41 Comments

And here is more followup that just confirms your point. Hat tip to @marlonweems.

Tillis told Hegseth's ex that her testimony could, perhaps would, change votes. Then voted to confirm Hegseth.

https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/pete-hegseth-affidavit-thom-tillis-08af5bce

Expand full comment

So who is the strong Dem candidate who will run against him?? And yes - Call their offices for each and every vote. Flood their email. Don't let them off the hook!!!

Expand full comment

What happened to Thom’s spine? Did it just collapse under the weight of his own BS, or did a disc slip when he tried another one of his juking feints towards moderation only to jerk back to Trumpian MAGA attention stance?

Expand full comment

Tillis never had a spine.

Expand full comment

Roy Cooper needs to take the Tullis seat in Congress.

Expand full comment

I sent an email of outrage. It won't matter but made me feel better. These are the people he ignored.

90,197 active-duty service members. 38,339 active-duty spouses. 67,739 active-duty children. 42,520 National Guard and reserve members.

Active duty service members

• Fort Liberty: The largest US Army base by population, located west of Fayetteville

• Fort Bragg: The largest military installation in the US by population, located in Cumberland County

• Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune: Located in Onslow County

• Seymour Johnson Air Force Base: Located in Wayne County

Expand full comment

Senator Cooper has a great ring to it. Fuck this asshole. He’s just another pussy racist right wing asshole.

Expand full comment

I like the title for this post. Would be an apt title for a comprehensive piece or a book as it captures the tenor of these days as cabinet confirmation votes continue to illuminate the political theater during dark days as tyrant-at-large revs it up. And all the while the smirky vp revels to cast his patriarchal, all important deciding vote. The tsunami of week one manifests the perfect storm of chaos sure to try to embitter and harangue those who seek truth. Such scripted and performative chaos is what we'll continue to have until the unscripted, unpredictable catastrophic event happens. Which it will.

Expand full comment

I am insanely angry about this. I wrote him an email about it. Hegseth is gonna fail. His subordinates are gonna scramble to cover for him. And there will come a time when they can't. The shit will hit the fan then.

Expand full comment

Yes, the most malleable US Senator in Washington. Like Trump, looking out for number one

Expand full comment

Tillis is a disgrace, always has been, always will be. Gerrymandering has all but ensured he or another Republican will take his spot. I’m so so incredibly disheartened

Expand full comment

Gerrymandering has no effect on Senate seats. We are looking to unseat him in 2026

Expand full comment

Correct Let’s all vote for Roy cooper. I’m sure he will be running. We need him. Flip this blue. This is how we fight back.

Expand full comment

Or whomever becomes the Democratic nominee. Remember that Roy Cooper is 67. He'd be 69 at the beginning of a 6 year term. I think that he has the best chance and a good one, but he might not run. I know that Wiley Nickel has already said he wants to run, but he's not as well known across the state as Roy Cooper is. Still, if Roy doesn't run, I'll happily vote for Wiley. He's a good and caring man and has been a state senator and US Congressman, whose time was cut short by Gerrymandering.

Expand full comment

Exactly!

Expand full comment

Almost ashamed to say I live one town away from Thom the Timid. I only hope we can gather enough support in 2026 to vote that guy out.

And yes, I wrote and called Tillis and Budd on this one. I'll keep doing it too.

Expand full comment

Is Budd still even our senator. Haven’t heard anything about him in years except for insider trading or something.

Expand full comment

I have called Tillis numerous times .

Budd is a lost cause

Expand full comment

The interesting thing about Tillis is that he keeps letting us know that he knows better about things. Ultimately though, he's decided he's more comfortable with us thinking he's a spineless, cowardly weasel, than just another of Trump's bootlicking sycophants.

Expand full comment

Excellent observation about his motivation for such an action

Expand full comment

Them Tillis is an imbecile. Always has been and always will be. No moral compass whatsoever. I will NEVER vote for his dumb ass!

Expand full comment

Just another spineless weasel. Susan Collins made a career publicly being a thoughtful, pensive legislator faced with hard decisions. Most always came through after the big act. The political makeup of Maine and NC is similar.The fact she and McConnell voted against the cabinet pick suggests they won’t be running in 2026, although she is still thinking over 2026. Tillis is toast!

Expand full comment

Yes, Collins always says she is “concerned” then proceeds to do the wrong thing. I don’t buy the “concern” as it’s become a tell.

Expand full comment

Tillis's comments on Trump's pick for Defense Department head show little improvement from his consulting days. Tom, known for advocating cooperation and compromise, seems overly concerned with avoiding retribution from Trump and his supporters. He's willing to risk national security by endorsing a candidate with a history of domestic violence and business mismanagement. This situation resembles Eastwood’s "High Plains Drifter," where the town drunk is made sheriff for dubious reasons.

Expand full comment

Yes, Tillis is a big disappointment since he has provided from time to time reasonable leadership! In many ways he is worse than those that overtly kiss Trump's ring by pretending to care about issues important to the people of NC. His gymnastics of trying to play both sides will likely create a great deal of loss in credibility and I would guess the loss of the contest with Cooper.

Expand full comment