No one — and I mean no one — is showing more guts than Heidi Heitkamp with her “no” vote on Bart O’Kavanaugh. She’s in a tough, tough race. You know what to do.
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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
Despite his magical powers, I don’t think Trump is thinking this through, to be honest.
Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.
So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.
Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?
Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.
A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires
Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.
Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.
Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.
You cannot shame the shameless.
Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.
The GOP is a fucking disgrace.
Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.
I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.
The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.
No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.
Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.
If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!
If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.
Bark louder, little dog.
You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.
Nothing worth doing is easy.
Conservatism: there are some people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.
“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”
mvr
Thanks Doug for doing this. I had the same thought and sent her campaign my contribution already this morning.
eclare
Will chip in after work.
burnspbesq
This is a pleasant surprise. Will do something.
PJ
I donated to her yesterday, but will be glad to donate to Joe Manchin and even Susan Collins if she does the right thing.
Baud
@PJ: What happens to that fund if she votes no?
banditqueen
Thank you–donated yesterday as I really wanted to let her know that I recognized and applauded her courage.
burnspbesq
That’s probably going to turn out to be a kamikaze vote. Heitkamp is already trailing, which is remarkable considering what a shithead her opponent is.
Still …
Cheryl from Maryland
Donated to her yesterday and e-nailed a thank you note that day. Her staff is top notch; I got a response even though I am not a constituent.
Mary G
I’m giving monthly and added $25 yesterday, so I’m tapped out. I take some comfort in her brother’s statement that she’s not as much behind as the polls say.
SiubhanDuinne
In addition to donating if you’re able, do give Heitkamp’s office a call to say “thank you.” I did this yesterday, shortly after she announced her No vote, and the young woman who answered the phone seemed quite moved that someone (especially not a constituent) was phoning just to say a nice thing.
Take a couple of minutes and do it. You’ll feel good, and ready to seize the day again.
All her offices, with phone numbers, are listed at the link. You might have to scroll down a bit. I think I ended up reaching a real person at either Fargo or Bismarck office.
https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact
Mary G
@Baud: I think it’s pledges.
Elizabelle
I want us in RVA to write postcards for her.
Taobhan
Despite Heitkamp’s brave stand against confirmation, it appears we’re going to lose this battle tomorrow when the final votes are counted. And yet seeing so much of the country rallying against Kavanaugh and the Senate Republicans actions makes me feel that we’re very close to breaking through against the Old Boys Club in Washington. The OBC certainly is desperate now and fighting to maintain its hold over the government and the country. That fear is what the Byzantines must have felt in the early days of 1453 before Constantinople fell to Sultan Mehmed. The enfeebled old men, as represented by the Senate Republicans on the Judiciary Committee can’t hold out forever. If the majority of Americans can just keep applying pressure on the OBC, maybe we can crack their fortress wide open.
Greg
Donated as soon as I saw the story here yesterday. Emotion won over the grief I will get from my wife.
jl
I’m pretty sure some malware page just downloaded itself and phished for click from me while trying to comment a moment ago.
Maybe the BJ techs should check things out? I shut browser down with ‘end task’ MS OS thingee.
Anyway, I contributed something.
Elizabelle
In addition to Abigail Spanberger! Both winners.
Mnemosyne
@Taobhan:
As I was only half-joking last night, the last time a mob of angry women marched on a group of elites holed up in their secure enclave, it didn’t end well for the aristocrats.
john b
Killer cop Van Dyke convicted of murder in Chicago. It’s only mentioned in a breaking news banner, no story yet:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/
poleaxedbyboatwork
@burnspbesq:
Am not so sure. She might well lose just cuz: it is Nor’Dakota. But a lil anecdotal observation, fwiw: I listent to an ad running in North Dakota by the Kramer campaign *before* Heitkamp’s no announcement, slagging on Heitkamp re: Kavanaugh vote. That ship had already sailt.
One of the bennies of voting your conscience (if yer conscience ain’t shit) is, one, you can look yourself in the mirror, and two, courage is contagious.
Since her “no” announcement, Heitkamp’s coffers have boomed and her volunteer lists are burgeoning. Mobilize the base, right? Nor’Dakota has 150K voters who will decide who their next senator is. You can stretch a dollar and mobilize a lotta folks in such a modest political theater.
Plus, had she voted “yes”, it’s the worst of all worlds (looking at you, Joe “Profiles in Cowardice” Manchin): you vote in line with Republicans, demoralizing your Democratic base, and “independents”, when given the choice betwixt a real Republican and a Dem wanna-be, they go with the gen-u-ine reprehensible article every time.
Wouldn’t be surprised if doing the right thing had the virtue of not only being the morally correct answer, but the politically correct one as well.
Dorothy A. Winsor
@john b: Wow. That’s been big news here. The closing arguments were played live on NPR
b
@john b: second degree murder conviction
wvng
I donated directly earlier today.
banditqueen
@john b: More info now
mg_65
Thanks, Doug. I donated.
KSinMA
@john b: That is some very welcome news.
JMG
Collins is a yes because she is so vain that she was outraged that Democrats acted in advance to let her know her vote would have consequences. She was furious about the in escrow campaign fund for her opponent. She’s actually blaming that for her vote in her speech. What an arrogant jackass.
Leto
Susan Collins will vote yes. She’s defending Kavanope on the senate floor on every issue. I hope she loses her seat and her future bid for Governor. I hope her future role in Gilead is out in the barrens.
jl
@Leto: Collin is a fraud, like all the other so-called moderate GOPers.
From weird behavior of Flake, Collins, and even Murkowski when she made the right but not even deciding vote, I have to wonder how much of the national GOP is very seriously compromised in some way, or has gone covertly but clearly criminal, and how many know.
I used to dismiss that kind of thinking, floated by some commenters here, as crazy. But my skepticism is beginning to crack.
David Fud
I put in funds right after I heard. Glad to see her doing the right thing, and hope it aligns with her political fortunes.
banditqueen
@JMG: Yes, she started to lecture about Special K’s wise, fair, narrow, precise decisions–no worries about the ACA or Roe with her fairytale justice Special K on the bench. //
Hitlesswonder
@Taobhan:
This is a matter of opinion, but I think that comparison is an insult to Constantine XI Palaiologos. If nothing else, he died in actual physical combat defending his city, which perhaps shows some level of commitment to a cause other than himself.
David Fud
@JMG: Time to be rid of her anyway, if it is possible. I had waited, but this seals it for me.
jl
@banditqueen: Collins has no problems with the repeated and documented perjury, at this and previous hearings? She has no problem with the fraudulent FBI investigation?
Hitlesswonder
@JMG: So….it’s OK for rich casino owners to donate money to politicians to influence votes….but if a bunch of people get together and do it, it’s bad. OK. I guess that makes sense in the philosophy that collective action is immoral….unless that action is corporate
jl
@Hitlesswonder: Nice to know. I’ll contact Collin[s office and inform them that I will donating a lot of money in the future to make sure she never hold any elective, or any public, office ever again.
Leto
@jl: They’re lining up just like they did for Gorsuck. I’d like to hope for impeachment or censuring for Kavanope but, at the moment, I’m not hopeful for that either.
She’s still lying at the podium. Claims she was promised that he’s not controlled by outside interests. Ffs you worthless person, get the fuck off the podium. Quit showboating and just move on.
banditqueen
@jl: I couldn’t listen to her go on about it anymore, but Daniel Dale is on it:
Sigh.
jl
@Leto: Her statements are a disgrace, and show an attitude, from a supposed moderate, that is a threat to democratic government.
The GOP has to be politically, electorally, crushed. We need to start this November by taking at least the House.
jl
@jl: I contacted her office about Kavanaugh. Obviously futile effort. Obvious now that it was an insult to her that we lesser people had the impudence to comment on what our ruling oligarchs decide to do. There will be a paper letter explaining I am going GOTV Javert on her corrupt racket which contributions to her opponent to get her defeated, whenever she runs for office in the future. With an explanation of democracy works.
jl
@banditqueen: But the jackass lying during his confirmation hearings is cool, I guess.
Edit: Collins BS getting surreal and pathetic.
Taobhan
@Mnemosyne: I like your historical comparison much better than the one I presented! Today’s news about Kav’s expected nomination tomorrow is devastating. But I have to believe that the worm will turn eventually and maybe it will take a lot more women protesting in the streets to throw out the Republicans. Protesting is an effective way to show discontent but getting more Democratic women and men out to vote in every election works well too. I hope we’ll successful in doing that on Nov. 6!
Taobhan
@Hitlesswonder: I meant no insult to Konstantinos Dragases Palaiologos, who is one of my ancestors (5th cousin, 18x removed). He didn’t lose Constantinople all by himself. The Ottomans prevailed because they were better prepared and the Byzantine empire was exhausted. The Byzantines tried to get help from European countries during their hour of great need but European leaders didn’t respond, likely because Byzantine perfidy had soured their relationship with those countries. A lesson for our current “emperor” Trump, eh?
I’m disgusted by what happened today and by everything the Republicans are doing to hold on to power. They operate as though the heavens have anointed them to lead the nation in perpetuity. But I believe their days are numbered IF they ever lose the government because they may never be able to win it back. If/when the Democrats regain the White House and both houses of Congress, their first priority should be to dismantle all the Republican devices to suppress voting and stifle the electoral voice of the people. Then if the Repubs want to win national office again, they going to have to do it the honest way – not through electoral tricks. If nothing happens, they’ll have to resort to even more draconian/undemocratic measures to hold off the “Ottomans” from the gates if they want to hold on to power longer. In other words, our democracy will be gone.