Never mock a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes. Then mock him all you want because he's a mile away and you've got his shoes.
Oct 5, 2022 • 6 tweets • 1 min read
So in the 1970s, we had an energy crisis. And Jimmy Carter told us that the only way to really fix it was to find other energy sources and wean off oil. 1/
But that sounded too much like work for America, which had become mired in the "me me me" postwar culture, so we punted and elected a ham actor who told us we could have everything we wanted all the time without consequence. 2/
Sep 9, 2021 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
I grew up in Virginia with the myth of Robert E. Lee. I was in grad school in Mississippi when that godawful Gettysburg movie came out. Went to see it with other members of the English Dept. faculty. All very liberal Southerners (liberal for Southerners, that is :) 1/
One colleague, especially, was way into the antebellum South and that whole chivalry mythology. That tired old idea that it was a good thing the South was defeated, slavery was bad, but so many beautiful things were also lost. 🙄
Aug 31, 2021 • 19 tweets • 3 min read
Here's my problem with media coverage in general, and it's easy to see with an apples-to-apples comparison between the governors of 2 large states: California and Florida. 1/
With twice the population of Florida, California is currently seeing a fraction of the number of Covid cases and deaths, thanks to a massive vaccine push (we've vaccinated more people than most countries) and measures put in place to stop the spread. That's leadership. 2/
Mar 19, 2020 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
So I braved the grocery store this morning, and thought we should start posting shopping experiences so people around the country can get an idea about how it is. I'm using #PandemicShopping but if you know of another hashtag doing this, tell me and I'll repost with it 1/
I'm in east Contra Costa co. in CA. I went at 8:00am when they opened. There was a line to get in. They have cops at the door limiting the number of customers at a time. By the time I got out at about 9:15, the line was much shorter, so going right at opening may not be best 2/
Sep 17, 2019 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
Because the question has come up a couple times, here's the short version: By September 2016, if not earlier, Bernie knew that Russia was using his followers to spread disinformation about Hillary:
desmoinesregister.com/story/news/201…
Hillary began warning about Russian interference during the campaign, especially in the famous "puppet" comment at the last debate in October 2016:
Jan 27, 2019 • 21 tweets • 4 min read
Here's a little thread with a few thoughts about the 2020 primaries in regards to Bernie Sanders, with nothing to do with policy or ideology. Just horse race stuff. 1/
Among people who are disposed to vote in Democratic primaries, there's a certain subset that were inclined to vote against Hillary Clinton. Fair or not, the Clintons are still divisive, even among Democrats. There are still Kennedy Democrats who hold grudges, for instance. 2/
Dec 10, 2017 • 13 tweets • 2 min read
A couple thoughts about what we should be looking for in a Democratic standard bearer for the 2020 election. Yes, it's early, but there are some qualities that will be vitally important for a post-trump administration. (1/)
And those qualities are not really ideological. Yes, our Democratic candidate will have to present an ideological vision that's a 180 degree turn from trumpism, but that won't be a problem for any Democrat. (2/)
Nov 30, 2017 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
Remember that most of those who claim that "both parties are the same" are well-off white people, mainly straight white men. And for them, it's largely true. The worst elements of Republican policy don't touch them directly. (1/)
I say this as a middle-aged, middle-class white guy. My wife and I are comfortable. We both have good jobs and we don't have kids. In most ways that really matter, the trump tsunami doesn't touch us. (2/)
Sep 30, 2017 • 15 tweets • 2 min read
1. Something about political choices that I think people need to understand. There is a difference between your ideals and practical reality
2. For instance, I hate Citizens United. It's a horrible, wrongheaded decision. And I will back any effort to overturn it by Constitutional
Sep 28, 2017 • 13 tweets • 2 min read
1. A few thoughts about Bernie and #TrumpRussia. Firstly, we don't know whether Bernie or those in his campaign were actively involved.
2. We simply don't have the evidence to make that determination one way or the other right now. This may change, or it may not.
Sep 4, 2017 • 28 tweets • 3 min read
1. Call me paranoid, but there are three things happening right now that I don't think are coincidental. First, the GOP in several states
2. is hustling to enact anti-protest laws. Second, the Federal government has rolled back restrictions on policie militarization. And third
