WatDabney

even if it’s not quite as open as the alternative social network Mastodon, another decentralized X rival.

Mastodon can't be "another" decentralized X rival, since it's the only one of the two that actually is decentralized. BlueSky just pretends to be.

Or more accurately, he embezxled $10 million and funneled it through a slush fund.

That's the correct choice.

Granted, China cannot be trusted. But China cannot be trusted in the same sense that a used car salesman cannot be trusted. The US, by contrast, cannot be trusted in the same sense that a rabid weasel cannot be trusted.

I still... maybe it's my years working construction, but when I look at RFK Jr. - his mannerisms and gestures and speech patterns and connection (or lack thereof) to reality - I see a tweaker, clear as a bell.

It can be - certainly.

One of the basic dynamics of partisan politics, and one of the main reasons that parties decline, is that people wear a party label as a substitute for more meaningful action.

In this case, people who want to project an image of progressivism without actually doing anything practical to advance the cause adopt (or adopted - more so in the past) the "Democrat" label as a way to signal their progressivism. The fact that they wear the label is then folded into their self -image - they can be proud that they're progressive, because after all, they're Democrats, which proves it.

One problem though is that that only works as long as the Democrats are seen to be progressive. If they're no longer seen that way, then by extension the party faithful are themselves no longer progressive either.

So effectively, a criticism of the party is a criticism of the individual, so they have a vested interest in defending the party from criticism.

Example:

"Republicans are corrupt weasels."

"Democrats are the same."

I see only three options there. Either:

1. You understand and admit that they mean "the same" in the sense of "also corrupt weasels."
2. You're a liar
3. You're a moron.

I'm so fucking tired of this argument.

It's the same fucking bullshit loop every goddamned time. Somebody will say that the two parties are "the same" clearly meaning "the same in [this] particular sense, and then the pedantic assholes will all come swooping in and start nattering on about how that's completely wrong because they're not absolutely 100% identical.

Here's a fucking news flash for all you binaristic pinheads - there are more than two possibilities. We aren't just limited to "they're 100% the same" and "they're not the same at all." It's not only possible but certain fact that they ARE the same in many, many ways, and the fact that they're not the same in ALL ways doesn't change that.

Anyone who can't envision more than two diametrically opposed possibilities is a fucking moron, and I'm sick and tired of this argument being driven by fucking morons.

It's tempting - it would be greatvto be able to say something like, "I just want to thank you for being such an insufferable asshole that you were the catalyst that started the process that ended with my mom becoming a Democrat."

But I assume it would be lost on him. Like both Trump and Musk, I assume he's determinedly oblivious to the fact that he's an asshole

My mom is a lifetime Republicsn who up until last year was on a pure reactionary right feed on Facebook. She's basically turned 180° in just the last few months, and while it started with her immediate gut-level dislike for Vance, it was driven home by her imnediate, gut-level dislike for Musk. It's now expanded out to criticizing (and laughing at) Trump and the rest of the would-be oligarchs, and she's moved from Facebook to Reddit and is already trying to decide which Democrats she's going to vote for.

And while it actually started with Vance, it was almost entirely Musk (or as she referred to him for quite a while - "What's his name - the asshole co-president") who accomplished the most to drive her away from the party she'd supported her entire life.

And I assume she's far from alone.

They're stuck in a feedback loop of indidcriminate rage – self-affirming, hateful propaganda – cognitive dissonance – sneaking self-doubt – indidcriminate rage...

I don't think it's the case that people are rewarded with power, then somehow turn into pstchopathic fuckwads, but that only psychopathic fuckwads are willing and able to do everything it takes to gain that sort of power in the first place.

Think of all the compromises someone has to make and lies they have to tell and asses they have to kiss and backs they have to stab to fight and crawl up the ladder to that sort of position.

No truly sane and stable and honest and empathetic person would or even could do all of that.

Cue the next learned essay about how what Democratic voters really want is centrists in 3, 2, 1...