Calling Congressional Republicans cowardly, spineless, or similar terms implies that they think what's happening is bad but are just too scared to do the right thing. I see no evidence for that overly generous interpretation. They're empowered adults with agency making a choice. I's what they want.

a key to understanding the reactionary right, for me, is the realization that there are pleasures in cruelty "and no you are not immune." there's something in the human soul that delights in having someone to look down on--or at least, the capacity for this exists in us

Susan Collins' team & the NRSC is sitting on a lot and they will not release most of it until after the primary. They might even wait on some of it until the Fall. At which point it could have downstream effects on other races if Democrats nationalize Maine too much.

There has been online bullying of Mills supporters since Platner started polling well. People have been afraid to speak up for her. I had written an op ed in her favor that was being considered when she quit.

I deleted my posts on certain things re: Platner. Like I said: I'm ethically pretty conflicted here. My advice is, as it has always been: Get ahead of the GOP.

The PodSave bros are idiots.

”Men who are great at vicious and efficient killing also happen to not always be awesome people, and often times it is immature brotherhood and false masculinity that keep them […] in line. You fucking civilian pansies tend to be shit at murder […], and yet you want to judge us by your standards?”

I think that's possible. Platner breaks my consequentialist calculus in a way that Fetterman or Manchin never did. I'm not trying to be lofty. Just working through the calculus. I'm still holding out hope that no one has to make this calculus on EDay, though. Odds are slim for that. But trying.

If the choice were between Platner & Collins on Election Day, I would vote for Platner b/c that would be the only possible choice. Senate Majority. 1 Nazi is better than 2 years of Trump-appointed Nazi judges. But I'd probably be quiet about my vote b/c talking about it would also have consequences.

On what basis does any of this appear to be a 2016 proxy to you?

Even if you assume that premise, the point is that Democrats are tying themselves to him and Republicans have this info. He sounds psychotic.

In case I haven't made it clear, all of Graham Platner's reddit posts have not yet been released to the press. Like this one: "You civilian fucking pansies tend to be shit at murder in my experience, and yet you judge us by your standards?"

I find the best remedy is to just try to be myself. Neither popular or unpopular. I tell myself to 1) tell the truth, as I see it and to 2) stand up for other people. And also to make good friends. Friends who I trust to correct me. When I exist in this space, I am unaffected by much else.

I don't want to attack Schumer for this, but I would urge him to be a bit less naïve. Does the GOP have an October Surprise and, if so, what is it?

I don't want to say this is wrong. But I also want to push back a bit. Democrats are performing very well on the local/state level by staying concrete & acting like non-streamlined human beings who make connections with others. Look at Mary Peltola. The awful politics exist. But so does Peltola.

the appetite for cruelty — which is genuinely nonpartisan — is legit one reason we got trump

One thing I think has been lacking in framing Platner's reddit comments is that his reddit persona was at least semi-public-facing. He called himself P-Hustle at the bar where he worked. He also invited a redditor to the bar for a drink, identifying the location, describing himself, etc.

Perhaps I am wrong, but I do not believe Platner has told us--nor has it been reported on--that he was, per his account, a member of the DSA (in 2018). The info will be relevant in a race vs. Collins & I also find it interesting that both Platner and the DSA have been relatively mum about this.

Something tells me Jacobin was not entirely on the up-and-up on this one.

“Shame must change sides” —Giselle Pelicot

The Maine primary isn't until June 9! While David Costello and Andrea LaFlamme are still Senate candidates, there isn't a nominee to support (or avoid tanking)

It only makes me stronger. Shame is the tool of the oppressors.

I have both Costello & LaFlamme listed on my Senate page. Folks can donate to *both* and Maine voters can rank *both* of them 1st & 2nd without harming either of their (admittedly long shot) changes. secure.actblue.com/donate/senat...

Sexism against domestic violence survivors is one of the most pernicious forces I've ever experienced. Folks treat us as if domestic violence either renders us stupid or reflects extant stupidity. Let me posit something different. Maybe being *that* close to violence gives us data others don't have.

It’s the numerous red flags that sets off concern for many of us who have the experience or discernment to understand why someone like Platner isn’t who he seems to be.

Yes. As should National Democrats and others who choose to campaign with Platner. Get debriefed by the Mills' team. Talk to local journalists. Follow the red flags. Quarantine the race. State/local races aren't benefitting from national attention anyway.

People should ask why Mills hasn't endorsed. What can I say here. Just ask the question. Then question your assumptions about what Democratic candidates, esp. the gentle ones, do with opposition research. Many seem to believe they release it immediately. Does that assumption make sense?

Here's my current calculus on Platner. I was going to shut up about him, just as I did Fetterman in 2022. Maybe I still will. But a few things changed that calculus, which remains a consequentialist one, in nature. 1) Democrats overly associating w/ him & 2) The murmurs I'd heard getting stronger.

And he was so clearly lying about it. Dude got that thing in Split, Croatia, 2007. Ustashe central. At a time when Neo-Naziism had cultural caché thru football clubs In 2019, he commented on a reddit thread about identifying SS insignia & responded to a comment saying, "the totenkopf gives it away."

One thing that irritates me is that Pro-Planter people just wouldn't treat our arguments as having any merit. "Red flag" was interpreted as a substantiveness signal rather than a symbol with meaning. When you date someone with "red flags," it means maybe you should look under the hood a bit.

Yes.

Look, if I could be clearer about the Oppo, I would be clearer about the Oppo. I don't even feel maximally ethical right now, to hint at the Oppo. But I weighed the considerations and I think it's worse to let people throw themselves on a sword, particularly during a time of relative strength.

I agree. Or let the endorsements stand as they are. No one else should endorse.

Quarantine the race is a good way to put it. Other Dems who are running need to avoid endorsing this guy because they are going to be slathered with whatever terrible shit oozes out of his race. Stay far away for their own protection.

They have. There's also a lot more in the reddit comments that is not entirely flattering. That's publicly available.

I don't have the oppo. I've only heard about it. And enough other people have heard about it that it has become a concern.

I think Democrats are in a strong position in other races & can continue to be in a strong position. They just need to be careful. There are consequences to losing Maine. There are also consequences to being so blinded by ME that you tie yourself to a toxic candidate that could bring the party down.

This is the correct line of reasoning. Even if there isn't a "there-there," it's the correct line of reasoning.

I'm not trying to tank Platner. A few days ago, before Mills dropped out, I was trying to tank Platner. I will never argue argue against the Senate majority. I am telling people to understand the battlefield. Follow the bread crumbs; or the red flags, as it were. The GOP is already there.

This should be clear if you are -anti-Platner -pro-Platner -anti-Platner-but-pro-Senate-majority (by all means necessary) Find out what the GOP knows. Find out, if they know something, when they plan to deploy it.

I am trying to Hansel & Gretel y'all w/r/t the Maine Race. I'm not sure what else to do or how else to proceed. I'll say this: I'm not speculating about the rumor mill. It exists. I'm not arguing against flipping the seat. I AM arguing 1) against tying national Dems to it & 2) being naïve re: OPPO

I get so shy about posting over here, lol. I'm too Messy on Main.

This is my current take: bsky.app/profile/spry...

I'm so bad about switching between social media platforms that I stick to twitter & don't come over here as often as I should. In any case, I hear the dictate for Graham Platner is high in these parts & wondered if I could bathe in it for a brief moment.

Huerta lived with the knowledge of her own pain & violation for 60 years. She came forward now because she learned, from the NYT, that she was not the only one. No woman or girl or child or person should ever have to live in such darkness. We must all, always, fight the darkness.

When the state takes the life of a citizen in a democratic society, time really should stop. We can analyze videos of whether the citizen did something wrong or not; Or if the state had reason to react or not. But no matter *what* we see in those videos, the state needs to take the death seriously.

Some thoughts

We should debate details. That said: When a state kills one of its own citizens, the state then has responsibility. Even if the citizen was "in the wrong," the state still bears the responsibility for truth & accountability. When the state refuses, it's not a democratic state anymore.

Some thoughts

They’re heroes