Don't withdraw entirely, but it's OK to partially disengage. The future will be tough, and you're in better position to fight if you stay sane. Here's how I'm adjusting.
Keeping anxiety under control is a really good message: raking leaves--physical work--is a great recommendation to see on a political blog. Thanks!
But we do have to think about how to adjust to what we've learned. One thing I think is important is to realize that it appears the short Harris campaign made little impact on the way Democrats were perceived. So when people say "Harris lost because she . . ." I think we should always replace that with, "Harris lost because the perception of Democrats is . . ." I think Harris ran a very good campaign overall--much better than Hillary in 2016 or Biden in 2020. But we can now see the headwinds she was facing and it's those we have to address, not what Harris did right or wrong. So no post-mortems but lessons to be learned and adjustments to be proposed and debated.
And when it comes to Snyder's notion of not obeying in advance, I'd suggest combining that with attention to the strategic consequences of immediate responses. Trump voters are counting on his administration putting on a regular show of "bait the libs" and watching us scream and shout, "We told you so!" (We did, and now we know it's what they want.) In the 1960s we learned that political theater can be effective; I think we now need to be sure it doesn't become a sideshow for the entertainment of a hostile audience. After all, the original Resistance couldn't do political theater: it had to build networks that focused on effective results, knowing the high price of mistakes.
Thanks for that analysis. For me, I won't lend my head space to "news" about the new administration, possible cabinet choices, etc. Building locally is approachable and positive - for me. That's how I stay strong and move forward.
Hi, you were a great contributor to Twitter. Your analysis of why continuing on X is pointless rings true.
I hope the dwindling number of excellent writers who cling to X come to a similar conclusion and take their talents to Miami. I mean Bluesky & substack.
Twitter was a major hub for Ukraine supporters. All of that disappeared with shadow banning. I poke my nose in there now and it is essentially, if not actually, Russia Today.
Carry on my wayward son, there'll be peace when you are done
First, a hat tip for getting Kansas and LeBron references into one post (and it works!)
Although I'm enough of a basketball nerd to note it was "taking my talents to South Beach."
Second, thanks for the kind words about my writing on Twitter. Like you, Ukraine was one of the main reasons I stayed. But as the thumb on the scale kept getting heavier, and Musk and the paid bluecheck crowd became more and more overtly pro-Russia, most of the good stuff got overwhelmed.
Of all the media invites I've received, RT and Sputnik are the only ones I flat out ignored. Usually I say yes if I can, and if I can't, I politely decline. X is well on its way to being an Information Age version of state media, and I have no interest in being a part of that.
We’ve had a couple small wins today; Rick Scott was not chosen to be senate majority leader. Head of Exxon-Mobil said the climate provisions of IRA should remain. Amidst the darkness, some things are better than expected.
The GOP and the people who put Trump up in office are toxic.
I'm gonna laugh my butt off when all the useful idiots that did not vote for Kamala starts seeing the world collapse around them because of all the nonsense that Trump and his gangsters are gonna put into action
Women dying because of no health care?
my question will be who did you vote for?
Family separated, people detained even legal US citizens?
Again, the question will be who did you vote for?
Un increase in Death and illness due to the cutting of healthcare services or insurance coverage? Who did you vote for?
Those not in the top 5% of the economy who see their savings and investments go south? Who did You vote for?
A dismantling of the public education so that the under educated population of the USA increases and continues to dumb down? Who did you vote for?
It's clear Majority of US citizens want a king not a democracy an autocracy not a democracy. The United States of anxiety got what it wanted. Now they need to live with it.
Keeping anxiety under control is a really good message: raking leaves--physical work--is a great recommendation to see on a political blog. Thanks!
But we do have to think about how to adjust to what we've learned. One thing I think is important is to realize that it appears the short Harris campaign made little impact on the way Democrats were perceived. So when people say "Harris lost because she . . ." I think we should always replace that with, "Harris lost because the perception of Democrats is . . ." I think Harris ran a very good campaign overall--much better than Hillary in 2016 or Biden in 2020. But we can now see the headwinds she was facing and it's those we have to address, not what Harris did right or wrong. So no post-mortems but lessons to be learned and adjustments to be proposed and debated.
And when it comes to Snyder's notion of not obeying in advance, I'd suggest combining that with attention to the strategic consequences of immediate responses. Trump voters are counting on his administration putting on a regular show of "bait the libs" and watching us scream and shout, "We told you so!" (We did, and now we know it's what they want.) In the 1960s we learned that political theater can be effective; I think we now need to be sure it doesn't become a sideshow for the entertainment of a hostile audience. After all, the original Resistance couldn't do political theater: it had to build networks that focused on effective results, knowing the high price of mistakes.
Agree 100%.
Thanks for that analysis. For me, I won't lend my head space to "news" about the new administration, possible cabinet choices, etc. Building locally is approachable and positive - for me. That's how I stay strong and move forward.
Hi, you were a great contributor to Twitter. Your analysis of why continuing on X is pointless rings true.
I hope the dwindling number of excellent writers who cling to X come to a similar conclusion and take their talents to Miami. I mean Bluesky & substack.
Twitter was a major hub for Ukraine supporters. All of that disappeared with shadow banning. I poke my nose in there now and it is essentially, if not actually, Russia Today.
Carry on my wayward son, there'll be peace when you are done
First, a hat tip for getting Kansas and LeBron references into one post (and it works!)
Although I'm enough of a basketball nerd to note it was "taking my talents to South Beach."
Second, thanks for the kind words about my writing on Twitter. Like you, Ukraine was one of the main reasons I stayed. But as the thumb on the scale kept getting heavier, and Musk and the paid bluecheck crowd became more and more overtly pro-Russia, most of the good stuff got overwhelmed.
Of all the media invites I've received, RT and Sputnik are the only ones I flat out ignored. Usually I say yes if I can, and if I can't, I politely decline. X is well on its way to being an Information Age version of state media, and I have no interest in being a part of that.
The dystopian turn of X is beyond my imagined worst case.
I'm thinking of Tom Nichols as one of the last Japanese soldiers defending his twitter Island.
The miss on South Beach is unforgivable but since I'm closer to Biden's stage than yours I won't beat myself up.
Thanks. You helped me organize the jumble of thoughts and feelings I've had. Your experience resemble my own.
Excellent advice, thank you
We’ve had a couple small wins today; Rick Scott was not chosen to be senate majority leader. Head of Exxon-Mobil said the climate provisions of IRA should remain. Amidst the darkness, some things are better than expected.
<reading the second section of this post>
Hah, yeah, what rubes!
I know right? People just bellyaching because they think they know best
Wait . . .
. . .
<furiously goes back and looks at commenting history>
God damn it.
<end scene>
I really appreciate your take
It is really good advice
However, I'm done with politics maybe even voting
The GOP and the people who put Trump up in office are toxic.
I'm gonna laugh my butt off when all the useful idiots that did not vote for Kamala starts seeing the world collapse around them because of all the nonsense that Trump and his gangsters are gonna put into action
Women dying because of no health care?
my question will be who did you vote for?
Family separated, people detained even legal US citizens?
Again, the question will be who did you vote for?
Un increase in Death and illness due to the cutting of healthcare services or insurance coverage? Who did you vote for?
Those not in the top 5% of the economy who see their savings and investments go south? Who did You vote for?
A dismantling of the public education so that the under educated population of the USA increases and continues to dumb down? Who did you vote for?
It's clear Majority of US citizens want a king not a democracy an autocracy not a democracy. The United States of anxiety got what it wanted. Now they need to live with it.