never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 16hI'm so glad people stayed home in 2024 so we could add "murdering random fishermen" and "bombing a school full of girls" to our war crimes list. No need for anyone to take accountability for their lack of effort to prevent this. 000
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 17hWe're still suffering the consequences buddy 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 19hThat and a couple of apocalyptic plagues, invasions by 5 kinds of Germans, Persians 3 times, Arabs once, multiple waves of Turks, plus the fourth crusade, plus a couple of really bad civil wars... They really got bukaked by disasters over 1000 or so years. 020
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 22hHaha, ok buddy. You aren't a serious person. You don't actually care enough to make an effort. Get bent. 000
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 22hComing from you, given how thoroughly you've demonstrated your utter lack of understanding of any of the terms you are using, that's not an insult. 000
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 22hWho gets nominated reflects who the voters choose. Btw, why do you think the DSA backs people in primaries instead of running their own candidates as a separate party? Because they are smart enough to know how our elections work, and the level of support they have. 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 22habout the numbers or the reality, you see what you want to so you can justify your learned helplessness. There's also instances of a Senator losing and then winning the primary to run again, same with reps. Sherrod Brown lost his seat, he won the Senate primary this year. 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 22hThere really isn't though. A more left wing candidate still has to go up against a centrist usually, and they don't stand any better a chance of winning that matchup than against an incumbent. And you're assuming that all those that win their primaries are harming marginalized people. You dont care 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 22hNot even Clinton was a Blue Dog. Blue Dogs are more conservative than the Third Way. The Third way is now the right flank of the party, aside from maybe a half dozen or so actual Blue Dogs in the House, because the party has shifted left. 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 22h... made her one of the most left wing Democratic senators in the 90s. Biden moved left during his vice presidency and was still one of the most centrist Dems, yet when he was more conservative in the 90s here was close to the median of the party. Manchin was a Blue Dog. Zell Miller was a Blue Dog 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 22hI'm sorry you are genuinely stupid. The Blue dogs have no power. The "Establishment" is centrist to center left. Blue dogs were conservatives. Actual conservatives. If you think Biden was a Blue Dog, you're a moron. If you think Harris is a Blue Dog, you're a moron. Harris's politics would have... 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 22h... because they are popular in their state. You've arrived at the point where you are simultaneously arguing that Democrats don't listen to voters so nobody votes for them, and that it's too hard to unseat incumbents because everyone votes for them in the primaries. That's a joke position to take 000
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 22h... At this point, you're complaining that it's hard. I'm glad you've at least moved off your bullshit about it all being a conspiracy and not realistic. 10-20% chance of unseating a senator in a primary is completely realistic. You fail to take into account how often they don't draw challenges... 200
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 22hNo shit. It stands to reason that someone who wins a primary once will probably do so again unless they piss off the people who voted for them or someone a lot better comes along. Having a 10-20% chance of unseating and incumbent is a pretty decent shot... 200
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 23hHere www.npr.org/sections/pol... But it's old. There's been more since, but you can actually Google it for yourself. That's only senators btw, since you weirdly narrowed it to that. Contained in your time frame, but missing the past 16 years.npr.orgThe Last 25 Senate Incumbents Defeated In Primaries (1962-Present)A look at the last 25 Senate incumbents who were defeated in their primaries, dating back to 1962. This year, several senators, including Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Arlen Specter (D-PA), face serious... 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 23hMaybe if he made it close, we'd see a change in how potential candidates view the prospect, but voters didn't go to him. That seems to confirm that it's too steep a climb even against a weak incumbent. 000
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 23hWith presidential primaries, its harder to unseat an incumbent than in congressional ones. Ted Kennedy was genuinely very popular and couldn't knock out a weak Jimmy Carter. You'd think with Biden being old and unpopular Dean Phillips could have gotten more traction, but he didn't... 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 23hThere's an argument for that, but most of the Dems who declined in 92 were weaker anyway. Gephart, Nelson, Biden, and McGovern may have had a chance. Jerry Brown was the best of the bunch in terms of politics and strength, and he DID run and came in second to Clinton... 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 23h...years, but now it seems they're course correcting on those. 200
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 23hLiz Warren as high ranking and influential in the party. Meanwhile, the few blue dogs are in heavily GOP districts and are back benchers with no influence. They haven't moved nearly as far left as the GOP has moved right, and there's been backsliding on immigration and LGBT over the past couple... 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 23h.. option and Medicare for All as the next step, etc. Its outright crazy to consider modern Dems as more conservative than 30 years ago. The Blue Dog faction used to be one of the most powerful in the party and the left wing was almost dead, today the left wing is ascendant and has members like... 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 23h... The modern Democratic Party, which is broadly supportive of LGBT rights (though has factions which suck on trans rights), has introduced new regulations on financial markets and institutions, has rolled back the oppressive policies of the 90s, passed the ACA and is now split between a public.. 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 23hYou can't possibly be serious if you're arguing that a party which has abandoned healthcare reform, was pushing welfare reform, was a "tough on crime" party, was deregulating the financial industry, and had Don't ask Don't tell as their most progressive policy on LGBT was more left wing than... 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 23hDemocrats as a party have moved left over the past 30 years. 30 years ago was 1996, prime third way Clinton shit. Since the mid 2000s they've slowly shifted left, and have done so faster over the past decade after Bernie's strong showing emboldened the Left and got more people seeking office. 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026Thank you. He needed to drop much earlier so we could have had a more competitive primary. More people would have jumped in without an incumbent on the ballot. Nobody wants to blow their chance like Ted Kennedy did. 210
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026DSA is making major inroads simply by actually, you know, recruiting candidates and organizing voters. But that's work, so I see why whining that the DNC doesn't just anoint your ideal candidate is appealing. 000
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026... Enough, because a charismatic candidate, or a rising popular movement in the party, can lead to even well liked politicians being unseated in primaries. Primaries are usually pretty low turnout. It doesn't actually take many voters to move the needle. We are seeing this over and over as the... 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026A lot. Especially recently. Generally a candidate that wins a seat got there in the first place because they were popular with voters in their party, in their district. As long as they aren't stupid and alienate those voters, they usually won't be unseated. As we see today, that's not always... 200
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026Like, it seems like you just want to be mad at me because you are too cowardly to admit that not voting for Democrats helps Republicans win. You want to push off your own responsibility as a citizen to help shape the political process and blame others for your own inaction. 010
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026Because someone else brought the presidential election into it. I'm sorry you have trouble following conversations. There was zero reason for you to think that I was only talking about presidential elections. The conversation was inclusive of them, but was mostly about Congress. 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026.. other voters who want a two state solution? Can he even be won over, or is he going to find something else to be pissed about? 000
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026Just because Dem politicians should do their best to win over idiots doesn't mean I can't call them idiots. The guy I've been arguing with barely thinks AOC is acceptable, and wouldn't vote for her for president unless she comes out against Israel existing. Is winning him over worth losing tons of.. 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026That's cool, and Democrats should do that. Meanwhile, regular non politicians should continue to point out how reckless and irresponsible people who don't take the GOP threat seriously are being, and how privileged and entitled it is to not vote because a Dem isn't perfect. 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026Well good, you actually earned the right to complain. My beef is with morons who think that they shouldn't vote for a Dem unless they're perfect. You still vote, you still do your part, your criticism holds weight because you did your part and they failed you. 000
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026Personally I think Biden should have committed to a single term, which would have led to more people throwing their hat in the ring. He fucked up by trying to run again when he was fading. 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026Primaries are for more than presidents, you utter moron. We're talking about the midterms here, and if you think presidential primaries are all that matters you are the problem. There are rarely primaries against sitting presidents, but Dean Phillips and Jason Palmer did run... 200
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026...2029 to change the rules back and allow Medicare to pay for that care again. Or hoping they can get a trifecta in state government so they can add funding themselves. Bottom line, you are blaming Dems for what Republicans are doing and don't understand the power actually available to them. 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026to bear any fruit because Republicans are more than willing to make that a non starter. So then it becomes a choice between deadlocking the Michigan budget and fucking over a lot of people just to show they are fighting for it (even though it won't change), or waiting for a Dem president in... 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026They may even need the Republicans to introduce it (since they control the lower chamber). There's a small chance they may be able to get it added as an amendment, or get it added in negotiations between the Senate version and house version. That's the only option they have, and still unlikely... 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026 What they COULD do is fund that care through other means. Unfortunately, the governor cannot do that unilaterally. It requires spending to be allocated by the legislature. Republicans control the lower chamber, so Dems would need Republicans to vote for it. Depending on the chamber's rules... 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026Ok, so it's pretty clear you don't understand how government works. Democrats literally cannot change this in Michigan. If a state refuses to follow the rules of a grant, the lose it. Michigan can't just say "fuck you, we're using Medicare funds for that anyway" and keep the funding... 100
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026The state that is electing El-Sayed. The feds cut off trans youth from Medicare btw. It turns out that who controls the federal government matters when it comes to federal grants. Who would have thought 110
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026And the biggest problem I have with whiny fucks is that most of them don't vote in primaries. When people do, shit actually happens. Look at fucking Michigan! 110
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026... Like, holy shit are you giving the DNC more power than they have. Obama trounced Clinton when she was the choice of the entire establishment. When voters actually want someone else, they choose someone else. The problem is with voters. You have to actually convince them to vote... 120
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026Again, the vast majority of primary voters do actually vote in the general, and for Democrats. Its not Bernie voters in the primaries who stayed home. They voted for Clinton and Biden at super high rates. I'm one of them. Better candidates DO win primaries and DO get elected.... 120
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026... Then in the next primary I vote for the Dem promising bjs and socialized healthcare. 010
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026hyperbole. Why would I not vote for the Dem, even if they suck in some ways. To use your childish metaphor, the Dem may or may not punch me in the dick, or they may buy me a coke. The Republican will absolutely try to shoot me in the face. The choice is obvious... 110
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026... Dem voters who will switch to voting for a left wing challenger if they get pissed off enough. That is literally how Mamdani and AOC won. Once we hit the general, I have a choice between a vastly preferable Dem and a Republican that I know would rather I literally die. That's not even... 110
never-kneel.bsky.social @never-kneel.bsky.social · 15/10/2026... On my vote against a shittier Republican, but being shitty costs them my vote in the primaries. They need to worry about not pissing off enough Dem voters to get primaried. It might not matter with me, because I'm already voting for someone else in the primary, but there are persuadable.. 120
