this take has a lot of good points, but they're missing the underlying story once again, like most other media outlets: organizing is absolutely crucial. in GA, organizers put in the hard work. in NC, it wasn't to the same extent. organizing is why GA will trend blue long term.

one anecdote that i want everyone on this hellsite to read:
I organized in Durham County, which went bluer than 2016 and voted for Biden by a 62 pt margin.
I heard tales of organizing in Wake County being piss poor. Like, just not putting the necessary work in.
I didn't really comprehend at the time that this was a bad omen. I still thought we were going to win. But Wake County organizers were asking *us* in DurCo to come down and drive ppl to polls on Election Day. Not good.
I'm saying this with a lot of conviction: the central failure of North Carolina Dems in 2020 was organizing. We weren't allowed to do door-to-door canvassing while GOP did so. D2D is a crucial tool in organizing and we essentially gave it up for the GOP to take.
While we were stuck on Zoom and textbanking and phone calls, GOP organizers were going door to door, masked up and distanced, and were able to get a message out. We did not do that, and as such, our turnout was less than we needed.
Some statistics: in Wake County, November turnout was up 4.5 points (from 75.35% in 2016 to 79.85), while the state average turnout increase was 6 points (68.98% to 75.35%). we did not bank as many votes as we needed to. that's the real story.
oof. i was referring to *statewide* turnout increase and did not mean to say "state average turnout increase".
@lxeagle17 @EScrimshaw @umichvoter99
appendix for extra context: in Durham County, 2016-2020 turnout increase was 6.3 pts, basically the same as the 6.37 pt statewide turnout increase. Wake County was below average. GOP vote bank Union County increased turnout by nearly 8 points (!!!).
finally, i just want to say that I'm hopeful for NC in 2022. Midterms have more college educated electorates, and NC is no exception. COVID affected us negatively, and by 2022 we'll be able to safely organize effectively.
But we have to start trusting local organizers and communities again. Stop hiring DC consultants and listen to the local pulse. There's a Stacey Abrams in North Carolina, we just need to find and fund her. https://t.co/LyvRBMlWdr
tagging more ppl bc uhhh pls read @NilesGApol @Eggymceggerson3 @NCPoliticalMeme

More from Government

Let me take a stab at this after years of reporting on Marine One, HMX-1, Continuity of Government, etc. None of this is definitive, but it could help explain what folks are seeing:

1.) HMX-1, which flies the VH-3D and VH-60N 'White Top' helicopters used to move... 1/X


the President and VP around, those helos being called Marine One or Two when either is onboard, need to train. The urban landing zones, including WH and VP Residence, are not simple to get in and out of. So, crews need some currency training. They are not just tasked with... 2/X

moving POTUS and VP to get them around the region and to Andrews AFB for long-haul flights, they are essential to Continuity of Government operations. This means that if a threat were to emerge, they need to be ready to snatch POTUS and VP in minutes. This is partially... 3/X

why they have a full forward operating location at Naval Support Activity Anacostia, just 3 miles from the WH. As such, practice is important and considering the state of things, it is critical now more than in any recent memory. 4/X

2.) Considering what happened last week, including mobs of Trump supporters screaming in unison to hang the VP for doing what the constitution states, absolutely despicable in every way, security has been tightened just as it has been all over. Using the helicopters instead.. 5/X
Abbott is pushing a lie to protect incompetence. There is no Federal oversight of the Texas Grid, ergo fewer regulations (sound familiar) - so point one: state legislature needs reform. 2/


2. Point 2: there were clear signs the grid would get overloaded under extreme cold conditions. Why? Due to a vacuum of regulations mandating winterization of turbines and power generators. This from sources, in Texas!

3. Point 3: Of the power shortfall that hit Texas, over 80% was due to problems at coal and gas fired plants. Power generators were just not winterized. Decisions to do so have been ignored since the 1990s.

4. Point 4: these are winterized wind turbines in Denmark. The ocean is frozen. The turbines are generating.


5. #Texas| the main issue is: catastrophic governance at the State level (no Federal oversight of the Texas grid) failing to allocate funding to winterise the Natural Gas, Coal and Wind Turbine elements that contribute to the grid. (~ 80/20

You May Also Like