Not a fully formed thought, but it seems that part of the disconnect is basically "popularity with who?" If we accept as inevitable that some people matter more in US politics - rich people who fund campaigns, for example, or likely voters in swing states - then it's easy to ignore these polls.

rust is so good if you and 3 or 4 friends ever want to waste 3 straight weeks of your life trying to progress the gun tech tree only to have all your progress erases in 20 minutes by a clan of 23 high school freshmen who spent their winter break monopolizng all the sulfer on the server

This is why Rust actually fucks because it’s like if war was Gmod

Thats also what GTA roleplay is like. 3 hours of sitting around before you get called on the radio to go to a shootout.

Hours of boredom, moments of terror

Metaphysically, that's just Eve Online

Yeah youtu.be/yuTkgi7scKo?... "...the most true-to-life military game ever created, with the majority of gameplay spent hauling equipment and filling out paperwork."

“wait, fuck, nevermind, the artillery got stuck in the mud and we can’t attack yet”

genuinely arma is only fun if you have someone willing to be gamemaster/squad lead. you have to have someone that's willing to drive the mission forward and also help explain the zillion mechanics otherwise it's just a walking sim. fun as fuck to get shot at in tho

I disagree with Will Stancil on most counts here, with the notable exception that anyone attempting to replicate Kat Abu's strategy in a Republican state would probably be hit with politically motivated voter interference and even RICO charges.

That is a legal risk most candidates can't afford

While I don't think most candidates can count having the CEO of one of the most recognizable media brands in America as their partner, I can see people prefer replicating this across wards and towns and cities and congressional districts rather than getting a million scam PAC texts from consultants

Every resident in 82% Hispanic Union City, NJ has their Mayor and State Sen. Brian P. Stack's cell phone, and they can expect him to show up at their doorstep for anything as minute as a house fire or a turkey.

In return, Stack can count on their votes — for himself and whoever he endorses.

They’re not anti-immigrant. They’re anti-Black & brown.

They’re using immigration as the vehicle to enact an anti-Black & brown agenda.

Hence…
- Removing legal status for those here legally
- Kidnapping citizens that look Black & brown
- Privileging white South African immigrants

I'm looking forward to Melania cutting a PSA in her heavily-accented English about the urgent need to halt all immigration in order to save America from ruin.