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The Numbers Continue to Roll In | |
Photo credit: Edge2Edge Media, Unsplash | |
I imagine many of you heard of the “Red Mirage” which happens during elections, where the less populated counties in our country are counted first, happening to trend red. It gives the perception that the Republican candidate has a lead. Then, when the more populated counties and the bigger cities are counted, the trend begins to shift back toward blue. This is the effect Donald Trump took advantage of in 2020, convincing his followers that the election was stolen.
I was aware of this effect going into Election Day this year, and I had the idea that this race would be close, regardless of who the winner was. If VP Harris won, I was certain we’d have rioting in the streets and we’d see a huge uptick in violence because Trump would, no doubt, claim another stolen election. Likewise, if Trump won, we’d see an uptick in violence and hate crimes due to his followers being emboldened to act on their basest desires.
But, even though I knew I shouldn’t, I found myself reacting before all the data was in. I was shocked at the apparently huge margins that were being reported, and I found myself feeling disheartened and losing trust and faith in humanity.
Whenever I get into that kind of mental and emotional space, I lean heavily into practicing self-care. I did my best not to get into the “blame game” that so many felt necessary, knowing that people tend to lash out when they feel fear. I relied on my Yoga practice, taking deep breaths when I felt anger or frustration, and I steered clear of the news. I quickly learned I should limit my social media participation to 30 minutes a day, and some days, I didn’t even open the apps. I talked with leaders I trust, and listened to helpful podcasts with national historians and political experts to gain perspective. I traveled to stay with the matriarch of my family, my 96-year-old grandmother, while my mother, her caregiver, is on a well-deserved trip. I waited and I read, and I reveled in the quiet. It helped more than I expected and I began to feel more like myself.
I finally checked in with the news this week, to see what the counts are like. Low and behold, the data shows what was predicted all along — the race was close, and while Republicans won the Senate and the House, they don’t have a large majority, which means they are in for a fight. I am worried about SCOTUS, but I feel much better about where we stand.
We all knew on November 4 that we needed to work our tails off to gain an election outcome we hoped would change the landscape of our nation and the world. Today, that’s still the case. And contrary to when it happened in 2016, this time, we know the playbook.
Vice President Harris said in her concession speech:
“On the campaign, I would often say when we fight, we win. But here’s the thing, here's the thing, sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn't mean we won't win. That doesn't mean we won't win. The important thing is don’t ever give up. Don't ever give up. Don't ever stop trying to make the world a better place. You have power. You have power. And don't you ever listen when anyone tells you something is impossible because it has never been done before.”
Fellow Democrats, now is a time for rest, healing and planning. For information gathering, assessment, and for self-reflection. Self-care is imperative because burnout is a recipe for cynicism and resentment; but to win this fight, we need hope, creativity, optimism, and steadfastness for the long term.
So, do what you need to do to take care of yourself, even if you don’t think you need to. Connect with your loved ones. Steer clear of the news a little bit longer, and refrain from participating in the blame game. Let’s create opportunities out of this experience, and use them to build a strong wall of support behind our legislators who are so committed to keeping New Mexico Trump-proof.
What Democrats stand for is all that has prevailed throughout history, and we will do it again. In fact, as Stacey Abrams would say, "We must insist on it."
With gratitude,
Marisol Enriquez, Chair
P.S. Here are some of the podcasts that friends and advisors have shared with me, and a book I have returned to:
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Photo credit: Solen Feyissa, Unsplash | |
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Spoof emails are here again, so we want to give you a heads up so you know what to look for. Jessica Velasquez, the Chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, has had her e-mail spoofed and several people in her address list might have received a strange message that appeared to come from her yesterday November 18.
The scam e-mail looks like this:
From: Jessica Velasquez
Date: November 18, 2024 at 7:30:04 AM MST
To: [Your e-mail address]
Hello, is your schedule open to talk a little via email because I’m going to a conference call meeting soon. No call just write back
Chairman
Jessica Velasquez
New Mexico Democratic Party
There are three key things that indicate this is not from Jessica Velasquez.
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Incorrect E-Mail Address: The from address is not an official Democratic Party e-mail address. (Anyone can look up the Democratic Party of New Mexico at nmdemocrats.org and find the official addresses of the party officers.)
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Dictating Communication Method: This e-mail says: “No call just write back” which tells the recipient they only want to communicate via this method, because if you know Jess’s phone number and simply call it, they cannot run whatever scam they are trying to run.
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Incorrect Information: The organization is not” the New Mexico Democratic Party,” it is “the Democratic Party of New Mexico.”
Unfortunately, we all have to keep on our toes about spam, spoofing, and phishing. This will not be the last time we will all see this kind of thing, but maybe these tips, in addition to helping you avoid this threat, will help you avoid others in the future.
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5 Things, November 19 Edition | |
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We're always on the lookout for articles, podcasts, YouTube videos, and other pieces of media to help engage local Democrats. If there's something you read, watched, or listened to this week that impacted you, email us at info@bernalillodems.org with a link and a quick note about why you want to share it.
1. “Do not obey in advance,” @TimothyDSnyer on X (formerly Twitter)
“Lesson 1: Do not obey in advance.
“Thread of lessons from my book #OnTyranny. Written in 2016.
“Do not obey in advance.
“Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.”
2. “The Department of Government Efficiency is Inefficient,” The American Prospect
“Last week, Donald Trump announced that self-christened first buddy Elon Musk will head a newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. The assignment is an obvious reward for Musk’s extensive support of the president-elect’s campaign, deepening the world’s richest man’s already considerable influence over the federal government. As The New York Times notes, Musk’s companies were promised $3 billion after inking nearly 100 different contracts with 17 federal agencies last year.
“It’s safe to assume that these contracts will be exempt from the initiative’s mission to ‘dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies’—supposedly a long-held goal of conservatives and their private-sector allies. While targeting the jobs of career public servants, Musk aims to staff the initiative with ‘super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.’
“It’s similarly reasonable to suspect that Musk is a large holder of the cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which he regularly hypes; hence the decision to name the initiative DOGE to keep the coin in the news cycle for the next couple of years.”
3. “Abortion care: What’s at risk under a second Trump term,” NM Political Report
“At least for the next few months, there will be no change to New Mexico’s status as a safe-haven state for abortion. President-elect Donald Trump does not take office until his inauguration on January 20.
“But with Trump assuming office in late January, abortion clinic providers and policy researchers say the right to an abortion, or the ability to obtain one legally, will likely come under grave threat. Amy Hagstrom Miller, chief executive officer of Whole Women’s Health, told NM Political Report that abortion clinic providers are working to prepare for the worst.”
4. “Senate can step up to block dangerous appointees,” Santa Fe New Mexican
“The Senate needs to just say no, both to Kennedy and Gaetz — who infamously has been investigated by the Department of Justice for sex trafficking and has a host of other ethical charges against him. Trump surely can find someone who has the requisite “loyalty” without scraping the bottom.”
5. “New Mexico's congressional delegation asks feds to wrap up Rio Grande lawsuit” Source NM
“All five members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation are urging the federal government to ‘quickly resolve’ a decade-old lawsuit from Texas over water rights from the Rio Grande.
“‘In times of worsening drought and precipitation out of line with historical patterns, it is imperative that our communities, municipalities, farmers, ranchers, and businesses have as much clarity about their future water supplies as possible,’ they wrote in a letter dated Thursday. They asked for the case to get across the finish line before the end of the year.
“U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján and Reps. Melanie Stansbury, Gabe Vasquez and Teresa Leger Fernández, all Democrats, addressed the one-page letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Attorney General Merrick Garland.”
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All Democrats are encouraged to submit their events here.
Events and community announcements are displayed in chronological order with no preference in a Democratic primary.
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We're resuming our bi-monthly hangouts. All Dems welcome! Join us.
Wednesday, Nov 20 at 5:30pm
Bosque Brewery - 5210 Eubank Blvd NE
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Escucha a New Mexico invites you to a community conversation about the future of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. The discussion will focus on how to build a Party that truly stands for peace and social, economic, and environmental justice and, thus, effectively represents our communities broadly, but especially working people, people of color and youth.
When: Thursday, November 21, 2024, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: International District Library, 7601 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108.
For more Info: assedsamia@gmail.com
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West Side Dems Happy Hour | |
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Staying in town this Thanksgiving? Get together with your West Side Dems family.
Sunday, Nov. 24, 3:00-5:00,
at the Bosque Brewery at 2200 Unser NW.
Let’s celebrate our West Side and NM wins, and commiserate about the national results.
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Climate Hope:Tools for teaching climate change in NM schools |  | |
This 350NM Zoom discussion is aimed at two groups in our community: teachers (especially middle school) and everybody else!
Are you a New Mexico teacher (of any subject) who understands the urgency of the climate crisis but are uncertain how to present the topic?
Or are you someone who is curious about how to explain climate change basics to yourself and people you know?
A 350 New Mexico group spent three years writing, modifying and testing a multidisciplinary tool kit for middle school teachers to address this need. Specifically focused on New Mexico, Climate Hope covers the basic science behind climate change and its impact on our local communities with a focus on climate injustice. It suggests a wide range of urgently needed actions to both mitigate and adapt to this growing crisis. Everyone concerned about our climate future is invited to learn more about these dynamic tools and how they support meaningful climate literacy.
These activities were classroom and teacher tested. Learn about the history of this project and our classroom experiences. We partnered with Talking Talons to put on one teacher workshop.
When: Thursday, November 25 2024 12:00 PM
Where: Zoom
Register for Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIudeuupjooHtfwjPH8rjdW8M-2EGoT_gsq?link_id=1&can_id=3b6556b13572c2bdd26d1f1ca9f70cee&source=email-nov-2024-climate-chaos-actions&email_referrer=email_2525452&email_subject=nov-2024-climate-chaos-actions#/registra
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West Side Dems Holiday Meal | |
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You are warmly invited to our annual WSD holiday thank you meal, on Saturday, December 14, 12-2 pm, at the West Mesa Community Center, 5500 Glendon Rd NW 87105.
WSD will provide the main dishes; you are asked to bring a side dish or dessert.
Our hard work paid off; all our West Side candidates won and won by bigger margins their elections.
Watch for more details in coming weeks.
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