What he's saying is that he's no longer going to be beholden to constituents, since he's not seeking re-election.

It's pathetic that he feels the need to not run again rather than fight. And it's pathetic that this is how their party is run, and ours too. Is there anyone who stands up for us, the constituents?

Really George? You certainly helped build this heritage society CNP fueled unitary executive bullshit. It’s too late to change your position. You got exactly what you helped build. Take a seat already.

that's not how their voters work

Too bad we have so many weaklings in both the house and senate. Making reasonable decisions builds a great foundation to run on regardless of what trumpf says. Bullies can’t stand people confronting them.

It’s about time ! Maybe the rest of them will find their spin and balls ! 🤷‍♀️

The American Experiment is over - and it failed. When we rebuild this Government after the coming Civil War - that Bicameral Congress Bullsh*t needs to go. The Senate wasn't created to enhance Democracy - it was created to protect the wealth of the few from the will of the many. F*ck the Senate.

Tillis could have done this a long time ago & didn’t. He’s trying to be a hero now that he’s announced he’s not running for reelection. He’s not a public servant; he’s a self promoting fraudster trying to make himself look good. He couldn’t have been reelected with or without Trump’s endorsement.

What a novel idea. An elected representative of millions of people promises to stand up and speak the truth as soon as he leaves office. Such courage…

Spoken like a true coward

He always DID have the freedom, he just chose to be complicit.

Sounds like we need to take the Lobbyists out of the game...

A 2-party system is only 1 party away from an authoritarian regime. Good luck, USA, we'll meet you again at the other end of this total freaking disaster. We lived through this hell 100 years ago. You didn't, yet. - Europeans.

Well they do it when it’s a dem admin don’t they? I don’t recall any time they let Biden off the hook. They’re afraid of the dictator.

Trump learned the effectiveness of snatching someone's balls when Nancy Pelosi took his, and put them in her purse, where they reside to this day. That's what he's done to the entire Republican party. This is also why MAGAts put fake balls on their pickup trucks. They are all impotent men.

They got no balls, they got no guts, they go no brains... but they got money...

There really is far too much ‘team’ in politics nowadays.

The sheer cowardice that Republicans exhibit because they are afraid of being primaried goes a long way to suggest that some form of term limits are needed.

Republican men are such pussies that they can’t stand up to trump.

If they had, perhaps the US government wouldn't have turned into a fascist regime

He needs to KICK the balls of this felon and his criminal administration.

Conservative ideology supports autocracy, not democracy. trump isn't an anomaly, he's the culmination of years of this country sliding ever right-ward, succumbing to the fear induced by Republican politicians manipulating the ignorant masses to achieve their ideological goals.

Ha! Nothing like being held hostage by your own party. Isn't that kind of like being a self-hostage, though?

Who cares if Trump primaries him with another sycophant? Doesn't he have enough faith that if he stood for his constituents (knowing that they would be hurt by this bill), that they also will stand up for him? 'Oh ye of so little faith'! It’s past time to standup to this orange bully!

The political art of censure removes the independent mind from the system. Money dictates everything and corporate ownership of policy makers is why we the people will never be represented. Our only chance of government for the people is to strike down Citizens United.

So, act with integrity. Hmmm. I like it!

The fact that our mobster president is calling and threatening members of his own party so he himself can get a tax cut and more power is gut wrenching. We need to end this now.

His tans cost too much.

He always had the right but not the courage to do so.

Don't you mean lick balls and dicks?

He gives it away, doesn’t he? “looks forward to” Iow’s like the rest of his kind he failed his job responsibility of check & balances on the Executive Branch. Find your consciences, Congress ppl!

A US Senator or member of Congress should ALWAYS call the balls and strikes as he or she sees fit...and then explain their rationale for the vote to their constituents, and live with the consequences.

I think that's called HAVING balls, which apparently none of them are in possession of.

Sad that it has become this extreme. There has always been “party loyalty” in the voting on Capitol Hill. But Trump and McConnell made it an evil, noxious thing sucking all the oxygen out of the air. So maybe not a bad thing to distinguish “normal” partisanship from “toxic” partisanship. 1/2

2/2 But are American voters capable of making this distinction, when their chief complaint is, “the parties are the same”? I liked someone else’s suggestion: voters get a card identifying as the policies (party) they voted for, and those are the govt benefits they get.

He always had that right, just didn’t possess the moral stature to do so. Zero sympathy or kudos for Tillis from me.

I will take moral stature upgrade for $1,000 please!

I totally get your point, but if we can kudo this into a domino effect, I’m all for it. Other Republicans need to watch this and see that he’s fine.

Unless they’re retiring as well…they are spineless. No chance of that domino effect.

Then the Dems have an opportunity to replace them.

He always had that ability! Bunch of chickenshits!

money changes everything.

The gift that keeps on giving.

What's stopping him from calling balls and strikes as he sees fit now? If more Republicans would band together and confront trump, we might not be in this predicament. What are they afraid of?

Hope others follow

Let's hope it's contagious!

This is Trumps America?

Imagine a country with elected officials not beholden to dozens of special interest for donations. Remove the money from elections is the only solution. The added benefit, the republican party would disappear.

and they're presenting a case before our POS SCOTUS as we speak to eliminate limits on the amount of money political parties can spend on candidates' campaigns!

There are a lot of things wrong with our elections and representation, but Citizens United put us on the fast track here.

What TERM LIMITS are all about buddy!

Our political system is broken.

So he’s admitting he has no balls to fight for America … Trump not the people own his soul. Oops there it is!

Too little too late. But maybe he can use his remaining time talking to Collin’s and Murkowski to suggest they follow his lead.

Cuz lobbyists give donations doesn't mean the taker has to do their bidding. Donation, by definition comes without strings, it was via custom that donors demanded returns. but since custom, norms, presumption of good will & Rule of Law are now dead or gasping their last take the $ but do whatev.

Amazed that has finally found his balls*....

kind of a pussy thing to say, i think.

Tillis never had and never will have the courage to umpire.

Wait. Isn’t that their JOBS?? To look out for and protect their constituents??? How bout grow a damn pair and DO YOUR GD JOBS!!! Why are you all cowering to one old and PATHETIC piece of SHIT tv actor???????

This is the true man crisis destroying our society: the complete collapse of integrity and courage on the right.

They are sniveling, little moral cowards

Isn’t being elected to office just that.?????

Tillis has the opportunity to be written into the history books as either a good villain or a weak evil villain. That will depend on who is left with the sharpie pen in their hand.

Why do we even have Congress anymore. What purpose do they serve other than performative government?

Term limits. And you only get health care while you’re in office. After that, find your own like the rest of us.

Members of Congress obtain their insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. That's the Grassley Amendment.

Thank you 👍 I didn’t know that. He seemed to really believe that what applies to us, should apply to them. What happened to that guy??

I think Grassley proposed the amendment as a poison pill.

Remember John McCain? This is NOT a new idea.

bsky.app/profile/alge...

He gave up his freedom. In advance. They all did.

I believe that’s what we call “integrity”

If he wasn't doing that already then he should immediately resign since he was not representing the people in any way

Yeah, blah, blah, blah.

The WORST thing to happen in #politics was when it became a CAREER CHOICE. That’s when politicians focussed on own interests instead of those of constituents. It’s OBSCENE that politicians can remain in office 30, 40, 50+ years. Two Term Limit for ALL POLITICIANS. One 10 year term for #SCOTUS.

False analogy. WE tell you what's a ball, and what's a strike. YOU're supposed to fucking LISTEN!

I live in Alabama. I don't want my senators to listen to the white Republican majority. Sixty percent of the population would not be displeased if the other 40 percent left. Members of Congress should study the bills and the potential effects, then do what is best for the most people.

Where has he been for the past 6 months?

I don't understand why they are such twisted thinkers. Call me crazy but, it seems people would always support someone who fights for them, and not the felon.

The Devil's greatest trick was convincing people like Tillis that they don't have that freedom already.

If it's any consolation, I was planning to vote this charlatan out anyway.

We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both. Louis D. Brandeis.

We can do this...

Yes but they are scared of MAGA. Both for their political life and actual life

I”ll believe it when I see it.

We'll see waiting in the cave

Karma finally caught up with Thom Tillis. He should have been calling balls and strikes all along.

Wow, that kinda sounds like integrity and leadership. Maybe they can order some from Amazon. Nah!

Let’s see how that part plays out. If he really “calls ‘em as he sees ‘em,” he’ll be ducking plenty of Trump/MAGA “spitballs.”

Exactly. If you can't call the balls then grow some.

As of today/last night Tillis is not running for reelection in 2026 😱…Stay tuned www.yahoo.com/news/why-rep...

that is a seat that should be flipped. Thinking the House AND Senate could be in play at the midterms.

Meaning that's not what he's been doing during his time in Congress. Only now.

So true.

Indeed 🤔why else do they serve

They don’t understand that in the end, growing a spine and voting against this bill may actually be what propels them in the midterms

Purely coward of him

We're glad he's out. We just need to vote well in 2026 so we don't get a worse piece of trash in here (NC)

Hopefully, you get to vote 😞

WTF TOOK HIM SO LONG? A LITTLE LATE! WOULDVE BEEN NICE HAD HE SPOKEN OUT BEFORE THIS HITLER AUTHORITARIAN REGIME GOT VOTED INTO OFFICE! WE’VE LIST OUR COUNTRY TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE LACKING EDUCATION AND COMMON SENSE! WHERE ARE ALL OUR BRILLIANT WORLD LEADERS?

Calling balls and strikes doesn’t matter if you’re not in the game.

but isn't that John Roberts erstwhile job?

Past balls and strikes. They need to be throwing bean balls.

You already lost your balls! And no one trust your strikes! COWARD!💩👿🤬

Unfortunately, none of the senators have any balls.

And who is that going to help? Not his constituents.

He a Free Agent… the others will call Stockholm syndrome in about 2 years

If ya wanna call balls & strikes, ya gotta have some balls to strike back with in the first place…..

Yep ☎️202-224-3121 and tell senate to #VoteNo

The only balls they call are Trumps in their face.

He could fucking do that NOW

Geez, just think how much Tillis' hands could have been tied if he were a Democrat. Right now his side is the umpire and Dems are the ball hitters (or ball misses), however you see it. Go enjoy life, the Orange Blob wants to make your life miserable. Then, he makes everyone's life misserable.

We’ll see, if his vision stinks, his “freedom” is no guarantee to the freedom of others in the US

It seems extremely rare but there seems still one or two of GOP-congressmen who still keeps one’s morality n integrity intact rather than bow-down to the threat of the Psycho-Felon-WH. May GOD bless Sen Tills’ heart-soul wz Holy-Spirit’s double touch havG GOD’s blessings overflowG his heart-soul.

But why don’t they do that all the time ??????

So Tillis is just now realizing what his actual job is? Good riddance.

Fuck Tillis and fuck trump

More GOP Sens and Reps should set themselves free. Those in swing districts are damned if they vote for the bill in the general election and damned if they don't in the primaries.

Nowadays Congress is like watching a puppet and a clown show simultaneously: Clowns on Strings

🤭

Tom Tillis, it was your responsibility to ALWAYS do right by the American people. YOU'VE chosen, over the years, to cave to unpatriotic and corrupt practices. You've helped ruin our country and destroy our democracy. Shame on you!

Would be interesting if he finally stood up on national tv and told all that the R party is being threatened 24/7, & it was never about cuts or constituents

He's responsible for putting the American people and himself in this position.

So, Senator Thom Tillis voted FOR the accounting trick that hides the true cost of Trump's billionaire tax cut.

What a disgusting weakling of a Senator

What's really disgusting is that the rest of them are just like him...

Remember the wonderful moment when John McCain turned thumbs down to kill passage of a terrible bill? It was heroic. I wish some of today’s republicans would be brave enough to prove to their constituents and the American people, that they care about us, and don’t work solely for DJT.

Many Senators will still be in office long after the Curmudgeon in Chief is gone and should have the backbone, but they honestly care more about their corporate donors and enriching themselves than helping their constituents.

Right? People have given a shit-ton more for this country. What are you in that position to do, if not stand up for what's right?

Get the big, dark money out of politics and you’ll reduce the stranglehold the major parties have on government. Senators should be leaders on par with a president, not his lackeys.

Too bad these cowards did not realize they ALWAYS had the power but were to afraid to use it. Pathetic. History will have a name for them and it win’t be kind.

A rogue member of the republican party, it's about fucking time, what a bunch of cowards they are, afraid of a lying sack of shit

Fully agree! And the same goes for house members!!

He's always had that freedom...

Proof he was a coward up till now… Sad

Trump seems to enjoy games involving balls so why is he playing with the members of the house and Senate.

bsky.app/profile/sahi...

Anyone remember what happened when Julius Caesar made emergency war powers permanent and bent the Roman Senate to his will? Let’s just say it didn’t end well for Caesar. Or Rome, for that matter.

I still think senators must consider the needs of the entire nation, not just their constituents. I say this as a Californian represented by two senators (for 39,700,000 population), compared with, say, the Dakotas served by four senators (for a combined 1,735,122 population).

California has 23x the population of the Dakotas combined, but half the representation in the Senate. But sure, senators should prioritize serving their constituents.

Ya. We need 20 senators!

Now if only some others would take the hint.

They're all self brokers who serve zero constiuents. Nobody seems to care.

He always had that power- he gave it away.

Easy to cast stones. My wife said she actually felt Tillis did as well as he could under the circumstances. My stance is the circumstances matter but do not overrule what is best for the people. Right should win out over might every time. We are not there yet.

Which should have ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE! You should always put the interests of the American people & your constituents FIRST! This is why our politicians are constantly failing us!

Call me an idealist but Congress members are there to answer to their constituents not the President. If they can't commit to doing that then they need to resign their seat. We have a wanna be Mafia Don who's a Hitler fan boy as our countries leader. Calling him President degrades the title.

100%

At this crossroads I will take Tillis's way of doing what he needed to do without criticism. He is speaking his mind and it's what we've all wanted from the Republicans. If he's had it; he's had it. Leave a hole when it comes to voting. We'll take it. There likely won't be anymore elections anyway.

I guess that's why he couldn't find his until now?

Tell us what you know Tillis before we say good riddance!

I think ALL Republicans are like that now.They have been to follow Krasnov and be in agreement with anything. What do care: $174000.00 annually Free healthcare All the perks politics bring. And dont worry Krasnov will always tell you when to buy stocks. When its a good time and when its bad!

One Republican Senator has the guts to stand up to the 🍊💩’s billionaire bullshit bill? Just one? The rest get bribed with local pork, threatened with getting primaried, or promised a lucrative payoff. Closing hospitals/nursing homes & denying healthcare to desperate families should get all NO votes.

Trump says if Mamdani is elected mayor of NYC, he, Trump, will de-fund NYC. LEGAL? This says what about democracy?

And it's sad that this even needs to be said.

It figuratively takes balls to call balls and strikes. Tillis is the poster 'boy' of today's @GOP

I thought that was the ǰob of everyone in government with thìat view based on the benefit for the public.

Out from under the specter of Extortion, Tom Tillis will feel free to speak openly. All House & Senate members CHOSE to Capitulate to their Convicted Felon leader, unconditionally in 1.0. Doing so they're enslaved to his every whim; legal or not!! No matter how it goes against their TRUE Morals!!

I meant to say All GOP members

So what did they do ,have him chained and shackled, that he couldn’t call his balls and strikes while he’s still an active member of Congress without announcing he was retiring. I call that a coward.

If Congress acted together, they could put a stop to anything Dwumpy wanted to do in a heartbeat. But NOOO. They're all a bunch of cowards that don't want to enrage MAGAs or Twumpy . R's have no bottom. Broke their oath's, won't do the right thing, don't respect their voters. Lie, cheat, steal.

So what we have here is a quandary. People keep voting the same clowns into office and that’s where it’s got to stop. That’s if we even have voting anymore by the time this crew shreds our constitution.

Yep

THEY ALL have had this option, though few if any exercise it.

Did he not understand that the ENTIRE POINT of being elected is to LEAD? To HAVE the judgment and WILL to stand up and call the winners and losers? These people are pathetic.

why was tillis not free to do so before? i hate this kind of chicken 💩 behavior

hopefully these new retirees will write a book and be honest about the threats they were receiving that kept them in line. Notice that quite a few of them change parties after their leave.

Better hide from the vigilanties at his door.

They are all fuckin pussies

So why can't he do that now??? What's trump got on all these chumps??? Did they ever have balls?? I'd be spewing if they were my local representative... weak insipid cowards, their cowardice has contributed to the total lack of respect the world has for American politicians & the political system..

Totally agree. Not sure what the gripping fear of a primary opponent is. Run and beat them. If you can’t, then it’s time to move on. This has always baffled me.

Interesting to me was how he was STILL a Trump apologist trying to say Trump was being poorly advised. Its a cult.

Sure, nice idea, but you know as much as anyone that electioneering and being candid are incompatible. People want the impossible from the government and vote for whoever promises it the hardest.

Tillis was always the elected official I called when I wanted to express a voting preference. He has maintained his independence better than 99% of GOP lap dogs. Still a Republican, but a shade more honorable.

I appreciate him speaking out, we will see how he votes. However, his praise for Oz was unreal. He thinks Kash is great for the job, and now Oz is knowledgeable and well informed. 🫣🫣

Tillis knew how to destroy Madison Cawthorne. Let him bend those skills on an antiMAG vendetta ride now. Or sit down and stop blustering.

He always had that freedom and so do all the senators.

Speaking of balls, how about having the balls to resist *and* remain?

There is no zone

If you all did that, you would have that freedom ...all the Senate.

The obsession with the next election should not be the driving force of a public servant's votes. It's disgusting and so wrong. Public service was never intended to be a f*cking career. There are more important things than your seat. Selfish, greedy pigs.

They are supposed to be representing their constituents. Maybe if the people were the only ones paying their salaries instead of corporate fat cats & special interests they could be more easily reminded And if their constituents could legally recall them - even better

But again, fuck Thom Tillis. He chose to be a Trumper. He liked the taste of it. At least he got a choice and gets socialized medicine on the taxpayer dime. I hope he ends up pregnant and can’t do anything about it. (Except maybe wait for RFK to treat him)

How many senators even have "Balls" these days?

Mostly the women.

I agree with that observation 100%.

Utterly pathetic how fecklessly impotent and weak the Republican Party has become all at the tiny hands of a child molesting grifter who dodged the U.S. draft.

Stop this budget bill CALL your senators You, your children, grandchildren, and your aging parents are depending on YOU @5calls.org

Anyone who won’t call things as they see them as a congressional representative should resign.

Says a lot about his colleagues.

Four years ago I left the GOP to become independent. After 40 years. I was surprised at the freedom I felt when I no longer had to support the “team.” I now think of myself as a unity independent. You are not completely free until you’re willing to walk away.

The problem as I see it is independent is a party but no one showed up. Meaning, they aren’t organized therefore have no power to affect change. I was a campaign manager for a democratic state house candidate in NC.

There wasn’t any way for us to get information to the unaffiliated’s especially when the incumbent republicans would not attend nonpartisan debates. The fuckers just wouldn’t show up. Even for advertised televised debates. They wouldn’t even fill out a questionnaire.

The thing is, the democrats are the only people fighting against the trump regime and the republicans. Yes, both parties are corporatists but at least the Dems aren’t actively trying to kill us. It’s just really important to pump up democratic registration numbers.

Also, depending on what state you live in, independents aren’t allowed to vote in primaries if your state has closed primaries. Primaries are super important for choosing our candidates. No one is going to take my vote away. More people need to participate in our political process.

Participate. Not separate yourself and be a bystander. Please understand I’m not trying to pick on you. There’s just so many politically naive people out there. I just wanted you to hear a different side.

Good points. Why are there Closed primaries? Just to keep other side from stopping a strong candidate?

Unfortunately each state has their own rules. And you obviously don’t know your state’s. CT closed primaries. NC semi-closed which means you can vote, you just have to pick what party you’re voting on, Dem ballot only has Dems etc.

SC has an open primary, they can all vote with everyone on one ballot. I lived in CT and now in NC (backwards motherfucking state). Have friends in SC so learned about their primaries. Please find out your state’s rules on primaries.

I wish blue sky didn’t limit how many words per post lol

I take advantage of every primary in SC but the "straight ticket" option is lazy and wrong. The lemmings in my county don't even have to think about it.😞

While we’re calling balls and strikes, I’m calling “no balls” for Thom Tillis…and the rest of the Republican Party.

Goddamn right.

Should be able to do it at anytime! I guess if you don’t have nuts or a spine you have to worry about that!

Do Senators really have the power or freedom or are they beholden to the powers that hold their purse strings?

I am glad Tillis is finally doing something good. However, he sure could have helped prevent all of this shit to begin with.

This. He has been sanewashing Trump since his ride down the escalator. I refuse to support him now just because he’s finally found his balls.

A simple solution: If GOP members are truly afraid of Trumps' wrath & they want to dissent but dare not for fear of retaliation against them/their families... RESIGN YOUR SEAT/Let a DEM fill it. CONCEDE YOUR VOTE/Make a DEM vote count SAVE yourself. LEAVE THE CIRCUS TENT. FIND YOUR CONSCIENCE.

Bet you can't name one.

Speaking at f balls, he needs to grow a set

Someone needs to tell the truth about the threats/pressure/blackmail being used to coerce ppl into line.

Maxine Waters did talk about death threats.

If he weren't such a pussy he could have always had that "freedom."

I live in NC. Tillis NOT running is the first good thing he’s done for NC. It’s exactly right that he has ALWAYS had the power to do what was right for NC and not just vote as trump, the clown, told him .

It’s not Trump. It’s the misinformed people following him. They give him the power to abuse

So while being paid to represent the people he was an Absentee Umpire?!

He has the ability call balls and strikes right now !!

Check Tillis’ voting record as a Senator. It’s awful. He’s awful. What’s really awful, though, is that this terrible person isn’t terrible enough the remain in good standing as a member of MAGA GQP.

He is another zero balls idiot repugnant who is giving up on his country.

Why didn’t he before? He allowed himself to be bullied

I understand people when they say these GOP senators and congress members speaking up and opposing Cheeto should have been doing it from day one. Believe me, I want to say is about fucking time you grow a spine. But I feel it’s the wrong message. If people finally grow some ⚽️ ⚽️ s,

We need to welcome them for finally deciding to join us in opposing this fascist prick. The main objective is toppling this unlawful corrupt regime. We can talk about why it took so long to find their courage later. For now it doesn’t do our movement any good to push would be allies away.

Yup. Patting this turd on the back because he does what he should be doing isn’t commendable. Sorry. Not sorry.

By that -- quite possibly-- he means freedom from Death Threats and Maga abuse. I didn't vote for him but he's brave and has been speaking out for some time now in response to his constituents... all of us.

I take some credit for Mr. Tillis growth of an actual spine. I have been writing him respectful letters and emails questioning his support for Trump policies for years. I believe he wants to do the right thing, but he’s caved to Trump over and over. Now he sees the damage!

This is what a democratic elected official should do but unfortunately we are seeing more and more of those elected individuals more concerns about following political parties rules than ensuring that their constituents are being taking care for. True in the US but also in several others countries…

There's no point having Senators if they're not going to call balls and strikes as they see fit.

The GOP side of Congress has abrogated their power to trump. They are fools. Gutless. HE'S A LAME DUCK.

They WILL be primaried. A main reason that can happen because of "Citizens" United that allows the rich to spend unlimited money targeting anyone who dare oppose them.

The silver lining could be that in swing districts, the MAGA might top the incumbent in the primary, but may be too radical for the general election.

I've heard many anecdotal tales for Trump voters finally understanding they've been lied to. In our current information environment, we won't truly know the impact until the midterms, though.

I am hoping that Dems can put together some relentless GOP-type ads hammering loss of services, cost-of-living increase, etc. in swing districts.

They are not just afraid of Trump, but the donor class as well. Trump even claims in one of his "truths" that they should vote in favor of the bill and need not worry about not getting reelected. Likely for 2 reasons: 1) Trump doesn't want elections again; and/or 2) the donor class wants the bill.

So many cowards