A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
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Good morning Kogs and Kossacks in Dailykosland!
Merry Monday and welcome to the working week.
Tell us about your longest road trip?
By the time you read this I will be just arriving home from NN14, making it officially the longest road trip i have ever been on.
For the sake of defining terms, I am considering a "long road trip" a car trip that takes more than 10 hours or covers multiple days.
Last Tuesday I took the train to New Haven where I met up with thankgodforairamerica and ericlewis0 and the three of us drove from New Haven to Detroit.
I had stayed up all night Monday night so I slept for the first part of the trip where TGFAA got us from Connecticut to New York and into Pennsylvania. Eric took over for most of the Pennsylvania leg of the trip and got us into Ohio. I had the shortest leg, from Ohio into Michigan. The speed limit was 70 for a lot of my shift and that was a treat for this Massachusetts resident who is used to much lower speed limits.
We made three rest/stretch/gas/food stops along the way, and I admit some of them gave me an uneasy rider feeling. I was wearing my clericals hoping for some protective coloration, and while we were in the red part of PA I kept looking around the room to see if locals were reacting to our liberal political talk and the presence of a black person in a car with an Obama 2012 sticker. Those fears did not materialize, thank FSM, although as I write this I worry a little about the trip back, hoping we make it to New York State before dark.
Even with rest stops we made the trip in just a little under 14 hours. The time went really fast. We talked, we laughed, we got to know each other. For part of the trip TGFAA manned the radio, hitting the scan button repeatedly until we hit upon a song we all liked and/or could sing along to.
Before this my longest trip was the time I drove to Boston from Washington DC when I brought my mom to live with me. Her health was too fragile to fly and I am scared to fly so driving was perfect. We took two days to make that trip so we could have frequent long breaks, and i did all the time behind the wheel. But it made me nostalgic for years gone by when mom and I made long trips and could share the driving.
One very precious memory is of a time we drove from DC to South Carolina to see relatives there. It was near the beginning of our reconciliation period when we were rediscovering how much we enjoyed each other's company. We laughed, we joked, we talked politics, sang along to songs on the radio, and also listened to mom's cassette tapes (that's how long ago it was!). One wonderful moment was when Midnight Train to Georgia came on the radio and we sang to each other, first with me being the Pips and then with mom being the Pips and we knew exactly when to switch off. It sounded like we had rehearsed it. My heart was full. It was a moment of real connection like we had not had for decades, and it set the tone for the whole trip.
When I was about six years old my father took me on a road trip from DC to Jacksonville Florida but all I remember about the trip was two incidents: eating grits with cheese for the first time in some breakfast place in Georgia (cheese? in grits? i had never heard of such a crazy thing), and a scarier situation where we were running low on gas and had to roll along on fumes for quite a while until we found gas station we knew would serve us. I was such a naive child and had no idea why we were passing by so many gas stations when we clearly needed gas... looking back I'm glad I had no idea what a potentially serious situation we were in.
A cross country car trip has always been on my bucket list, but practical considerations make me wonder now if I will ever get to do it. There are still large parts of the country were brown skin makes you a target and we no longer have the "Green Book" to show what places are safe and welcoming. Actually, that's a a million dollar idea... someone needs to do a revised version of the Green Book so that black and brown folks, LGBTQ folks, and women travelling alone can feel safer driving across the country.
Have you ever driven across the U.S.? Have you made any long driving trips in other countries? Did you drive alone or with other folks? Do you worry about the safety of long distance driving in parts of the country you are not familiar with?
What was your longest/most memorable/most fun/best road trip?
start up soundtrack
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
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Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
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THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
Los Angeles Kossacks June 28th Meetup Report
by susans ♥ for Los Angeles Kossacks
The Los Angeles Kossacks ranks have increased by 40% in the last few months. New members attended the latest recreational field trip to see the retired space shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center in Exposition Park near downtown Los Angeles.
Back Row L-R: Vyan, Chiwere, susans, Otoelbc, mommyp00ka, Ducktape
Front Row L-R: Robin, 714day, Little Loner, Moody Loner, jakedog42 and grandaughter, SanFernandoValleyMom
Please visit susans's diary for details on the Space Shuttle. You can still REC it. You can join Los Angeles Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to susans.
by John Crapper ♥ for Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks
Organizer John Crapper completed another meet-up, from his agenda:
Next, I updated the group on our efforts to identify campaigns we would like to assist in the upcoming elections. There are three that have been under active discussion but nothing has been firmly decided. We all agreed it was important to pick races that would help Washington Democrats regain control of the Senate.
Next, I asked for ideas, suggestions and assistance identifying future guest speakers. In connection with that I urged all to invite their friends to become Kossacks and join us to enhance our clout.
Longtime Kossack
LarisaW, President of
Progressive Radio Northwest (PRNW), was in attendance. She is leading an effort to bring back progressive radio to the NW.
All photos courtesy of mlharges:
L-R: John Crapper - John Crapper, his SO & momomia - TBoneApollo - Piren
L-R: EagleKeeper - Flamingogrrl - doingbusinessas - momomia
Please visit John Crapper's diary for MORE photos and commentary! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Seattle and Puget Sound Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to John Crapper.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, July 26th
Meet the Candidates in Hutchinson, Kansas!
• Jean Shodorf (Candidate for Secretary of State)
• Brian E Davis (Candidate for State House of Representatives)
• Jim Sherow (Candidate for 1st District US House of Representatives)
• Jill Docking (Candidate, Lt. Governor)
• Various County Party Leadership
TIME: 11:00-3:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyle Park
100 E. Ave. B • Hutchinson
BBQ, watermelon and other food provided. Bring a lawn chair.
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Why I went all in for my first NN
Sunday, July 27th
Phoenix Kossacks Get Pitchforks & Torches Ready for navajo
TIME: 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Mother Mag's Rooftop Terrace
(address given privately to RSVPs) • Downtown Phoenix
ORGANIZER: Send Mother Mags a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Mother Mags
2. navajo
3. Azazello
4. Mrs. Azazello
5. Sun Tzu
6. Stripe
7. Kane in CA
8. puzzled
9. Late Again
10. Mr. Late Again
11. rasbobbo
12. DaNang65
13. threegoal
14. CenPhx
15. Gilmore
16. Anonymous
17. itzadryheat
18. Bluejay RN
19. ramara
20. manyamile
21. CindyV
22. Mr. CindyV
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Maybees:
dewey of the desert
Mr. dewey of the desert
PSzymeczek
Skippah
arizonablue
Mr. arizonablue
Mr. Bluejay RN
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Latest diary: Arizona meet-up: Summer potluck with Navajo!
Saturday, August 9th
Kansas Missouri Kossacks Picnic - Local Candidate Speaks
Meet at the Hays city park to enjoy a free hamburger/hotdog/watermelon feed. Jim Sherow along with other local candidates will be speaking.
TIME: NOON
LOCATION: Municipal Park
1st and Main • Hays, Kansas
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2. Skohays
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Major Kansas Events: Your Chance to Change a State
Saturday, August 9th
LA Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Guild Restaurant
611 W. 7th St • Downtown Los Angeles
ORGANIZER: Send susans a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. susans
2. Shockwave
3. navajo
4. Meteor Blades
5. Knucklehead
6. SanFernandoValleyMom
7. Otoelbc
8. Chiwere
9. Vyan
10. 714day
11. Ducktape
12. Mugwump Blues
13. Just Saying
14. Just Saying's friend
15. Panorama City Chick
16. jakedog42
17. Santa Susanna Kid
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Latest diary: Los Angeles Kossacks June 28th Meetup Report
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.