I called my Senators this morning about wielding the cloture vote for leverage. Then I wrote a response letter to my House Rep. which I have pasted here. Feel free to use any of it that serves...
Dear Sam Liccardo,
Thank you for your letter related to our unjust and illegal imigration service (ICE) that perpetually violates 4th and 5th amendment protections to citizens and residents of our nation. I appreciate your efforts and am a STRONG supporter for the No Secret Police Act. I hope you can get that passed
As we move to the budget negotiations, the biggest stick we hold is cloture vote in the Senate. In the House, the best news seems to be that Democrats are filling the empty seats left by the passing of former members. It only takes one or two GOP members to stall the big ugly bill.
It seems to me there should be certain issues that the HOUSE caucus just won't relent on. I don't take it lightly, but I do believe that Congress should be willing to have a government shutdown rather than funding ICE at these ridiculous new levels and passing the No Secret Police Act, restoring Medicaid and SNAP funding to the budget, reclaiming ARTICLE ONE authority on tariffs, funding vaccinations, particularly measles and covid, and declaring support and providing funding for Ukraine.
And what can be done to ensure that Trump won't illegally defund parts of the budget that he doesn't want, or that the GOP will use rescission to undo any good that the Dems might gain for the American Public. How do you negotiate in good faith, with bad faith actors, liars and cheats? Are there some guarantees or guardrails that can be installed?
Its time to fight fire with fire, to meet the GOP on the playing field we have today, not on the one we wish we had, or the one we used to have.
I was very upset at your message and tone at the town hall in Portola Valley last month. I was the one that stormed out. I hope you are upping your game, and not just biding your time, business as usual, and hoping for a good outcome at the midterms. We will descend deeper into fascism with that timid approach.
Carpe Diem, sir. Our Republic is on the line. Extraordinary times call for Extraordinary measures. I know you can do it Sam. You are a smart guy, and I believe a moral one. We all have to raise our game, and fight like hell. I will have your back if you do.
exactly what elected dems need to do. and a great negotiating list. let the dem party publish their list of demands so citizens can see we are trying to restore what satan took away!! they should be doing this right now so americans will back them in the budget process.
If Trump were consciously trying to destroy this country, at the behest of Vlad Putin, I cannot think of a single thing he would be doing differently.
The upside is that Trump really is bringing Americans together – into a patriotic, anti-Fascist coalition that is gathering strength every day and every hour. If we do the hard work, unceasingly and wisely, we can defeat this wannabe king and all the acolytes, cultists and anti-democratic opportunists who support him.
In times like these, I think we just have to ignore the noise and keep our heads down to work. Thanks to everyone for their efforts.
The past two days have been awful. The assassination and then the response from Trump represent very low points in our history.
I decided to do a recurring donation for the Hopium House 7. I also put in a recurring donation for David Jolly. Finally I made just a $5 recurring donation for Jennifer Jenkins who is running for Rubio's old seat. She previously defeated a Moms for Liberty candidate in a Florida school board election
Her opponent is Ashley Moody, whose existence is about as easy to prove as Bigfoot.
I also order 1,000 postcards from MFD. So I have that to occupy my abundant free time.
I had two different thoughts today. The issue of Trump’s health has returned, with his face sagging during a 9/11 ceremony. And the FBI just seemed not to be very competent in working on the murder of Kirk. The family ended up turning in the shooter. I am actually worried about this, as the FBI appears not to be able to keep us safe.
Kash Patel will face the Senate Judiciary Committee next Tuesday. I will be letting the chairman (Grassley, R, IA) know that I expect the Committee to seriously probe any and all leadership failures at the FBI which may be making Americans less safe.
FYI, other R Senators on the Judiciary Committee are Graham (SC), Cornyn and Cruz (TX), Lee (UT), Hawley and Schmitt (MO), Tillis (NC), Kennedy (LA), Britt (AL), Blackburn (TN), and Moody (FL).
No doubt their questions to Patel will show the depth of their concern for their constituents’ well-being!
There's a lot of chatter on X about Trump likely having had a TIA or mini-stroke that the White House is covering up. There are pretty persuasive videos and photos of the right side of his face sagging and of him having trouble holding things with his right hand. I haven't seen any mainstream media coverage of this yet.
I was beyond appalled at the sight of these two freaks on 9/11: Trump and his wife. His wife wore huge sunglasses, no doubt intended to keep us from seeing the hollow, soulless holes that are her eyes; Trump looked like he literally rolled out of bed, still asleep.
The two of them couldn't look any more annoyed at having to be there, at that hour, on that day.
And to announce, on this singular day, during this commemorative observance, that Charlie Kirk was to get a medal was just what you would expect from him.
Thank you for emphasizing the fact that we don't have a radical left movement comparable to what's happening on the extreme right. Nor do we have the same rhetoric of violence. I don't think it can be asserted enough that violence and vilification underpins every criticism Donald Trump makes against immigrants, judges who rule against him, Democrats. Oddly, it even inflects his anti-wind energy tirades. He is the one fanning the flames.
At the end of this long horrible week, I am deeply angry. There's so much to be furious (and yet nonviolent, obviously) about, but top of my list today is trump's ongoing ransacking of the government in broad daylight, and his terrorizing of too many people I care about.
I appreciate the thunder in Simon's words today. I'm asking any electeds reading this to take our anger to heart, and put it into action.
Here is the letter I mailed to my senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks two nights ago.
I am writing to urge you, in concert with other Senate Democrats, to drive a hard bargain in the upcoming talks with Republican leadership on funding the government after September 30.
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich agrees that the Senate Democrats must be willing to “demand, in return for their votes to restart the government, that their Republican compatriots give them reason to believe that the government they restart will be responsible.”
What should the Senate Democrats demand in return for their votes to fund the government? As a member of Simon Rosenberg’s Hopium community, I urge the following based on Hopium’s four key demands for Congress:
1. Roll back Trump’s illegal tariffs.
2. Block the expansion of ICE and end the use of the military on our streets.
3. Demand the reversal—not just a delay—to the cuts to the ACA and Medicaid, and demand the removal of Robert Kennedy from HHS.
4. Stand with Ukraine by resuming arms shipments and other assistance to enable it to withstand Russia’s aggression.
But it is not enough for Congressional Democrats to be principled and tough negotiators. They must have a communications plan for before and during a government shutdown. They need to speak with a unified voice through multiple media channels, including independent media, making clear to the public why they are fighting.
This may be our last opportunity to weaken the Trump regime’s headlong drive to fascism. Please don’t waste it.
if elected dems dont stand up i fear we will all be deflated. if we can see this clearly, surely they can. schumer caved last time. the house did not. this needs to be entirely transparent on behalf of elected dems. tell americans every day what you are fighting for. call it "the list" whatever. because americans will love everything on this list! this is how you win back voters. no more shuffling weakness as if our country was not under severe attack. shut the govt down in order to win big. just do it. but shout it outloud first.
This is so great. Senator Klobuchar seems to have key word auto responses to her emails so I’m not sure if anyone ever reads them. (And BOY is it annoying to get a response that isn’t what you are writing about.)
More self-reporting: I made contributions through the Hopium link this week to Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill.
And for a grim kind of fun, I am ordering "Free DC" T-shirts from the Free DC organization for me and my husband. We'll be back in suburban Maryland in 2 weeks, and I intend to wear my "Free DC" t-shirt whenever I visit a DC museum, restaurant or doctor's office.
After this horrible week, I'll be taking a break and doing something soft(literally and figuratively). I will take time to select some soft toys for a non-profit that provides beds and lovies for kids without them. I hope it brings them comfort and me as well.
I'm mailing 50 postcards today for the Dem candidate Elizabeth Guzman to addresses in Va. House of Delegates District 22. Postcards4VA.com allows you to get addresses for any of about 20 House candidates trying to unseat Republican incumbents. All 100 Delegates are up for election this year. I've ordered 50 more postcards for addresses in District 99 for the challenger Cat Porterfield.
I’m working with a friend on promoting positive messaging by using Tshirts and tote bags. They share a value statement nearly everyone knows: it’s in the pledge of allegiance. LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR ALL. The idea is to encourage people to wear them in public and generate friendly, spontaneous conversation with persons who might not have voted last election, or who may want to change their vote in upcoming elections. There is no party preference, no date, no profit involved. The cost is nominal, and so far we’re having great response. We hope others might follow suit. Austin Tx 9/12/25
Good day to everyone! Just off a great call w Dr. Ben-Ghiat, who continues to bring moral clarity and context to our current situation. She gives me hope and so do you, Simon!
Tonight I am headed to a fundraiser for our great state assembly candidates along w the Lt. Governor candidate for NJ - and I will proudly wear my Moms Demand shirt. We are trying to organize a statewide rally for peace in next fortnight or so.
Great call yesterday from Indivisible - No Kings II is taking shape, and it will break records. Sign up for the Sep 18 kickoff call here: https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/839315/
We are winning, even if we can't see it. Orange looked so bad at that 9/11 thing, he is weak and failing and the man behind the curtain is exposed for all to see. The pro-democracy movement is stronger and more diverse by the day, and we refuse to give in to violence and hatred.
Sorry, but the "family" as you call it, can not depend on Schumer and Jeffries. They are not trustworthy at this time. They don't understand the assignment.
I called my Senators this morning about wielding the cloture vote for leverage. Then I wrote a response letter to my House Rep. which I have pasted here. Feel free to use any of it that serves...
Dear Sam Liccardo,
Thank you for your letter related to our unjust and illegal imigration service (ICE) that perpetually violates 4th and 5th amendment protections to citizens and residents of our nation. I appreciate your efforts and am a STRONG supporter for the No Secret Police Act. I hope you can get that passed
As we move to the budget negotiations, the biggest stick we hold is cloture vote in the Senate. In the House, the best news seems to be that Democrats are filling the empty seats left by the passing of former members. It only takes one or two GOP members to stall the big ugly bill.
It seems to me there should be certain issues that the HOUSE caucus just won't relent on. I don't take it lightly, but I do believe that Congress should be willing to have a government shutdown rather than funding ICE at these ridiculous new levels and passing the No Secret Police Act, restoring Medicaid and SNAP funding to the budget, reclaiming ARTICLE ONE authority on tariffs, funding vaccinations, particularly measles and covid, and declaring support and providing funding for Ukraine.
And what can be done to ensure that Trump won't illegally defund parts of the budget that he doesn't want, or that the GOP will use rescission to undo any good that the Dems might gain for the American Public. How do you negotiate in good faith, with bad faith actors, liars and cheats? Are there some guarantees or guardrails that can be installed?
Its time to fight fire with fire, to meet the GOP on the playing field we have today, not on the one we wish we had, or the one we used to have.
I was very upset at your message and tone at the town hall in Portola Valley last month. I was the one that stormed out. I hope you are upping your game, and not just biding your time, business as usual, and hoping for a good outcome at the midterms. We will descend deeper into fascism with that timid approach.
Carpe Diem, sir. Our Republic is on the line. Extraordinary times call for Extraordinary measures. I know you can do it Sam. You are a smart guy, and I believe a moral one. We all have to raise our game, and fight like hell. I will have your back if you do.
Regards,
Michael Baer
95125
What a great letter.
exactly what elected dems need to do. and a great negotiating list. let the dem party publish their list of demands so citizens can see we are trying to restore what satan took away!! they should be doing this right now so americans will back them in the budget process.
If Trump were consciously trying to destroy this country, at the behest of Vlad Putin, I cannot think of a single thing he would be doing differently.
The upside is that Trump really is bringing Americans together – into a patriotic, anti-Fascist coalition that is gathering strength every day and every hour. If we do the hard work, unceasingly and wisely, we can defeat this wannabe king and all the acolytes, cultists and anti-democratic opportunists who support him.
From your mouth to god’s ears.
He's doing a good job of taking it down, while so many stand by and watch.
Thank you Simon for always giving us Hopium, no matter what happens.
In times like these, I think we just have to ignore the noise and keep our heads down to work. Thanks to everyone for their efforts.
The past two days have been awful. The assassination and then the response from Trump represent very low points in our history.
I decided to do a recurring donation for the Hopium House 7. I also put in a recurring donation for David Jolly. Finally I made just a $5 recurring donation for Jennifer Jenkins who is running for Rubio's old seat. She previously defeated a Moms for Liberty candidate in a Florida school board election
Her opponent is Ashley Moody, whose existence is about as easy to prove as Bigfoot.
I also order 1,000 postcards from MFD. So I have that to occupy my abundant free time.
I had two different thoughts today. The issue of Trump’s health has returned, with his face sagging during a 9/11 ceremony. And the FBI just seemed not to be very competent in working on the murder of Kirk. The family ended up turning in the shooter. I am actually worried about this, as the FBI appears not to be able to keep us safe.
Agree completely re the FBI. The gutting of the agency is showing, plus probably the morale issues that the rest of federal employees are having.
Painful coincidence with us being just past the anniversary of 9/11.
Kash Patel will face the Senate Judiciary Committee next Tuesday. I will be letting the chairman (Grassley, R, IA) know that I expect the Committee to seriously probe any and all leadership failures at the FBI which may be making Americans less safe.
FYI, other R Senators on the Judiciary Committee are Graham (SC), Cornyn and Cruz (TX), Lee (UT), Hawley and Schmitt (MO), Tillis (NC), Kennedy (LA), Britt (AL), Blackburn (TN), and Moody (FL).
No doubt their questions to Patel will show the depth of their concern for their constituents’ well-being!
I'm sure our own Sen. Booker will be bringing the fire. Thanks for letting us know.
There's a lot of chatter on X about Trump likely having had a TIA or mini-stroke that the White House is covering up. There are pretty persuasive videos and photos of the right side of his face sagging and of him having trouble holding things with his right hand. I haven't seen any mainstream media coverage of this yet.
I was beyond appalled at the sight of these two freaks on 9/11: Trump and his wife. His wife wore huge sunglasses, no doubt intended to keep us from seeing the hollow, soulless holes that are her eyes; Trump looked like he literally rolled out of bed, still asleep.
The two of them couldn't look any more annoyed at having to be there, at that hour, on that day.
And to announce, on this singular day, during this commemorative observance, that Charlie Kirk was to get a medal was just what you would expect from him.
Thank you for emphasizing the fact that we don't have a radical left movement comparable to what's happening on the extreme right. Nor do we have the same rhetoric of violence. I don't think it can be asserted enough that violence and vilification underpins every criticism Donald Trump makes against immigrants, judges who rule against him, Democrats. Oddly, it even inflects his anti-wind energy tirades. He is the one fanning the flames.
At the end of this long horrible week, I am deeply angry. There's so much to be furious (and yet nonviolent, obviously) about, but top of my list today is trump's ongoing ransacking of the government in broad daylight, and his terrorizing of too many people I care about.
I appreciate the thunder in Simon's words today. I'm asking any electeds reading this to take our anger to heart, and put it into action.
Fun opportunity for anyone in California: human chain across the state, coming up at the end of the month: https://castrongholdtheline.org
You Californians need to make this a huge success so that the rest of our states will emulate it!
Fabulous! Wish I lived on the coast and could participate.
Here is the letter I mailed to my senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks two nights ago.
I am writing to urge you, in concert with other Senate Democrats, to drive a hard bargain in the upcoming talks with Republican leadership on funding the government after September 30.
As Ezra Klein says, these are not normal times, and Senate Democrats must craft a loud, principled and pugnacious negotiation strategy. Here is the link to his recent thought piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/opinion/trump-senate-democrats-shutdown.html?unlocked_article_code=1.k08.rU3s.O5LKaX2r94DJ&smid=url-share&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top.
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich agrees that the Senate Democrats must be willing to “demand, in return for their votes to restart the government, that their Republican compatriots give them reason to believe that the government they restart will be responsible.”
What should the Senate Democrats demand in return for their votes to fund the government? As a member of Simon Rosenberg’s Hopium community, I urge the following based on Hopium’s four key demands for Congress:
1. Roll back Trump’s illegal tariffs.
2. Block the expansion of ICE and end the use of the military on our streets.
3. Demand the reversal—not just a delay—to the cuts to the ACA and Medicaid, and demand the removal of Robert Kennedy from HHS.
4. Stand with Ukraine by resuming arms shipments and other assistance to enable it to withstand Russia’s aggression.
But it is not enough for Congressional Democrats to be principled and tough negotiators. They must have a communications plan for before and during a government shutdown. They need to speak with a unified voice through multiple media channels, including independent media, making clear to the public why they are fighting.
This may be our last opportunity to weaken the Trump regime’s headlong drive to fascism. Please don’t waste it.
May I send your letter to my senators too?
Of course, Robbie.
Stealing this to send to Kim & Booker - couldn't have said it better! Thank you!
Great letter! I'm using a variant of it to send to my Senators! Thank you!
if elected dems dont stand up i fear we will all be deflated. if we can see this clearly, surely they can. schumer caved last time. the house did not. this needs to be entirely transparent on behalf of elected dems. tell americans every day what you are fighting for. call it "the list" whatever. because americans will love everything on this list! this is how you win back voters. no more shuffling weakness as if our country was not under severe attack. shut the govt down in order to win big. just do it. but shout it outloud first.
This is so great. Senator Klobuchar seems to have key word auto responses to her emails so I’m not sure if anyone ever reads them. (And BOY is it annoying to get a response that isn’t what you are writing about.)
More self-reporting: I made contributions through the Hopium link this week to Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill.
And for a grim kind of fun, I am ordering "Free DC" T-shirts from the Free DC organization for me and my husband. We'll be back in suburban Maryland in 2 weeks, and I intend to wear my "Free DC" t-shirt whenever I visit a DC museum, restaurant or doctor's office.
After this horrible week, I'll be taking a break and doing something soft(literally and figuratively). I will take time to select some soft toys for a non-profit that provides beds and lovies for kids without them. I hope it brings them comfort and me as well.
I'm terrified at what actions this past week will be used to justify. It feels like a Reichstag fire moment. The facts won't matter.
I'm mailing 50 postcards today for the Dem candidate Elizabeth Guzman to addresses in Va. House of Delegates District 22. Postcards4VA.com allows you to get addresses for any of about 20 House candidates trying to unseat Republican incumbents. All 100 Delegates are up for election this year. I've ordered 50 more postcards for addresses in District 99 for the challenger Cat Porterfield.
I’m working with a friend on promoting positive messaging by using Tshirts and tote bags. They share a value statement nearly everyone knows: it’s in the pledge of allegiance. LIBERTY & JUSTICE FOR ALL. The idea is to encourage people to wear them in public and generate friendly, spontaneous conversation with persons who might not have voted last election, or who may want to change their vote in upcoming elections. There is no party preference, no date, no profit involved. The cost is nominal, and so far we’re having great response. We hope others might follow suit. Austin Tx 9/12/25
Good day to everyone! Just off a great call w Dr. Ben-Ghiat, who continues to bring moral clarity and context to our current situation. She gives me hope and so do you, Simon!
Tonight I am headed to a fundraiser for our great state assembly candidates along w the Lt. Governor candidate for NJ - and I will proudly wear my Moms Demand shirt. We are trying to organize a statewide rally for peace in next fortnight or so.
Also heard from the DNC today, reminding us about next week's national voter registration day of action - sign up here: https://ak.democrats.org/event/organizing-briefings/484129/
Great call yesterday from Indivisible - No Kings II is taking shape, and it will break records. Sign up for the Sep 18 kickoff call here: https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/839315/
We are winning, even if we can't see it. Orange looked so bad at that 9/11 thing, he is weak and failing and the man behind the curtain is exposed for all to see. The pro-democracy movement is stronger and more diverse by the day, and we refuse to give in to violence and hatred.
Keep going!
Sorry, but the "family" as you call it, can not depend on Schumer and Jeffries. They are not trustworthy at this time. They don't understand the assignment.