Democrats Abroad in Guadalajara is moving on several initiatives discussed at a meeting Sunday, January 29.
The get-together was ostensibly for group members and friends to watch “The Great Debaters,” but after the movie, saddened and inspired by the story of a black college debate team’s success in the 1930s despite bleak odds, attendees proposed several campaigns to counter the Trump presidency.
Jude Wallesen rolled out proposals based on a new publication, “Indivisible — A Practical Guide for resisting the Trump Agenda,” in which former Congressional staffers reveal the best practices for making Congress listen, many of which were learned from the Tea Party’s success in obstructing President Obama.
“The guide points out that members of Congress are focused on reelection, reelection, reelection and they want good local press. Internet petitions seem to be having less impact. One tactic we can use abroad is focused, coordinated phone calls to our state’s members of Congress.”
Mary Bahmer mentioned strategies for effective calling as well as an effort to pass laws in each state requiring electoral college members to vote for the winner of the popular vote.
“These laws already exist in a few states,” Bahmer said. “When they are in place in all states, it will slow down calling the election until the popular vote is counted.”
The 26-page “Indivisible Guide” is available online.