If you’re a Republican Senator, you’d better not go fishing with any of your Democrat friends. Especially if the friend’s name is Al and he reads the New York Times.

That’s because in the upcoming fight over a new SCOTUS pick, the NYT is advising Dems to go Full Godfather on the GOP.

Here’s what the NYT editorial board wrote:

“This is all the more reason for Democrats and progressives to take a page from “The Godfather” and go to the mattresses on this issue.”

Go to the mattresses? Is the NYT calling for mob violence, à la The Godfather?

I’m confused on if 1. Anyone on The NY Times Ed Board has seen The Godfather or if 2. They have and are suggesting starting a murderous mob war to prevent a SCOTUS pick.

— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) July 7, 2018

So does this mean that GOP Senators should avoid toll booths?

And they shouldn’t meet with Democrat acquaintances in bars?

Because they might be sleeping with the fishes soon?

Hold on, though. Is the NYT really calling for violence? After all, my husband, who loves all things Godfather (well, except for Godfather III) tells me that “go to the mattresses” really means to ‘go into hiding.’

Then again, the man isn’t Italian, much less Sicilian. And his idea of good Italian food is a Works Pizza from Papa John’s (thin crust, though).

Well, he’s partially right. According to Urban Dictionary, at one time the phrase did mean to go to a safe space. However, thanks to the Godfather movies and later, the Sopranos series, it now means “prepare for battle.”

Moreover, the NYT piece continues with this bit of advice for progressives:

“This call to arms may sound overly dramatic. It’s not.”

So I guess it’s not enough to merely harass Trump’s staff in public, à la Mad Maxine Waters. Nor is it too shocking for an adult male to assault a teenager for simply wearing a MAGA hat. Now we have the New York Times, the esteemed “Paper of Record,” advising readers to “go to the mattresses” over a Supreme Court pick. And then to say their “call to arms” isn’t at all over the top.

Shame on you, New York Times. Put the gun down. And take the cannolis.