Song for Day 83 - "Can't Go Back to Kansas" by John Stewart

Day 83 - "Can't Go Back to Kansas" by John Stewart

Kingston Trio 1961:  John Stewart, Nick Reynolds, Bob Shane.

     In the 4th Kansas district yesterday, Republican Ron Estes defeated Democrat James Thompson
by 53.3%-45%.  Dolt 45 won the 4th by 27% in November, and the outgoing Rep. Mike Pompeo, who will now direct the CIA [shudder], won it in 2010 with 59%, in 2012 with 62%, in 2014 with 66.7%, and in 2016 with 60.6% of the vote.  Each time, Pompeo faced a different Democratic opponent--sometimes more than one.  (Please, no more Duo Democrats!)

     This is one of the reddest districts in the country.  For those who don't understand momentum, this means that our worst loss between now and November 2018 may be single digits.  Statistically, that virtually guarantees a landslide in 2020.  Do the math.  Oh, and this is before we factor in recent legal decisions against gerrymandering.

Kingston Trio 1957: 
Dave Guard, Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds

     The result is remarkable in its own right--so much so that the margin isn't mentioned in most Republican accounts.  On the circuit, this is where the more ornery among us would turn to an opponent, smile, and ask:  "Do you feel something slipping?"

     For the 50-state strategy to continue to work we need to raise money, yes, but we also need to "think outside the bucks", raising the profile and goodwill of our [potential] candidates, as with regular meet-and-greets.  Not in 2018 or 2020 but today and every day.  Find some venue:  swap meets, farmers' markets, craft shows, music mini-festivals, et cetera.  Get musicians' permissions to use their videos in your food courts;  ask them if they would make one in support of the candidate(s).

     All volunteer.  $0.

     That said, what money the Democratic Party does spend on red states invariably gets more "bang for the buck" than in blue districts.  As Bill Clinton would say:  "It's called 'arithmetic'."

     Would it be too much to ask that MSNBC, at least, do stories--plural--on the races of James Thompson (Kansas 4th), Jon Ossoff (Georgia 6th), and Rob Quist (Montana)?  Can we at least organize Wikipedia pages for all of our candidates?

     In 2018 we can and will go back to Kansas.

Lyrics and Chords for "Can't Go Back To Kansas":

(C) (G) (Am) (C7) (F) (G) (C) (G)
(C) Time (G)moves like a (Am)river,(C7)
(F) You can (G)either sink or (C)swim.(G)
(C) And a wise man (G)learns to for(Am)give her(C7)
(F) For (G)all she's done to (C)him.(C7)
And (F)no-one's getting (C)younger,
And a (F)few aren't (G)getting (C)old,
It's (Am)all in what you (Em)feel,
And (D)not in what you're (G)told.

Oh, you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
I was (F)there just (G)yester(C)day,
Oh, you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
It just (D)up and blew a(G)way.
Oh, but (F)I will go on (C)loving you,
It's (F)easi(G)er that (C)way,
But you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
'Cause (F)that was (G)yester(C)day.
(G) (Am) (C7) (F) (G) (C) (G)

(C) I see the (G)sun rise and (Am)fall,(C7)
(F) And I feel the (G)earth beneath my (C)shoes.(G)
(C) Still I´m (G)stuck in my be(Am)lieving(C7)
(F) That some were (G)born and cursed to (C)lose.(C7)
But (F)nothing´s gonna (C)happen here,
That´s (F)all I´ve (G)got to (C)say,
It´s (Am)nothing to be (Em)down about,
It´s (D)always been that (G)way.

Oh, I (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
I was (F)there just (G)yester(C)day,
Oh, I (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
It just (D)up and blew a(G)way.
Oh, but (F)I will go on (C)loving you,
It's (F)easi(G)er that (C)way,
But you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
'Cause (F)that was (G)yester(Am)day. (Em) (F)(G)(C)
(Am) (Em) (D) (G) (F) (C) (F)(G)(C) (Am) (Em) (F)(G)(C)

Oh, you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
I was (F)there just (G)yester(C)day,
Oh, you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
It just (D)up and blew (G)away.
Oh, but (F)I will go on (C)loving you,
It's (F)easi(G)er that (C)way,
But you (Am)can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
'Cause (F)that was (G)yester(C)day.
(G) (Am) (C7) (F) (G) (C)

When you play this alternate version, please WATCH OUT:
The distinctive high-notes run is written out
John plays during the chord change from (G) to (C)
only once, see first line of intro.
Play most of the runs on the bass-strings,
“it´s easier that way.”

(C) (Em7/B) (Am7) (Am7/G) (F) (G, highlight high notes:g-b-c-d)
(C) "And across the (G)plains of Wichita,
(C)at the farms being (Em7/B)sold at auction,(Am7)
they listened to the (Am7/G)clear New England voice (F)
cut the cold (G)Kansas sky."(C) (Em7/B)

(C) Time (Em7/B)moves like a (Am7)river,(Am7/G)
(F) You can (G)either sink or (C)swim. (G)
(C)And a wise (Em7/B)man learns (Am7)to forgive her(Am7/G)
(F) For (G)all she's done to (C)him. (C7)
(F) No one's getting (Cj7)younger,
(Dm7) But a (G)few aren't getting (C)old, (high notes:e-d)(Am)
It's all in what you (Em)feel (D)
It's not in what you're (G)told.(G/F) (G/E) (Bass run: G-A-B-D)

(Am) But you can't go back to (Em)Kansas,
(F) I was (G)there just yester(C)day.(Bass run: G-A-B-D)
(Am) You can't go back to (Em)Kansas, (D)
It just up and blew a(G)way. (Fj7)
So I will go on (Cj7)loving you, (F)
It's (G)easier that (C)way,(run, start on G-string:g-a-b-d)
(Am) And you can't go back to (Em)Kansas, (F)
'Cause (G)that was yester(C)day. (Em7/B) (Am7) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C) (G)
(C) (Em7/B) (Am7) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C) (G)

(C) I see the (Em7/B)sun rise and (Am7)fall,(Am7/G)
(F) And I feel the (G)earth beneath my (C)shoes. (G)
(C) There's no (Em7/B)need in you be(Am7)lieving(Am7/G)
(F) That you were (G)born and cursed to (C)lose.(C7)
(Fj7) So why not go on (Cj7)dreaming then?
(F) Yeah, take (G)anyone you (C)choose. (Am)
There's nothing to be (Em)down about, (D)
'Cause you either (G) win or lose.(G/F) (G/E) (Bass run: G-A-B-D)

(Am)You can't go back to (Em)Kansas,(high notes:g-f-e-d-f)
(F) I was (G)there just yester(C)day.(high notes:g-g g-g g-g)
(Am You can't go back to (Em)Kansas, (D)
It just up and blew (G)away. (Fj7)
So I will go on (Cj7)loving you, (F)
'Cause it's (G)easier that (C)way,(single notes:g-a-b-d-a)
(Am) But you can't go back to (Em)Kansas, (F)
'Cause (G)that was (C) yesterday.
(Em7/B) (Am7) (Am7/G) (F) (G) (C)

 

How to Lose to Donald Trump

     Democrats have a natural 3-point advantage in both members (29%-26%) and leaners (45%-42%).  As we saw in 2016, losing to a candidate as repugnant as Orange Julius Caesar requires considerable effort, skill and organization.  The following instructions must be followed to the letter;  one misstep, no matter how inconsequential it may seem, could result in victory.

1.  Begin with a "sympathetic" DNC.

      People are idiots;  don't worry about them spotting the thumb on the scale. If we see Tom Perez  emerge as the DNC Chair we'll know the plan is in place.  In fact, as long as it isn't Keith Ellison or Jehmu Greene, the executive should be able to work around the leader.  (Tangentially, get ready for the ride of your life in the unlikely event that Greene is chosen.)

2.  Reduce the number and visibility of primary debates.

      It is essential to limit the exposure of your candidates so as to cede the maximum number of news cycles to Agent Orange.

3.  Be sure to generate outrage at your voting booths.

      If you can't effect actual vote rigging be sure to create its appearance.  At the very least, make certain the exit polls never match the vote totals.

It's not enough to flush our chances.
We must royal flush them.

4.  It's not enough to ignore your base demographics.  You must attack them.

      Female celebrities who don't vote along strict gender lines must be vilified.  The poor must be denied a federally mandated minimum wage.  Students must, in no uncertain terms, be denied free tuition in state universities.  Environmentalists must see your candidate endorse fracking.  Standing Rock activists must be explicitly snubbed, as must the 58% of Americans (81% of Democrats) who support universal public health care over private insurance.  Unions must be alienated with free trade deals and misrepresentations of your opponent's positions on bailouts.

5.  Select a nominee with historic net negatives who is a terrible campaigner.

      You won't be lucky enough to find another one who has blown a 30 point lead in 2008, doubling that feat in 2016, but there are many clumsy, overrated contenders out there.

6.  Present that nominee as a victim.

     Nothing spells "strength" and inspires confidence more than constant whinging about one's religion, race, gender or status.  Don't worry about trivializing these very serious issues for political gain.

7.  Make xenophobia a central theme of your campaign.

      What works better for Democrats than 1950s style McCarthyism and paranoia?

8.  Target the government you hope to run:  civil servants, bureaucrats, security personnel, etc.

     This succeeded for TeaBaggers.  Why shouldn't it work for Democrats?  Same thing, right?

9. Don't campaign in key/swing states.

     Really, WTF was that schedule about?

10. Use endorsements to divide the party.

     Get virtually every Senate and House member to endorse your candidate from the get go, year in and year out, then express surprise when you lose all of Congress and 66 gubernatorial races.  For good measure, divide Planned Parenthood in the same manner so that 53% of [white] women will vote against your candidate.

     While it isn't essential, associating with "flamboyant" figures (e.g. David Brock, Henry Kissinger, Red Don himself, etc.) raises the candidate's visibility.  There's no such thing as bad publicity, right? 

     Assuming Hillary retires from losing presidential races, there are currently only two candidates who can save Democrats from the White House in 2020.  The first is Vermin Supreme.  The other is:

New Jersey Senator Cory Booker

     Never let it be said that you didn't do your part!