Dems See Pat Toomey As Best Option For Sinking Betsy DeVos Confirmation

[PA Democrat]

WASHINGTON ― Democrats have singled out Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) as their best hope for sinking President Donald Trump’s education secretary nominee, Betsy DeVos ― whose confirmation is hanging by a thread ― and they’re flooding his phone lines to the point where nobody is answering calls at any of his offices.

The Senate is expected to vote on DeVos’ confirmation on Tuesday, and it could be a nail-biter. Two GOP senators, Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), stunned observers Wednesday by saying they won’t support her, which means it takes only one more Republican to deny her confirmation. If all Democrats vote no, as expected, and all other Republicans vote yes, which looks likely but isn’t definite, that produces a tie vote. Vice President Mike Pence is prepared to come to the Senate to break a tie.

That’s where Toomey comes in. He’s called DeVos a “a great pick” and, feeling some outside pressure on Wednesday, told a Pennsylvania paper, “I will absolutely be voting for Betsy DeVos.” That doesn’t sound like much to work with, but some Democrats think they can pressure the moderate senator to flip. One congressional Democrat said Toomey has emerged as their “best option.”

Progressive activists see the next few days as their window for wearing down Toomey. Keystone Progress, a Pennsylvania progressive advocacy group, spent Thursday morning urging DeVos critics to call the senator and make the case for why he should oppose her confirmation. But people calling in are all getting a busy signal or being diverted to a full voicemail box. The Huffington Post called all eight of Toomey’s offices in D.C. and around Pennsylvania, and got the same results each time too.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pat-toomey-betsy-devos_us_58927b1ee4b0af07cb6b7d0a

It is impossible to get through to Toomey's offices by phone (busy signal, voice mailbox full or all circuits busy). I sent an email but will continue to try to call. The slimy bastard is too busy cozying up to the Koch brothers to respond to the people that pay his salary.

[PA Democrat]

1. Link to phone numbers below

https://www.toomey.senate.gov/?p=offices

His DC office number is [phone]

[fishwax]

2. I thought I read he was planning on voting in favor

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/presidential/No-Pat-Toomey-wont-sink-the-Betsy-DeVos-nomination.html&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwj_58Odv_LRAhVM2SYKHWHQDbYQFggUMAM&usg=AFQjCNHOslZnmJ27MaJMHvUJvkoDl7uMdA

[yeoman6987]

3. He was just respected and not up again until 2024

I think one of the blue state repugs up next year is better. Nevada!!!!

[Thrill]

4. I guess Flake is all talk as well

[blue neen]

5. I think Toomey will have to go on another retreat with Charles Koch this weekend.

They can have some drinks and hors d'ouvres, and have a few giggles about how Moscow Mitch McConnell stole a Supreme Court seat for them. You know, how they trick the American sheeple into believing this Supreme Court seat is all about saving zygotes, but it's REALLY all about saving Corporate Agendas.

Then maybe they'll get onto the subject of Miss American Amway of 2017, Betsy DeVos, who is ready to shoot grizzly bears in schools as we speak. At that point, Charles Koch will tell Pat Toomey exactly how is supposed to vote on Monday.

Pat Toomey, you really are a coward.

[PA Democrat]

8. He can run but he can't hide. The slimy coward won't answer his phone?

We will show up at his office. The man needs to get a job with the Koch brothers. Why should WE pay his salary when he won't even listen to us? Let the filthy Kochs pay his salary and his health insurance premiums.

[Freddie]

6. He's a slimy worm

His usual MO is to give lip service to doing the right thing and then do Lucy with the football.

[ok_cpu]

7. I'm not surprised, but very disappointed in Portman

On top of everything else, she has the stink around All Children Matter in Ohio.

All the nominess have been terrible, but she might be the most offensive.

[Mc Mike]

9. Calling that weasel Toomey a "moderate" in the article seems like a bit of a stretch.

He's hard right. I've been lobbying him steadily, anyway, so he knows just how many PA residents can't stand his party's positions.

[meow2u3]

10. You just can't get ahold of that chicken; he's ignoring us

That coward isn't man enough to face his constitutents, to the point of shutting off all contact with him.

WTH kind of a representative is he? Is he the Senator from PA, or the Kochtopus--those out-of-state interlopers with pockets too deep for their own good?