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Toby Buckle

@polphilpod.bsky.social

15K followers 1.9K following 4.7K posts

Host of the Political Philosophy Podcast & occasional writer. US & UK politics, philosophy, religion, & the odd food pics.

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 24d

the UK's new anti-trans rules are indefensible & will make global fascism stronger

my latest with @liberalcurrents.com

www.liberalcurrents.com/britains-bat...

Britain’s Bathroom Ban

The UK has gone from a bathroom ban being unthinkable to a Labour government implementing one without a vote

www.liberalcurrents.com

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 8h

gotta hand it to the . . . *checks notes* catholic church

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 8h

this is the energy we need

Rich Raho @richraho.bsky.social · 10h

Chicago priest Fr. Larry Dowling describes procession to ICE facility: “No one had the courage to speak directly to us. No one from Homeland Security could stand in the presence of the Monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament. No wonder. Evil is repelled, recoils in the presence of Christ.”

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 9h

it seems like the median score for a national dem, with i think a fairly generous model (again, i'm not 2nd guessing public statements, as long as they're consistent), is a C

so, yeah, room to improve

& seems like party leadership is worse than rank & file

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 9h

maybe, although it does weight that quiet heavily, it's 1 of 7 & wouldn't have made that much of a difference here

- trippling it (3 of 10) maybe gets van hollen up to a B, it would boost some lower level dems, but from the main ones . . .there's less to speak of

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 9h

i agree that does seem to leave a bit of a gap. on the other hand, i'm trying to create a measure that's as objective as possible - it's not just my read of someone

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 9h

i'm reasonably explicit about this, i take into account statements, actions, votes, but not "do we buy that the person is sincere?"

bsky.app/profile/polp...

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 19h

a few provisos (this will be the 'method' thread, i'll do another for the results)

- i'm just going by public statements & actions, i'm not trying to judge if someone means it in their heart of hearts

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Reposted by Toby Buckle

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 14h

christ, i shudder to think what a UK version of this would show

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 17h

i made a model to assign scores for how robustly US politicians oppose fascism & graded 13 leading dems

criteria & method QTed, individual results in 🧵 below:

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Reposted by Toby Buckle

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 17h

i made a model to assign scores for how robustly US politicians oppose fascism & graded 13 leading dems

criteria & method QTed, individual results in 🧵 below:

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 13h

that's a good one

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 13h

I want something that poses an equivalent "difficulty" to the US one - ie demands active opposition, but is by no means unrealistic

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 13h

keep in mind, what we're trying to get at is how actively they oppose global fascism, not issue agreement *as such*

so like even 'pro trans rights' i'm using as a proxy for how far they think this can be appeased

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 13h

you know what? i'm gonna do this (tomorrow)

give me feedback on what the (UK) criteria should be - some (pro trans, calling it fascism) will directly port, others (court reform) won't

bsky.app/profile/polp...

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 21h

i want a "resistance ranking" for dems that grades them on how seriously they're taking this

something like support for:

1. prosecuting gop criminality
2. court reform
3. procedural agressiveness
4. end ICE
5. trans rights
6. calling this fascism

+ points for having taken personal risks

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 14h

maybe something for tomorrow

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 14h

the fact that i don't want to & it feels like the results will be very grim indeed is maybe a reason to do it

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 14h

you'd obviously have to regig the criteria a bit & run if for all the centre-left party leaders, not just labour

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 14h

christ, i shudder to think what a UK version of this would show

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 17h

i made a model to assign scores for how robustly US politicians oppose fascism & graded 13 leading dems

criteria & method QTed, individual results in 🧵 below:

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Reposted by Toby Buckle

skelly @iid.bsky.social · 14h

This is a fantastic idea, I’ve been thinking for ages we need our own way to call out “DINOs” constructively instead of just indulging in this endless cynicism about all Dems

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 17h

i made a model to assign scores for how robustly US politicians oppose fascism & graded 13 leading dems

criteria & method QTed, individual results in 🧵 below:

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Reposted by Toby Buckle

Elliot @1t2ls.bsky.social · 15h

i really like this concept.
i think one of the things that could save the democratic party is cohering around a clear shortlist of promises and priorities. this is a step toward that.

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 17h

i made a model to assign scores for how robustly US politicians oppose fascism & graded 13 leading dems

criteria & method QTed, individual results in 🧵 below:

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 15h

in general the only sane answer to "why should i listen to you!?" is . . . idk, maybe don't if i get on your nerves?

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 15h

like, you might still think i know nothing about it - god knows plenty of people who've worked in politics don't

but i don't think the standing concern really hits - american dad, american wife, lived the majority of my adult life there

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 15h

"you're british, why should i listen to you about US politics?"

well, i'm a dual national who's lived in both & spent over a decade working in us electoral politics & progressive activism

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Reposted by Toby Buckle

Steve Sawyer @stevesawyer12.bsky.social · 15h

This 🧵 is interesting, and TBH, quite disappointing. Toby’s criteria, if anything, represents a fairly low bar. But it reinforces my gut-level impression that we have VERY few politicians who are meeting the needs of this moment.

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 17h

i made a model to assign scores for how robustly US politicians oppose fascism & graded 13 leading dems

criteria & method QTed, individual results in 🧵 below:

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 15h

pritzker got a 5 in that for saying that, you'd need to be more explicit to go higher "X broke Y law and should be arrested" or actively use the powers you have to prosecute

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 15h

& if it was really interesting, give my podcast or newsletter a subscribe -

www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/emailupdates

Email Updates

www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com

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Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 16h

well, that was my morning

if that was interesting, give it a share

bsky.app/profile/polp...

Toby Buckle @polphilpod.bsky.social · 17h

i made a model to assign scores for how robustly US politicians oppose fascism & graded 13 leading dems

criteria & method QTed, individual results in 🧵 below:

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