Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Massachusetts’ Ayanna Pressley, Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib and Minnesota’s Ilhan Omar stand to see their influence grow if Democrats win big on Nov. 3 by capturing the White House and a Senate majority.

But if their party falls short, they’ll take a share of the blame.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "In Congress, amendments are a key way to advance policy. We've used them to increase treatment for opioid addiction, to expand public housing and to save fair housing protections. Recently, we learned that @RepAOC has actually submitted more amendments than 90% of House freshmen! https://t.co/DVbb9URoLH" / Twitter

Timothy Clary on Instagram: ““AOC and little RBG”” - a little girl in a RBG costume.

“AOC and little RBG”

New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is running for re-election in New York , poses with Halina Nix who is dressed as the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg ,Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States at a campaign event in Astoria Queens October 28, 2020. She was speaking with neighborhood residents about the importance of voting in the upcoming election while distributing pumpkins to children
@aoc @afp @afpphoto #election2020 #nyc #newyork #astoria #queens #aoc #congress @notoriousrbg #halloweencostume

blastula · Nov 3, 2020

It's been called for all the squad but Tlaib and she's ahead.

lpetrich · Nov 4, 2020

True Colors | How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Ended Up in Politics - YouTube
some of S1E3 of Watch True Colors, A Short Form Documentary Series | Peacock

She originally wasn't much involved in politics. She was an intern for Teddy Kennedy, but politics did not seem very viable for someone without a lot of money or connections. But then Trump won in 2016 and toward the end of that year she went to the Standing Rock protest camp. She had a spiritual experience there, and she felt that she had to dedicate her life to helping humanity in some way. Shortly afterward, someone from Brand New Congress contacted her about running for Congress, and she came to feel that that is what she had to do. That she should run, whether she wins or loses.

Her mother was taken aback. Congress? Is that like a community board?

She still likes her old Bronx neighborhood, and she still has family living there. Going to her old bodega keeps her grounded, she says.

lpetrich · Nov 4, 2020

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Wins 2nd Term in Costly Loss for Republicans - The New York Times

"Her challenger had collected $10 million, but Ms. Ocasio-Cortez still coasted to an easy win, creating speculation about her future political ambitions."

This was the second most expensive House race in this election cycle. Most Expensive Races • OpenSecrets The most expensive was LA-01 in Louisiana. From Wikipedia, "The district comprises land from the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain south to the Mississippi River delta." Steve Scalise, Republican party whip, is from that district, and he got re-elected 72% - 25% - 2%.

ohn Cummings, a 60-year-old Catholic high school teacher and former New York Police Department officer, built his war chest from donors around the country, playing on Republican resentment of Ms. Ocasio-Cortez’s status as a star of the Democratic Party’s left flank.

Mr. Cummings was able to hire leading Republican consultants, buy millions of dollars in advertisements and distribute more than 700,000 pieces of mail to the district, which includes parts of the Bronx and Queens. Yet he trailed Ms. Ocasio-Cortez by nearly 37 percentage points with all districts reporting, and The Associated Press called the race at 10:09 p.m.

Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, already a proven fund-raiser for herself and others, garnered more than $17 million in campaign contributions.

Waleed Shahid, former AOC aide, now Justice Dems spokesman, says that AOC's activism shows that “politics is not just what you do in your committee, but also how you build pressure and social movements on the outside.”

Some people speculate about AOC running against NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo or NY Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.

On the eve of the election, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez held an outreach and voter education event in Sunnyside, Queens, elbow-bumping campaign volunteers before speaking with community leaders. She jokingly apologized that a reporter had traveled to Queens to ask about her future.

“People don’t believe me when I say this, but it’s true, though: I question even my future of staying in politics in general,” Ms. Ocasio-Cortez said.

“There’s a world where me staying in the House is the best thing that I can do. There’s a world where me serving in a different capacity is the best thing I can do. There’s a world where me not being in politics anymore and going back to school, teaching is the best thing that I can do,” she added.

...
Charlie King, a Democratic operative and a former senior campaign adviser to Mr. Cuomo, said that Ms. Ocasio-Cortez has already “outgrown” her congressional position.

But there are risks to challenging powerful incumbents. I also don't think that AOC would like to do a rerun of her race against Joe Crowley.

Jumaane Williams, NYC public advocate and progressive politician:

“I don’t know what A.O.C. is going to do, but people have an inability to figure out someone in politics that’s not playing chess for its own sake,” Mr. Williams said. “I didn’t get elected to get re-elected or go to higher office. Those things would be nice, but I try not to focus on that.”

Jamaal Bowman: AOC has been a good mentor for him, and there's no need to rush her future.

“I need the progressive movement to chill out for a second, she just got there, yo. She’s been there for two years and all of a sudden people are like she’s got to run for president?” Mr. Bowman said. “Calm down. She’s doing tremendous work from her current position.”

lpetrich · Nov 4, 2020

NYT Metro on Twitter: ".@AOC wins 2nd term in costly loss for Republicans https://t.co/jokbsRBR6Y" / Twitter

She responded
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Serving NY-14 and fighting for working class families in Congress has been the greatest honor, privilege, & responsibility of my life.

Thank you to the Bronx & Queens for re-electing me to the House despite the millions spent against us, & trusting me to represent you once more." / Twitter

About the election, she thinks that the Biden team did not do enough to get Hispanic voters' support.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "I won’t comment much on tonight’s results as they are evolving and ongoing, but I will say we’ve been sounding the alarm about Dem vulnerabilities w/ Latinos for a long, long time.

There is a strategy and a path, but the necessary effort simply hasn’t been put in

" / Twitter
noting
Yahoo Finance on Twitter: "Highlight: "One of the big stories in Florida has been Joe Biden's underperformance with Latino voters," @YahooNews White House Correspondent @HunterW says. "Progressive allies of Biden were raising alarms about this over the summer... He has really struggled on that front." https://t.co/6UVQYmv30q" / Twitter

Biden campaign doesn't consider Latinos 'part of their path to victory,' political operatives say

Former Vice President Joe Biden's campaign has received some scathing reviews from Latino political experts.

Biden's primary campaign had a distant, if not "tense," relationship with Latino voters as he not only neglected to reach out to them but never quite rectified "his connection to the Obama administration's aggressive deportation policy," Politico reports. Biden became the presumptive Democratic nominee "in spite of, not because of" his Latino outreach, Politico writes, but more than 20 Latino political operatives say his luck may not hold in the general election.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "We have work to do. https://t.co/hkZiMgrqdE" / Twitter

One of the responses:
TheRaVenSpeaks on Twitter: "@AOC Speaking as a Cuban-American resident of Miami, Dems do NOT understand that there is no such thing as the “Latino” community. They utterly failed to explain to Cubans and Venezuelans how Biden is not a socialist. Cubans, Mexicans, Venezuelans, Dominicans, and all different." / Twitter

lpetrich · Nov 4, 2020

Ilhan Omar on Twitter: "Our sisterhood is resilient. https://t.co/IfLtsvLEdx" / Twitter

NY-14 AOC: (91% reporting) 68.8% ... John Cummings (R) 30.6% ... Michelle Caruso-Cabrera (Serve America Movement) 0.7%
MA-07 AP: (90% reporting) 87.5% ... Roy Owens (Independent) 12.5%
MI-13 RT: (64% reporting) 66.5% ... David Dudenhoefer (R) 29.4% ... (Working Class Party) 2.5% ... (US Taxpayers Party) 0.8% ... (Green Party) 0.8%
MN-05 IO: (100% reporting) 64.6% ... Lacy Johnson (R) 25.9% ... (Legal Marijuana Now Party) 9.5%

Surprised that AP had a challenger. Someone who escaped the notice of Ballotpedia.

lpetrich · Nov 4, 2020

Rashida Tlaib on Twitter: "Count every ballot." / Twitter

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Donald Trump’s premature claims of victory are illegitimate, dangerous, and authoritarian.

Count the votes. Respect the results." / Twitter
I like her having a broader perspective than what one sees all too often.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "
Incredibly powerful, must-watch moment.
Thank you, @esglaude.
https://t.co/rT5CIGJU9O" / Twitter
On how Trumpism is more a symptom than a disease, a symptom of a broader problem. Many white Americans think that the US is somehow theirs, and they watch as "their" nation slowly slips away from them.

She retweeted it with
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Lots of people are rediscovering and re-sharing this post this morning, so I’m putting it again here.

Listen to @esglaude. Really take in his words.

The work we have ahead of us is deep, and transcends elections. It always has been. And we are called to do it." / Twitter

Someone asked
Nathan on Twitter: "@AOC @esglaude "I had the privilege of being raised in a tradition that didn't believe in the myths and legends because we had to bear the brunt of them." Can someone tell me what this means, I am struggling" / Twitter

And got response
TR² on Twitter: "@Nathan60090357 @AOC @esglaude by being born black, he didn't grow up with the false narrative that the US is good and innocent. it's past due for those who still believe that to wake up so they can confront the dark side of the country with the same eagerness that those oppressed communities do." / Twitter

lpetrich · Nov 5, 2020

AOC Wants To Work With Republicans To Legalize Marijuana And End War On Drugs | Marijuana Moment - from a month ago, but catching up.
Noting
Joint Town Hall with Reps Blumenauer and Ocasio-Cortez - YouTube

Democrats and Republicans might be divided on a number of major policy issues, but Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said on Thursday that ending the drug war and legalizing marijuana are increasingly standing out as exceptions to hyper-partisanship in Congress.

The congresswoman made the point during a virtual town hall alongside cannabis reform ally Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), stating that since she took office, it’s been encouraging to see members on both sides of the aisle come together on issues concerning “civil rights policy and civil liberties,” including ending “drug prohibition laws.”

It's not surprising that she discovers a bright spot in the recent elections.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Shout out to the hard work of grassroots organizers who successfully led a wave of marijuana legalization, expungement, & drug decriminalization efforts last night." / Twitter

lpetrich · Nov 5, 2020

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Shout out to @IlhanMN and @RashidaTlaib for the INCREDIBLE turnout and ground game they ran in two key counties of two key states, MI & MN." / Twitter

Will AOC do another Twitch gaming run?
Rick Klau on Twitter: "Can we get @AOC on Twitch again? Please?" / Twitter
then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "I’ll do it again soon, but I need a nap. Maybe this week or next" / Twitter
then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Feel free to drop ideas / people for the next stream though

" / Twitter

With this exchange:

pokimane on Twitter: "@AOC i’ll be here anytime you need me ma’am

" / Twitter

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "@pokimanelol League duo bot?! Except I haven’t played in months I’m gonna be real bad. Maybe Among Us again for a bit

" / Twitter

pokimane on Twitter: "@AOC 2x twitch rivals winner here to play bot with you ANY time

+ we can do custom games and include more people!" / Twitter

lpetrich · Nov 5, 2020

manu

on Twitter: "@AOC We need to talk about justice for Tuvix, I understand it's a very niche issue but it matters in so far as it raises the delicate and dare I say, eminently *political* question of whether ends justify means." / Twitter
That's from ST:VOY - Tuvok and Neelix were once merged as Tuvix.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "@trekonomics This one is deep. Would definitely have to rewatch it but this is solid" / Twitter

Kate Mulgrew on Twitter: "@AOC @trekonomics Willing to hear the crew’s thoughts, as always. However, shouldn’t Tuvok and Neelix should have the biggest say...oh wait, they couldn’t! I stand by my decision to restore them to their lives. Rewatch and report back, AOC - and congrats on your win!

" / Twitter

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "@TheKateMulgrew @trekonomics One thing I learned watching Janeway growing up is how leadership means being responsible for working through dilemmas w/ no clear answers. All the easy decisions are made before it gets to the top. Janeway leads w/ focus on her mission - to get her crew home. Thank you Kate!

" / Twitter
Good lesson.

lpetrich · Nov 7, 2020

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Who have been some of your favorite grassroots organizers, orgs, collectives, initiatives, etc that have been inspiring you lately?

" / Twitter

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Thank you. We need you. Keep organizing. https://t.co/OCCS2XTiIH" / Twitter - one will have to be activists in much more than electing one's favorite politicians to office

AOC is an activist at heart, and she shows it very well.

lpetrich · Nov 8, 2020

The Democrats' poorer-than-expected performance has led to a lot of recriminations among Democratic politicians. Centrists have blamed progressives for proposing very scary-sounding things like "socialism" and "defunding the police", while progressives are fighting back, AOC included.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Every single swing-seat House Democrat who endorsed #MedicareForAll won re-election or is on track to win re-election.

Every.

Single.

One.

" / Twitter

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "(We’re running numbers on GND)" / Twitter

AOC says Democratic Party's digital operations are "extraordinarily weak" - Axios - she appeared on CNN's State of the Union. She claimed that many Republicans are much better than many Democrats at digital organizing.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Biden’s Win, House Losses, and What’s Next for the Left - The New York Times - a very nice interview

She talked about how negligent the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) was about digital outreach. She looked at some campaigns and she found some of them remarkably negligent. Like spending only $2000 on Facebook ads the week before the election.

Very unlike her and her progressive friends. She also noted that the DCCC didn't ask why their candidates lost against progressives like AOC and Ayanna Pressley and Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush. Why didn't they ask why Joe Crowley lost? Or Michael Capuano? Or Eliot Engel? Or Lacy Clay? Instead, the DCCC boycotts any campaign company who works for such candidates.

She offered to help every swing-district Democrat with campaigning. Only five accepted -- and they won or are likely to win. All the others, she says, lost. That may not be completely correct, because some of them seem headed for victory. But it still indicates a good record of success for her.

lpetrich · Nov 8, 2020

Is there a universe in which they’re hostile enough that we’re talking about a Senate run in a couple years?

I genuinely don’t know. I don’t even know if I want to be in politics. You know, for real, in the first six months of my term, I didn’t even know if I was going to run for re-election this year.

Really? Why?

It’s the incoming. It’s the stress. It’s the violence. It’s the lack of support from your own party. It’s your own party thinking you’re the enemy. When your own colleagues talk anonymously in the press and then turn around and say you’re bad because you actually append your name to your opinion.

I chose to run for re-election because I felt like I had to prove that this is real. That this movement was real. That I wasn’t a fluke. That people really want guaranteed health care and that people really want the Democratic Party to fight for them.

But I’m serious when I tell people the odds of me running for higher office and the odds of me just going off trying to start a homestead somewhere — they’re probably the same.

That seems to be a fantasy of hers - moving out into a cabin in the wilderness.

But it suggests that if she stays in politics, it will likely be as a US Representative for the Bronx and Queens, being involved in lots of activism, and supporting like-minded politicians. If nothing else, she will have demonstrated that there is a better way than what the DCCC has been doing.

lpetrich · Nov 10, 2020

Some Trumpies went into hysterics when AOC proposed preserving Trumpies' expressions of support for their hero, in case they delete evidence of that support.

AOC wants to cancel those who worked for Trump. Good luck with that, they say. - POLITICO
Last Friday:

“Is anyone archiving these Trump sycophants for when they try to downplay or deny their complicity in the future?” she wrote. “I foresee decent probability of many deleted Tweets, writings, photos in the future.”

A group calling itself the Trump Accountability Project sprung up to heed AOC’s call.

“Remember what they did,” the group’s sparse website declares. “We should not allow the following groups of people to profit from their experience: Those who elected him. Those who staffed his government. Those who funded him.”

Rarely a healthy sign in any democracy, the enemies lists started to freak out some normally unflappable Trump officials in the White House.

The Trump Accountability Project - "Remember what they did"
Not much there, however.

lpetrich · Nov 11, 2020

Jake Sherman on Twitter: "John thune — no 2 senate r — just called the Dem agenda the “Schumer, pelosi, @AOC agenda.”" / Twitter
then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "If I were actually as all-commandingly powerful as Republicans say I am, everybody in this country would have guaranteed healthcare by now." / Twitter
Sort of like Jewish-takeover conspiracy theories.

Then
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Alas, I’m just a first term Congresswoman, standing in front of a government, asking it to love working people" / Twitter

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "#EmbraceTheBase (link)" / Twitter - "Embrace the Base" - what the Dem Party ought to be doing. AOC shows that she's an activist at heart, and she treats her political career as part of her activism.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "I hope people realize that the same Republicans who are refusing to acknowledge the results of our elections also champion disastrous foreign policy claiming they’re “bringing democracy” to other nations." / Twitter

lpetrich · Nov 11, 2020

Male politicians have it easy -- if they like wearing business suits. Female ones are another story.

Cori Bush on Twitter: "The reality of being a regular person going to Congress is that it’s really expensive to get the business clothes I need for the Hill. So I’m going thrift shopping tomorrow.

Should I do a fashion show?

" / Twitter

Rashida Tlaib on Twitter: "@CoriBush Cori, I still wear some of my maternity clothes under those blazers.

*

P.S. I get the most compliments from the clothes I got from thrift shops." / Twitter

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter: "Thrifting, renting, and patience as you get your closet together sis. Capsule wardrobe will be your best friend. @AyannaPressley has the accessory game down

Good news is that all these practices are very sustainable and good for the planet!

" / Twitter

Capsule wardrobe

Capsule wardrobe is a term coined by Susie Faux, the owner of a London boutique called "Wardrobe" in the 1970s. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that do not go out of fashion, such as skirts, trousers, and coats, which can then be augmented with seasonal pieces.[1] This idea was popularised by American designer Donna Karan, who, in 1985, released an influential capsule collection of seven interchangeable work-wear pieces.[2]

The term is widely used in the British and American fashion media, and has been the subject of several popular television series. The term has come to refer to a collection of clothing that is composed of interchangeable items only, to maximise the number of outfits that can be created. The aim is to have an outfit suitable for any occasion without owning excessive items of clothing. This is usually achieved by buying what are considered to be "key" or "staple" items in coordinating colours.[3]

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

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