"... because Mr. Tillis had said he was opposed to the bill carrying Mr. Trump’s domestic agenda.... The president’s allies celebrated Mr. Tillis’ announcement as more proof of Mr. Trump’s political strength. 'Don’t Cross Trump,' Jason Miller, who served as a top adviser for the president’s re-election campaign, wrote on social media. 'The voters gave him a mandate to implement a specific agenda, and they want everyone to get behind his efforts!'... Mr. Tillis in his statement blamed the lack of any middle ground in Congress on both political parties, pointing to the recent departures of Senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, without naming them. 'When people see independent thinking on the other side, they cheer,' he said. 'But when those very same people see independent thinking coming from their side, they scorn, ostracize and even censure them.'"
The NYT reports.
60 comments:
Tillis was effective, and quite conservative, as a leader in the NC legislature. I don't know why he went astray.
Ralph L: To answer your question. Money or compromising pictures I would think.
Seems like Democrats aren't wanted any longer in the Republican Party, soaking up our election funds and undermining our political party from inside it. Always encouraging US to be "bi-partisan" but them NEVER coming to the Republican side of the aisle on ANY issue.
Maybe they went too far trying to murder our candidate.
Twice.
Is it really "independent thinking" that people object to?
"But when those very same people see independent thinking coming from their side, they scorn, ostracize and even censure them."
Joe Manchin represented a red state. Krysten Sinema represented a purple state. They were not doing as they wished, but what their constituents wished them to do.
Your job as a Senator is not to be an "independent thinker", but to represent the people who chose you as their representative.
For far too long, we've sent people to Washington who then decide they're bigger than the country and smarter than the people who elected them. And they've wrapped this behavior in the self-serving language of "independent thinking".
You do not recognize the problem, but luckily you've stumbled upon the solution.
Is it really "independent thinking" that people object to?
No. It's turncoat motherfucking party traitors that we object to. If you vote to undermine the Republican president of the United States and you're a Republican Senator ... after the Democrats twice tried to murder him and actually succeeded in shooting him in the head then you are DEAD TO US.
Get the FUCK out of our Party and get you and your family out of town before you're RUN the fuck out of town.
"Mr. Tillis in his statement blamed the lack of any middle ground in Congress on both political parties..."
"Both sides", huh?
The way it usually works is that Democrats want to go 10 steps left, Republicans want to go 5 steps right and the result is everybody goes 5 steps left.
Another Secret Democrat bites the dust. Tillis was always lying fake who got elected by pretending to be Mr. Conservative and then 2016-2020 publically supporting Trump while working with McConnell to stab Trump in the back.
Tillis had no problem with Biden's far-left DoJ picks. Or Biden's cabinet picks. AG Garland no problem. Markolos for DHS no problem. But Trumps? Oh thats different.
He also was a big supporter of Amnesty, and quite upset that anyone would stop zillions of illegal pouring over the border. Oh that sweet cheap labor.
Personally, he was came off as an arrogant creep. Maybe North Carolinians like their Senators weird and obnoxious.
McConnell wanted to vote to impeach Trump for J6. Mitch encouraged Liz Cheney in her hysterical outbursts and helping Pelosi crucify the J6ers.
So why didn't Mitch vote to impeach Trump? Simple. Mitch (at that time) wanted to be re-elected. And he was willing to swallow his hatred of Trump and vote "No". But he encouraged others to do so, and congratulated Romney behind the scenes.
Tillis was the same way.
Tillis knows that to win the general in NC, which will be decided by swing voters, if he can't support the medicaid cuts that the Trump bill entails. Trump is telling him that he can't win the Republican primary if he opposes those cuts. Trump is punishing Tillis, but Tillis is declaring himself free to vote as he thinks best for North Carolinians. This is called being principled. Time will tell whether Trump's strategy works out for Republicans. It could lead to a lot of losses in general elections.
Good start.I hope the other 534 corrupt, incompetent, and greedy POS would take a hint and go away. Perhaps if a couple hundred thousand of us went to DC to visit, those slimly scum might begin to understand just how fed up we are. They, and the national press, along with our universities, have no clue just how much anger and rage is brewing up in America. If we would make elections fair again, one vote by one American citizen, Democrats would likely never win a national election again.
The Republican Senators who are fake cons (and secret liberal/leftist) always pretend they're in congress "to reach accross the aisle and govern".
What that means in practice - the D majority gets everything it wants because Tillis like R Senators wants to be "reasonable". But when the R's have the Senate majority, Tillis wants to "Cut deals". And not do anything "radical".
D nominated Judges and Attorney Generals fly through Senate Confirmation process. Trump R judges and AGs, if the D's don't like them, get slow walked, and torpedoed by people like Tillis.
Trump is telling him that he can't win the Republican primary if he opposes those cuts.
Trump is telling him he can't win the Republican primary if he can't explain those aren't "cuts" to benefits at all.
If you're going to lay down every time someone wants to make the government more efficient or less susceptible to fraud then you really have no business in government at all.
"Trump is punishing Tillis..."
Being encouraged/pushed to support the wishes of your constituents is punishment?
"but Tillis is declaring himself free to vote as he thinks best for North Carolinians."
Voters elect people to represent them and advocate for their interests. If North Carolinians want something and Tillis says "No, you're getting something else", that's not what's best for the voters, it's what's best for Tillis.
If you can't/won't support your voters, you shouldn't be running for office.
Two Republican votes against the BBB in the Senate. I imagine Rand Paul's objection was not enough deficit reduction. What was Tillis' objection?
Hope Cornyn is next.
That he names people like Manchin and the Arz chick as "Moderates" just shows what a fake Tillis is. Manchin voted for all Biden's nominees and voted against all of Trumps. Or rather he would only vote for Trump's if he knew they would lose anyway.
Go look at Manchin's and the Arz Chick's voting record. They voted with Schumer 95 percent of the time. Except for getting rid of the filibuster, its almost impossible to think of a single vote where Manchin or Sinema were the deciding vote to stop an extreme D bill or help an R bill pass.
Cornyn is already down 15-20 points in the polls to Ken Paxton in the Republican primary in TX.
And as a followup to my previous post, to clarify:
"I trust your judgement to do what you think is best."
and
"I want you to do *this specific thing*."
are not the same.
Rand explains his objections. Like them or not.
Agree - what are Tillis' objections ?
Tillis was a big supporter of Amnesty. He did that against the wishes of NC voters. Trump carried NC in 2024, 2020, and 2016. So what is Tillis' basis for opposing TRump? Its not because he'll lose votes. Its because he's really a Democrat who loves big business. And because he's a charmles white man, who never could've gotten nominated for Senate by the NC Democrats.
Coryn is the same. He has all the lovable qualities of LBJ with 1/2 the intelligence.
if he can't support the medicaid cuts that the Trump bill entails.
Could you point out those 'cuts' please? Be specific.
"Could you point out those 'cuts' please? Be specific."
Don't hold your breath, Jim.
"The NYT reports."
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
Something like 70 million people are getting Medicaid support, while 35 million actually qualify, per Medicaid rules. Trump wants that extra 35 million shrunk down considerably - no illegals, and work requirement for those who can. Work includes looking for a job, like in unemployment insurance. So the question is who benefits from all those extra people consuming Medicaid? That’s where we’ll find what Tillis is upset about.
I don't know why he went astray
Mercifully I’m not close enough to have much insight but observationally, moments after you arrive fresh in Congress you’re taken aside for ‘orientation’ from the elders where you’re told you’ll be expected to play ball, and if you don’t you’ll be out quickly…for starters. I know Kemp was the guy to break the news to you if you had a D…
…that’s why the budgets never shrink…
…and by budgets I mean spending, since there are no budgets anymore…
"moments after you arrive fresh in Congress you’re taken aside for ‘orientation’ from the elders where you’re told you’ll be expected to play ball"
"No Kings", huh?
This is bad in that Tillis now gets to vote like the Democrat he is
This is good in that every other "GOP" Senator who wants to vote like Tillis now understands that doing so will cost them their seat.
As always: Collins is sui generis. She's the best the GOP can get out of Maine.
But NONE of the rest of the ones who vote that way are doing it because it's what the voters want
Let's see if Trump has the balls (or ball) to threaten a primary against Rand Paul. I think not.
When people see independent thinking on the other side, they cheer,' he said. 'But when those very same people see independent thinking coming from their side, they scorn, ostracize and even censure them.'"
When "independent thinking" = "ignoring the will of the people who elected you and doing things they don't like instead", well then... is it really any sort of insight that people will support the other side doing it but not their side?
"Let's see if Trump has the balls (or ball) to threaten a primary against Rand Paul. I think not."
What would hold him back? Other than this; I don't think Trump wants to get rid of Paul.
America will be great again when every branch of government is crawling in MAGAts and debating the merits and drawbacks of policy is quaint memory.
40 trillion dollars in Obamacares debt.
Greg The Class Traitor said...
But NONE of the rest of the ones who vote that way are doing it because it's what the voters want
6/29/25, 4:49 PM
To a certain extent. The rich will always use lobbying for their own interests. The problem is what happens when you do it all the time. If Medicaid has hundreds of billions going to illegals, of course that's a major subsidy of illegal activity on behalf of oligarch profit. This used to happen on a much more covert basis, but if more than five Republicans are actually Secret Democrats it will make people wonder why we have a Congress at all. It is the justification that makes King Trump possible.
I'm still amazed he doesn't stutter when he sings.
RR
JSM
Another Chamber of Commerce back-stabbing RINO is shown the door. RINOs are herd animals, so don't place too much weight on these declarations of 'independent, principled thinking'. Cornyn is next. Miss Lindsey has more evidence tucked away, and will be harder to pry off her perch.
"The president’s allies celebrated Mr. Tillis’ announcement as more proof of Mr. Trump’s political strength."
BETTER Proof (any Proof) would be (will be?) if next year, the seat stays red..
North Carolina is NOT the reddest state in the country;
and will NOT surprise Me if the seat goes blue
which would YOU rather have?
a RINO? or a democrat?
personally, i'd prefer a republican.. but is that an option?
which would YOU rather have?
a RINO? or a democrat?
personally, i'd prefer a republican.. but is that an option?
john mosby said...
“I'm still amazed he doesn't stutter when he sings.”
He was in Cannonball Run, too.
"Tillis knows that to win the general in NC, which will be decided by swing voters, if he can't support the medicaid cuts that the Trump bill entails. Trump is telling him that he can't win the Republican primary if he opposes those cuts. Trump is punishing Tillis, but Tillis is declaring himself free to vote as he thinks best for North Carolinians. This is called being principled. Time will tell whether Trump's strategy works out for Republicans. It could lead to a lot of losses in general elections."
Being 'prinicpled' now means voting for more spending and less cuts even as we have a 6% deficit.
Doesn't sound principled to me. It sounds like a man who doesn't want to tell voters the bad news about spending.
Sen. Tillis did vote against expanding SS and that may be why he is scared, not just Trump voters.
I do like that vote of his.
"Political Fallout and Targeted Messaging
The DSCC’s ad campaign highlights the Trump administration’s past plan to slash Social Security phone services—a move the White House has since reversed. The digital ads, running on Meta platforms, aim to reach seniors and other likely voters in North Carolina, a top Democratic pickup opportunity in 2026.
“In 2026, voters will hold Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, and Senate Republicans accountable for their toxic plan to slash Social Security in order to pay for a tax giveaway to billionaires,” said Maeve Coyle, DSCC communications director.
Tillis vs. Bipartisanship
Despite strong bipartisan support for the bill, Tillis sided with fiscal conservatives who warned of its potential cost. Critics, led by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), argued the bill was too expensive. Paul proposed an amendment to raise the retirement age gradually from 67 to 70 to offset costs—a measure that was overwhelmingly defeated."
Maybe it wasn't Trump but this stuff.
Thillis wasn't middle of the road or some sort of centrist.
He was a warmongering globalist sellout traitor. He is worse than the Democrats in DC.
Harun: "The DSCC’s ad campaign highlights the Trump administration’s past plan to slash Social Security phone services—a move the White House has since reversed. The digital ads, running on Meta platforms, aim to reach seniors"
If seniors have enough tech savvy to be on Facebook to see the ad, don't they have enough tech savvy to deal with SSA online instead of by the phone menu and endless hold Muzak?
RR
JSM
"If seniors have enough tech savvy to be on Facebook to see the ad, don't they have enough tech savvy to deal with SSA online instead of by the phone menu and endless hold Muzak?"
I started on SS 3 1/2 years ago. I have yet had a need to contact them. Are these the same people who go to the post office to buy three stamps and end up talking to the clerk for fifteen minutes?
"If seniors have enough tech savvy to be on Facebook to see the ad, don't they have enough tech savvy to deal with SSA online "
for fun, i asked my mom if she knew her SSA username or pw..
she had NO IDEA what the hell i was talking about.
her SSA money just goes into her bank account, and she has NO IDEA why or how..
I asked her what she'd do if she had to change bank accounts..
and she said: "huh? i don't understand"
Fortunately, she can easily fill out her vote from home ballots (she gets help from the nursing home)
Zombie Joe's AUTOPEN sent a "non profit" run by election denier Stacy Abrams $2 billion to fund electric appliance upgrades for underserved communities'. This was in the Green New Deal funding under the Inflation Reduction Act. She replaced 1,500 refrigerators according to her website. $2 billion could purchase 1,000,000 "mid-range" refrigerators that sell for $2,000. 998,500 homes are still waiting for their Stacy Refrigerators, I guess.
Democrats have a lot of nerve complaining about budgets.
I did some internet research to find out what, exactly, the Medicaid cuts in the BBB are. It wasn't easy, because most of the information being put out by the MSM, Dem think tanks and hospital/medical lobbyists uses misdirection and euphemism to conceal the basic truth that the cuts are directed at "undocumented" (illegal) migrants and healthy people who aren't working. I had to go to the fourth page of Google to find a piece that was anything but blatant pro-spending propaganda: https://nypost.com/2025/05/23/opinion/republicans-arent-coming-close-to-cutting-medicaid-as-much-as-america-actually-needs/
Republicans are not elected to Congress to support the President. They are elected to support the views of their state's constituents who voted for them, which may or may not be the same as the President's on any particular issue.
Federal debt for local progressions including Obamacares monopolies and practices, university debt forgiveness, illegal aliens support, etc.
@lonejustice ..."Republicans are not elected to Congress to support the President. ..." That's a nice construct, now let's compare Republican-dominated Congress and Republican Presidents, versus Democrat-dominated Congress and Democrat Presidents, and focus the review on the voting records. Which one works to an agreed plan when it comes to legislating, who is more strict at voting along Party lines, and who disregards the voters more?
"'When people see independent thinking on the other side, they cheer,' he said. 'But when those very same people see independent thinking coming from their side, they scorn, ostracize and even censure them.'"
Well, duh!
After his treason, Benedict Arnold was appreciated by the British more than by the Americans. Amazing how that works.
"I had to go to the fourth page of Google …"
Thank you, boatbuilder. I gave up after 3 pages.
Republicans are not elected to Congress to support the President. They are elected to support the views of their state's constituents who voted for them,
No shit. But Tillis was doing neither.
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