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@trousse.bsky.social
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Its interesting in that I don't know if Biden actually fits under the "class traitor framework" - he's from a middle class family and he lived a modest lifestyle before becoming VP. But clearly journalists though otherwise - is it just because he's from a coastal state and thus part of the "elite"?
January 20, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Its interesting in that I don't know if Biden actually fits under the "class traitor framework" - he's from a middle class family and he lived a modest lifestyle before becoming VP. But clearly journalists though otherwise - is it just because he's from a coastal state and thus part of the "elite"?
I think the Mississippi gubernatorial race was gerrymandered at one point (the state had its own electoral college until 2023). But I'm pretty sure that conservatives won the popular vote every time anyway.
January 20, 2026 at 12:26 AM
I think the Mississippi gubernatorial race was gerrymandered at one point (the state had its own electoral college until 2023). But I'm pretty sure that conservatives won the popular vote every time anyway.
It's essentially positing that the average American isn't affected by seeing mass violence against innocent civilians every single day on TV, so long as their personal finances are OK. I just don't think that's true!
January 19, 2026 at 8:37 PM
It's essentially positing that the average American isn't affected by seeing mass violence against innocent civilians every single day on TV, so long as their personal finances are OK. I just don't think that's true!
Idk, I'm no policy expert of any kind, but the idea that "the median voter only cares about inflation" is both wrong (IMO) but also kind of condescending?
January 19, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Idk, I'm no policy expert of any kind, but the idea that "the median voter only cares about inflation" is both wrong (IMO) but also kind of condescending?
Schumer could absolutely use his platform to connect the ICE raids with concerns about everyday life. i.e. "People can't go to the grocery store because of inflation" becomes "people can't go to the grocery story because they're afraid ICE will shoot their car."
January 19, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Schumer could absolutely use his platform to connect the ICE raids with concerns about everyday life. i.e. "People can't go to the grocery store because of inflation" becomes "people can't go to the grocery story because they're afraid ICE will shoot their car."
I think the other thing here is that the defense of Schumer assumes that the median voter's priorities are immutable. I would argue that even if concerns about inflation were grounded in reality, Democrats would still have the ability to raise the salience of other issues that benefit them.
January 19, 2026 at 8:37 PM
I think the other thing here is that the defense of Schumer assumes that the median voter's priorities are immutable. I would argue that even if concerns about inflation were grounded in reality, Democrats would still have the ability to raise the salience of other issues that benefit them.
Reposted by New on site
There's two separate questions, right? Does Schumer suck? And, does it matter if he sucks?
The answer to the first question is "oh yeah, he sucks real bad"
The answer to the second question is that right now it doesn't matter all that much, but that could easily change
The answer to the first question is "oh yeah, he sucks real bad"
The answer to the second question is that right now it doesn't matter all that much, but that could easily change
January 19, 2026 at 7:22 PM
There's two separate questions, right? Does Schumer suck? And, does it matter if he sucks?
The answer to the first question is "oh yeah, he sucks real bad"
The answer to the second question is that right now it doesn't matter all that much, but that could easily change
The answer to the first question is "oh yeah, he sucks real bad"
The answer to the second question is that right now it doesn't matter all that much, but that could easily change
Reposted by New on site
however there is very much a difference between "prosections should be partisan" and "prosections are political," however the messy part is that our political crisis is a partisan one
January 19, 2026 at 3:45 AM
however there is very much a difference between "prosections should be partisan" and "prosections are political," however the messy part is that our political crisis is a partisan one
Reposted by New on site
a lot of american politics fails because politicians want to pretend their job isn't political, its fucking bizarre and inane
January 19, 2026 at 3:44 AM
a lot of american politics fails because politicians want to pretend their job isn't political, its fucking bizarre and inane
It's the same trend in the US: George W Bush, being from Texas, is seen as less of an "urban elite" than someone like John Kerry, even though Bush was born into wealth and grew up in the Houston area
January 19, 2026 at 3:00 AM
It's the same trend in the US: George W Bush, being from Texas, is seen as less of an "urban elite" than someone like John Kerry, even though Bush was born into wealth and grew up in the Houston area
Yeah but Western urbanites can often make themselves seem less "cosmopolitan" (or whatever you want to call it). Like how Albertan politicians will adopt rural/cowboy aesthetics even though most of them live in Edmonton or Calgary
January 19, 2026 at 2:58 AM
Yeah but Western urbanites can often make themselves seem less "cosmopolitan" (or whatever you want to call it). Like how Albertan politicians will adopt rural/cowboy aesthetics even though most of them live in Edmonton or Calgary
Lewis was way too quick to switch to English imo. I'm not expecting them to be perfectly bilingual or anything, but none of them have the profiency of Carney or Singh.
January 19, 2026 at 2:55 AM
Lewis was way too quick to switch to English imo. I'm not expecting them to be perfectly bilingual or anything, but none of them have the profiency of Carney or Singh.
My fear is that this is a sign of rot in the NDP - deliberately abandoning the francophone vote in order to chase Western-alienation types. I hope I'm wrong, but...
January 19, 2026 at 2:42 AM
My fear is that this is a sign of rot in the NDP - deliberately abandoning the francophone vote in order to chase Western-alienation types. I hope I'm wrong, but...
Which makes me think that Boulerice was basically told "you're too cosmopolitan". Same reason why Valérie Plante didn't run.
January 19, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Which makes me think that Boulerice was basically told "you're too cosmopolitan". Same reason why Valérie Plante didn't run.
Absolutely. I wonder if he was talked out of it, though. I'm just an outside observer, but it seems like the NDP is trying to do the "appeal to the white working class/populist" approach that never actually works out. All of the candidates, except McQuail, are from the West.
January 19, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Absolutely. I wonder if he was talked out of it, though. I'm just an outside observer, but it seems like the NDP is trying to do the "appeal to the white working class/populist" approach that never actually works out. All of the candidates, except McQuail, are from the West.
Especially since, from what I can tell, all of them are pretty dismal in French
January 19, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Especially since, from what I can tell, all of them are pretty dismal in French
So at some point, there will need to be a really contrived reason for her to switch directions. But I totally understand why Martin is putting it off - because he'll get harrassed by fans who want the books to be nothing but a bunch of Crusader Kings "master scheming" or whatever.
January 19, 2026 at 1:47 AM
So at some point, there will need to be a really contrived reason for her to switch directions. But I totally understand why Martin is putting it off - because he'll get harrassed by fans who want the books to be nothing but a bunch of Crusader Kings "master scheming" or whatever.
At some point, Daenerys needs to invade Westeros, because that's the reason her character exists in the first place. But each book sees her get further away from Westeros. And it makes sense given the circumstances each time. Realistically, it would make the most sense for her to never leave Essos.
January 19, 2026 at 1:47 AM
At some point, Daenerys needs to invade Westeros, because that's the reason her character exists in the first place. But each book sees her get further away from Westeros. And it makes sense given the circumstances each time. Realistically, it would make the most sense for her to never leave Essos.
He also seems much more focused in making characters act logically/true to their personality at all times, which is understandable! But that doesn't work if you want to fill out an overall arc.
January 19, 2026 at 1:47 AM
He also seems much more focused in making characters act logically/true to their personality at all times, which is understandable! But that doesn't work if you want to fill out an overall arc.