I think every Democratic incumbent should face a primary challenge. If for no other reason than to serve as a "shot across the bow" and remind them that their constituents want someone who is going to fight for them. The ones that have the voters' favor will retain their seats.
I'm reminded of an op-ed I read back in the Occupy Wall Street days. It was written by a rich guy and was basically a plea to other rich folks that if they push things too far and take too much that eventually, as has happened multiple times in history, the rabble will get highly motivated for significant change and heads will figuratively and/or literally roll.
We don't yet know the motivation of the shooter, but based on most of the reactions I saw online to the CEO's murder, I wonder how close we are to a time of head rolling.
Maybe it was just that UnitedHealthcare, with their apparently highest rate of claims denials, was just a particularly hated company.
I just finished The Rise of the Golden Idol. If you liked The Case of the Golden Idol, you'll probably like the sequel. It's more of the same. People messing with power beyond their understanding and you trying to piece together what happened.
Makes perfect sense. In the entire realm of politics, Democrats are the only ones with any sort of agency. Republicans and conservative media certainly had no part in it whatsoever. It was those darned Democrats.
It's funny how much the results are a Rorschach test. Many conservative-leaning folks are saying "obviously, the problem is too much leftist ideology turning off the normies". Whereas more left-leaning folks are saying "obviously, the problem is cozying up the Cheneys and embracing moderate Republicans didn't win over any 'undecideds' and turned off progressives."
To me, at least, things seem less obvious. Other than people upset the world over about the lingering increased cost of goods.
One of these days I'll get back to Factorio. I played a little back when it was in early access, but never got too deep.
I've been busy lately with it's 3D cousin Satisfactory. I could have probably pushed through to the end by now, but I ended up tearing down most of everything to try and improve the layout. After several days, I'll soon by back to making same items I was before the demolition.
Granted, I haven't read the books in a few decades, but ever since Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies I can't help but think how awesome it would be if someone made Dragonlance movies with the same level of skill and dedication (and, of course, money). They could get a second trilogy without even having to absurdly stretch a short prequel.
I'm sure I'll give Fallout: London a shot eventually. But right now I feel burned out on open world RPG style games. I really enjoy them, but there's just so much to do they often eventually end up feeling like a chore.
I've been playing much shorter games from my backlog with interesting stories that leave me wanting more:
Hypnospace Outlaw
The Case of the Golden Idol
Return of the Obra Dinn
Her Story
Eternal Threads
Paradise Killer
The Forgotten City
Trump has a history of obfuscation when it comes to his health. In 2015, he dictated the letter that Dr. Bornstein signed in 2015, which said Trump "will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency". In 2019, he made an unexpected trip to Walter Reed that his staff said was a routine checkup, except nobody knew about it, including the staff at Walter Reed. There were even reports that his stint with COVID got really bad, but that was never officially acknowledged.
Is he hiding anything? I have no idea. But it strikes me as odd that a billionaire and candidate for President is receiving daily treatment from a sitting member of Congress who doesn't have an active medical license (except on military bases) rather than a legitimate medial professional. He's a notorious cheapskate, so maybe he's just saving money. Or maybe he trusts Ronnie from their time together in the White House (where Jackson allegedly earned the name "Candyman" for handing out prescription meds like candy).
So Trump finally had a doctor release info on his wound. Not his primary care physician or the doctors that treated him in Pennsylvania. Former White House physician and sitting Congressman Ronny Jackson, who Trump helped get elected.
I'm sure this will fully satisfy any outstanding questions and put the matter to rest once and for all.
AOC took to Instagram Live last night and reinforced some of my fears, namely many of the folks that want Biden gone also want Harris gone, and there's no real plan and nobody has really thought much about next steps (at least nobody has shared anything with AOC).
It's funny to me that as far a political figures go, it seems the more progressive politicians (Sanders, AOC, Barbara Lee, Omar, Pressley) are backing Biden, while more establishment Democrats (Schumer, Pelosi, Schiff, Warner) are advocating for Biden to step aside. Yet among online comments, it seems switched. The more progressive types seem to mostly want Biden to step down and more moderate voters seem to be backing Biden.
On “Open Mic for the week of 3/24/25”
I think every Democratic incumbent should face a primary challenge. If for no other reason than to serve as a "shot across the bow" and remind them that their constituents want someone who is going to fight for them. The ones that have the voters' favor will retain their seats.
The deadweight should be jettisoned.
On “Open Mic for the week of 2/3/2025”
If anyone was worried about Democrats not rising to the occasion, don't worry, Chuck Schumer has you covered:
https://bsky.app/profile/schumer.senate.gov/post/3lh5nrrtgqc2v
On “From the New York Post: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fatally shot outside Hilton hotel in Midtown in targeted attack: cops”
I'm reminded of an op-ed I read back in the Occupy Wall Street days. It was written by a rich guy and was basically a plea to other rich folks that if they push things too far and take too much that eventually, as has happened multiple times in history, the rabble will get highly motivated for significant change and heads will figuratively and/or literally roll.
We don't yet know the motivation of the shooter, but based on most of the reactions I saw online to the CEO's murder, I wonder how close we are to a time of head rolling.
Maybe it was just that UnitedHealthcare, with their apparently highest rate of claims denials, was just a particularly hated company.
On “Saturday Morning Gaming: The Steam Thanksgiving Sale!!!”
I just finished The Rise of the Golden Idol. If you liked The Case of the Golden Idol, you'll probably like the sequel. It's more of the same. People messing with power beyond their understanding and you trying to piece together what happened.
On “Open Mic for the week of 11/4/2024”
Here is something both Nancy and Bernie could say instead of pointing fingers:
"We made a mistake in following conventional wisdom and not challenging an incumbent President in the primary. Our bad."
On “He Got Away With It”
Makes perfect sense. In the entire realm of politics, Democrats are the only ones with any sort of agency. Republicans and conservative media certainly had no part in it whatsoever. It was those darned Democrats.
On “Trumped”
It's funny how much the results are a Rorschach test. Many conservative-leaning folks are saying "obviously, the problem is too much leftist ideology turning off the normies". Whereas more left-leaning folks are saying "obviously, the problem is cozying up the Cheneys and embracing moderate Republicans didn't win over any 'undecideds' and turned off progressives."
To me, at least, things seem less obvious. Other than people upset the world over about the lingering increased cost of goods.
On “Saturday Morning Gaming: Deeper into Black Myth Wukong”
One of these days I'll get back to Factorio. I played a little back when it was in early access, but never got too deep.
I've been busy lately with it's 3D cousin Satisfactory. I could have probably pushed through to the end by now, but I ended up tearing down most of everything to try and improve the layout. After several days, I'll soon by back to making same items I was before the demolition.
On “From The Washington Post: On Political Endorsement”
https://www.thedailybeast.com/is-this-the-reason-jeff-bezos-owned-washington-post-didnt-endorse-kamala-harris-blue-origin-donald-trump/
The same day the Bezos-owned Washington Post declined to endorse a candidate, Trump met with executives from Bezos-owned Blue Origin.
Connection? Maybe. Maybe not.
Maybe it's not a great idea to have everything owned by a handful of billionaires.
On “Saturday Morning Gaming: Killing a White Dragon”
Granted, I haven't read the books in a few decades, but ever since Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies I can't help but think how awesome it would be if someone made Dragonlance movies with the same level of skill and dedication (and, of course, money). They could get a second trilogy without even having to absurdly stretch a short prequel.
On “Open Mic for the week of 8/26/2024”
Kinda funny that the government pressured Zuck to get him to admit that they had been pressured by the government.
On “Saturday Morning Gaming: Fallout :London”
I'm sure I'll give Fallout: London a shot eventually. But right now I feel burned out on open world RPG style games. I really enjoy them, but there's just so much to do they often eventually end up feeling like a chore.
I've been playing much shorter games from my backlog with interesting stories that leave me wanting more:
Hypnospace Outlaw
The Case of the Golden Idol
Return of the Obra Dinn
Her Story
Eternal Threads
Paradise Killer
The Forgotten City
On “Open Mic for the week of 7/29/2024”
I have no data, but going on vibes it seems to me more people would be unhappy with a Shapiro pick than other possible choices.
I would hate for the VP pick to undermine the surprising unity and enthusiasm in the party.
On “Open Mic for the week of 7/22/2024”
It looks like the FBI Director may be a conspiracy nut.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c5125630/user-clip-trump-shooting
"with respect to former President Trump, there is some question about whether or not it is a bullet or shrapnel that hit his ear"
Has nobody shown him the Ronny Jackson letter?
On “Open Mic for the week of 7/15/2024”
You find Ronny Jackson wholly credible, I do not.
Let's agree to disagree.
"
He doesn't exactly fit in the posed hypothetical scenario, either.
"
I think the only way they'd face harassment was if they contradicted something Trump said and Trump publicly called them a liar.
"
Trump has a history of obfuscation when it comes to his health. In 2015, he dictated the letter that Dr. Bornstein signed in 2015, which said Trump "will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency". In 2019, he made an unexpected trip to Walter Reed that his staff said was a routine checkup, except nobody knew about it, including the staff at Walter Reed. There were even reports that his stint with COVID got really bad, but that was never officially acknowledged.
Is he hiding anything? I have no idea. But it strikes me as odd that a billionaire and candidate for President is receiving daily treatment from a sitting member of Congress who doesn't have an active medical license (except on military bases) rather than a legitimate medial professional. He's a notorious cheapskate, so maybe he's just saving money. Or maybe he trusts Ronnie from their time together in the White House (where Jackson allegedly earned the name "Candyman" for handing out prescription meds like candy).
"
So Trump finally had a doctor release info on his wound. Not his primary care physician or the doctors that treated him in Pennsylvania. Former White House physician and sitting Congressman Ronny Jackson, who Trump helped get elected.
I'm sure this will fully satisfy any outstanding questions and put the matter to rest once and for all.
https://x.com/RonnyJacksonTX/status/1814743055338967055
On “From The Los Angeles Times: Schiff calls on Biden to drop out, citing ‘serious concerns’ he can’t win”
Early voting starts September 20th in some areas.
Today is 63 days away.
"
AOC took to Instagram Live last night and reinforced some of my fears, namely many of the folks that want Biden gone also want Harris gone, and there's no real plan and nobody has really thought much about next steps (at least nobody has shared anything with AOC).
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1814151594012754255.html
"
It's funny to me that as far a political figures go, it seems the more progressive politicians (Sanders, AOC, Barbara Lee, Omar, Pressley) are backing Biden, while more establishment Democrats (Schumer, Pelosi, Schiff, Warner) are advocating for Biden to step aside. Yet among online comments, it seems switched. The more progressive types seem to mostly want Biden to step down and more moderate voters seem to be backing Biden.
On “Trump was just shot at a rally. He appears to be fine.”
Two days after, there does seem to be lack of official information. I wonder if the apparent failure in security has anything to do with that.
"
AFAIK the only word on Trump's injury comes from Trump himself.
"
A local Pittsburgh news station reports that four cops standing near Trump "suffered minor injuries from flying debris caused by the bullets."
https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/shots-fired-trump-rally-donald-trump-rushed-off-stage/GRXLQ67PEVDPDKDPNNE3AEGMGU/
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.