This is the aftermath of an ICE kidnapping a few blocks from my home in St. Paul—an hour ago. A quiet street full of broken glass and at least three wrecked cars. The target of the kidnapping was taken away by ambulance. He was on a stretcher and covered by a sheet, though a cop said he was alive.

This you?

Gaslighters gonna gaslight

You literally said we shouldn't follow political leaders. You're just gaslighting now.

I think you have this conversation confused with another one. Either that or you're not actually making the point you think you are with any coherence.

To be clear: Politics is a profession requiring expertise and skill, so yes we need to follow good leaders. By your logic, one would never take advice from a doctor or plumber or any other profession. Your philosophy attacks the very foundation of civilization - division of labor.

Yeah there's a lot youre not getting.

Wow that's an uh... opinion. I suppose you don't take advice from doctors or plumbers either then. JFC

If your political solutions don't involve following good leaders, you will fail spectacularly. "Substance" dictates that politics is a job that some people are better at than others. If you're better at it maybe start with a website instead of dumb comments on social.

I don't know. I'm not a New Yorker but I know enough that I know Cuomo sucks. Bottom line, voting decisions ought to be made based on how best to make progress, not some fetishism about having the option to always support great progressives.

Oh you thought I was saying Hochul was a "smart progressive leader". No I was saying that about Mamdani. I don't think you've understood half of what I've written. What is this, Twitter?

This is an empirical claim that I believe to be false. I'm starting to think you are just being incoherent in order to hold on to your hatred of "centrists". Good luck with that. As a progressive, I plan to look for the best ways to actually make progress. You clearly want something else.

For the sake of argument I won't challenge this. We don't always get to work with smart progressives exclusively. Flawed as she may be Hochul is obviously someone Mamdani can work with. Pick your battles well.

Is your goal to make progress or to only ever vote for candidates who are progressives? You can't always do both.

Who says there can't be? But Mamdani endorsed Hochul. So if progress is in fact your goal, it might be better to save your energy (and $ if you donate) for elections against Republicans. As progressives, we ought to want to follow smart progressive leaders in order to make progress.

Progressives ought to prioritize progress. Progress includes compromise, coalition-building. Voting isn't about expressing yourself. It's about about seeking the best possible outcomes.

You'd think that watching *perfect* progressives who get elected have to make deals and compromises might convince someone that compromises are an inevitable part of progress. Unless your goal isn't really progress. JFC

Ad hoc < add hawk

I like to tell 'outside jokes'. They're kinda funny to most people but anyone who knows me won't laugh at all.

If you ever doubt how colonialism shapes the modern world just consider that no one plays Slovakia Slovakia Hippos.

Who are you supporting as Senate Dem leader who could and would do otherwise?

Sun goes up. Sun goes down. Make up your damn mind.

If you had laser hair, why would you want it removed?

First listen of the new year is always well chosen

Those of us who survive the MAGA era must ensure the stink of collaboration is something that is very difficult to wash away. And we need to make it clear now that this will be the case.

Why did no one tell me how great was Was (not Was)?

"Killers, leaches, and entitlement junkies." I'm struggling to find one of these that doesn't apply more aptly to the current Republican coalition than to any immigrant group.

I agree the Democratic party ought to move left. But not at the expense of political competence! I'll take a reasonable person I disagree with about some stuff over a raging hack who pushes all my ideological buttons. It's clear the former type of politician have brought us far more tangible wins.

Schumer led Senate Democrats in fighting Trump over healthcare, period.

If you think Senate leaders can control members of their caucus, you don’t know much about the Senate. And before you say “McConnell,” remember why we still have the ACA when Trump and McConnell wanted it gone.

Or 3. He's better at calculating risks than his critics are. Keep in mind this was always just a game of chicken against a GOP that prefers to crash. Schumer might still suck, but you can't dismiss the possibility he doesn't.