The Military Vote

George Washington: "When we assumed the soldier, we did not lay aside the citizen."

This weekly newsletter highlights effective ways to donate your money to protect America’s democracy. Moneyball. With a vindictive tyrant on the ballot, we need to go all-out. Forward this note when friends ask you, “What can I do?” Visit our new DemocracyMoneyball website and share it on your social media.

Today’s Moneyball Monday recommendation: The National Security Leaders for America, a remarkable volunteer group of retired Admirals, Generals, and senior national security experts.  Check them out at www.nsl4a.org. As the election nears, they hope to do a swing-state bus tour with their volunteer leaders advocating for Harris/Walz on local talk radio, local news, and community forums.  This could tip the election’s scales.  Please, please, please support this important moneyball initiative. They need just $150,000. Send them $500, $1,000, or even match the five digits I gave last week.  

Arlington National Cemetery

A month ago, I visited Arlington National Cemetery.  During WWII, my Dad dropped out of high school to enlist in the Navy, barely surviving six fierce Pacific Rim battles.  He’s one of the 400,000 patriots buried at ANC, sacred grounds for honoring those who risked their lives to defend our democracy.  

Two weeks ago, Donald Trump desecrated these hallowed grounds. For a campaign stunt.  In years gone by, the American public – especially current and former military personnel – would have relegated this shameless coward to history’s dustbin.  But today, many tune in to ‘news’ sources who bestow hero status on a man described by his own VP as “America’s Hitler.”  A man who offers that he’ll encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want.” A man who could well start WWIII.

The Case

There are 3.6 million current and former U.S. military personnel in battleground states (MI, WI, PA, NV, AZ, GA, NC).  In 2016, twice as many voted for Trump as HRC. In 2020, Biden drew more military votes than Trump.  Surprising, no? And that was before the Insurrection, ANC, and myriad disrespectful inanities.

Imagine large numbers of military voters—and their family members and disaffected Republican friends — voting for pro-democracy Harris/Walz over a military-trashing, democracy-destroying coward. They could, but they need to hear from people they respect and admire. Ads and name-brand politicians won’t be effective. 

NSL4A’s volunteers will make a compelling case, cost-effectively, on local channels, in places that matter.  None are compensated for their efforts, nor are they professional fund-raisers. They’ve dedicated their lives to serving America, and they’re now willing to go on the road to defend our democracy from “America’s Hitler.” Seems like the least we can do is cover the damn cost of a bus tour.

Democracy Moneyball

The all-in costs of NSL4A’s bus tour are tiny compared to the massive sums that donors are pouring into high-profile campaigns running ads that people are sick of seeing. You can do better.  Play moneyball.  Support respected military leaders who will mobilize patriotic military voters to elect the pro-democracy ticket.  

Follow-Up to Last Week

The yard-sign post hit a nerve, and several of you sent me your favorites.  I have my “Joy” sign up, and have ordered this “They’re nuts” zinger. Across Omaha, mysterious blue dots are popping up.  Yard signs give each of us a powerful way to DO SOMETHING. Put yours up. Send a photo to your swing-state contacts.  Offer to gift them one, or a few, or a lot.  Help Harris/Walz go viral in the physical world.