#scottpolitics — Public Fediverse posts

To those apologizing for being tricked into supporting #Fetterman in the 2022 Senator primary:

No apology necessary. Per the saying, “fool me once, shame on you.” There was no indication he’d go MAGA back in 2022. The shame is on Fetterman for misrepresenting himself.

The second part, “fool me twice, shame on me” applies when you had ample warning. Example: 3x Turnip voters upset their non-citizen spouses are deported.

#SenatorFetterman #USpol #ScottPolitics #FoolMeOnce #FoolMeTwice

To those apologizing for being tricked into supporting #Fetterman in the 2022 Senator primary:

No apology necessary. Per the saying, “fool me once, shame on you.” There was no indication he’d go MAGA back in 2022. The shame is on Fetterman for misrepresenting himself.

The second part, “fool me twice, shame on me” applies when you had ample warning. Example: 3x Turnip voters upset their non-citizen spouses are deported.

#SenatorFetterman #USpol #ScottPolitics #FoolMeOnce #FoolMeTwice

RE: https://mastodon.online/@davidaugust/116524462187963129

I took a symposium ~18 years ago on partisan divide in the USA. One issue I researched & presented was that conservatives had billboards all over town, but progressives did not. Why?

My explanation was that conservative positions could typically be reduced to a bumper-sticker slogan, while progressive positions typically involve nuance and reason, which doesn't translate well to a billboard.

"Ballroom Republicans" is a great billboard-length slogan.

#ScottPolitics #ScottThoughts

RE: https://mastodon.online/@davidaugust/116524462187963129

I took a symposium ~18 years ago on partisan divide in the USA. One issue I researched & presented was that conservatives had billboards all over town, but progressives did not. Why?

My explanation was that conservative positions could typically be reduced to a bumper-sticker slogan, while progressive positions typically involve nuance and reason, which doesn't translate well to a billboard.

"Ballroom Republicans" is a great billboard-length slogan.

#ScottPolitics #ScottThoughts

RE: https://mastodon.online/@davidaugust/116524462187963129

I took a symposium ~18 years ago on partisan divide in the USA. One issue I researched & presented was that conservatives had billboards all over town, but progressives did not. Why?

My explanation was that conservative positions could typically be reduced to a bumper-sticker slogan, while progressive positions typically involve nuance and reason, which doesn't translate well to a billboard.

"Ballroom Republicans" is a great billboard-length slogan.

#ScottPolitics #ScottThoughts

RE: https://mastodon.online/@davidaugust/116524462187963129

I took a symposium ~18 years ago on partisan divide in the USA. One issue I researched & presented was that conservatives had billboards all over town, but progressives did not. Why?

My explanation was that conservative positions could typically be reduced to a bumper-sticker slogan, while progressive positions typically involve nuance and reason, which doesn't translate well to a billboard.

"Ballroom Republicans" is a great billboard-length slogan.

#ScottPolitics #ScottThoughts

RE: https://mastodon.online/@davidaugust/116524462187963129

I took a symposium ~18 years ago on partisan divide in the USA. One issue I researched & presented was that conservatives had billboards all over town, but progressives did not. Why?

My explanation was that conservative positions could typically be reduced to a bumper-sticker slogan, while progressive positions typically involve nuance and reason, which doesn't translate well to a billboard.

"Ballroom Republicans" is a great billboard-length slogan.

#ScottPolitics #ScottThoughts

RE: https://spacey.space/@isaackuo/116485421069264930

About 20 years ago, I made a quip to a pollster that I'd vote for a wet, dripping, paper sack full of dog feces before I'd vote for Candidate X.

At some later point, I became aware of the David Sedaris quote that sums up the same sentiment.

Some candidates are so dangerous that voting for their opponent should be the easy choice, not just as a lessor of evils, but a joyful repudiation of repugnancy.

#ScottPolitics

One nice thing about #literature is how characters and stories can help us recognize and understand patterns observed in real life. Often they serve as a short-hand for commentary. An often cited example is Icarus.

Given #POTUS47 careless comments about Iran, Lord #Farquaad from Shrek is serving overtime the last 9 days.

“Some of you May Die, But it's a Sacrifice I am Willing to Make.”

#ScottPolitics #ScottThoughts

One nice thing about #literature is how characters and stories can help us recognize and understand patterns observed in real life. Often they serve as a short-hand for commentary. An often cited example is Icarus.

Given #POTUS47 careless comments about Iran, Lord #Farquaad from Shrek is serving overtime the last 9 days.

“Some of you May Die, But it's a Sacrifice I am Willing to Make.”

#ScottPolitics #ScottThoughts

One nice thing about #literature is how characters and stories can help us recognize and understand patterns observed in real life. Often they serve as a short-hand for commentary. An often cited example is Icarus.

Given #POTUS47 careless comments about Iran, Lord #Farquaad from Shrek is serving overtime the last 9 days.

“Some of you May Die, But it's a Sacrifice I am Willing to Make.”

#ScottPolitics #ScottThoughts

One nice thing about #literature is how characters and stories can help us recognize and understand patterns observed in real life. Often they serve as a short-hand for commentary. An often cited example is Icarus.

Given #POTUS47 careless comments about Iran, Lord #Farquaad from Shrek is serving overtime the last 9 days.

“Some of you May Die, But it's a Sacrifice I am Willing to Make.”

#ScottPolitics #ScottThoughts

One nice thing about #literature is how characters and stories can help us recognize and understand patterns observed in real life. Often they serve as a short-hand for commentary. An often cited example is Icarus.

Given #POTUS47 careless comments about Iran, Lord #Farquaad from Shrek is serving overtime the last 9 days.

“Some of you May Die, But it's a Sacrifice I am Willing to Make.”

#ScottPolitics #ScottThoughts

A couple noteworthy things about these arrests that you might not hear in mainstream stories.

1. #POTUS47 has had a long running grudge against Don Lemon.
2. Both Don Lemon and Georgia Fort are black.

Coincidence? Unrelated? You be the judge.

#DonLemon #GeorgiaFort #ScottPolitics #USpol

Headlines this morning: Pam Bondi has ordered the arrest of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, alleging they were participating as part of a protest.

Lemon and Fort state they were not part of the protest and instead were there as journalists covering the story.

Ordinarily, federal prosecutors would not be involved in investigating & filing charges for a protest. I'd expect the local police and prosecutors to handle that. IANAL

#DonLemon #GeorgiaFort #ScottPolitics #USpol

If a person says they didn't support Harris Walz because of (progressive reasons), but now admit they didn't realize it would get this bad and they should have supported Harris in 2024... I can at least respect that they are able to see it was a mistake and now regret their choice.

The progressive nitwits in January 2026 that can take a look at all this and still not regret their choice to snub Harris... I just can't understand it.

#ProgressivesForTrump #POTUS47 #USpol #ScottPolitics

I'm starting to see an annoying return of "do something, Democrats!"

Do what exactly?

The Republican Party holds the House, the Senate, the White House, and SCOTUS.

You're mocking the Democratic Party for a resolution against Venezuela "War Powers" as merely symbolic. Welcome to reality. Symbolic gestures are one of the only tools with a rogue President and a Republican Party that won't impeach.

#USpol #WarPowersResolution #Venezuela2026 #UnitedStatesVenezuela #ScottPolitics

Yes, I know Khashoggi was not a US citizen. That's a point that only the churlish will quibble on. He was a US resident and a reporter for the Washington Post. He courageously risked, and ultimately sacrificed, his life to report on the abuses of his home country. His murder was not just an attack on him, but on the very principles of truth and freedom that bind us all.

#ScottPolitics #USPol #F35 #SaudiArabia

I don't think I've publicly commented on #SaudiArabia before, so I will now.

Saudi Arabis is a country that the USA should seriously reconsider as an ally. Quite frankly I believe the only reason they are an ally at all is because SA controls a massive flow of oil to western nations. Yet another reason to do everything we can to end our dependence on foreign oil, aka end our dependence on oil.

MBS murdered an American (Khashoggi) to silence his speech.

#ScottPolitics #USPol #F35

One thing I've taken note of is people are outraged about news items that I don't react to at all.

Both consciously and unconsciously I turn away from some news items because quite frankly, I experience both outrage and empathy fatigue. To protect my mental well-being, there's some topics I turn away from.

Part of this is my natural tendency to prefer to become very informed about a topic before I weigh in.

#ScottThoughts #ScottPolitics #EmpathyFatigue

One thing I've taken note of is people are outraged about news items that I don't react to at all.

Both consciously and unconsciously I turn away from some news items because quite frankly, I experience both outrage and empathy fatigue. To protect my mental well-being, there's some topics I turn away from.

Part of this is my natural tendency to prefer to become very informed about a topic before I weigh in.

#ScottThoughts #ScottPolitics #EmpathyFatigue

One thing I've taken note of is people are outraged about news items that I don't react to at all.

Both consciously and unconsciously I turn away from some news items because quite frankly, I experience both outrage and empathy fatigue. To protect my mental well-being, there's some topics I turn away from.

Part of this is my natural tendency to prefer to become very informed about a topic before I weigh in.

#ScottThoughts #ScottPolitics #EmpathyFatigue

One thing I've taken note of is people are outraged about news items that I don't react to at all.

Both consciously and unconsciously I turn away from some news items because quite frankly, I experience both outrage and empathy fatigue. To protect my mental well-being, there's some topics I turn away from.

Part of this is my natural tendency to prefer to become very informed about a topic before I weigh in.

#ScottThoughts #ScottPolitics #EmpathyFatigue

One thing I've taken note of is people are outraged about news items that I don't react to at all.

Both consciously and unconsciously I turn away from some news items because quite frankly, I experience both outrage and empathy fatigue. To protect my mental well-being, there's some topics I turn away from.

Part of this is my natural tendency to prefer to become very informed about a topic before I weigh in.

#ScottThoughts #ScottPolitics #EmpathyFatigue

Oh I get it! All these tariffs are POTUS47's sneaky way to combat global warming. By increasing prices on basically everything and crashing the US economy, he's going to decrease US consumption, leading to an overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Very sneaky pulling off this green initiative, POTUS47, all the while gaining office from voters that don't even believe in global warming.

/sarcasm

#POTUS47 #GlobalWarming #USEconomy #ScottHumor #ScottPolitics

Two guys who are wealthy enough to pay for private education including dedicated tutors for their own children want to dismantle the department that helps ensure the quality of free education for everyone including those children with disabilities.

That's it. That's what they are doing. Beat that drum.

#ScottPolitics #DepartmentOfEducation

I realize many will say this falls into the "blatently obvious" category, but Senator Schumer misplayed his hand this last week.

I believe he thinks it's bad for Senate Ds to use the filibuster to refuse to raise the debt ceiling, with the ensuing chaos and government shutdown. I agree.

However, he should've acted strategically and pushed get something in return for their support. Republicans have tried used the same methods when they were the minority party.

#ScottPolitics

US Congress has considered, but not passed, at least one bill [1] to stop making the penny. That Congress has decided to NOT stop making the penny implies Congress WANTS to keep making the penny. If Congress changed its mind, it can pass a new bill at any time.

Any journalist covering #POTUS47 order to stop making the penny needs to cover where the true power lies to make such a decision.

[1] S759 115th Congress https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/759

#USPol #USMint #USPenny #ScottPolitics

I and 81 million of my fellow USAians kept Turnip out of office in 2020.

You shitbags who were eligible to vote for Harris Walz in 2024 but decided not to, you can cover the next 4 years.

Oh you think it's cool to blame the Democratic Party for the current situation? The party not in power? Unfollowed. I'm tired of reading your idiot nonsense.

#ScottThougths #ScottPolitics

Ha ha, some of y'all who are screeching about a coup, calling on me to leave my wife, children, and suburban home to join the violent uprising in protest couldn't be bothered to take 5 minutes to vote for Harris Walz. Some of you still can't admit what an idiot mistake that was.

You think violent demonstrations and a civil war is easier than voting?

Well, you made your choice and now I'm making mine.

#ScottThoughts #ScottPolitics

Not fair you say? No, that's why reasonable, ethical people actively avoid getting themselves into a position where there's an unavoidable conflict of interest.

With the gamut of Elon Musk's companies, it's basically guaranteed he'd have a stake in many of the decisions made or influenced by the POTUS. Musk shouldn't be involved in the administration at all.

#ScottPolitics #MelonHusk

If Harris Walz had been elected, you may have convinced me with facts and reason that SpaceX was the better performing rocket builder right now, and it was time to change from Boeing to SpaceX.

However, given the heavy-handed involvement of Musk and DOGE in Turnip's rapid-fire administrative changes, any switch from Boeing to SpaceX would look like self-dealing at this point.

#ScottPolitics #ScottSpace

Boeing announced to its employees working on the SLS project that NASA may cancel the project. The SLS project is part of the Artemis Moon project.

Now, given Boeing's performance with Starliner, it may indeed make sense to cut the contract with Boeing. However, with Elon Musk playing such a prominent role in #POTUS47 administration, DOGE, and SpaceX, there's a potential HUGE conflict of interest here.
 
https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/02/boeing-has-informed-its-employees-that-nasa-may-cancel-sls-contracts/

#ScottPolitics #ScottSpace

Well, I'm done with Senator Fetterman. The nicest thing you could say about him today is he's normalizing POTUS47's position on Gaza.

He's up for re-election in 2028, so that's plenty of time to prepare a primary challenger.

#ScottPolitics #JohnFetterman

As a USAian, I can't wait to start paying 25% import tax on all the fresh fruits and vegetables my family buys from Canada and Mexico. That will really show two of our greatest allies who is boss.

#sarcasm #ScottPolitics #CanadaTariffs #MexicoTarrifs #POTUS47

A lot of folks who dismiss the fears of US citizens being wrongfully deported by ICE have a certain form of privilege where neither they nor anyone close to them have been shouted at to "go back home to where you came from".

It's doubtful I will see major change in US immigration policy in my lifetime, but we still have harm reduction. One part is ensuring everyone who is accused of being here illegally receives due process.

#ScottPolitics #USImmigrationPolicy

One distinct difference between being a 20-something and 50-something is the perspective that 10 years is not that long of time.

I’d like to think I had a longer perspective when I was 20-something, compared to a typical 20-something, due to my interest in history and politics. Even in 1995, it was clear to me things were vastly improved over 1965. Things don’t change overnight, but they surely do with the passing decades.

#ScottThoughts #ScottPolitics