Quick note from a commenter:
I’ve been meaning to mention this in previous threads about contacting representatives. I cannot speak for current practices, but back when I worked in the state legislature, letters counted way more than phone calls. It’s because it take so much more effort & therefore shows more commitment to whatever the issue is. Believe me when I tell you the gun nuts will bury you in angry letters. We separated the form letters from the individual written ones. My main job was to tally, summarize, & draft responses. Good times.
Anyway, if you have the time & determination, I’d recommend writing. And I’d publish the answer on every place on the internet that you place things.
1 -A.
I’m writing to ask you, in the strongest and most existential terms, to oppose the Trump administration on every front and using every means at your disposal. Right now, that means slowing down his ability to confirm a whole slate of atrocious picks for his cabinet.
More generally, the era in which traditional formalities matter has passed, because Republicans rendered them meaningless. In politics, anyway, my view is that traditions only matter if both sides respect them and/or they win you votes. Neither condition is operative in this moment. Collegiality only matters if it will help you sway the most approachable Republicans to do less harm. So I write asking you to dispose of collegiality. Democrats are the only opposition party we have that stands between the democracy we must preserve and the rising authoritarian fascism that Trump represents.
Do not keep your powder dry. Fight everywhere, at every opportunity.
Yours in solidarity,
1-B.
I’m writing to ask you, in the strongest and most existential terms, to oppose the Trump administration on every front and using every means at your disposal. Right now, that means slowing down his ability to confirm a whole slate of atrocious picks for his cabinet. NONE of them are good picks. Not a single one.
More generally, the era in which traditional formalities matter has passed, because Republicans rendered them meaningless. Traditions only matter if both sides respect them. Collegiality only matters if it will help you sway the most approachable Republicans to do less harm. Authoritarians use democratic norms to take power, counting on their opposition to play by the rules. Once in power, those norms and rules are disregarded.
So I write asking you to dispose of collegiality. All it does now is further enable the far right to destroy our freedom.
Democrats are the only opposition party we have that stands between the democracy we must preserve and the rising authoritarian fascism that Trump represents.
Do not keep your powder dry for some fight to come. Fight EVERYWHERE, at EVERY opportunity.
2.
(after Friday’s Oval office meeting)
We don’t support what you Republicans are doing, so stop doing it in our name. We don’t want an alliance with Russia, and we don’t want a betrayal of Ukraine. And frankly, we are embarrassed.
11.
On Military Firings
I am alarmed and outraged by Mr. Trump’s latest assault on our military institutions – a late-night purge of three of the country’s top generals and admirals in an apparent effort to consolidate power and install loyalists at the highest levels of national defense. These unprecedented and deeply troubling actions threaten our national security and the core values of a diverse and professional military. The implications for North Carolina, a state with one of the largest military populations in the nation, are particularly dire.
Mr. Trump’s reckless and feckless firings included the widely respected four-star General C.Q. Brown, the first Black officer to lead a branch of the U.S. military, as well as the military’s top female leader, Admiral Linda Franchetti. These purges completed the removal of both the first and second women ever to hold top military ranks, erasing years of progress in ensuring our armed forces reflect the nation they serve. Furthermore, Mr. Trump’s hand-picked defense minister has openly expressed hostility toward women in the military and has already begun cutting back on recruitment of racial minorities.
For a state like North Carolina, home to Fort Liberty, Camp Lejeune, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and other critical military installations, this coup-like behavior within the armed forces is an existential threat. Thousands of service members in North Carolina, many from diverse backgrounds, are being told, loud and clear, that their dedication and service are less important than their gender or skin color. Military families here are rightfully concerned that competence and leadership are being cast aside in favor of a regressive political agenda that values obedience over experience.
Traditionally, U.S. presidents do not purge military leadership upon taking office. That Mr. Trump has done so in such a sweeping and vindictive manner is a grave warning sign of his disregard for the nonpartisan stability of the military. His decision to replace General Brown with a less qualified white general underscores his commitment to a return to the old boys’ club of unearned privilege and exclusion.
North Carolina’s military members, veterans, and their families deserve a force led by the most qualified leaders, not one being manipulated into a tool for Mr. Trump’s authoritarian ambitions. I urge you to speak out forcefully and act decisively against this dangerous overreach. The security of our nation and the integrity of our military depend on it.
Bless your heart.
12.
On Republican Ownership of the Coming Economic Collapse
To mix metaphors, the writing is on the wall, flashing in bold red letters: Mr. Trump and his reckless policies are leading us straight into economic disaster, and it is imperative that you act now to prevent catastrophe. The American people are not blind. The markets are not deaf. The signs of an impending financial meltdown are all around us, and yet, Congress continues to entertain the dangerous delusions of a man more interested in his own power than the stability of this nation.
The Dow just plunged over 700 points, a clear warning shot from investors growing increasingly alarmed by the chaos spewing from Mr. Trump’s floundering political circus. But this is just the beginning. In January, China rattled global markets with news that its AI capabilities may already be surpassing our own. Days later, Mr. Trump, in his signature ignorance, reignited trade war fears with his asinine “America First” policies that do nothing but punish hardworking Americans with higher prices and job losses. Then, as if to underscore his complete incompetence, he recklessly cast doubt on the security of U.S. debt – long considered the safest investment in the world – sending yet another shockwave through financial markets.
Consumer confidence is plummeting. Americans are spending less, not because they want to, but because Mr. Trump’s disastrous policies have left them no choice. Inflation remains suffocatingly high, and thanks to Mr. Trump’s ridiculous tariff blunders, relief isn’t coming anytime soon. Meanwhile, mass layoffs loom as Mr. Trump barrels forward with his rage-driven ejection of government workers and contractors, putting unemployment on the verge of a catastrophic spike. And let’s not forget Congress’s role in this mess: pushing through $4 trillion in tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy while everyday North Carolinians struggle to keep food on the table.
The economic consequences for North Carolina will be catastrophic. Farmers, already battered by Mr. Trump’s previous trade war antics, will once again find themselves abandoned as supply chains fracture and markets dry up. The tech industry in Research Triangle Park, once a beacon of innovation, faces job losses and declining investment. Blue-collar workers in Charlotte, Greensboro, and beyond will watch as manufacturing jobs disappear. And rural hospitals and small businesses across our state, already hanging by a thread, will be left to collapse under the weight of Washington’s negligence.
Mr. Trump’s incompetence is not just inconvenient: it is dangerous. The markets know it. The analysts know it. The people of North Carolina know it. This is not a partisan squabble. This is an existential crisis for millions of Americans who simply want a stable economy, affordable goods, and access to decent jobs. And yet, instead of taking action, Congress continues to sit on its hands while Mr. Trump dismantles the foundations of our financial system.
Time is running out. The American people will not forgive those who stood by and allowed a preventable economic collapse to happen. You have a choice: stand up for North Carolinians and fight back against this economic sabotage or be remembered as one of the enablers who let it happen. The people of this state are watching, and we will hold you accountable.
13.
On Cutting SNAP and Medicaid
I am outraged that Congress is considering devastating cuts to food assistance and health care, essential programs that North Carolinians rely on, while pushing massive tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. These proposed cuts to SNAP and Medicaid will directly harm families across our state, worsening hunger, poverty, and health inequities at a time when costs are already squeezing working families.
Slashing SNAP benefits would be disastrous for North Carolina. Reducing the already modest $6.20 daily benefit to just $4.80 would make it even harder for families to afford groceries. Stripping benefits from those who cannot meet rigid work documentation requirements would leave countless vulnerable people, including children, seniors, and disabled individuals, without access to food. Cutting $230 billion from SNAP, as outlined in the House budget, would be a direct assault on food security in our state.
The proposed cruel $880 billion in Medicaid cuts would be just as catastrophic. Medicaid ensures that children, low-income seniors, and people with disabilities receive the care they need. Nearly a quarter of the population in congressional districts nationwide relies on Medicaid: this is not just a statistic, it is a lifeline for countless North Carolinians. Cuts of this magnitude will mean people in our communities losing access to critical health care, leading to worsening health outcomes and even preventable deaths.
The expansion of Medicaid between 2014 and 2022 is estimated to have saved 27,400 lives. To now rip that coverage away to finance tax breaks for the wealthiest 1% is unconscionable. These cuts are nothing more than an upward transfer of wealth, prioritizing corporate giveaways over the basic well-being of North Carolinians.
I urge you to stand against these cruel budget proposals. Public opposition is growing, and we have seen members of Congress – both Democrat and Republican – speak out against these cuts. Now is the time for you to take a clear and public stand. Reject any budget that slashes SNAP and Medicaid to finance tax cuts for the wealthy. Our state depends on it.
I look forward to your response and to seeing your leadership in protecting North Carolina’s families.
14.
On Opposing Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education
I am writing to express my deep concern and strong opposition to the nomination of Linda McMahon for Secretary of Education. The future of our students, educators, and public schools hangs in the balance, and we cannot afford to put someone in this position who lacks a steadfast commitment to strengthening and defending public education. North Carolina’s children deserve a leader who will champion their right to quality schooling, not someone who will enable its systematic destruction.
Since 1979, the Department of Education has played a vital role in ensuring federal funds reach the students who need them most: low-income children, students with disabilities, those in rural communities, English learners, and young people striving to pursue higher education or career training. These investments have transformed countless lives, including right here in North Carolina. Now, this terrible administration is intent on gutting those resources, and Ms. McMahon has given no indication that she will fight to stop them.
The irresponsible Trump administration has made it abundantly clear that it seeks to dismantle the Department of Education, redirect public funds to private interests, and erode the foundation of our nation’s public school system. We need a Secretary of Education who will resist these efforts, not one who will simply carry them out.
Before the Senate advances Ms. McMahon’s confirmation, these critical issues must be addressed:
- What safeguards will be implemented to prevent the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (“doggie”) from accessing sensitive FAFSA data and exposing families’ private financial information?
- How will the rights of students with disabilities be protected from policies that could enable discrimination?
- What assurances will be in place to protect whistleblowers from retaliation when they expose misconduct?
- How will “doggie” be stopped from exploiting personnel records to unfairly target employees?
- What commitments will be made to ensure that educators receive fair pay, safe working conditions, and adequate benefits?
- What oversight mechanisms will be established to prevent voucher funds from being misused on non-educational expenses, as has happened in other states?
Public education is not an afterthought: it is the bedrock of our democracy, our workforce, and our communities. The people of North Carolina have made it clear that they demand fully funded, well-supported public schools. Teachers and school staff refuse to stand by while their profession is dismantled and their students are left behind.
Will Linda McMahon be a defender of students and public schools? Will she support literacy programs, protect vulnerable children, and ensure that every student – regardless of their background – has access to an inclusive and supportive learning environment? Or will she be complicit in an agenda that strips $26 million from Title I funding, slashes $7.6 million in federal special education support, guts $13 million in Pell Grants for first-generation college students, and eliminates career and technical education funding that prepares students for real-world jobs?
These are not small budgetary shifts: these are direct attacks on our children’s future.
As your constituent, I urge you to take a hard stand against this nomination. The stakes are too high for rubber-stamp approvals. North Carolina’s students, teachers, and families are counting on you to do the right thing. But you won’t do it.
I look forward to your response.
15.
Condemning Mr. Trump’s Comments about Gaza
I write with rage and disgust over the vile, despicable remarks made by Mr. Trump, advocating for the forced removal of Palestinians from Gaza. His words are not just offensive: they are a brazen endorsement of ethnic cleansing, a grotesque violation of international law, and a revolting incitement to commit war crimes. How dare he spew such monstrous rhetoric – and how dare any public official remain silent in its wake?
Mr. Trump’s abhorrent claim that Palestinians “have no alternative right now” but to abandon their homeland, alongside his revolting suggestion to “find the right piece of land” to dump them like discarded refuse, is nothing short of genocidal propaganda. This language mirrors the horrors of the Nakba of 1948, a dark stain on history when over 750,000 Palestinians were violently uprooted to create the state of Israel. Gaza’s current population is composed largely of these refugees’ descendants, trapped in an endless cycle of dispossession and suffering.
Mr. Trump’s repugnant remarks, made in the shadow of his meeting with Mr. Netanyahu, strip away any pretense of moral authority in U.S. foreign policy. This isn’t just inflammatory bluster – it’s an explicit call for war crimes. Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention categorically prohibits the forced transfer of a civilian population under occupation. Mr. Trump’s reckless advocacy should disqualify him from public life, let alone any leadership role. His words drip with the venom of imperial arrogance and whitewashed colonial violence.
The carnage in Gaza is not some abstract tragedy: it is a genocide funded, armed, and politically shielded by the very government you serve. Over 186,000 Palestinians have been slaughtered or maimed, including more than 17,000 children. Nearly 1.9 million people, over 90% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced, their homes reduced to rubble with American tax dollars. Mr. Trump’s depraved suggestion that these victims should be forcibly expelled instead of receiving justice is nothing short of sociopathic.
I insist that you, as my so-called representative, act without hesitation:
- PUBLICLY and unequivocally denounce Mr. Trump’s repulsive statements and reject any policy that even hints at ethnic cleansing.
- IMMEDIATELY support the restoration of U.S. funding to UNRWA, USAID programs, and the UN Human Rights Council to aid the shattered lives of displaced Palestinians and rebuild Gaza.
- DEMAND that all U.S. military aid to Israel be conditioned to prevent further war crimes and human rights atrocities.
Your silence is a stain of complicity, a coward’s retreat in the face of overt fascism. History will not forgive those who stood by while ethnic cleansing was rebranded as “policy.” If you fail to act, you are as culpable as the monsters who pull the triggers and drop the bombs.
The United States is drenched in the blood of Gaza. We have a legal and moral obligation not just to rebuild what our weapons destroyed but to end the blank-check complicity that enables Israel’s atrocities. Mr. Trump’s genocidal rhetoric must be crushed with the full weight of public condemnation. Anything less makes you a collaborator in crimes against humanity.
I stand with the Palestinian people in their struggle to exist, to resist, and to demand justice. I expect you to find a shred of your conscience and do the same.
16.
Opposing Mr. Musk’s Meddling in Government Affairs
I am writing with deep outrage and concern over the reckless breach of privacy and security that now threatens not only the nation but the people of North Carolina specifically. The fact that Elon Musk and his teenage techbro associates have been granted unauthorized access to the personal and financial information of millions of Americans is a staggering violation of our rights, with dangerous potential consequences for every resident in our state.
Mr. Musk is not an elected official. DOGE (properly known as “doggie”) is not a federal agency. Mr. Musk has not been vetted, confirmed, or authorized to handle sensitive government data. Yet, under your watch, this unelected billionaire and his unchecked associates have gained access to critical personal information, stored on private servers beyond public oversight. This is more than just a breach of trust – it is a direct threat to the privacy, security, and livelihoods of North Carolinians.
How can we be sure that our data won’t fall into the hands of hostile foreign entities or bad actors? What happens when the financial information of North Carolina’s small businesses, veterans, healthcare providers, and families is compromised? This isn’t hypothetical: it is a ticking time bomb for identity theft, financial fraud, and even threats to public safety.
Adding to the outrage, Mr. Musk and that psychopath Mike Flynn have openly bragged about cutting Congressionally authorized payments to Lutheran Family Services. Imagine if a billionaire donor with opposing views unilaterally defunded organizations vital to North Carolina communities. This is not about partisan politics – it is about the dangerous precedent of allowing private individuals to wield unchecked power over government functions that directly impact our citizens.
This is not governance; it is a blatant corporate power grab. And while this happens, the people of North Carolina are left vulnerable. As our Senator, your silence in the face of this crisis is unacceptable. You were elected to protect us, not to stand idly by while our security is compromised.
I demand immediate action: revoke Mr. Musk’s access to all government data, initiate a thorough investigation into this breach, and implement strict protections to prevent future violations. North Carolinians deserve to know that their elected leaders are fighting for them, not bowing to corporate overreach.
The people of North Carolina are watching, and we will remember how you respond. Stand up for us. Do your job.
17.
Republican Ownership of the Dismantling of the FAA and the Weakening of Our Air Security
It has been only a few weeks since the devastating mid-air collision at Ronald Reagan National Airport, a tragedy that never should have happened. And yet, rather than accountability, all we’ve seen is silence, deflection, and excuses.
I am writing to express my outrage over your continued complicity in enabling Mr. Trump’s reckless and self-serving dismantling of critical public safety measures. His obsession with gutting government oversight, often with no justification beyond political theater, has cost lives. And you, by standing by and doing nothing, bear responsibility as well.
Just days before this horrific disaster, Mr. Trump abolished the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, an agency that had worked for more than 30 years to ensure air travel safety in the United States. His justification was a vague claim about “eliminating waste.” The consequences were a catastrophic collision that took the lives of every passenger aboard – children, parents, world-class athletes, and dedicated flight crew members, including those with direct ties to North Carolina.
Mr. Trump’s callous disregard for public safety was only outdone by his response to the tragedy itself. Instead of offering condolences, ordering a serious investigation, or addressing the glaring policy failures that led to this disaster, he took to social media to spew baseless conspiracy theories and attack diversity programs, as if any of that had anything to do with what happened. It was a grotesque display of self-preservation over leadership, distraction over truth.
And where were you? Rather than standing up against this brazen assault on public safety, you have remained silent, excusing Mr. Trump’s recklessness and, in doing so, betraying the very people you swore to serve. Your refusal to hold him accountable makes you complicit in this tragedy and the suffering of families now mourning their loved ones.
This disaster was not an accident: it was a direct result of reckless policymaking. And Mr. Trump’s war on public safety didn’t stop there. His elimination of diversity recruitment programs at the FAA, despite an urgent air traffic controller shortage, only underscores his complete disregard for aviation safety. His decisions are not about efficiency, not about protecting taxpayers: they are about ideological extremism at the expense of human lives.
You were elected to represent the people of North Carolina, not to serve as a rubber stamp for a man who has repeatedly shown he values his ego over American lives. If you have even a shred of integrity left, you will publicly condemn Trump’s reckless decision to eliminate the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, demand its immediate reinstatement to prevent future disasters, and push for a full investigation into how this administration’s negligence led to this deadly crash.
The victims of this senseless tragedy deserved better. The people of North Carolina deserve better. I can assure you this will not be forgotten.
I am furious, and I am watching.
18.
Trump’s Chaotic, and Illegal, Funding Freeze
The chaos of the past few days has laid bare an undeniable truth: Mr. Trump is willing to break the law and devastate millions of Americans just to push his reckless agenda. His attempt to freeze all federal aid to communities wasn’t just illegal, it was a direct, calculated attack on working families, children, seniors, and the most vulnerable among us. While public outrage forced him to walk back parts of his freeze, the damage is already being felt. And unless Congress takes immediate action, the consequences will only get worse.
Here in North Carolina, families are already suffering. Medicaid portals have shut down, leaving people without access to life-saving healthcare. Parents who rely on school meal programs and SNAP benefits now face terrifying uncertainty about how they will feed their children. Funding for students and adults with disabilities is under threat, jeopardizing their ability to access education and essential services. Even our basic safety is at risk, as disaster relief efforts, food inspections, and public health protections are thrown into chaos. And research that saves lives – from cancer treatments to opioid addiction prevention – is now stalled because of Mr. Trump’s reckless freeze on the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.
This isn’t some abstract policy dispute. This is an assault on the people of North Carolina, on the farmers who rely on federal agriculture programs, on the veterans who need healthcare, on the families who depend on affordable housing assistance, and on the children who simply deserve enough to eat. Mr. Trump’s actions don’t just defy the laws of this country; they undermine the will of Congress and set a dangerous precedent. No president should have the unchecked power to block funding that Congress has already approved. If lawmakers allow this to stand, there will be no limit to the destruction he can inflict.
Your constituents need you to fight for them. I urge you to immediately and unequivocally reject Mr. Trump’s illegal and reckless funding freeze. Stand up for the people you were elected to represent. Defend the integrity of our government. Demand that these critical programs remain funded. Every single day that this crisis continues, North Carolinians suffer. The American people cannot afford another moment of this manufactured catastrophe.
19.
Opposing Tax Giveaways for Billionaires
I am writing to express my deep concern about the devastating impact of continued tax giveaways to the ultra-rich on the working people of North Carolina. The growing wealth gap in America is not a natural occurrence – it is a direct result of policy choices that prioritize billionaires and powerful corporations at the expense of ordinary families.
In 2024 alone, the world’s billionaires amassed an additional $2 trillion, equating to an astronomical $5.7 billion a day. If this trend continues, we will see five trillionaires emerge within the next decade. Meanwhile, working families across North Carolina are struggling with the rising cost of living, stagnant wages, and the erosion of public services.
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was a massive $1 trillion giveaway to the wealthiest Americans and large corporations. The richest 0.1% of Americans received a tax cut that was 277 times greater than that of middle-class households. Now, with the TCJA set to expire in 2025, the Trump-Musk administration is pushing to not only extend but expand these tax breaks for billionaires – at the direct expense of the programs and services that working North Carolinians rely on.
This policy is an insult to the hardworking people of our state. Instead of fueling economic growth, these tax cuts have only deepened inequality, shifting the burden onto working- and middle-class families while allowing the ultra-rich to hoard unimaginable wealth. Public schools remain underfunded, healthcare costs continue to rise, and essential infrastructure improvements are neglected, all while billionaires and corporations pay lower tax rates than everyday workers.
North Carolina cannot afford another round of massive tax breaks for the wealthy while the majority of its citizens struggle to make ends meet. I urge you to oppose any extension of the Trump-Musk tax cuts and instead advocate for a tax system that ensures the richest Americans and corporations pay their fair share. We need investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and clean energy – investments that support working families, strengthen our communities, and build a future where all North Carolinians have a fair shot at success.
The choice before Congress is clear: continue down a path of wealth concentration that benefits only the elite or stand up for the majority of Americans by creating a fair tax system that works for everyone. It would be best for all concerned to stand with the people of North Carolina and reject any further tax giveaways to billionaires and corporations.
20.
Opposing the Dismantling of USAID
I am writing to express my deep alarm at the ongoing dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the devastating consequences this will have not just for the United States, but for North Carolina in particular. The reckless gutting of USAID is not only unconstitutional but poses a direct economic and security threat to our state.
North Carolina is a leader in the international development field, and USAID funding supports the livelihoods of hundreds of North Carolinians. Agencies such as RTI International and FHI 360, both based in the Triangle, employ top-tier experts who contribute to life-saving global initiatives. If USAID is dismantled, these jobs will disappear, and North Carolina’s influence in international development will be severely diminished.
The elimination of USAID is also a national security risk, one that will hit North Carolina particularly hard. USAID plays a crucial role in stabilizing regions plagued by poverty, weak governance, and violence, thereby reducing the conditions that fuel illegal migration, conflict, and terrorism. For years, USAID has worked alongside our military, including civilian-military affairs teams at Fort Liberty, supporting U.S. troops in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Weakening USAID will increase the likelihood of future crises, putting North Carolina-based service members in harm’s way more often and with fewer diplomatic and development tools to prevent conflict before it starts.
Furthermore, USAID has long been a destination for North Carolina’s world-class academic talent. Our universities – including Duke, UNC, and NC State – have provided the agency with engineers, agronomists, educators, and governance specialists. Duke’s renowned Masters in International Development Policy has trained professionals from across the globe, many of whom go on to work for USAID or partner with the agency in their home countries. The dismantling of USAID would undercut these academic programs, stifling the pipeline of talent that has made North Carolina a hub for international expertise.
While the new administration’s actions have already caused widespread disruption, the attack on USAID is especially egregious for North Carolina. Our state punches far above its weight in the international development sector, and we stand to suffer more than most from the destruction of the world’s largest humanitarian assistance agency.
I urge you to take immediate action to halt this assault on USAID. Stand up for the thousands of North Carolinians whose jobs, security, and academic institutions are at stake. The consequences of inaction will be severe for our state, our nation, and our standing in the world.
21.
On White House “Diplomacy”
I write to you today out of grave concern for the state of American leadership and our nation’s standing on the global stage. The recent disgraceful display in the Oval Office, featuring Mr. Trump’s predictable tantrum and Mr. Vance’s obsequious groveling before him, was nothing short of an embarrassment to the United States. In stark contrast, President Zelenskyy once again demonstrated the very qualities we should aspire to in our own leaders: courage, resilience, and an unshakable commitment to his nation’s survival.
What we witnessed was not strength, but the pathetic bluster of a man whose playbook consists only of bullying, deception, and self-interest. Mr. Trump, a lifelong conman, attempted to intimidate President Zelenskyy, as he has so many others in the past, through brute-force rhetoric, bad-faith deal-making, and the implicit threat of American abandonment. But this time, it failed spectacularly. President Zelenskyy did not waver, did not beg, and did not stoop to the pathetic groveling that Mr. Vance so willingly displayed. Instead, he stood firm in defense of his people and his nation’s future, while Mr. Trump and his lackeys debased themselves before the world.
Mr. Vance’s sycophantic performance was an insult and an embarrassment to American foreign policy. His bizarre need to reassure Mr. Trump with physical contact – despite Mr. Trump’s well-documented aversion to being touched – reeked of desperation, reinforcing the widely understood fact that Mr. Vance, for all his grandstanding, is nothing more than a servile courtier to a man who demands loyalty but gives none in return. This, from a former senator entrusted with representing the interests of the American people and yet bizarrely now elevated to Executive rank, is beyond shameful.
Mr. Trump’s inability to handle President Zelenskyy with anything other than bluster and petulance is a direct reflection of his failures, past and present. The man has built his entire career on intimidation, deceit, and endless litigation, yet he was utterly powerless against a leader whose strength comes not from wealth or threats, but from an unyielding commitment to his nation’s survival. Unlike Mr. Trump, who has made a career of grifting and exploiting others, Zelenskyy laid himself bare before the world, offering to step down if it meant securing lasting protection and NATO membership for Ukraine.
This stark contrast should send a resounding message to every U.S. ally: Mr. Trump’s America is not to be trusted. His outburst, and Mr. Vance’s humiliating attempts to justify it, have made it abundantly clear to our partners in the EU, UK, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and beyond that a second Mr. Trump presidency will be a disaster for global stability. President Zelenskyy did not fall into Mr. Trump’s trap; rather, he forced Mr. Trump to expose himself, revealing his pettiness, his cowardice, and his complete unsuitability for the office.
I urge you to take a stand. Mr. Trump and his enablers cannot be allowed to dictate America’s foreign policy through tantrums and sycophancy. Ukraine’s fight is the fight of all free nations, and we must not waver in our support simply because a failed businessman with a fragile ego was momentarily embarrassed on the world stage. America’s credibility, security, and moral standing depend on leaders like you rejecting this disgraceful behavior and reaffirming our unwavering commitment to our allies and democratic values.
22.
This to my worthless maga/dogebag rep, Cliff Bentz, OR2:
The founders of our Constitution intended the strongest element of federal government to be Congress, The People.
Over time, the balance has tilted unevenly to the Executive, yet still retaining at least token respect for Article One.
Until January 20, 2025.
In the last five weeks, you have enthusiastically given up what remained of norms respecting any balance of power.
Day by day, the Executive seizes unlawful control over Constitutionally explicit Congressional jurisdiction, and you give two thumbs up.
In the near future the Constitution may well be an afterthought.
Representative Bentz, you are in the rare position to rescue our democracy.
I have little confidence that you will, yet I implore you to consider our history and to understand that cappitulating to Trump and his wrecking ball DOGE has perilously harmed our republic unconstitutionally, and, with your support, has delivered us into the early stages of fascism.
Please represent your constituents in upholding your vow to defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic.
23.
I write to my 3 repub congressmen every day. Here is today’s message –
Please speak against Russia’s control of Trump and his minions and the ongoing dismantling of our governmentDear _________
More data pours in every day substantiating Putin’s ownership of Trump and the “Russia NON-hoax.” The effects are obvious in the weakening of our government, including not only the Executive but Congress and the Supreme Court. The links to corruption by Russia have not been so obvious until now, deliberately obfuscated and hidden by the faithless scavenger oligarchs who plan to batten on the corpse of our polity.
American society is still relatively open, and information seeps through. Creditable revelations include 2016 election interference, theft of cyber-security systems and data, corruption of lawmakers and politicians left and right. Most recent and damaging of all is the willing capitulation by Donald Trump and his people to the destruction not only of our government, but of the founding Constitution itself, now truly hanging by a thread.
It hardly matters if the rot originated in Russia or with our own power elites. Putin has said he hates the West for the destruction of the USSR. I suppose a destabilized and reeling US is the perfect revenge, and I suppose we deserve it for how often throughout history we have done the same to smaller nations.
Please use whatever courage and influence you have to speak up against the destruction of our country.
Sincerely, your constituent,
24.
Late to this party since I was “working” all day today at my weekly volunteer gig. Here’s the letter I faxed last night to my two Democratic Senators. I put the stuff about my career in, not to brag, but to give them some idea that I know what I’m talking about and the implications of what I’m asking them to do.
Dear Senator Murray/Senator Cantwell,
I am writing to you in the wake of the Oval Office atrocity of Friday, February 28 and the President’s evident intention to dismantle our 80-year-old treaty relationships with NATO and align us with the murderous war criminal currently running Russia, with whom he has expressly stated he feels a great affinity.
By way of background, I am a retired Foreign Service officer who served twenty-six years including tours in the western hemisphere, western Europe and Southeast Asia. I also served on arms control delegations in negotiations with Russian and Ukrainian diplomats. I spent a year attached to the House International Relations committee staff on a Pearson fellowship, followed by two years as the Congressional Advisor to the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
I spent yesterday, Saturday March 1, dividing my time between a “Tesla Takedown” protest outside Bellevue Square and the hastily arranged defense of Ukraine demonstration on the Seattle waterfront, as described in today’s Seattle Times.
When I served abroad in newly emerging democracies, and in one case a country where a struggling democratic government was overthrown by a military coup d’etat, I would never have imagined having to spend my retirement protesting similar sorts of developments in our own country. Nor could I have imagined in my time on Capitol Hill a supine Congressional majority would abandon its constitutional role as a co-equal branch and allow a lawless president and an unelected plutocrat to destroy legally constituted agencies in complete disregard for checks and balances.
Things have reached the point where I believe Democratic Senators have no choice but to take correspondingly drastic measures. Since Secretary of State Rubio, who disappointingly was confirmed without a single dissenting vote, has seen fit to do nothing to halt this illegal and diplomatically disastrous turn of events, and in fact is now approving massive arm sales to Israel without regard for requirements for Congressional consultation, I urge and all your Democratic colleagues in the Senate to withhold unanimous consent for any and all motions to proceed on nominations for Department of State appointments, including ambassadors, and also promotions into the Senior Foreign Service.
In view of the present leadership of the Department of Defense and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, I urge that you also withhold unanimous consent for motions to proceed on all DOD appointments and general officer promotions and any appointments to congressionally confirmed positions in the intelligence community. This should continue until the administration ceases its illegal and unconstitutional actions.
I would further urge that no Democratic senator vote for any continuing resolution beyond March 14 for the current budget year without an end to the rampant and illegal destruction of executive branch agencies being carried out under the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
Thank you for your service to our country and commitment to our constitutional system. I look forward to hearing your response.
Foreign Service Officer (retired)
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We are the richest nation in the history of the world and the Republican party is engaged in immiserating the majority of its citizenry to give even more unearned wealth to its minority wealthy cohort..
In your district, over 150,000 people on Medicaid are at risk of losing their health care under the Republican budget plan you just voted for.
You voted to cancel my son’s Medicaid health insurance so that Musk can get more tax cuts. You should be ashamed. I don’t know which is worse, whether you think this is good ideologically and don’t care about the consequences, or whether you thinking robbing from the poor to give to the rich is a good thing. I am outraged.
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I didn’t vote for Musk. Neither did you. Trump, with the aid of Elon Musk, has consistently violated the Constitution and willingly broken laws. Their actions threaten the legitimacy of government itself.
I expect you to obey your oath, uphold your obligations and protect our freedom from these smash and grab thugs. Do your constitutional duty and remove Trump from office.
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I didn’t vote for Elon Musk. He has no business anywhere near the Federal Government. He’s busy destroying the Constitution and neutering Congress. Is this why you ran your campaign? Did you work so hard to win office just to sit back and watch it all get stolen from you? You swore an oath to the Constitution. Do something! Stop this unconstitutional takeover of the US government by an unvetted, unconfirmed South African billionaire!
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I am calling as a voter, a Californian, an American, and a firm believer in the importance of democracy for all humanity. In the past few days, President Trump and his administration have betrayed both the principle of democracy and the interests of the United States by first staging an insulting conference with President Volodymir Zelensky of Ukraine, and then subsequently in cutting off American aid to Ukraine as it struggles against Russian aggression.
In addition to helping the tyrannical Russian government of Vladimir Putin, this action is also one more illegal impoundment in so many practiced by this administration and its allies in the face of Elon Musk and his misnamed D.O.G.E. The Ukrainian aid has been appropriated by Congress last year, and some of it is yet to be disbursed — and unless Congress revokes it, the aid must continue — and I believe it must continue and even increase, to ensure Ukrainian victory. Any choice to stop fighting must be up to the Ukrainians, and the United States, with the Trump administration at the helm, has behaved shamefully in attempting to force the Ukrainians by cutting off the aid. The only way the United States can restore a portion of honor and right to call itself part of the free world is to resume the aid, either by forcing the Trump Administration to comply with the law or by impeachment.
We cannot purchase our own liberty or prosperity at the expense of Ukrainians, or anyone else; all will lose if we try. The Trump administration and the Putin regime do not understand this, but I hope you do.
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