee? Let Us Count the Ways, Part V

    Contributed by Paige Barnett.

    Happy New Year! 2020 has arrived and with that there is much work that needs doin’ to safeguard our democracy. Make no mistake, even though Trump was impeached by the House in a vote mostly among party lines, it’s now more important than ever to write or call your senators and let them know you want to see a fair trial in the Senate (see below for easy ways to connect to them).  

    The trial in the Senate will commence when the Articles of Impeachment are sent from the House. Presently, Madame Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are at an impasse, due in part to McConnell rejecting the Democrats call for witnesses and his stunning statement that he will fully coordinate with the White House. Both Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have voiced concerns with McConnell’s lack of impartiality. Pelosi noted in her subsequent speech after the final House impeachment vote, that the House will come to a consensus as to when the Articles will be sent and only when Pelosi is satisfied that the American people will have a fair trial.  

    There are four possibilities for how the Senate trial shakes out:  a. There is no trial, at least not in 2020. However, this is the least likely outcome because the Constitution calls for a trial in the Senate after an impeachment in the House.  b. Pelosi gets her way and McConnell calls witnesses. c. McConnell gets his way and has a speedy trial that works in Trump’s favor. d. There is a compromise. 

    It’s anybody’s guess at this point. Over the holiday there has been additional news that could work in the Democrats favor.  For the details, read the Washington Post article.

    In the meantime, Pelosi invited Trump to make the State of the Union address on February 4th. What’s interesting about this invite is the very possibility of the trial looming over Trump’s head. What will the State of the Union address look like? If we don’t want to see a victory speech, we MUST CALL our senators EVERY DAY and HOUND them.

    Again, here is what you can do: 

    • Right now, phone the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request. Tell them you want a fair trial in the Senate and not to be held hostage to the GOP circling the wagons around the White House to protect a blatantly corrupt president. 
    • You can also access the Indivisble.org webpage to connect you. Indivisible Senator contact page
    • In addition, be on the ready for another rapid response action. Literally drop everything and take to the streets when the Senate verdict is nigh. It’s imperative that we are loud and visible to make known that the PEOPLE want Trump IMPEACHED & REMOVED. 

  • Your 2020 Call to Action

    Contributed by Cindi Sternfeld.

    Just about every day over the past three+ years, I’ve gone to bed with a pang of fear in my belly about the state of our nation and woken up the next with a jolt of determination. 

    Now, as we enter this new, long anticipated, election year, I want to speak to both your fear and your determination. I think many of us have been fearful, but we borrowed courage from each other and acted when the moment required. 

    Friends, if there was ever a time to lend and borrow both the courage and determination to act, it is now. We’ve been living in a dystopian novel for the past three years. We cannot sit back and wait for “other people” to speak out and show up. 

    The answers to the question of why some of my friends and relatives have or have not engaged in political activism are widely varied. Among those who haven’t taken action or have been primarily keyboard warriors, they seem to feel that activism is not a good use of their time and that nothing we do will matter; that influencing the political landscape is beyond their reach. Out of my informal survey of about 50 people, only one said that they did not know the ways they could get involved. (If you are reading this and you are like that one person, read to the end and I’ll provide resources.)  

    Among the active ones, most had never attempted to influence politics and initially found that connecting with other concerned citizens was fun and helped to allay their fears.  As time went on, they learned that their contribution did make a difference. If you doubt this, I point you to Tom Malinowski’s win in NJ07 or that Helen Tai was the first Democrat in 34 years to win a special election and she was the first woman and first person of color ever. In addition, in the general election, Helen came within 600 votes of winning the Pennsylvania 178th!  We have had many wins over the past three years, aided by many first-time activists who dug deep to find the courage they didn’t know they had to step up and speak out. 

    I recognize that the threats to our democracy by this president, our Attorney General and others can feel overwhelming. They make remembering the wins more challenging and more important than ever.  But I promise you, we are making a difference.   

    My own activism is a bit self-serving. There is a story about the Dutch-born American clergyman and activist, A.J Muste, who protested the Vietnam War.  It is said that a reporter once asked Muste, “Do you really think you are going to change the policies of this country by standing out here alone at night in front of the White House with a candle?” Muste responded, “Oh I don’t do this to change the country, I do this so the country won’t change me.”  

    The opposite of activism is not passivity, it is apathy.  We will all need to reach deep this year and find our reason for, and our courage to act. Remember every bit of fear and sadness you felt in the aftermath of the 2016 election: Use it as fuel to action and others will be motivated by your example. The stakes could not be higher. We can not depend on “other people” to do this because every one of us is needed for this effort.

    Today I am asking you to join me in this work. Do not let this president change you — but if he does, let it be for the better.  If you are already doing more than you have ever done before, I thank you and I believe that future generations will thank you. The next 10 months will determine no less than the fate of our democracy. 

    On Wednesday, November 4th, 2020, will you be able to say that you did all you could save our democracy?  And if not, who will you blame?   

    Check out these resources and get moving!

    • Our January Community Gathering will have a smorgasbord of ways to get active – come check them out. 
    • The MoveOn Text Team is a nationwide community of volunteers using the power of peer-to-peer text messaging to mobilize members and voters across the country. You will use their platform to send texts using your computer or phone but you will NOT use your phone number or your email address. If you need any help to sign up or get started let us know and we can provide it!  To join the MoveOn Text Team click on front.moveon.org 
    • Become a Deep Canvasser with Changing The Conversation in Bucks CTCTogether.org or ask to join the closed facebook page titled, Changing The Conversation in Bucks.  
    • ResistBot is a platform that enables you to communicate with your Congressperson and your Senators.  Using the Resistbot platform, you can turn a text message from your phone into an email, fax or postal letter. It is quick and easy and a great way to be heard. To sign up with Resistbot, text 50409 to get started.  
    • ilnhclone.indivisible.blue calendar and our closed and public facebook pages are all resources that can connect you to local action  

    ILNH Monthly Community Meeting dates: When you attend an ILNH Community Gathering, you can connect with other concerned people and learn ways to get your activism on. If you already attend our monthly meetings but would benefit from a little more encouragement, reach out to our Membership Chairs Nancy Boelter at lilnan98@yahoo.com or Paige Barnett by email at info@ilnhclone.indivisible.blue

  • Resolved to Win: Vision 2020

    Contributed by Deb Kline.

    The first month of the year finds many of us setting goals and making plans for what we hope to personally achieve or accomplish in the coming year. The goal of these exercises is to somehow make life better for ourselves. January seems a likely month to start anew, especially after we’ve tipped the scales of excess over the previous two to three months.  

    Psychologically, 1/1/2020 seems to hold so much promise. Not only a new year, but a new decade, and why not put a stake in the ground? 

    There’s another date ahead that holds a lot of promise: 11/3/2020. That’s when millions of voters head to the polls and determine the direction of our country for the next four years. While it may seem that 11 months is a long way away, it’s now that we need to make our resolve, our commitment to do all we can to create the outcome we want to see. 

    John Norcross, a psychology professor at the University of Scranton who has studied resolutions for decades, says there’s a key ingredient that makes the difference in whether a person adheres or achieves his or her New Year’s resolutions. That is to first and foremost, believe that you can do it. In addition, being clear on what it is you want to achieve, eg. specificity, can move the needle farther in the direction of a positive outcome. Two other ingredients for success include going public with your intention and being around supportive people. 

    At our December Holiday Gathering, many of the attendees wrote on the Resolution 2020 banner what they intend to do this year to get our country on the right track. There are some great commitments, ranging from canvassing, to hosting a Meet and Greet, to texting voters and hosting postcard parties and lots more. (Yes, we have your names, too). If you didn’t get the opportunity to write on the banner, come to our Community Gathering – we have plenty of room! 

    If we want to save this country, all of us need to resolve right now to do whatever it takes to ensure that November 4 brings us the outcome which we have longed for since January 2017. We believe we can reclaim and rebuild our country based on the values of equality, honesty, integrity, caring and stewardship. It’s time we put this stake in the ground now: “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” 

    From my point of view, getting this president, his administration, and a number of the GOP supporters out of the way would certainly make my life better.  

  • How Shall We Impeach Thee? Let Us Count the Ways Part IV

    How Shall We Impeach Thee? Let Us Count the Ways Part IV

    Contributed by Paige Barnett.

    As we shook off the tryptophan induced coma, the House Intelligence Committee voted 13-9 to issue its 300-page report of the impeachment investigation findings. Released on December 3, all findings were garnered via testimony of government employees who had knowledge of the call between Trump and President Zelensky of the Ukraine. In this “perfect” call, Trump suggested withholding military aid to the Ukraine unless Zelensky agreed to launch an investigation into the Bidens, Trump’s potential 2020 campaign opponent.  

    The Harvard-educated committee chairman, Adam Schiff, proved worthy of his juris doctorate by rounding out an excellent line of questioning with astute commentary and summarizations of the day.  Devin Nunes however, had nothing but Russian talking points that he excessively repeated and did nothing except further prove that Trump’s actions are indefensible. Gym Jordan demonstrated exactly why he never passed the bar.  His fist pounding and yelling was more empty bravado or rather, much ado about nothing. Lt. Col. Vindman and Fiona Hill shall go down in the history books as true patriots. Sondland, on the other hand, may be noted for saving his own hide by throwing everyone under the bus.  

    The truth of the matter is, Trump’s actions re the Ukraine “perfect” call are indefensible. The Constitution and the law safeguard the American republic from such illegality and point squarely to impeachment of the <cough> president for the actions he took. As Schiff duly noted in the draft report, “In his farewell address, President George Washington warned of a moment when “cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”  The report makes clear from its findings that Trump has abused his presidential powers. You can read it here: HIC Draft Report

    The next round of hearings began December 4 to lay bare the information in the report. Four constitutional law experts, Noah Feldman, Pamela Karlan, Michael Gerhardt and Jonathan Turley, testified as to the merits of the report and why this is a case for impeachment. Dec. 4 Hearing Highlights   On Wednesday, December 5, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave the House the go-ahead to proceed with impeachment. What comes next is drafting the articles of impeachment upon which the House will vote and is likely to pass. Once the articles of impeachment pass the House, it goes to trial in the Senate. Chief Justice Roberts will preside over the Senate trial. 

    Of note, are the numerous people who spent countless hours behind the scenes transcribing, drafting and editing this document for American public to read. They too, are heroic. They are the unsung heroes and deserve as much recognition as Schiff and Pelosi for their hard work and dedication. 

    Again, here is WHAT YOU CAN DO.  Be ready for the RAPID RESPONSE action. On the eve of the House vote, join us in front of Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s Langhorne office. Drop everything and take to the streets when the eve of the House vote is nigh. It’s imperative that we are LOUD & VISIBLE to make known that we want Trump IMPEACHED & REMOVED. More info to come!

  • Impeach and Remove! Rapid Response Readiness Reminder – PLEASE READ

    The night before the House of Representatives takes a historic vote to impeach Trump, we’ll head to every congressional office and public square to declare that Nobody Is Above the Law as representatives finalize their positions and senators look on. 

    Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope is planning to turn out in force at Representative Brian Fitzpatrick’s Langhorne, PA office. The protest is scheduled to start at 5:00 pm.

    If there has ever been an event where we need to have a huge turnout in front of Rep. Fitzpatrick’s office, it is this one. He is one of only three or four vulnerable Republican MoCs in the whole country who can conceivably be convinced to vote against his party.  He needs to see where the people of this area stand. And that will only happen if there is a tremendous crowd in front of his office building, chanting, bearing posters, and making it abundantly clear that they support impeachment. Come out. Bring friends. Please prioritize this rapid response event. 

    We don’t know the exact date when this will occur, but could be nearly anytime in the next month.  So be ready! This means making your signs, coordinating transportation with others. If you haven’t already registered for the event – which is one of 345 planned events around the country – do so at the link below. You can also find other registered events in NJ and PA if getting to Langhorne is too much of a challenge. Sign up for an event here: https://www.impeach.org/event/impeach-and-remove-attend/search/