All Of The Election Blogging

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Two days ago I sent my final election blog post for the Center for Disability Rights website.

Blogging about the 2016 Elections for CDR has been a great pleasure, and a learning experience. I got paid, which is really, really great in a way that has not just about the dollar amounts collected. I had to meet deadlines, whereas in normal blogging the deadlines are self-imposed and therefore kind of flimsy. And blogging forced me to pay close attention to the debates, which I usually skip because I can’t take the stress of watching “my” candidate possibly fail. I’m not sure any of the individual debates taught me much, but all together, I think I really did get a clearer sense of all the candidates.

Anyway, it was a great experience. I haven’t read all of these posts over again yet, but here they are, for posterity:

October, 2015

And How Will That Work For Disabled People? The 3rd Republican Debate

November, 2015

It’s Up To Us - The 4th Republican Debate

December, 2015

The Full Plate and The Missing Topic - 3rd Democratic Debate
Safety At All Costs - 5th Republican Debate
Mocking Trump
Disappointing, But Not A Waste Of Time - 2nd Democratic Debate

January, 2016

Shoot For The Moon, Or Play It Safe - 4th Democratic Debate
Blowing On Sparks - 6th Republican Debate
Passing A Low Bar: Hillary Clinton Answers a Disability Question

February, 2016

I Guess We're On Our Own - 10th Republican Debate
No Time For Disability - 9th Republican Debate
It's Time To Do Better - 6th Democratic Debate
The 8th Republican Debate
Bad Conflict, Good Conflict - 5th Democratic Debate
A Real Disability Issue, But Is Anyone Listening? - 7th Republican Debate

March, 2016

Now Let's Hear From The Rest Of Them
A Bit Of Republican Tone Policing: 12th Republican Presidential Debate
Deepish Thoughts From A Contentious Debate: 8th Democratic Presidential Debate
Just Stop It: 7th Democratic Presidential Debate
Moderators Please! Ask A Disability Question!: 11th Republican Presidential Debate

April, 2016

Undecided: 9th Democratic Presidential Debate

May, 2016

Nothing But Questions

June, 2016

Top 5 Disability Issues
(Paired with this blog post by Emily Munson)
Five Modest Proposals

July, 2016

On Mass Shootings and Mental Disability
The Ugly Side of Disability Rhetoric
Emily & Andrew Discuss The Party Platforms

August, 2016

Asking Donald Trump

September, 2016

First Presidential Candidates Debate
“Crisis Simulations”
The Disability Integration Act

October, 2016

The Third, and Final, Presidential Debate
Back To Basics
Interrupting Cow: The Vice-Presidential Debate

November, 2016

Lessons Learned & Signs of Hope
Final Thoughts Before Voting

Election Activities Update

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Red white and blue Election 2016 sign

It’s time for another recap of what I’ve been doing around disability and the U.S. Elections, and what to expect between now and Election Day.

Blogging

Early in July, Stephanie Woodward, who does advocacy and supervises the election blogging at the Center for Disability Rights asked me and Emily Munson to compare notes on the Democratic and Republican party platforms, and write a joint post giving our perspectives on both as a Democrat (me), and a Republican (Emily). I think both of us were excited about it, but we found it surprisingly tricky. It’s not because we clashed politically, but more because collaborating at a distance, and with different schedules, is difficult. That said, I think we’re both happy with the result. It’s a bit longer than the usual blog, but probably worth a few extra minutes to read:

Emily & Andrew Discuss The Party Platforms
July 28, 2016

Between the Conventions and the more intense Fall campaign season, I decided to do a pair of blog posts in which I ask questions I am dying to ask the candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton … or that I wish someone would ask them in a public way that might actually force them to answer. Here’s the first one:

Asking Donald Trump
August 11, 2016

I’m not sure whether the dream thing works, but now that I’ve started it, I’ll probably stick with it for my next CDR blog post, “Asking Hillary Clinton.”

In case you missed my earlier CDR blog posts click here to see them.

#CripTheVote

#CripTheVote logo, spelled out in rainbow colored letters, with icon of a ballot box with four disability symbols on the front

I don’t remember if I’ve said it here before, but let me say it now … #CripTheVote is the single most satisfying disability-related project I’ve ever been involved with. It’s hard to say exactly what the “outcomes” of it will be, but for once, I’m not too worried about it. It really feels like the process itself is its own reward. I have learned so much, and my thinking about disability in politics has evolved at triple speed since starting this project with Alice Wong and Gregg Beratan. It’s been an incredibly exiting and productive 7 months, and we’re now in the home stretch, so to speak, with Election Day in sight.

We have settled on a slate of activities between now and November 8. You can read all about it on Alice Wong’s Disability Visibility Project website, and the schedule of events is below:

#CripTheVote Events Sept-Nov 2016
Alice Wong, Disability Visibility Project - August 17, 2016

Sep 19, 7 pm EST: Twitter chat
Political participation and first-time voters
Guest hosts Rock The Vote and the American Association of People with Disabilities.

Sep 26, 9 pm EST: Live-tweet
First Presidential Debate

Sep 27, 5 pm EST: Twitter chat
Media Representation of Disability in 2016 Election
Guest host Rooted in Rights.

Oct 4, 9 pm EST: Live-Tweet
Vice-Presidential Debate

Oct 9, 9 pm EST: Live-Tweet
Second Presidential Debate

Oct 13, 8 pm EST:  Twitter chat
Poverty, Public Programs, and Economic Self-Sufficiency

Oct 19, 9 pm EST: Live-Tweet
Third Presidential Debate

Oct 22, 8 pm EST: Twitter chat
Congressional, State, & Local Elections

November 8, 8 pm EST: Live-Tweet
Election Day!!!

If you are still not sure what #CripTheVote is or how it works, here are some links to get you started:

Election Blogging Update

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As I have previously noted, I am mostly saving my election-related writing for #CripTheVote and paid blogging for the Center for Disability Rights. Every so often, though, I will post a little update on these activities here at Disability Thinking.

I recently did two more blog posts on politics, disability, and the U.S. elections for the CDR website:

On Mass Shootings and Mental Disability
June 17, 2016

The Ugly Side of Disability Rhetoric
July 12, 2016

I will also write posts after the upcoming Republican and Democratic conventions, and I plan to continue blogging through Election Day in November. If you want to read more of my thinking on the U.S. elections, check out #CripTheVote on Twitter and the #CripTheVote Facebook Page. You can also read my past CDR election blog posts, listed here:

June, 2016

Top 5 Disability Issues
(Paired with this blog post by Emily Munson)
Five Modest Proposals

May, 2016

Nothing But Questions

April, 2016

Undecided: 9th Democratic Presidential Debate

March, 2016

Now Let's Hear From The Rest Of Them

A Bit Of Republican Tone Policing: 12th Republican Presidential Debate

Deepish Thoughts From A Contentious Debate: 8th Democratic Presidential Debate

Just Stop It: 7th Democratic Presidential Debate

Moderators Please! Ask A Disability Question!: 11th Republican Presidential Debate

February, 2016

I Guess We're On Our Own - 10th Republican Debate

No Time For Disability - 9th Republican Debate

It's Time To Do Better - 6th Democratic Debate

The 8th Republican Debate

Bad Conflict, Good Conflict - 5th Democratic Debate

A Real Disability Issue, But Is Anyone Listening? - 7th Republican Debate

January, 2016

Shoot For The Moon, Or Play It Safe - 4th Democratic Debate

Blowing On Sparks - 6th Republican Debate

Passing A Low Bar: Hillary Clinton Answers a Disability Question

December, 2015

The Full Plate and The Missing Topic - 3rd Democratic Debate

Safety At All Costs - 5th Republican Debate

Mocking Trump

Disappointing, But Not A Waste Of Time - 2nd Democratic Debate

November, 2015

It’s Up To Us - The 4th Republican Debate

October, 2015

And How Will That Work For Disabled People? The 3rd Republican Debate

Election Blogging

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I haven’t blogged much about the election so far ... not here at Disability Thinking anyway. That’s because I’m reserving most of my thoughts on politics for the Center for Disability Rights, which is paying me to blog about the election, and for my #CripTheVote activities. That means that actually, I’ve written quite a lot about the elections, especially in relation to disabled voters and disability issues.

If you want to read what I’m thinking about the U.S. elections, check out #CripTheVote, on Twitter, the #CripTheVote Facebook Page, my own Twitter feed, embedded on the right rail of this blog, and also read my CDR blog posts, listed here in reverse chronological order:

Top 5 Disability Issues
(Paired with this blog post by Emily Munson Five Modest Proposals)

Nothing But Questions

Undecided: 9th Democratic Presidential Debate

Now Let's Hear From The Rest Of Them

A Bit Of Republican Tone Policing: 12th Republican Presidential Debate

Deepish Thoughts From A Contentious Debate: 8th Democratic Presidential Debate

Just Stop It: 7th Democratic Presidential Debate

Moderators Please! Ask A Disability Question!: 11th Republican Presidential Debate

I Guess We're On Our Own - 10th Republican Debate

No Time For Disability - 9th Republican Debate

It's Time To Do Better - 6th Democratic Debate

The 8th Republican Debate

Bad Conflict, Good Conflict - 5th Democratic Debate

A Real Disability Issue, But Is Anyone Listening? - 7th Republican Debate

Shoot For The Moon, Or Play It Safe - 4th Democratic Debate

Blowing On Sparks - 6th Republican Debate

Passing A Low Bar: Hillary Clinton Answers a Disability Question

The Full Plate and The Missing Topic - 3rd Democratic Debate

Safety At All Costs - 5th Republican Debate

Mocking Trump

Disappointing, But Not A Waste Of Time - 2nd Democratic Debate

It’s Up To Us - The 4th Republican Debate

And How Will That Work For Disabled People? The 3rd Republican Debate

Debate Articles Recap

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More Debate

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Illustration of a red, white, and blue campaign-style button reading Election 2016

These debates are coming fast and furious now ...

Bad Conflict, Good Conflict: The Fifth Democratic Presidential Debate
Andrew Pulrang, Center for Disability Rights - February 9, 2016

Diffuse Disability, Democrats!
Emily Munson, Center for Disability Rights - February 9, 2016

The Eighth Republican Presidential Debate
Andrew Pulrang, Center for Disability Rights - February 10, 2016

Reading Between The Lines: Republican Debate Eight
Emily Munson, Center for Disability Rights - February 9, 2016

Maybe my standards have gotten too low, but I've been pleasantly surprised at how much disability has been mentioned in the debates. It's mostly John Kasich, but the others touch on disability, too, even if they don't fully realize they are doing it.

More Debate

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Illustration of a generic Election 2016 button

Another round of Presidential Debate analysis from me and Emily Munson, writing for the Center for Disability Rights.

KASICH!!!

Kasich: The Unlikely Hero of Debate Seven
Emily Munson, Center for Disability Rights - February 1, 2016

A Real Disability Issue, But Is Anyone Listening? The Seventh Republican Presidential Debate
Andrew Pulrang, Center for Disability Rights - February 1, 2016

More Election Coverage

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Red white and blue campaign-style button reading Election 2016

My CDR Blog posts on the last two Presidential debates:

Blowing On Sparks: The Sixth Republican Presidential Debate

“Trying to spot and make something out of these small but significant references to disability feels a bit like blowing on a few tiny sparks to get a fire going in subzero weather.”

Shoot For The Moon, Or Play It Safe? – The Fourth Democratic Presidential Debate

“So, while neither the Democrats nor the Republicans seem to think it’s important to address or even mention disability issues in their debates, (Kasich’s startling mention of nursing homes and home care aside), maybe we as disabled voters should be helping our fellow voters without disabilities work through these fundamental questions … questions we as disabled people struggle with every day.”

More Debate Coverage

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Red white and blue with white stars election 2016 buttonMy review of the 3rd Democratic Presidential Debate is up at the Center for Disability Rights blog:


… and Emily Munson’s take on the same debate:


It’s interesting that we both took notice of the candidates’ campaign against opiates. It might be a thing, and it’s certainly the kind of issue that can unique disabled people across party and ideological lines.

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More Debate Coverage

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Red white and blue with white stars election 2016 buttonMy take on the 5th Republican Presidential Debate is up at the Center for Disability Rights blog:


Emily Munson also wrote about the same debate for CDR:


Our politics are different, but I think our posts go together pretty well.

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