My Recall Angst
As a seasoned, some would say old, political reporter, I am in a huff, yes huff, angry, frustrated, disgusted about the California Gavin Newsom Recall Election. Huff: “express one's annoyance or offense.”
Good word.
What else does a former television political reporter do at a time like this?
Create videos. What else.
You may ask, “What the hell is a video producer doing with a Substack feed?”
Sharing my fricking content, my people.
What is the message of the content in this post?
Vote.
If you know anyone in California, please share and ask them to vote.
I began my Recall obsession with this very short, Register To Vote Video.
Damn You All! Register To Vote
Register To Vote in California
It was my first YouTube Video short. As you can clearly see, it was not great. Too much headroom, Legolas of the Woodland Realm Poster, Thor, Woody, and Yoda dolls not getting enough screen-time and a definite “cord violation.”
But my heart was in the right place.
NOT TO BE DETERRED
I decided to write and post a Real Video. “Simple, Easy Facts on California’s Gubernatorial Recall Election.
As you can see, the REAL video displays a graphic when I link, while the YouTube shorts get the link.
This link takes you to my second YouTube short.
My background is a “tad” better on “Mail Your Ballot.”
But I forgot to close the closet door. I despair. Still, the shorts get more views.
Why am I not in charge of this stuff?
Of course, I’m posting all this content on my website as well.
https://gloriamoraga.com/
And of course, I’m writing stories to go along with the videos,
My Podcast Gloria Moraga - One-On-One is all about Communication. And the need to talk to each other and express ourselves. Like Put down the Fricking cell phone and talk to me about ANYTHING.
My podcast episode on the Recall is “The Big Yellow Taxi, Voter Apathy, and the Recall.”
How do I get from Stress about the Recall to Joni Mitchell?
Global Warming. That’s how.
What? How the hell did my mind drift to Global Warming.
Big Yellow Taxi, Voter Apathy, and the Recall
(And just one tiny digression about the title of my Podcast Episode, no matter how many times I add the comma after recall, for some reason, the comma doesn’t show up in the link, and I have to add it. And I pray to the digital God that adding that comma does not break the link.)
Here’s the flow into Big Yellow Taxi.
Stay with me.
As a Political Correspondent for Cox Broadcasting, I’ve traveled to Texas; I was there for one of the Bush Conventions. I enjoyed Taco el Carbon with my Friend Jamie Dupree.
I also covered stories for television stations in Florida and Georgia, and South Carolina. I lived in Washington, D.C.; I know what it’s like to live in a male-dominated, some-people-are-different culture.
I like California. Not we are not perfect. But this is my home.
I’m Happy Democrats are the Majority
All that said, I plunge into deep, deep despair when I read that some polls show that Recall Supporters are more likely to vote than Democrats or Moderates.
Two lovely women I know say they are not voting because they are confused by the whole thing. They are hard-working, second-Generation American Women. They are eligible to vote; they are not going to vote.
Of course, I talk with them about this. I’m me. I share my videos.
They confess. They missed my “Register to Vote” Video.
AKKKKKK!
The Nightmare and The Big Yellow Taxi.
I sit up in bed one night after a horrible nightmare. In the nightmare, I have COVID, even though I’m vaccinated and never venture out Maskless. EVER!
I’m having trouble breathing, and I hear the doctors and nurses talking about the VENTILATOR!
So I turn the audio up on the hospital room television. I see a shot of Governor Gavin Newsom being driven away in a Big Yellow Taxi.
I think, in the dream, ‘Isn’t there a screen door SLAM?’
That is what wakes me up.
I’m gasping for air. How did I get COVID? I ask myself, now awake and drenched in sweat.
And this is my answer to myself; YOU HAVE COVID because a horrible man who once said, “Women know less than men about political issues, economics, and current events,” is now Governor. He is banning Masks, and Children are dying.
I got it from my Grandkids because of the man who will not be named here.
I think of Joni Michell and “The Big Yellow Taxi.”
WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’VE GOT TIL IT’S GONE
Yes, Joni Michell is not only talented; she is Clairvoyant. We must take care of our Planet.
Just like Global Warming, COVID is a killer. American’s are dying in disproportionate numbers in Florida and Texas. I don’t want to live there, and I don’t want to die.
Vote. For you kids, for the future. For Democracy.
I won’t have to worry, but I care about all of you. I won’t have to worry because some people who should have voted did NOT VOTE. And I’m dead.
For more on the Recall, check out my Recall Page. Glo's Recall Page
And for more of my work, because I’m not Dead Yet would you mind subscribing to my YouTube, Podcast and following me on Instagram?
You can find all my the links at Gloria Moraga
Thanks for reading. Love you all that got this far!!! Be Safe.