Hi Kay I didn’t ask that question. I had called the CT office and got voicemail. Then I phoned the DC office. In the background I could hear more than one staffer answering phones. Best regards
Call the White House. Ask President Biden to release Volume 2 of Jack Smith’s report. Ask that he drop the outstanding case against the other two defendants and release the report concerning our Nation’s security. Ask that all documents be preserved
Yes! Those charges are going to be dropped anyways. Far better if President Biden’s DoJ does so immediately – and without delay releases Jack Smith’s report on Trump’s theft and subsequent mishandling of sensitive classified documents.
Diane, can you provide the number that you used? I called the White House comments line (202-456-1111) and got a message that the office was temporarily closed. The message directed me to the website. I then called the switchboard (202-456-1414) and was told that the comments line was down until after the transition. When I stated the obvious that Joe Biden would no longer be the president then, I was told "there is nothing more I can do, sir" and she hung up.
That is also what I did....and do with more and more regularity, even though mine are allTrue Blue--they need us to interact with them as often as possible. Democracy is a participatory system and has suffered from too many of us ignoring our responsibilities. No more.
I called the whitehouse number comment line just now and they said the comment line is temporarily closed and suggested sending an email. When I followed that link there was no way to send an email, just get my email collected so they could send me stuff.
I have been calling. Even left a message for the dread McCormick of PA. But somehow I could not keep the sarcasm out of my voice. Must do better. Will call again today.
How do you address Fetterman? I want to be respectful but I’m also a little angry bc he seems to be on the fence. I try to temper with “nice “ but also be direct. It’s a hard balance.
Good to see Senator Jack Reed and others confront Pete Hegseth. It’s difficult for me to comprehend that rational Republican senators – and there are still a few – can possibly accept this dangerously unqualified extremist.
Do we have any information on whether some Republican senators are willing to reject the worst nominees? And if so, who, how many, and which nominees?
Per Politico... "Democrats, meanwhile, are signaling that they plan to use the hearings less as an opportunity to derail the confirmations but instead to collect fodder to use against the administration down the line."
I don't get it. Can someone please explain this to me? After spending time writing my (Republican) senators to urge NO votes on some Trump nominees, this feels worse than the idea of being treated like an ATM. This is starting to feel like having bought an "American Bible" that was printed in China with pages that stick together.
As I've been writing, we are going to have to learn how to become an effective opposition together. We are not there yet, and our work here is helping create understandings of what is possible. Folks here need to get over the "perpetually disappointed" mindset that is flowing thru our family right now and just put our heads down, do the work, fight and lead.
Additionally, when dropping quotes like this, it is critical you provide a link so we can confirm that what you've posted is true. Thank you.
Friends, the times ahead are going to be hard. And we will have more losses than wins. But here we are happy warriors, doing the work, helping create inspiration for others to follow us. Our of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope everyday here.
Simon, here is the link to the above quote. I usually do include the link... so my bad on this one. I did go to the article and verify myself before sending my comment.
Simon, I feel that your "folks here" comment was probably directed more broadly than to me but you made it as a reply to me. So I feel a need to note that at the same time as your comment, I was responding to an earlier comment by Diane Romino about asking President Biden to release the second Jack Smith report. By the time of my comment back to Diane, I had made calls to the White House comments line and the switchboard. It looks possible that the series of comments/replies around Diane's suggestion and Diane's subsequent action may result in the White House's comment line being re-opened for comments. I would gently state that these are not the actions of the "perpetually disappointed".
As for learning to become an effective opposition, I think we need to have a full, frank and sincere discussion of why 48 House Dems joined all 218 House MAGAts to pass the Laken Riley Act last Tuesday in the House.
By that I mean, did Jeffries and the House Dem Whip free members to vote for this awful bill? If so what was the rationale for not standing united in opposition? (A majority of the House Dem conference voted against it, including Rep. Spanberger.)
From where I sit, this vote for Laken Riley does not look like the vote of an opposition party but rather the vote of an appeasement party. But maybe there's some deeper political logic I'm just not getting.
If you have been watching the hearings for Hegseth, and I hope you have, you'd be scratching your head -- as I have -- over your Politico excerpt. Here's a quote from it: "Democrats have made it clear that while they intend to use the hearings to dig into nominees’ backgrounds, they are perhaps more interested in collecting fodder that they can use against Trump and Senate Republicans in the future."
"Perhaps?"
Senators Kaine (VA) and Peters (MI) questioning has been scathing -- damning -- and all the Democrats have done VERY well. But it was Senator Hirono's question that gave ME more "fodder" for calling my reps. She recounted an instance where then Defense Sec Esper refused to comply with a Trump order to shoot protesters in the legs. Fellow American citizens. Hegseth could not answer as to whether Esper's action was the right one.
Thomas, thanks for your response to my comment. I was clearly asking for someone to help me understand the strategy reflected in the Politico quote so I appreciate your input.
I'm encouraged by your reflections from the hearing. My concern with the Politico quote was not as to the nature of Dems questions but with the strategy of what would be done with the probable/likely problematic answers from nominees. Giving a nod to MCFM below and her hope for media attention, a lot will depend on Dems efforts to earn that media attention, including right wing media.
A great follow-up question for Senator Hirono would have been to further probe on the challenges of considering ANY potentially illegal order from a president who has immunity. This question would have had more impact had the Dems made a bigger issue of the dangers of presidential immunity in the weeks and months since the Trump v United States ruling. Questions along the lines of the unique challenges of working for a president who has immunity from giving illegal orders as head executive should be asked of every cabinet nominee.
It would also be easier to probe with Hegseth and make an issue of his embrace of Christian nationalism if Dems had raised this issue of CN consistently over the past few years. From the reading I've done, Project 2025 is literally laced with CN buzz words and concepts. Jamie Raskin and Jared Huffman founded the Stop Project 2025 Task Force but I never heard a whole lot about it. Thanks Thomas and MCFM
Spoke to a Tillis staffer and left a voicemail for Budd. Now onto listening to the 60k names of voters being denied their rights to steal the NC Supreme Court from Justice Allison Riggs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKclYof-cS8
You're welcome, Tina! Marc Elias is a really good attorney who works with his team to defend voting rights all across the country. They've had more victories than defeats. If you want to support Democracy Docket, here are a couple of links: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ and https://www.democracydocket.com/signup/.
We have to keep pushing this. The NC Supreme Court, if it gets back to them, will vote with Griffin. I can’t remember all the details but there is a complicated judicial strategy in action.
Could not get through to Budd’s DC number the first time (voicemail not set up was the message) and his NC office was very chilly. Oh well. I always get Tillis’s voicemail. Seems pointless but I do it because that’s what we’re told makes a difference.
If you think it is pointless then don't do it and please do not come on here and insult everyone else who is proud to be doing this important work of democracy.
I called the DC offices this time. The last time I called their regional offices. I don't know that it matters which office we call. I agree that calling Budd seems like a shot in the dark, but Tillis once in a while surprises me by having a conscience and thinking for himself.
CONTRARIAN TAKE: Jennifer Rubin, who just quit The Washington Post, has launched The Contrarian together with Norman Eisen. Jen Rubin has a telling summary of our current president’s tenure: "It was the best of Biden; it was the worst of Biden". Perhaps no great surprises but it’s definitely worth a read – and both Biden’s best and his worst will define the time ahead.
good news: i got an oversized post card from nebraska dems yesterday. very impressive. nothing but good, positive news on it. guess it was my hopium contributions. very smart post card. if i knew how to upload it, i would.
bad news: called rick scott's ofc. got a machine. left my no vote on nominees. didnt bother with rubio since he probably has to vote yes on all of them. red fla. sigh.
You (and I) will only ever get a machine at Scott’s office. In all the years I have called him, that’s all he offers. But I leave a message anyway and hope that one day, it will make a difference so I’m glad you are calling as well. Please ask your FL friends to join us!
. Fence to Keep Sexual Predator 500 Feet Away From Public
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) — District of Columbia officials confirmed on Tuesday that they are constructing a fence around a federal government building to keep a sexual predator 500 feet away from the public.
With a Monday deadline for completion of the barrier fast approaching, the calls to “build the wall” have only grown louder.
“Once we got official word last week that the felon in question would not be going to prison, we immediately got to work on the fence,” D.C. spokesman Harland Dorrinson said. “We’re doing everything we can to keep people safe.”
D.C. residents praised the decision to build the fence, but warned that one is still needed around the Supreme Court.
Just called both of my (democratic) senators and told them I expect them to block these nominees. I don't want to see any deference to the incoming administration on their cabinet preferences - these people are patently unqualified and dangerous. I felt stronger making those calls knowing I had this community calling alongside me.
Let me explain how the calls play here in DC. Senators will be asking each other today "how are the calls coming in?" If there is an absence of negative calls, it will encourage them to go forward with the nomination. They need to feel like there is concern, that it is registering and breaking through back home. And yes, call the DC offices if you can.
I will make the calls right now. Calling also lets them know in no uncertain terms that we are paying attention to what they're doing. Thanks for the note, Simon!
Politico now reporting that a freshman R Senator from Utah is wavering on Hegseth, Gabbard:
Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) remains undecided on two of President-elect Donald Trump's top nominees — former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's nomination to be director of national intelligence and Pete Hegseth's nomination as Defense secretary — he said at a POLITICO Live event Tuesday.
"The biggest problem for me is that she's been so low-profile," Curtis said about Gabbard, saying he needs more information in order to decide whether or not to support her nomination on the Senate floor. He added that he intends to "put the energy" into learning about Gabbard before casting that vote.
Just called my Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal office. It’s important to call your State Senator vs email to express your opinion
Unless the phone's voicemail is full, then absolutely email.
Hi I have been emailing. But today I phoned. The staffer I spoke with said Calling is preferable. I asked
did she suggest what to do when the voicemail is full?
Hi Kay I didn’t ask that question. I had called the CT office and got voicemail. Then I phoned the DC office. In the background I could hear more than one staffer answering phones. Best regards
Call the White House. Ask President Biden to release Volume 2 of Jack Smith’s report. Ask that he drop the outstanding case against the other two defendants and release the report concerning our Nation’s security. Ask that all documents be preserved
Yes! Those charges are going to be dropped anyways. Far better if President Biden’s DoJ does so immediately – and without delay releases Jack Smith’s report on Trump’s theft and subsequent mishandling of sensitive classified documents.
Diane, can you provide the number that you used? I called the White House comments line (202-456-1111) and got a message that the office was temporarily closed. The message directed me to the website. I then called the switchboard (202-456-1414) and was told that the comments line was down until after the transition. When I stated the obvious that Joe Biden would no longer be the president then, I was told "there is nothing more I can do, sir" and she hung up.
I'm going to call my congress person.
That is also what I did....and do with more and more regularity, even though mine are allTrue Blue--they need us to interact with them as often as possible. Democracy is a participatory system and has suffered from too many of us ignoring our responsibilities. No more.
Hmm I called before the 19th. Got to be a work around
My emails show 202-456-1111 www.whitehouse.gov/contact
I did call Senator Kim and Booker’s office. They had no idea the line was shut and would forward the commentary to the Senators
Thank you. I did so two days ago.
I called the whitehouse number comment line just now and they said the comment line is temporarily closed and suggested sending an email. When I followed that link there was no way to send an email, just get my email collected so they could send me stuff.
I have been calling. Even left a message for the dread McCormick of PA. But somehow I could not keep the sarcasm out of my voice. Must do better. Will call again today.
How do you address Fetterman? I want to be respectful but I’m also a little angry bc he seems to be on the fence. I try to temper with “nice “ but also be direct. It’s a hard balance.
Would you share McCormick's number?
Thanks for a piece that covers oh so much! Talking points, issues, information, and a bit of hopium is why I’m a subscriber. Thanks, Simon.
Good to see Senator Jack Reed and others confront Pete Hegseth. It’s difficult for me to comprehend that rational Republican senators – and there are still a few – can possibly accept this dangerously unqualified extremist.
Do we have any information on whether some Republican senators are willing to reject the worst nominees? And if so, who, how many, and which nominees?
Thanks for the link to the hearings!
There may be rational GOP Senators. But few have courage.
Hopefully all those phone calls, from Hopium members and others, will inject some with courage and even enable them to find their long-lost spine.
Per Politico... "Democrats, meanwhile, are signaling that they plan to use the hearings less as an opportunity to derail the confirmations but instead to collect fodder to use against the administration down the line."
I don't get it. Can someone please explain this to me? After spending time writing my (Republican) senators to urge NO votes on some Trump nominees, this feels worse than the idea of being treated like an ATM. This is starting to feel like having bought an "American Bible" that was printed in China with pages that stick together.
As I've been writing, we are going to have to learn how to become an effective opposition together. We are not there yet, and our work here is helping create understandings of what is possible. Folks here need to get over the "perpetually disappointed" mindset that is flowing thru our family right now and just put our heads down, do the work, fight and lead.
Additionally, when dropping quotes like this, it is critical you provide a link so we can confirm that what you've posted is true. Thank you.
Friends, the times ahead are going to be hard. And we will have more losses than wins. But here we are happy warriors, doing the work, helping create inspiration for others to follow us. Our of a mountain of despair, a stone of hope everyday here.
Simon, here is the link to the above quote. I usually do include the link... so my bad on this one. I did go to the article and verify myself before sending my comment.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/13/trumps-nominees-are-suddenly-looking-safer-00000265?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Simon, I feel that your "folks here" comment was probably directed more broadly than to me but you made it as a reply to me. So I feel a need to note that at the same time as your comment, I was responding to an earlier comment by Diane Romino about asking President Biden to release the second Jack Smith report. By the time of my comment back to Diane, I had made calls to the White House comments line and the switchboard. It looks possible that the series of comments/replies around Diane's suggestion and Diane's subsequent action may result in the White House's comment line being re-opened for comments. I would gently state that these are not the actions of the "perpetually disappointed".
As for learning to become an effective opposition, I think we need to have a full, frank and sincere discussion of why 48 House Dems joined all 218 House MAGAts to pass the Laken Riley Act last Tuesday in the House.
By that I mean, did Jeffries and the House Dem Whip free members to vote for this awful bill? If so what was the rationale for not standing united in opposition? (A majority of the House Dem conference voted against it, including Rep. Spanberger.)
From where I sit, this vote for Laken Riley does not look like the vote of an opposition party but rather the vote of an appeasement party. But maybe there's some deeper political logic I'm just not getting.
If you have been watching the hearings for Hegseth, and I hope you have, you'd be scratching your head -- as I have -- over your Politico excerpt. Here's a quote from it: "Democrats have made it clear that while they intend to use the hearings to dig into nominees’ backgrounds, they are perhaps more interested in collecting fodder that they can use against Trump and Senate Republicans in the future."
"Perhaps?"
Senators Kaine (VA) and Peters (MI) questioning has been scathing -- damning -- and all the Democrats have done VERY well. But it was Senator Hirono's question that gave ME more "fodder" for calling my reps. She recounted an instance where then Defense Sec Esper refused to comply with a Trump order to shoot protesters in the legs. Fellow American citizens. Hegseth could not answer as to whether Esper's action was the right one.
Wow. I hope that gets some media attn.
Thomas, thanks for your response to my comment. I was clearly asking for someone to help me understand the strategy reflected in the Politico quote so I appreciate your input.
I'm encouraged by your reflections from the hearing. My concern with the Politico quote was not as to the nature of Dems questions but with the strategy of what would be done with the probable/likely problematic answers from nominees. Giving a nod to MCFM below and her hope for media attention, a lot will depend on Dems efforts to earn that media attention, including right wing media.
A great follow-up question for Senator Hirono would have been to further probe on the challenges of considering ANY potentially illegal order from a president who has immunity. This question would have had more impact had the Dems made a bigger issue of the dangers of presidential immunity in the weeks and months since the Trump v United States ruling. Questions along the lines of the unique challenges of working for a president who has immunity from giving illegal orders as head executive should be asked of every cabinet nominee.
It would also be easier to probe with Hegseth and make an issue of his embrace of Christian nationalism if Dems had raised this issue of CN consistently over the past few years. From the reading I've done, Project 2025 is literally laced with CN buzz words and concepts. Jamie Raskin and Jared Huffman founded the Stop Project 2025 Task Force but I never heard a whole lot about it. Thanks Thomas and MCFM
I saw a transcript of Senator Hirono’s questions as well. Bravo, Senator! Most telling question - and non-response I can imagine.
Calls placed to Tillis and Budd of NC! The staff members are always very courteous, so at least there's that!
Spoke to a Tillis staffer and left a voicemail for Budd. Now onto listening to the 60k names of voters being denied their rights to steal the NC Supreme Court from Justice Allison Riggs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKclYof-cS8
Kate Barr, Democracy Star! ⭐️
There was a development that came out just yesterday: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/north-carolina-judge-denies-republicans-request-to-toss-60000-ballots/.
Some really good news!!! Thanks!!!
You're welcome, Tina! Marc Elias is a really good attorney who works with his team to defend voting rights all across the country. They've had more victories than defeats. If you want to support Democracy Docket, here are a couple of links: https://www.democracydocket.com/support/ and https://www.democracydocket.com/signup/.
Agree !Love Democracy Docket/ Marc Elias. They do tremendous work.
We have to keep pushing this. The NC Supreme Court, if it gets back to them, will vote with Griffin. I can’t remember all the details but there is a complicated judicial strategy in action.
Don’t let up.
There’s actually another legal challenge in place , not just this denied one so we’re not over the hump here quite yet
Could not get through to Budd’s DC number the first time (voicemail not set up was the message) and his NC office was very chilly. Oh well. I always get Tillis’s voicemail. Seems pointless but I do it because that’s what we’re told makes a difference.
If you think it is pointless then don't do it and please do not come on here and insult everyone else who is proud to be doing this important work of democracy.
Ok. I appreciated your comment about what the senators are doing today re the calls. Not sure why we can not be honest here if we have questions.
Not shaming anyone doing the work. As I am and have been.
I called the DC offices this time. The last time I called their regional offices. I don't know that it matters which office we call. I agree that calling Budd seems like a shot in the dark, but Tillis once in a while surprises me by having a conscience and thinking for himself.
CONTRARIAN TAKE: Jennifer Rubin, who just quit The Washington Post, has launched The Contrarian together with Norman Eisen. Jen Rubin has a telling summary of our current president’s tenure: "It was the best of Biden; it was the worst of Biden". Perhaps no great surprises but it’s definitely worth a read – and both Biden’s best and his worst will define the time ahead.
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/it-was-the-best-of-biden-it-was-the
good news: i got an oversized post card from nebraska dems yesterday. very impressive. nothing but good, positive news on it. guess it was my hopium contributions. very smart post card. if i knew how to upload it, i would.
bad news: called rick scott's ofc. got a machine. left my no vote on nominees. didnt bother with rubio since he probably has to vote yes on all of them. red fla. sigh.
I received the same large postcard-I keep it handy when I’m feeling low-perks me right up 🤗🤗🤗🤗
We have power otherwise why so much shenanigans like in North Carolina!!!
You should still call Rubio,
Still call Rubio!
You (and I) will only ever get a machine at Scott’s office. In all the years I have called him, that’s all he offers. But I leave a message anyway and hope that one day, it will make a difference so I’m glad you are calling as well. Please ask your FL friends to join us!
I’ve contacted my senators, who are both dems, asking them oppose the DOD nominee.
(On a darker note, about the adjudicated rapist):
. Fence to Keep Sexual Predator 500 Feet Away From Public
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) — District of Columbia officials confirmed on Tuesday that they are constructing a fence around a federal government building to keep a sexual predator 500 feet away from the public.
With a Monday deadline for completion of the barrier fast approaching, the calls to “build the wall” have only grown louder.
“Once we got official word last week that the felon in question would not be going to prison, we immediately got to work on the fence,” D.C. spokesman Harland Dorrinson said. “We’re doing everything we can to keep people safe.”
D.C. residents praised the decision to build the fence, but warned that one is still needed around the Supreme Court.
https://www.borowitzreport.com/p/fence-to-keep-sexual-predator-500
Just called both of my (democratic) senators and told them I expect them to block these nominees. I don't want to see any deference to the incoming administration on their cabinet preferences - these people are patently unqualified and dangerous. I felt stronger making those calls knowing I had this community calling alongside me.
Crimes of Big Money in Politics
🔸Endless war in every country for endless profit
🔸Endless destruction of the environment for endless profit
🔸Endlessly pit society against itself to hide in plain sight for endless profit
"Consequences of Capitalism", Noam Chomsky, Preface
https://open.substack.com/pub/simonwdc?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=280c3q
I've called Kaine and Warner. I expect them to do the right thing.
I appreciate the Nebraska Dems' positive emphasis on what works.
Let me explain how the calls play here in DC. Senators will be asking each other today "how are the calls coming in?" If there is an absence of negative calls, it will encourage them to go forward with the nomination. They need to feel like there is concern, that it is registering and breaking through back home. And yes, call the DC offices if you can.
I will make the calls right now. Calling also lets them know in no uncertain terms that we are paying attention to what they're doing. Thanks for the note, Simon!
Politico now reporting that a freshman R Senator from Utah is wavering on Hegseth, Gabbard:
Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) remains undecided on two of President-elect Donald Trump's top nominees — former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard's nomination to be director of national intelligence and Pete Hegseth's nomination as Defense secretary — he said at a POLITICO Live event Tuesday.
"The biggest problem for me is that she's been so low-profile," Curtis said about Gabbard, saying he needs more information in order to decide whether or not to support her nomination on the Senate floor. He added that he intends to "put the energy" into learning about Gabbard before casting that vote.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/01/14/congress/curtis-undecided-on-gabbard-hegseth-00198108