Being a Pennsylvania resident, I have been inundated by e-mails from several sources about how it is important to contact Senator Toomey to tell him to vote against the confirmation of Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education. According to those e-mails, he’s “on the fence,” and he could provide the crucial 51st vote, sinking DeVos’ nomination.
Before becoming party to this information, I had called Toomey’s local office on Monday, and spoken to the staffer on the importance of voting against the confirmation of Rex Tillerson—fat lot of good that did.
On Tuesday, I called again, wanting to express my opinion regarding DeVos’ cabinet nomination, but the line was busy. The line was always busy, day or night. I called the Washington, DC, office, and the nice recorded lady told me that the line was busy and the message box was full. All day, and all night.
This has been the situation for three days. However, by blind chance, I managed to get my message to an actual Toomey staffer today. Look below the fold to see how that happened.
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Back on Tuesday, when I first tried to reach Toomey regarding the DeVos nomination, I called my friend and partner in crime RevKatie to arrange to go to an evening meeting of Keystone Progress, an organization that is all in on the Trump #resistance. Because she too wanted to talk to Toomey, in particular about the Muslim ban and the effect it was having on the local refugee community, she suggested we go to Erie early and stop by both senators’ local offices, which are both located in Erie’s Federal Courthouse. So we did.
Because the offices are in a federal courthouse, we had to go through a metal detector and abandon our cell phones and other electronic devices. Once through security, we headed for our senators’ offices. Toomey’s was locked up tight. I knocked on the door. Nothing.
Around the corner was Senator Bob Casey’s office. The staffer welcomed us and listened to our pleas. We were glad to be able to talk to the Casey staffer, but were disappointed at missing Toomey’s staffer. Katie suggested that the progressive initiative called Tuesdays with Toomey, where a ton of people arrive at his offices and ask him or his staffers uncomfortable questions, may have provoked him to close his offices on Tuesdays.
Wednesday I tried to call again, but the result was the same. I tried again today, but still no answer. It occurred to me that since today was not Tuesday, perhaps Toomey’s office would be open. So I made the 20 mile drive to downtown Erie, and again went through the security procedure, same as Tuesday. The security officers asked why I was there. I told them to visit with my senators’ staffers. The security people said that Casey’s staffer was present, but Toomey’s was not, again. Frustration!
I approached the door to Toomey’s office and knocked on the door. No answer. However, I did hear the sound of a TV or radio, and a phone ringing—did somebody just leave the TV on while abandoning the office? Hm. Anyway, I went around the corner to visit with the Casey staffer, who recognized me. After that brief visit, I started to walk back to the courthouse exit. As I passed Toomey’s office door, the door opened, and a woman came out! I was so surprised that I wasn’t sure what to do. She asked me if there was something I wanted. She no doubt recognized me from the security camera outside the office, when I knocked on the door. So I told her that I wanted Toomey to vote against DeVos for Secretary of Education, and why, and that was that.
As I left the building, the security officers asked me if I had succeeded in my goal. I told them that, yes, I had spoken to both offices. They looked very surprised that there was, in fact, a staffer in Toomey’s office. She just locks the door and keeps the lights out so that it appears that there’s no one there! And it wasn’t even a Tuesday! Now, that’s what I call constituent service!
On my drive to Erie, I got stuck for several minutes waiting behind a tractor-trailer as its driver made several attempts at an awkward turn. It was quite frustrating, but I now realize that if I hadn’t gotten stuck there, I might have missed Toomey’s staffer when she chose to leave the office. So sometimes those frustrations yield a benefit.
By the way, I have submitted a letter to the editor of the Erie Times-News regarding not being able to reach Toomey by phone, or even by visiting his local office.
Now, on to the comments!
Top Comments (February 2, 2017):
From Canadian Reader:
Krotor makes the case for ferocity in the face of defeat in Meteor Blades’ APR. Here’s an excerpt:
in politics as in sports, fighting even when you know you're going to lose is the path to long-term victory. You lose the battle, but you were going to lose it anyway. What you win is more voters believing that you're willing to fight for them.
In the long run, that's what matters.
From Krotor:
CPT Doom has an excellent idea for how Democratic senators should handle the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Gorsuch. In my opinion, it would be devastatingly humiliating for him and his Republican backers:
I tweeted to Senate Dems, because as a resident of DC, I have no Senators, that they should ask Gorsuch three questions:
1. As a "strict originalist," do you believe the Founders expected the sitting President to fill any SCOTUS vacancy that occurred at any point during his term?
2. Do you believe that someone who knowingly receives and uses something that was stolen is as guilty as the original thief?
3. Is your name Merrick Garland?”
From Joan McCarter’s front page post on the topic.
From Tamar:
BOHICA did a masterful job with this photoshopped picture! From Mark Sumner’s front page post on Trump’s absence from the situation room during the disastrous Yemeni raid.
Highlighted by Terre:
This comment by flagpole, an apology and an explanation for the Australian PM.
Highlighted by BentLiberal:
This comment by vrusimov.
Top Mojo (February 1, 2017):
Top Mojo is courtesy of mik! Click here for more on how Top Mojo works.
Top Photos (February 1, 2017):
Tonight’s picture quilt is courtesy of jotter!