I see that there have been some of these shared in the comments on various threads morning.
Normally, copying comments from one post to another is frowned upon, but in this case, I’l asked you to do just that!
So share your talking points on the CR here, and when you call and let us know in the comments that you called and whether you got to talk to a human, had to leave a message, or if the message box was full.
Let’s make it clear to our elected officials that we have their backs on a ‘NO’ vote on the (not even vaguely clean) Continuing Resolution.
DFH
I called my Rep. Eric Sorenson, and senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth.
Live person who listened for Sorenson, left voicemail for Durbin and Duckworth, due to high volume of calls.
Jeffg166
Wrote to Fetterman.
Baud
It would amuse me if Dems started pointing at Republicans in Congress while whisperer “unclean!”
DFH
@Baud:
That’s bizarre enough it might work. Might work like “weird” did for a while.
jackmac
@DFH: Like you, I have the Illinois trifecta (Durbin and Duckworth as well as Rep. Lauren Underwood). Part of me wants to yell at a Republican over the latest Trump-Musk/DOGE horrors but I’m also relieved to still have solid blue reps who (generally) have our backs.
Chief Oshkosh
People may be tired of seeing this, but you asked for it, so:
Here’s what I wrote yesterday, FWIW:
Contact your Senators today and tomorrow. Tell them to not vote for the bogus “continuing resolution.” It is NOT a clean CR and will simply allow Musk and Trump to continue to break the law. Josh has an excellent primer on this:
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/will-dems-pick-up-their-sword
As they say, read the whole piece. However, here is what I’ve sent my Senators:
The Audacity of Krope
I don’t have anything prior to copy over, but it does occur to me that Congressional Democrats shouldn’t support Congress ceding further power to the executive. Hello, they should be clawing back the last century and a half of ceded powers.
TBone
@Baud: oh, that is going in my email today. I’m gonna use a pointing finger emoji at Fettermanchinema and bold the UNCLEAN!
RaflW
Just had to leave messages at Sen.s Klobuchar and Smith’s DC offices, no live answer (maybe calling at lunchtime isn’t strategic?).
In both calls I referenced Vance telling the GOP caucus that the WH will not follow the spending required by the CR. I called the passage of the budget a “pantomime” and that it is essential for all Democrats to vote no, to indicate Dems know the whole process is illegitimate.
Klobuchar is such a drip (she voted yes on yet another Cabinet member yesterday, when show knows how much that angers much of her MN base) that I don’t trust her to be strong here. Alas.
John S.
Got through to both my Senators!
I thanked Sen. Cantwell for voting against Trump’s pick for Labor. She has voted for other nominees, so I expressed appreciation for her turnaround. Unfortunately, she has no public position on the CR and even the staffer seemed confused as to why that was. I told them on no uncertain terms that a vote for this CR would be political suicide, and that WA Democrats would remember.
I also thanked Sen. Murray for standing strong against Trump’s picks. She has been excellent on that front with very little exception (and maybe talked some sense into Sen. Cantwell). She has a very public position on the CR that she just announced this morning. She is introducing competing legislation for a clean CR that would extend things a month, which will certainly go nowhere, but at least it’s something. And she will not vote for a dirty CR.
WaterGirl
@The Audacity of Krope: you are right about that!
The Audacity of Krope
@WaterGirl: Not quite. I didn’t actually write “hello.”
Sure Lurkalot
I called and left messages to both of my senators (Bennet & Hickenlooper). Both voted for the empty suit Rubio and the oil & gas entrepreneur slash climate change denier Chris Wright. Hickenlooper also voted for Scott Bessent, the asshat and apparent comedian who recently opined that America was not about access to cheap goods.
I have no idea where either of them stand on the CR but I after urging them to vote NO, I added that Coloradans who elected them didn’t vote for them to abdicate their power.
RaflW
Ilhan Omar’s D.C. voicemail is full. Was able to leave a message at her district office. I just read on Bsky that the CR has a provision snuck in which would remove Congress’s ability to undo Trump’s “emergency” declaration that allows him to impose tariffs. Of course the House wouldn’t unto that, but the point I made was that Republicans sneaking this in means on its face it isn’t a “clean” CR.
I doubt she’d vote yes anyway, but supporting our NO votes matters, too.
eta: I called Klobuchar’s office again since the tariff sneak was news, and reached a staffer and I outlined that issue. He said he’d “let the Senator know” which I assume is a hashmark on the pad, but that’s to be expected.
John S.
Suggested script from 5calls.org:
Emily B.
@Chief Oshkosh: Thank you for the talking points! I used a slightly shorter version in a message to Booker.
jowriter
Called my senators yesterday (Schumer and Gillibrand) re the unlawful detention of the Columbia student and the CR. Will try again today but it has been impossible to reach Schumer by phone at either my local office or DC. Told Gillibrand’s staffer that Senator Schumer should direct his people to answer the phone occasionally and maybe she could inform them that constituents can’t reach him. Called my GOP congresscritter Lawler about his cowardice and his useless ambition to be NYS governor. It’s cleansing to express my distate for that one, though I’m sure they dump my calls along with the others from Democrats. Never have gotten a callback.
RaflW
Also, too: Watergirl thank you for this thread. It helps me know that I’m taking collective action, and that helps with some of the feelings of helplessness around [waives broadly but sadly] all this.
rebelsdad
Spoke to a staffer in Bilirakis’ DC office and left voicemails with Scott and Moody. I hit the same message with all three- no one voted for Elon or DOGE, and their cuts to NWS, NOAA, and others have me really worried about this upcoming hurricane season here in Florida. Hopefully that will strike a chord (not A minor, I hope) with all three of them.
rebelsdad
@TBone: Fettermanchinema BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA ❤️
TBone
Further words of inspiration to crib from
https://www.wonkette.com/p/keeping-government-open-isnt-worth
Sample
Tandem
John S.
@rebelsdad:
I’m sure after they kill FEMA and toss disasters back to the states, everything will be fine in Florida. Their fiscal responsibility and prudence with regard to natural disasters is evident by their awesome insurance market. /s
lowtechcyclist
@Baud:
It would amuse me if Dems started pointing at Republicans in Congress while whisperer “unclean!”
Being a Thomas Covenant fan, I’d go with leper outcast unclean!
tobie
FWIW here’s my letter template that I tweak for my rep and my mother’s rep.
Geminid .
@DFH: I noticed that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee left Rep.Sorenson of their “Frontline” list of endangered Democratic Represenatives. He and fellow Illinois Democrat Nikki Budzinski were on the 2024 list but apparently did well enough not to be included this time.
Next year’s list has 26 Democrats on it including Eugene Vindman, who represents the Virginia 7th CD where I live. Ed. Vindman replaced Abigail Spanberger who’s running for Governor this year.
TBone
Dear Senator Fetterman:
I have been your constituent and staunch supporter since you were our PA Lt. Governor. I bit my tongue as you voted for Trump’s nincompoop Cabinet nominees.
But today I read that you will vote “Yes” on the Rethuglican Continuing Resolution being put forth.
UNCLEAN! 🫵
I will here quote Wonkette’s
Dr. Zoom, with whom I vehemently agree:
“Here’s why this bill is so awful: While it would fund the government through the end of the fiscal year and get more government shutdowns off the table, it would also hand far more discretion over federal spending to Donald Trump, essentially handing over Congress’s power of the purse to a criminal. The hell with that.”
I have more to say about your recent actions, but for today, I wanted to keep my message short and acerbic. So, in concurrence with the good Doctor, I say
FUCK ALL THAT.
I hope you read this.
Sincerely,
TBone
ewrunning
I just called and left messages for both my senators, Murray and Cantwell. Cantwell’s website refers to “experiencing high call volumes” and urged constituents to send an email instead. However, I’ve still had no answer to the letter I faxed them at the beginning of last week, so I went with the call. First try for Cantwell was a busy signal, but on the second I got into the voice mail.
My messages were, to Murray, thanks for your proposal for a genuinely clean four week CR (along with Rep. DeLauro). Please continue to do everything possible to block the phony “clean CR” coming out of the House, should the Republicans manage to pass it, including denying cloture (what the press calls a filibuster). Absolutely no point in allowing this lawless administration more leeway to impound funds and permit Musk’s illegal rampage through our federal government programs and agencies. To Cantwell, please support Senator Murray’s proposed four week clean CR, but do everything possible to block the House GOP’s bogus “CR” if it passes and comes before the Senate, for the same reasons mentioned above
BarcaChicago
Duckworth office: Wouldn’t state if YES or NO. I said my spiel and gave my zip code.
Durbin: Instructed to call later due to high volume of calls.
Rep. Schakowsky: She is a NO. Thanked her.
I’ll keep calling Durbin and Duckworth
And yes, I was thinking why not call Slotkin and others and give an appropriate zip code…
BarcaChicago
Deleted
John S.
@ewrunning:
I find that calling their local offices in the morning is the best way to get through to a staffer. I’ve never been able to get a hold of anyone at either of their DC offices.
DFH
@jackmac: I’m actually proud of IL now and glad to live here in these times. Pritzker is great, and thank god Chicago counters the rustic 100% Amurkin 0% socialist farmers where I live. Man are they going to get it in the shorts. Heads in the sand.
Sorenson almost didn’t get re-elected. A judge ran against him and was doing well until oppo advertising found audio of the judge explaining how god told him how to rule on some cases, a voice that came into his head while he was prone on the floor with arms out. Voters said, eh, we’ll take the gay guy! Judge’s outdoor ads were all “one of us” – iow Sorenson was not one of them/us. Jeebus I’m tired of people.
ewrunning
@John S.: Yes, I’ve tried both but have only been getting voice mail recently. I hope that’s a reflection of a high volume of calls giving them the same kind of message.
WTFGhost
@Baud: I preferred the one comment, long ago, suggesting a full Klingon casting out “they have no honor!”
@John S.: That’s some good writing. It establishes you’re a constituent, succinctly shows you know why you’re writing, and demands action based upon that knowledge. (Um. I say this, both to state the obvious (thereby confusing people), and, because it shows how you could modify the script.)
Melancholy Jaques
Sent this to Senators Padilla & Schiff.
Please vote “no” on the Continuing Resolution. We are in the midst of a constitutional crisis. This CR would confirm and approve of the lawlessness of Trump, Musk, and their coterie of corruption. There has been far too much acquiescence and passiveness. The American people will not even be aware of all that is happening unless Democrats make a major issue of it.
All Democratic elected official must oppose Trump, Musk, and the Republicans on every major issue – and do so loudly and proudly – until their destruction of our constitutional order is stopped. Paraphrasing John Lewis, If not you, then who? If not now, then when?
Thank you.
ewrunning
Wired is now reporting that Musk wants a shutdown. It’ll be interesting to see if and how that affects votes on either side of the aisle. My general reaction is Musk’s a drug-addled idiot at this point, so there’s little reason to think a shutdown will prove beneficial to his plans.
https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-has-wanted-the-government-shut-down/
John S.
@WTFGhost:
Yup, I like what the folks over at 5calls.org are doing. Short, sweet and direct with setting a clear expectation is the way to go.
zhena gogolia
@Melancholy Jaques: I thought that was Hillel
Wikipedia:
zhena gogolia
@zhena gogolia: I think I’ll use that as my message!
jackmac
@DFH: I’ve read a fair amount about Sorensen — he’s very solid — and that judge he ran against was C R A Z Y. Underwood also faced a Republican right wing loon in 2024 and got 55 percent of the vote. I actually talked that opponent last week at a community business event and it seems he wants to run against her again. Okay, bring it on.
williamrd
text of email I sent to Josh at Talking Points Memo, who is keeping a tally of Democratic Senators’ stances.
A nice aide answered when I dialed Senator Padilla’s office in Los Angeles. I asked her about Padilla’s voting intentions regarding Speaker Johnson’s CR proposal. She replied she had not been briefed as to what Padilla’s position was, and asked for my views. I told her a government shutdown, while bad, wasn’t the worse case scenario (that would be Elon’s continuing rampage), and that I would be disappointed if Padilla was one of the Democratic Senators helping to overcome the 60 filibuster barrier. She said she would pass message on. I asked when I (and she) might have an answer; she said a decision would be released via a website press release.
Melancholy Jaques
@zhena gogolia:
That may be where John Lewis got it from.
Geminid .
@jackmac: Eric Sorenson was one of a handful of House Democrats first elected in 2022 with no prior experience in elective office. Most of the other 31 had been mayors or state legislators before running for Congress. I think Jared Moskowitz was a county supervisor in a populous Florida County.
Maxwell Frost, another Florida freshman, had headed a community advocacy group before winning the Orlando-based district Val Demings left in order to run for the Senate.
Eric Sorenson was a TV weatherman before winning his northwest Illionois district in 2022. Jonathan(?) Jackson ran a Chico-based NGO prior to running for Congress in 2022.
A third Illinois Class of 2022 member, Nikki Budzinski also had never held public office before she ran in the redrawn central Illinois 13th CD. But Budzinski had been working in politics one way or another ever since she interned for Richard Gephart and Senator Paul Simon while a student at the University of Illinois-Champaign. Budzinski’s more notable work included a key role in Jay Pritzker’s 2018 campaign for governor and in his subsequent administration.
HorrifiedDaily
Cantwell (WA) – phone lines are too busy to get through – left email urging NO vote, or at least to make position clear.
Geminid .
@jackmac: I remember that ice cream mogul who ran against Lauren Underwood in 2022, Mr. Oberwies. The RCCC had Oberweis listed under its “Young Guns” program. The guy was 70 years old!
JaySinWA
I called the Everett offices of Murray and Cantwell.
Murray’s office went to voicemail, stating that staff was at a local event. I left a message supporting her call for a clean CR and opposing the Republican CR.
I got a live staffer at Cantwell’s office and encouraged her to vote against the Republican CR and to support Murray’s clean CR.
John S.
@JaySinWA:
I usually have the most luck with their Seattle office for some reason. Calls to their other offices (Tacoma, Spokane, etc.) almost always go to VM.
XeckyGilchrist
Wrote to my Senators, Murray and Cantwell, and asked that they vote No on any budget / CR that doesn’t follow Constitutional guidelines for who gets to appropriate and spend money, and to support financing agencies that have been illegally sabotaged.
John S.
Wow, I had no idea there were so many Washington Democrats around here.
Represent!
TooManyJens
I talked to someone in Duckworth’s office and had to send an email to Durbin (nobody picking up, no option to leave a voice mail). I said the current CR lets Elon Musk keep the keys to the government and they need to hold the line even though we all know the Republicans will lie and blame them for a shutdown. I also mentioned the names of a few of the senators who have already stated they’ll vote no–nothing wrong with trying a little peer pressure.
Budzinski has already posted on FB that she’s a no.
Raoul Paste
I called my Republican congressman and told them that his campaign flyer said that constituents should call his office with any federal issues.
I mentioned that I knew the continuing resolution was a sham, urged him to vote No, and said that if my Medicare or Social Security were cut, I indeed would be calling his office because there wouldn’t be any SS workers to take my call.
JaySinWA
I’m pretty sure he see’s it as far more efficient than his sledge hammer salami tactics, and lets him off the hook for consequences. His shutdown process will end up being more destructive in the long run, and will probably continue with an official shutdown, but there will be even less oversight to worry about.
SC54HI
Hoping that my Senators (Hirono & Schatz) are clear NOs on the CR but haven’t seen any statements from them. Called their local offices & left voicemails. Also called my rep, Ed Case (D-Blue Dog DINO) at his local office number. Implored him to vote NO on the CR as well but who knows what he will do.
beckya57
I called both senators last night, after hours. I always call their local offices and leave VMs. I’ve seen a few reports of full VM boxes, but didn’t have a problem. Might want to try calling local offices if you’re having trouble getting through to the DC ones. Incidentally, my senior senator, Murray, has introduced a different (much better) CR, so I told them I supported that.
beckya57
@HorrifiedDaily: I had no trouble leaving a VM at Cantwell’s local office (Tacoma in my case), so you might want to try that l.
beckya57
@John S.: WA ROCKS!!!
beckya57
@John S.: I always get VM at their local offices, but that’s because I call after hours (more convenient for me). Never have had a problem with leaving a message.
John S.
@beckya57:
I’m a big fan. Escaped from South Florida 3 years ago. I can’t imagine living anywhere else in this country.
RaflW
@DFH: “100% Amurkin 0% socialist farmers” are in the process of FAFOing what happens when Heritage freaks / Project 2025 true believers get in control of things like, ohh, “Agriculture Policy.”
We’ll hear the screams over the cuts to their socialism soon.
RaflW
@tobie: Thanks! After calling my MN triad this morning, I used my geographic privilege to email Hickenlooper and Bennet a little bit ago using your template with a few very minor tweaks (e.g. took out California ref).
I guess the GOP House is now officially “daring the Senate to accept it.”
ewrunning
@JaySinWA: Less oversight than none, which is what he has currently from the Congressional GOP majority? But hey, they can always call him and plead for a special exception for their case.
Satanley (aka weasel)
I started off with something I thought was pretty straight forward…
“Please vote no on the continuing resolution to fund the government. Even if this were a clean CR, I’d be against it but it is loaded with poison pills no decent Democrat could support. On top of that, as long as Elon Musk continues to illegally decide what money gets spent and on what, voting for any budget is a farce. Please help stop the madness and vote no on the CR.”
But I’ve simplified to…
“Do not fund an illegal government. Musk must go!”
Another Scott
The latest from RollCall.com:
The intent, obviously, is to jam Democrats and make them look like the bad guys. When it’s the GQP that is burning the place down.
There’s no magic solution, of course, short of winning elections and throwing the monsters out. Until then, somehow keeping the party unified and making sure the country knows that the GQP is destroying everything is seemingly part of the path out of this mess.
47 bending GQP arms to get a “win” on this should figure into the Democratic calculus in the Senate. Anything that Democrats can use to show the normies that 47 is a weak, tiny handed, petulant, loooser who is determined to break things lessens his power.
We’ll see what happens.
Best wishes,
Scott.
WaterGirl
We’ll want to be contacting Senators now / again on the CR.
I have added a link to this post as the last item in this section in the sidebar.
Keeping Track
Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand
NO on the CR (to Borrow or Steal)
Msb
Called my useless R rep. Voicemail full in DC. Voicemail open in local office.
“My” Sens are Rs, too.
WaterGirl
@Msb: It’s still really important that they hear from people like us who think they are wrong. Otherwise they can just say that all their constituents want this.
Ariobarzanes
As a resident of DC, I am profoundly frustrated at the fact that I of course have no representative in the Senate.
I have been emailing senators for the past hour or so, though I have a feeling that doing so won’t accomplish much.
Allen Henderson
Here’s what I sent my Senators yesterday (Padilla and Schiff):
Allen Henderson
@Melancholy Jaques: Right on. I’m going to steal the John Lewis reference in my next “Dear Senator” message — thanks.