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Trump’s cabinet: like a magic 8 ball that only gives wrong answers.

Consistently wrong since 2002

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

“Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.”

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

Welcome to day five of every-bit-as-bad-as-you-thought-it-would-be.

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

When I was faster i was always behind.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

Roe is not about choice. It is about freedom.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

We still have time to mess this up!

Republicans do not trust women.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

I’m starting to think Jesus may have made a mistake saving people with no questions asked.

Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is the bland and smiling face of evil.

Everybody saw this coming.

“woke” is the new caravan.

You are here: Home / Organizing & Resistance / Don't Mourn, Organize / Aux Armes, Citoyens!

Aux Armes, Citoyens!

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Via valued commenter Marco Polo, a reminder:

??? The fate of Kavanaugh may well be decided in the next 48-72 hrs. As of now multiple GOP senators are undecided but they’re getting A LOT of pressure from the WH and leadership to fall in line. Your pressure can make the difference. Pls call your senators 202-224-3121
We should all be doing this of course, and those of the jackals who suffer with Republican “representation” are the tip of the spear on this particular campaign.  It just takes two GOP senators to discover a residual memory that women are in fact people, and this nomination goes the way of the Titanic.
Image: J.W.M. Turner, Shipwreck of the Minotaur, 1810s

Reader Interactions

86Comments

  1. 1.

    Elizabelle

    I have never thought Lisa Murkowski was a yes for them. I don’t think she will be. I will call her to ask that step up pressure for a complete FBI investigation.

    No idea what Collins will do; maybe she’ll be a no too. I just know that I have lost respect for her. Maine can do better. Elect an actual independent, or a Democrat.

    We need to call Senators Heitkamp, Donnelly, and Manchin. Tell them we appreciate their being Democrats in red states, and that we would appreciate their votes against Kavanaugh. That it’s actually good for their careers, and the right thing to do. (Thinking of red state Indiana, which was not going to re-elect Mike Pence.)

  5. 5.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Adam L Silverman: It seems that Murkowski is kinda open to an FBI investigation, even if it does disrupt Yertle’s timeline for ramming through this nomination before the midterms, and his possible removal as majority leader.

  7. 7.

    Elizabelle

    @Adam L Silverman: Good on Senator Murkowski. I hope she keeps that spine.

    WRT that pro-C Blasey Ford button up top: um, it’s Pepto Bismol Pink. That is not always a good color.

  9. 9.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Villago Delenda Est: She’s facing significant pressure at home. My guess is that both the Native Alaskan leadership and the Alaskan governor have communicated to her what their expectations are.

  10. 10.

    TenguPhule

    I’m pretty sure the holographic animated chicken popping out of the obnoxious autoplay side ad is a sign.

    Of what, I’m not sure. But its definitely a sign!

  12. 12.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Asked if there should be an FBI investigation into Judge Kavanaugh’s past, Sen. Murkowski says: “It would sure clear up all the questions, wouldn’t it?”

    I noticed that its not a yes.

  15. 15.

    randy khan

    @gene108:

    Do Senate offices really care, if people from out of state call them?

    The semi-official answer to that question is that they don’t. The actual answer to that question is that if you leave them voice mails, they never know where you live. When I called last week, all of the Senators who I called – Grassley, Flake, Collins, and Murkowski – were sending calls straight to voice mail. And of course you can call after business hours, too.

    Also, here are some potentially handy phone numbers:

    Collins – 202-224-2523
    Flake – 202-224-4521
    Heller – 202-224-6244
    Murkowski – 202-224-6665 (To leave a message for her, you need to press 2 for messages from people who want responses; she doesn’t give you an option for someone who doesn’t want a response.)
    Rubio – 202-224-3041

  17. 17.

    Marcopolo

    @gene108: First, thanks for the post. Second, I doubt Senators pay too much attention to out of state callers. Third, that doesn’t mean if I and a bunch of folks from MO call Roy Blunt and point out how pissed off we are & how ridiculous it is to proceed w/ the nomination w/ out an FBI investigation that his office does not note the traffic (and Blunt is also the #4 R in the Senate) and note the trend lined in the polling & R senate offices do share this info. Maybe, just maybe they finally figure out K is not the hill to die on. If K’s nom then gets pulled we move on to the next fight & the midterms and we at least dodge the bullet of having K on SCOTUS (his legal views are actually even worse than the average Federalist Society nominee.

    Anyways, my two cents.

    And I just want to add I hate fucking commenting on my phone.

  20. 20.

    Elizabelle

    No humans so far picking up at Susan Collins’ district offices. That’s different from last week. It’s all voicemail or busy signals. Hmmm.

  21. 21.

    NotMax

    People in Arizona, call Sen. Kyl, strongly suggest that McCain would be opposed on the basis of the torture matter and urge a thumbs down.

    202-224-2235.

  22. 22.

    Redshift

    @geg6:

    Collins is still running around telling people he won’t overturn Roe v Wade because he told her it’s settled law.

    Dang, I wish some eager journalist would ask her if she’s willing to bet her reelection on that.

  23. 23.

    Elizabelle

    @geg6: Yeah. No idea what I will be doing in 2020, but I think some of those weeks might be spent in Maine (a state I have never set foot in, yet) to volunteer for a strong Democrat or independent.

    I am done with Susie’s Dance of the Seven Veils.

  24. 24.

    Marcopolo

    One final thought, I will be gobsmacked if there are any D senators, even Heitkamp & Donnelly (whom I consider the most vulnerable unannounced D votes) who haven’t already decided there is absolutely no downside to voting no on K. His performance last night on Fox under the friendliest questioning shows Thursday will be a shitshow for him.

  26. 26.

    Mnemosyne

    I am once again proud to be a resident of California. I need to write nice letters (well, postcards, probably, so they don’t get too delayed) to both of my senators to thank them for their service.

  27. 27.

    sukabi

    @Adam L Silverman: this should be a huge deal for the Native American population as NA women are many times more likely to be sexually assaulted than other women in the state, and their attackers are less likely to be prosecuted. Hopefully they are hammering that aspect of his unsuitability home for her.

  28. 28.

    Elizabelle

    Just had a really nice call with Senator Heitkamp’s office in Bismark, ND. Tell them we will have their backs, even if out of state.

    And we can follow up with volunteering online, or $$$.

  29. 29.

    Gin & Tonic

    Come on, people. Susan Collins is a “yes” on Kavanaugh. She knows it and we know it. There is no suspense here.

  33. 33.

    Elizabelle

    @Tom Levenson: You know, maybe we could put together a volunteering and canvassing meetup week (or even just weekend) in Maine. We jackals can do more than just drink and chat!

    I’d love to come up to Maine. Maybe take a summer house for a month.

  35. 35.

    Adam L Silverman

    @sukabi: It goes beyond that for them. They were telling her that they were opposed just based on his jurisprudence on Native American and Native Alaskan issues before all the sexual assault stuff came out. And they’ve reminded Murkowski that it was their votes that put her over the finish line for her independent write in campaign for reelection once she lost the GOP primary back in 2014.

  36. 36.

    Mnemosyne

    @Gin & Tonic:

    All the more reason to keep hammering on Susie C and let her know the world is watching her vote. Let her tank her own career in full public view and doom her hopes for that governorship she craves. And never let her forget that she did it to herself.

  38. 38.

    piratedan

    I guess the part for me that is still incredibly fascinating is that we see the structure (the house of cards that Mitch and Donnie built) is teetering as we speak but they obviously feel that they can still brazen it out and come out as the new American Aristocracy after its all over…. I can see their hubris from here and I do hope that once the edifice crashes to the ground that we can see them all in chains, and eating prison food for decades to come.

  39. 39.

    Steepleback (tablet)

    @gene108:

    The one time this question came up for me—it was not out of state, it was out of the rep’s congressional district (in Virginia)—I pointed out that (a) the issue was of national importance, so Rep. Figby’s vote was important to me, and (b), while I could not vote for or against Rep. Figby, I certainly could give money, phone-bank and canvass for or against Rep. Figby. Don’t know whether that helped, but it shut up the phone drone, and if politicians hear that message enough it will have an effect. All politics is local, but in the era of the Internet, ActBlue, Twitter, Facebook, etc., “local” is not just local.

  40. 40.

    randy khan

    @Mnemosyne:
    @Gin & Tonic:

    There is no reason to let up on her. If she really is committed to this vote no matter what, she needs to understand the consequences. And if there’s any chance to move her to a “no,” the pressure is important.

  41. 41.

    jacy

    @Elizabelle:

    I maintain that nobody who is voting for a red-state Democrat is going to turn around and not vote for them over a Kavanaugh no vote. Anybody whose main concern is seating Kavanaugh is NOT voting Democratic. So I just don’t see the portion in their voting yes.

  44. 44.

    Aardvark Cheeselog

    Lil’ Marco doesn’t answer his phone. It goes straight to voice mail.

    It’s been that way for quite a while. It’s good to know that he’s so concerned about what his constituents think that he can’t even be bothered to have a staffer answer the phones and talk to them.

  45. 45.

    Steepleback (tablet)

    @Steve in the ATL:

    Okay, I can relate. When I take the resident sighthound from Sighthound Hall up to Philadelphia for a spa day to get her teeth and claws did at NGAP, I drop her off and then go down to South Philly to have lunch and hit the Italian Market. Also the little bakeries in the area.

    I had a friend with me once and as a joke did a Joey from Friends “How you doin’?” thing a couple of times. And then we stood in this one bakery while every guy who came in did the exact same thing.

    P.S. Out here in Las Vegas I have noticed that a very high percentage of (young) servers at groceries, quickie marts, fast-food places, etc., use “That’s all right” instead of “You’re welcome.” Go figure.

  47. 47.

    jacy

    Poor Nicolle Wallace — she’s knows Kavanaugh and she keeps asking sincerely, “Why won’t he just ask for an FBI investigation?” Well, Nicolle, it’s because he’s guilty as sin and terrified what they’re going to find. Time to remind myself that all these used-to-be-Republicans are not very woke, just because they’ve scooted a lil’ ways over to our side.

  48. 48.

    James E Powell

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Come on, people. Susan Collins is a “yes” on Kavanaugh. She knows it and we know it. There is no suspense here.

    Agree with this proviso: If two other R senators say “no” and the nomination is sunk, then Collins will join them, likely with McConnell’s permission.

  50. 50.

    Groucho48

    I suspect Collins won’t be the second “no” vote, but, probably would go along with being a third or fourth.

  51. 51.

    jacy

    @James E Powell:

    I think Murkowski is a no. I don’t know who the other no would possibly be. Perhaps Corker as a final “fuck you” going out the door? It won’t be Flake, because he’s just too Mormon to have a spine. I have no faith in Collins at all. I think it’s more likely to have a block that says no, at least 4 or 5, although, again, I don’t know who else it would be. I still think it’s more likely — depending on what comes out in public between now and then (providing Avenatti really does have something incontrovertible) and if Kavanaugh does a faceplant on Thursday — that Kavanaugh withdraws.

  55. 55.

    MisterForkbeard

    @Groucho48: Yep. Especially because it wouldn’t cost her anything, would let her keep her “indie” cred, and would deny her upcoming 2020 challenger that 1+ million crowdPAC funding.

    She’s not likely to be the determinative vote, though. She would never put herself on the line like that or vote against something when it mattered.

  56. 56.

    Aleta

    At this point, if your state has a Republican senator (or rep) who’s up for election, I believe publicity (and calls and paper letters) in every one of those states matter.

    The message is meant for donors and McConnell and the WH: you will lose even more seats than you can believe if he does not withdraw. Or gets through.

    I don’t believe Collins will run again. But that ‘we’ll fund-her-opponent’ campaign of provisional donations against Collins was good publicity. If you think your Rep senator or rep is sure to be reelected, such a campaign won’t even cost provisional donors anything.

    It’s a way to show in a measurable, news-worthy way the level of anger and financial commitment that will be brought against Republicans in any state.

    The key is to scare the people who influence the senators. And the businesses back them too.

    .

  57. 57.

    Ann Marie

    I called Toomey’s office, got voice mail because of large volume of calls (good!). I asked him to stand up for decency and vote no on Kavanaugh, but no chance that will happen.

  59. 59.

    trollhattan

    re. Murkowski, didn’t she lose her last R primary to a teabagger then win running against him as an independent? I think she’s been to this rodeo already and knows how to retain the saddle.

  60. 60.

    Dan B

    @schrodingers_cat: Upvoted as much for the good chuckle as in support of you. And…we’ve got two kittehs, siblings, who look like those two. The brown spotted boy is cute, silly, and sweet. His sister is semi-feral – doesn’t want to be touched but can be tricked and then purrs loudly. Sadly the cute boy seems to want to beat up his sister no matter what we try – pheromone plug in, extra play, lotsa reassurance and hugs and treats. We’d love to have them play like your two kittehs.

  61. 61.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    @Steve in the ATL:

    I hear that as well, especially back in the DMV, but I’m saying that “That’s all right” has blipped up on the radar. I think my RWNJ brother was even ranting about it before he left on his motorcycle trip.

    There was also something about the yoots calling him “boss,” but I didn’t get all of that one because I had tuned him out.

  62. 62.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    @James E Powell:

    When I worked at Barnes & Noble it used to drive me nuts when I would ask, say,”Do you want your receipt?,” and the yoots would say, “That’s all right.”

    “That’s all right” like yes or “That’s all right” like no? I think I eventually figured out that it was a “leaning no” thing, but I’m still not completely sure.

  63. 63.

    catclub

    @trollhattan:

    re. Murkowski, didn’t she lose her last R primary to a teabagger then win running against him as an independent?

    yep. I think she knows she is fairly well bulletproof. nonetheless, when the plan to repeal and replace the ACA came out, it would have hammered Alaskans more than anyone else in terms of giant increases in insurance premiums, I think she got an agreement to only make those very very large increases and ended up voting for the repeal and replace. Does not really matter, now.

  64. 64.

    Elizabelle

    @Steeplejack (tablet): What drives me nuts: thanking a service employee (hotel, retail, wherever) and being told “no problem.”

    It’s not supposed to be a problem. They have not done me a favor, necessarily. It’s their job! Wish their employers could instruct them to reply “my pleasure” (as you hear in higher end hotels) or something gracious.

    Words matter.

    I realize “no problem” may have come from “de nada” (it’s nothing, which means “You’re welcome”) in Spanish. But it’s lame for customer relations.

    Elizabelle the curmudgeon

    (And where is efgoldman???)

  67. 67.

    AM in NC

    @gene108: When I called Murkowski’s office last week I told the staffer I wasn’t from Alaska, but that I appreciated her independence and the fact that she has women’s backs, whereas my Old Guy senators are actively working against women, so we are relying on her no matter where we live. The staffer said she would be sure to pass my comment along and wanted to know where I was from so she could include it in the comment.

  70. 70.

    WaterGirl

    @Elizabelle: My recent installer of the new water heater kept saying that, too, and it was quite annoying. Especially when i was doing something to HELP HIM, he would still say “no problem!”

    Excuse me, sir, may I borrow your wrench — no, the bigger one — so I can brain you with it?

  71. 71.

    WaterGirl

    @Tom Levenson: @Elizabelle: Elizabelle I believe Tom just offered to let you stay at his wife’s family’s place for a month while you canvass. Am I right, Tom? :-)

    I don’t believe I’ve ever done a double apostrophe before. Is that correct?

  73. 73.

    burnspbesq

    I’m still looking at Capito as a potential out-of-left-field “no.” She went to undergrad with probably at least a thousand or so little Kavanaugh types (I have friends who overlapped with her at Duke in the mid-70s, and I have heard some stories). “Gimme that old time revulsion, …”

  74. 74.

    Miss Bianca

    @Elizabelle: @Tom Levenson: So, who is throwing his/her hat in the ring to oppose Collins? I’ve heard there’s this great big crowd-sourced war chest for the Den who’ll take her on – but I haven’t heard that anyone has stepped forward to claim it yet.

    But I’d love to join a canvassing trip to Maine – two of my sisters live there, the third in Cape Cod. I bet I could get two out of the three to join me! ; )

  77. 77.

    Andrey

    @Elizabelle: There are a lot of takes on “you’re welcome” vs. “no problem. One, another.

    Take any “just so story” linguistics with a grain of salt, but there are good reasons for people to prefer it.

  78. 78.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Elizabelle: same in French with “de rien”.

    What I get tired of hearing from service workers in hotels after I say thank you is “just leave the money on the dresser”.

  79. 79.

    WaterGirl

    Does anyone know what’s up with Avenatti? Suddenly his twitter is unavailable online. Google wasn’t all that helpful.

  81. 81.

    Miss Bianca

    @Steve in the ATL: Goddammit, this is the second time you’ve made me LOL at something totally crude today. Thank God I’m trying to “work” on my article at home, rather than the office, today!

  83. 83.

    NotMax

    @Elizabelle

    Trivia:

    Topf & Sons. the company which manufactured, installed and repaired the bulk of the crematoria and poison gas removal ventilation systems in WW2 concentration camps, closed all its correspondence with the SS with Stets gern für Sie beschäftigt (always happy to be at your service).

  85. 85.

    WaterGirl

    @Ladyraxterinok: Hmm, still locked down. What I see on Google is something about shutting it down after backtracking on the new witness coming forward. That’s not what I want to hear.

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