Ghosts of Doggerland
@onlylooksharmless.bsky.social
This is a full-time Boris stan account. Even if I'm not posting about Boris, like, ever, I am still stanning Boris.
Though I am an old-er (not an old, just an old-er) I was abs. boggled when I learned about those decisions. I can only imagine how young people who didn't grow up in that society felt.
December 19, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Though I am an old-er (not an old, just an old-er) I was abs. boggled when I learned about those decisions. I can only imagine how young people who didn't grow up in that society felt.
B/c it's not technically about water, I'm curious if you then tell them (& how they react) that once discrimination in public accommodations was illegal, towns across the South filled in their pools so nobody could use them rather than allow them to be integrated, and that they're still filled-in.
December 19, 2025 at 11:00 PM
B/c it's not technically about water, I'm curious if you then tell them (& how they react) that once discrimination in public accommodations was illegal, towns across the South filled in their pools so nobody could use them rather than allow them to be integrated, and that they're still filled-in.
The Republicans spent decades building a political machine dedicated to legitimizing the worst people and the worst beliefs in America, because w/o those people and their hatreds, nobody wants what Republicans are selling. And so those worst people and worst beliefs are now just Republican.
December 19, 2025 at 6:40 PM
The Republicans spent decades building a political machine dedicated to legitimizing the worst people and the worst beliefs in America, because w/o those people and their hatreds, nobody wants what Republicans are selling. And so those worst people and worst beliefs are now just Republican.
The fact that the Dems didn't have a response other than "we're looking at our option" springloaded and ready to go suggests that the Dems are not up to the moment.
I mean, not even an "As expected, the Trump regime breaks the law again to protect wealthy men who traffic children."
I mean, not even an "As expected, the Trump regime breaks the law again to protect wealthy men who traffic children."
December 19, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The fact that the Dems didn't have a response other than "we're looking at our option" springloaded and ready to go suggests that the Dems are not up to the moment.
I mean, not even an "As expected, the Trump regime breaks the law again to protect wealthy men who traffic children."
I mean, not even an "As expected, the Trump regime breaks the law again to protect wealthy men who traffic children."
You model actually wins, tho. Humans respond to signals about the nature of your character. And (truthfully) saying, e.g., "All of us together, nobody gets left behind," tells people they can trust you and vote for you more than quibbling your way into a half-assed "my opponent has a good point".
December 19, 2025 at 2:51 PM
You model actually wins, tho. Humans respond to signals about the nature of your character. And (truthfully) saying, e.g., "All of us together, nobody gets left behind," tells people they can trust you and vote for you more than quibbling your way into a half-assed "my opponent has a good point".
The Yglesias model ensures that nobody respects you, nobody trusts you, and your enemies will beat the hell out of you over and over again.
December 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
The Yglesias model ensures that nobody respects you, nobody trusts you, and your enemies will beat the hell out of you over and over again.
In my first year of high school, the upperclass boys hazed the freshmen boys, often with violence. When they came for me, I fought like hell. One guy got kicked in the face trying to grab my legs. Never came for me again.
The Dems just take it, and so they get hit over and over again.
The Dems just take it, and so they get hit over and over again.
December 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM
In my first year of high school, the upperclass boys hazed the freshmen boys, often with violence. When they came for me, I fought like hell. One guy got kicked in the face trying to grab my legs. Never came for me again.
The Dems just take it, and so they get hit over and over again.
The Dems just take it, and so they get hit over and over again.
Yeah, I know. The purpose of a system is what it does. So one is forced to acknowledge that the purpose of the national Dem ruling class is to convert the money, resources, and hope of the Dem base into sinecures and vacation homes.
Being the Washington Generals is a good gig without expectations.
Being the Washington Generals is a good gig without expectations.
December 19, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Yeah, I know. The purpose of a system is what it does. So one is forced to acknowledge that the purpose of the national Dem ruling class is to convert the money, resources, and hope of the Dem base into sinecures and vacation homes.
Being the Washington Generals is a good gig without expectations.
Being the Washington Generals is a good gig without expectations.
Being a member of the Dem ruling class (electeds, consultocracy, big donors) means that it's always the children who are wrong. They never could have done anything better or differently except maybe centristing and hippie-punching more.
December 19, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Being a member of the Dem ruling class (electeds, consultocracy, big donors) means that it's always the children who are wrong. They never could have done anything better or differently except maybe centristing and hippie-punching more.
There's a sucker born every minute. And a surprising percentage of them are Democratic Senators.
December 18, 2025 at 11:42 PM
There's a sucker born every minute. And a surprising percentage of them are Democratic Senators.
Just a catastrophic dumpster fire of a clusterfuckup by the Dems, passing a bill which had a 50/50 chance of mandating the sale of a massively popular youth media outlet in a process controlled by Trump.
Much like the Dems now trying to repeal Section 230. Worse-than-useless empty suits.
Much like the Dems now trying to repeal Section 230. Worse-than-useless empty suits.
December 18, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Just a catastrophic dumpster fire of a clusterfuckup by the Dems, passing a bill which had a 50/50 chance of mandating the sale of a massively popular youth media outlet in a process controlled by Trump.
Much like the Dems now trying to repeal Section 230. Worse-than-useless empty suits.
Much like the Dems now trying to repeal Section 230. Worse-than-useless empty suits.
Jesus, Joe, don't give them any ideas.
December 18, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Jesus, Joe, don't give them any ideas.
Poe's Law is a harsh mistress.
December 18, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Poe's Law is a harsh mistress.
Solidarity is the only way through, and that doesn't mean "do whatever the furthest right / most bigoted member of the Dem ruling class wants."
December 18, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Solidarity is the only way through, and that doesn't mean "do whatever the furthest right / most bigoted member of the Dem ruling class wants."
E.g.:
"Republicans tripled the cost of your health insurance, made it almost impossible for people to become nurses, are closing your hospital, and keeping doctors out of the US. Their plan is that only them and their rich buddies get health care. You, your parents & children, just suffer and die."
"Republicans tripled the cost of your health insurance, made it almost impossible for people to become nurses, are closing your hospital, and keeping doctors out of the US. Their plan is that only them and their rich buddies get health care. You, your parents & children, just suffer and die."
December 18, 2025 at 3:33 PM
E.g.:
"Republicans tripled the cost of your health insurance, made it almost impossible for people to become nurses, are closing your hospital, and keeping doctors out of the US. Their plan is that only them and their rich buddies get health care. You, your parents & children, just suffer and die."
"Republicans tripled the cost of your health insurance, made it almost impossible for people to become nurses, are closing your hospital, and keeping doctors out of the US. Their plan is that only them and their rich buddies get health care. You, your parents & children, just suffer and die."
"Shall there be two cities of Minas Morgul, grinning at each other across a dead land filled with rottenness?"
December 18, 2025 at 3:26 PM
"Shall there be two cities of Minas Morgul, grinning at each other across a dead land filled with rottenness?"
[Sigh] If one is old enough, one got trained in seeing reality in part by seeing through W's bullshitting us into invading and trying to colonize Iraq. One also got trained in being called anti-American and pro-bad-guy for simply looking at the facts as they actually were.
December 18, 2025 at 3:17 PM
[Sigh] If one is old enough, one got trained in seeing reality in part by seeing through W's bullshitting us into invading and trying to colonize Iraq. One also got trained in being called anti-American and pro-bad-guy for simply looking at the facts as they actually were.
Long before that. Nixon, at least. And Reagan.
December 18, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Long before that. Nixon, at least. And Reagan.
Scrupfair, he was elected twice on the basis of that behavior, and the Republicans have decades of history winning elections on transparent bullshit and pandering to bigotry, and building the fascism machine Trump is now riding. Trump is a difference of degree, not kind.
December 18, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Scrupfair, he was elected twice on the basis of that behavior, and the Republicans have decades of history winning elections on transparent bullshit and pandering to bigotry, and building the fascism machine Trump is now riding. Trump is a difference of degree, not kind.
This is the right realpolitik calculus for most corporations. They know that the Republicans will punish them for perceived transgressions, and they know that the Dems won't. So even where they don't already agree with the Republicans, there's no balancing fear of consequences.
December 18, 2025 at 2:35 PM
This is the right realpolitik calculus for most corporations. They know that the Republicans will punish them for perceived transgressions, and they know that the Dems won't. So even where they don't already agree with the Republicans, there's no balancing fear of consequences.
They have plans for the military, newly whitesized for domestic operations. The main political question in the US at this point is whether the full-time military will fire on civilians inside the country. We already know the internal security forces will, and want to again.
December 18, 2025 at 2:30 PM
They have plans for the military, newly whitesized for domestic operations. The main political question in the US at this point is whether the full-time military will fire on civilians inside the country. We already know the internal security forces will, and want to again.
Law schools, especially the elite law schools, are just amoral weapons factories. They pursue and honor power and money more than anything else. If you can get that morally, great. If not, also fine. Sam Alito is as good as Thurgood Marshall, better, b/c he's a Harvard man.
December 18, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Law schools, especially the elite law schools, are just amoral weapons factories. They pursue and honor power and money more than anything else. If you can get that morally, great. If not, also fine. Sam Alito is as good as Thurgood Marshall, better, b/c he's a Harvard man.
Mister, we could use a man like Smedley Butler again.
December 18, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Mister, we could use a man like Smedley Butler again.
The last 11 months have shown that Congressional appropriations are more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules.
It's pretty much all a regime slush fund at this point.
It's pretty much all a regime slush fund at this point.
December 18, 2025 at 1:32 AM
The last 11 months have shown that Congressional appropriations are more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules.
It's pretty much all a regime slush fund at this point.
It's pretty much all a regime slush fund at this point.