Hope, hiding in plain sight: An open letter to our 23 Democratic Governors.
Wherein we invite them to become a powerful media presence, telling stories that affirm and protect our democracy!
Dear Friends:
On June 3, this Substack was sent to Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson. He was the original inspiration for my post. In 2024, as Attorney General before Trump came into office, he was a key player in uniting all 23 Democratic Attorneys General to strategize for providing much of the current challenges in the courts to Trump’s demands.
If you agree that a “United Democratic Governors Resistance” has potential to rally many thousands of followers and capture media attention, please share this post widely, message your Governor, message all Democratic Governors, and help make it happen!
On Sunday, June 8th, all 23 Democratic Governors united to release a statement on Trump’s unwarranted use of California’s National Guard in the LA protests.
But this open letter calls for more than statements.
We need our Governors to put their stamp on history.
I wrote this post more than a month ago and have not shared it with a wider audience until today. However, short summaries have been tested and met with approval in numerous Substack comment sections, as well as with Thom Hartmann, the progressive radio host. He endorsed it with enthusiasm, saying that we badly need the personal power of storytelling.
Thank you so much for reading, sharing, and commenting!
Dear Democratic Governors,
Many of you are already fighting back against Trump.
But I submit that there is a way to increase your visibility, amplify your message, and build a congruent and powerful vision for the next election.
Please, all of you, Unite into One Big, Fierce, Noisy, Coordinated Resistance.
How about “State of Our State Under Trump” addresses to your constituents?
Choose the same day each month where all together you raise your voices and “make good trouble!”
Call it a “United Democratic Governors Resistance Day.”
Share stories about how Trump’s chaos and cruelty is affecting the people in your states:
Lack of Federal support for recovery from natural disasters. Jobs lost. Businesses shut down. Homelessness, illness, poverty, women dying from lack of prenatal care, empty store shelves, breakdown of transportation and communication systems, including postal service. Frightened children who can’t focus on learning. Cruel, unlawful and inhumane treatment of immigrants.
Tell the harsh news! Challenge the lies and incompetence.
But also teach Democracy 101.
Contrast how Trump has taken us from American pride to American shame.
Inspire with courageous examples of a real America to trust and believe in.
Speak that Good Truth with punchy speeches that preserve the original dream of America, keeping it alive until the Trump nightmare is over.
We remember the daily briefings from governors during Covid.
They are archived on YouTube by the American Governors Association and below is a screenshot from the channel:
In an article in late March, 2020, NBC news reported on governor leadership during those frightening and chaotic early days:
"Because the federal government was so slow to act, you saw state leaders, both Republicans and Democrats, stepping into that void and taking matters into their own hands," said Asher Hildebrand, a public policy professor at Duke University and a former chief of staff for Rep. David Price, D-N.C.”
When Trump was challenged by then Washington State Governor Jay Inslee to ramp up production of medical equipment and vaccines, he gave his predictable grade-school playground defense: “Fake News. Failed governor. I’ve done more than anyone in our country’s history, etc.”
“Fake or not,” reported NBC, “it was yet another example of a governor — frustrated by the Trump administration — taking charge while Washington is playing catch-up. . .”
Tragically, here we are again.
This time, it’s not about pushing for quicker results. It’s about stopping an avaricious, grievance-ridden old man who’s running amok, turning America into a template of his deranged and dangerous mind.
We are finding our way to rebel
—Hundreds of thousands of angry citizens are marching in the streets, shouting in town halls and clogging phone lines and mailboxes while contacting their senators and representatives.
—Democrats in Congress are beginning to find their voices, to challenge the Republican stonewalling, to post on social media, to hold Town Halls in red states.
—Multiple lawsuits are temporarily constraining some of Trump’s madness.
And yes, all of these efforts are vital and increasing.
BUT, let’s face it: their impact is too often ignored or barely lasts more than a few days.
None of these protests capture the level of attention given to stories and posts from Trump and his minions, who dominate corporate media with a relentless barrage of shock, lies, criminality, and fear-mongering.
So here we are, stuck in fight-or-flight mode, addicted to a reality-show/soap-opera/crime-drama that’s about destroying the very foundation of our country’s existence.
Meanwhile, we are grateful that many Democratic governors and Attorneys general are not sitting back and ignoring the chaos.
Here’s a YouTube clip shared by the Democratic Governors Association:
There are other hopeful examples, easily found with a Google search or on YouTube and other social platforms.
But sadly, not otherwise followed up in the media.
And even more terribly wrong is the ability of your own Democratic Governors' Association to promote your efforts.
Your May 13th joint statement posted on the DGA Facebook page about “Republican Plans to Cut Medicaid and SNAP” has only 287 likes! Only 52 comments and 63 shares!
This is the essential challenge: how to combat Trump’s frightening, hypnotic power with an equal force, but for Good?
Honestly, while your latest Democratic Governors’ joint statement about the National Guard in LA was crucial for this week, we really need something alive, fierce, inspiring and off the page.
We need to hear your hearts and fury putting your stamp on history.
For example: This popular 4 minute Facebook reel of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has 131K views, 4.4K likes and 401 comments.
Trump says he wants power to go back to the States, so what does that demand of all of you?
(Something different, surely, than what Trump means).
I think if power belongs now in the States, it’s time to own it.
The impact of 23 governors, united with a mission to be constantly speaking out, fiercely committed to protecting democracy, will be hard for the media to ignore.
Week by week, month by month, you can keep collectively beating the drum of resistance.
It will register as a powerful rebellion.
Dear Democratic Governors:
You may be our last hope.
Ask Trump if the buck stops with him and he responds with a slippery: “I don’t know.”
So if the buck doesn’t stop with you, then where?
With respect and gratitude for your courage.
I agree wholeheartedly. We need to remember also that Trumpism isn't one man...it's a movement created over decades and now in the hands of the most powerful among the conservatives. Trump is their puppet and his overreaching antics MUST be stopped. Hopefully, that will begin to destroy their movement to destroy our Democracy. Thanks, Rondi!