EDITOR’S NOTE: The videos and text below are reposted from ‘NotesBeforeYouVote.com,’ a new hyper-short election series I recently launched. The aim is not to preach to the choir of existing Harris/Walz voters, but to reach out to folks who haven’t yet decided for whom to vote or who are thinking of voting Third Party (thus likely assisting a Trump Victory). Or for those of you locked into Trump-supporting families or communities, but who can’t stomach his views and persona — and who may feel freer to vote your conscience in the voting booth or when mailing in your ballot. Free subscribe to the NotesBeforeYouVote site and e-mail newsletter to receive future videos in the series, all under 60 seconds in length. And pass the video and links forward to inspire someone else. As Michelle Obama said at her DNC speech: ‘Do something.’ This is part of my something. ~ D.J.I.
‘Guest Limericks’ | CLICK TO WATCH
by Douglas John Imbrogno | september10.2024 | Colleen Anderson is one of the cultural treasures of West Virginia, and a Renaissance Woman in several creative fields, from design to poetry, performance to origami artwork. She is also an accomplished, popular op-ed limerick writer in the Trump era, a field of expertise that surely cannot count too many world-class practitioners. In Episode 3 (above) of the 2024 election series NotesBeforeYouVote.com by Amp Media Collective we feature two of them. These limericks speak to that most un-presidential, cruel, and mean-spirited quality to Trump’s character: how he simply does not know how to be kind. Or to care about anyone other than himself.
As I ponder ways to frame why a second Trump takeoever of the most powerful nation in the world would be a full-on, global catastrophe, I often think of wise, old grandmas. Or, really, any significant person — an uncle, aunt, priest, rabbi, teacher, family friend, counselor or coach, say — who was key to what formed our characters growing up. Invariably, that Grandma or Significant Person in Our Life counseled us to be kind to others. To look out for someone other than just caring about our own narrow, selfish aims and interest. To care about others, whether friend, acquaintance or passing stranger, and to concern ourselves with something bigger than just ourselves.
That’s what on the ballot when you enter the voting booth, vote in advance or mail off your ballot. What kind of person do you want running your country? Our country? Donald Trump is now openly stating that instead of attending to such existential threats to America and the world as the climate crisis, housing and food costs, war and terrorism, he’ll turn a vast amount of energy starting on day one to one thing: retribution.
That’s something to vote against. And the promise and hopefulness of what Kamala Harris and Tim Walz present during this most important campaign season for the future of America is something worth voting for.
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‘No Climate For You’ | CLICK TO WATCH
How many times did the Trump-approved Republican platform mention the word ‘climate,’ especially since 2023 was the hottest year in recorded history? Find out in Episode 1 of ‘NotesBeforeYouVote.com.’
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Cartoons Worth Seeing
Vote against retribution, self-centered cruelty, and the meanest aspects of our worst natures on Nov. 5. The eternal words of Abraham Lincoln’s come to mind from his first inaugural address March 4, 1862:
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