321 Comments

I feel sure banks keep records of withdrawals. Did you think this through, Senator (tenure pending)?

Expand full comment

I know Tom Cotton doesn't understand that outside the Republican party, character matters. Crime is a big deal to some people, and we don't like having criminals in our government. Yes, even white criminals.

Expand full comment

Menendez is toast. He should resign.

Expand full comment

Soon as I saw the name and picture of Senator Tom Cotton, I knew his words would be both inane and unprincipled. He didn't disappoint me. But everybody else who follows Wonkette knew it too.

Judas Iscariot on a Harley-Davidson, these people.

Expand full comment

Yeah, you gotta know this is seriously chafing the asses of some GQPers, because they'd *love* to be trumpeting about getting him out of the Senate and hanging him like an albatross around the Dems' collective neck, but then Their Guy has 91 felony indictments hanging over his head and they're busy saying how he's not been proven guilty yet and therefore he's perfectly okay to run for POTUS again. I guess there's still some lines of cognitive dissonance they won't cross.

Expand full comment

Unless my senators' fingers are broken and they can't hold a pen, I'd like to know why Murray and Cantwell haven't signed the damn letter yet?

Expand full comment

"New Jersey deserves a corrupt senator with a brain in their head."

Uhhhh....do they?

Expand full comment

Menendez pulling the racism card when he gets caught has deep, uncomfortable Kevin Spacey pulling the homophobia card when he got caught vibes and he should really think twice about doing that.

Expand full comment

Probably others have already said this, but just in case not ... if Menendez really did withdraw all this cash over the past 30 years, then he should have no trouble proving it, by showing bank statements.

I have to wonder why no reporting on this claim, that I have seen, has made this point.

Expand full comment

Probably because everyone considered this claim too ludicrous to be worth refuting.

Fetterman: "You know what we keep in our house for emergencies? A flashlight"

Expand full comment

That does make sense, I have to admit, but I also have to say, sometimes it is the job of the professional reporter to make things crystal clear. Because what is obvious to people like us might well not be obvious to others. In a country where nearly half the voters still support Trump, let's not bet on the critical thinking skills of the citizenry, writ large.

Expand full comment

Accountingsisms is difficultish.

Expand full comment

"Not sure what’s holding up the others," - obviously because if Dems push too hard Menendez will caucus with the GOP

Expand full comment

Its call being "Sinemaized"

Expand full comment

Interesting thought.

Expand full comment

lol - the R's now have to walk the line between 'he's a crook' and 'crooks deserve to serve in office' - that is gonna be a hoot

Expand full comment

They’ll just invoke the IOKIYAR rule.

Expand full comment

Senator Menendez is up for re-election in 2024, and with this hanging over his head, I can't see how the hell he expects to get re-elected, whether he's culpable or otherwise. New Jersey is a Democratic state, but the Dem. governor won by only a little bit in 2020. It's Menendez's decision, but if he were to resign now, his successor might have a better shot at winning a full term in 2024. Just how difficult it can be, though, to get these guys to relinquish their hopes or delusions of "loyal support" is evident by Trump's choosing insurrection over accepting irrelevance and a possible old age spent in prison.

Expand full comment

Cotton backing up Menendez is as good of a kiss of death as anything. Ideally Menendez will see the writing on the wall and step down.

Expand full comment

Mene, mene, tekel Menedez.

Expand full comment

I will cop to having been "inspired" by an old, old, old New York Magazine puzzle (Mary Ann Madden, remember her?) in which a winning contestant told the story of star running back Upharsin who was swarmed by defenders and the ensuing headline:

"Many, Many, Tackle Upharsin"

Expand full comment

"Kirsten Gillibrand (don’t even start in the comments)"

Thanks, Stephen.

Expand full comment

Glad to see Ohio's only *good* Senator on the list of 17.

Expand full comment

Glad to see my two peeps, Markey and Warren on the list!

Expand full comment

If more and more members of your party are calling for your resignation while people like Stephen Miller and Tom Cotton are supporting you remaining in office, it's time for some serious reflection on your determination to stay in office.

Expand full comment