Warriors! A momentous year has arrived! We are 9 months away from - yes - the most consequential election of our lifetime. Aren’t we all tired of saying that? But much as we hoped the MAGA fever had broken after the election of Joe Biden, Trumpism has completed its conquest of the GOP.
There is nothing left of the party of Lincoln that has any remote connection to conservative values of earlier years Values we might have disagreed with, but which could be debated in the to and fro of electoral politics. Instead, the GOP sold its birthright for a mess of pottage, a stew of grievance politics, and right-wing extremism, all wrapped in the flag. At the head of this movement is a dangerous and unhinged autocrat, the man who enabled the Supreme Court that discarded Roe, a man who casually uses the language of Hitler; a man who is vowing revenge on his enemies, and the disbanding of an apolitical civil service; a man who promises to discard climate change policies, and a man who plans a Justice Department wholly subservient to his whims.
So, weary as we all are of the unending battle for the liberal democracy we grew up with, and wish to pass along to our children and grandchildren, we are called, yet again, to halt this barbarian at the gate.
We got the year off to a resounding start! Over 100 members turned out for the Rally to Defend Democracy on January 6 at Westfield Train Station, organized by OneNJ7 as one of 5 rallies across the 7th Congressional District.
We were lucky to have Marci in full-throated form, emphasizing the stakes at play.
Jim Hely reminded all of us what the Rule of Law truly means, and the MAGA threat to its very existence.
- a fitting hors d’oeuvre for the entree provided by our final speaker, Congressman Andy Kim, who came to bear witness to the events of that awful day three years ago.
Congressman KIm emphasized that it is up to us - each and every one of us - to do the hard work of democracy. To awaken our friends and our neighbors to the threat posed by apathy and indifference. To commit to the nine months of activism needed if we are to give birth to a new and vibrant democracy in America.
We know that our membership will not be found wanting! We plan a full year of events tailored to everyone’s taste in campaigning! An idea we are incubating is a monthly social, where members can meet and eat and drink - and share ideas, whilst writing letters or postcards in the convivial company of friends and neighbors.
We would love to hear YOUR ideas for how our membership can leverage our talents to best advantage in the battle for democracy!In the meantime, be of good cheer! Sign up with OneNJ7, co-founded by Merv Turner and Maggie Savoca. OneNJ7’s goal is to help to coordinate all the efforts of the many grassroots organizations in the 7th Congressional District to ensure that Kean will indeed be “One Term Tom.”
We WILL prevail!
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