Grumpy Old Veteran
@grumpyoldveteran.bsky.social
Mainly here to read. May offer a thought or opinion from time to time.
Pinned
Social media isn't all that different from real life. I'm mostly just talking to myself.
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
The problem with the “Dems shouldn’t have caved” argument is it’s not clear what the ultimate objectives were.
In terms of timing, pain tolerance, or concessions. Like yeah, I would’ve waited a week…but what then if Rs still don’t budge?
It’s just a calculus of who takes the most political damage.
In terms of timing, pain tolerance, or concessions. Like yeah, I would’ve waited a week…but what then if Rs still don’t budge?
It’s just a calculus of who takes the most political damage.
1. Some amount of shutdown damage to the fed workforce and economy is probably irreversible.
2. Ds already “won” in terms of souring public opinion on Rs.
3. Nobody will pay a price in the midterm general election for caving.
4. Rs “winning” by not conceding on policy will actually hurt them.
2. Ds already “won” in terms of souring public opinion on Rs.
3. Nobody will pay a price in the midterm general election for caving.
4. Rs “winning” by not conceding on policy will actually hurt them.
November 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
The problem with the “Dems shouldn’t have caved” argument is it’s not clear what the ultimate objectives were.
In terms of timing, pain tolerance, or concessions. Like yeah, I would’ve waited a week…but what then if Rs still don’t budge?
It’s just a calculus of who takes the most political damage.
In terms of timing, pain tolerance, or concessions. Like yeah, I would’ve waited a week…but what then if Rs still don’t budge?
It’s just a calculus of who takes the most political damage.
This.
As painful as 2026 is likely to be for almost everyone, the GOP, by effectively killing the ACA will create the conditions to finally replace it with Medicare For All.
The ACA was the GOP alternative plan.
As painful as 2026 is likely to be for almost everyone, the GOP, by effectively killing the ACA will create the conditions to finally replace it with Medicare For All.
The ACA was the GOP alternative plan.
like as much as this site is in a fit of justified anger over this, the GOP... does not actually win anything by fucking over insurance markets
if they don't fix Obamacare credits and/or fuck it by replacing it with HSAs, next year is going to be uhhhh a healthcare election
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 AM
This.
As painful as 2026 is likely to be for almost everyone, the GOP, by effectively killing the ACA will create the conditions to finally replace it with Medicare For All.
The ACA was the GOP alternative plan.
As painful as 2026 is likely to be for almost everyone, the GOP, by effectively killing the ACA will create the conditions to finally replace it with Medicare For All.
The ACA was the GOP alternative plan.
As a federal worker, I'm relieved if there is a deal to reopen the govt.
I will wait to see what the details are before deciding whether Dems got the best they could get or not.
I do know that I need to log off this website because Bluesky Dems are very unlikely to get facts before screaming.
I will wait to see what the details are before deciding whether Dems got the best they could get or not.
I do know that I need to log off this website because Bluesky Dems are very unlikely to get facts before screaming.
November 10, 2025 at 12:48 AM
As a federal worker, I'm relieved if there is a deal to reopen the govt.
I will wait to see what the details are before deciding whether Dems got the best they could get or not.
I do know that I need to log off this website because Bluesky Dems are very unlikely to get facts before screaming.
I will wait to see what the details are before deciding whether Dems got the best they could get or not.
I do know that I need to log off this website because Bluesky Dems are very unlikely to get facts before screaming.
Holy Hell, we really need better civics education in this country.
Even most of the people on "my side" generally have no clue how the government works, and/or how laws are enacted.
... except they think they do, because they "learned" about it on the Internet. 🙄
Even most of the people on "my side" generally have no clue how the government works, and/or how laws are enacted.
... except they think they do, because they "learned" about it on the Internet. 🙄
November 7, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Holy Hell, we really need better civics education in this country.
Even most of the people on "my side" generally have no clue how the government works, and/or how laws are enacted.
... except they think they do, because they "learned" about it on the Internet. 🙄
Even most of the people on "my side" generally have no clue how the government works, and/or how laws are enacted.
... except they think they do, because they "learned" about it on the Internet. 🙄
In the irrational world we live in, it's more likely to go back up to like 110. But it would be really fun to wake up tomorrow to see Bitcoin at around $85k.
November 4, 2025 at 10:28 PM
In the irrational world we live in, it's more likely to go back up to like 110. But it would be really fun to wake up tomorrow to see Bitcoin at around $85k.
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
I used to say this trial was a waste of taxpayer dollars, but I think it’s totally worth it.
Border Patrol agent Lairmore testifies that he was not injured by the sandwich, but he felt the impact through his ballistic vest.
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.
"I could smell the onions and mustard."
November 4, 2025 at 4:16 PM
I used to say this trial was a waste of taxpayer dollars, but I think it’s totally worth it.
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
Bluesky: the website to be on if you’re the exact right age to remember when buying a ringtone was a thing, and thought it was really cool when it was.
October 29, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Bluesky: the website to be on if you’re the exact right age to remember when buying a ringtone was a thing, and thought it was really cool when it was.
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
This video from Portland is a metaphor for what is going on in America. ICE trying so hard to get Americans to cross a line and if they don't, dragging them across the line and violently attacking.
October 26, 2025 at 7:17 PM
This video from Portland is a metaphor for what is going on in America. ICE trying so hard to get Americans to cross a line and if they don't, dragging them across the line and violently attacking.
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
The video store kinda sucked because a lot of the time you couldn’t get what you wanted.
The video store was, in retrospect, good because a lot of the time you couldn’t get what you wanted so you discovered stuff you wouldn’t have otherwise!
The video store was, in retrospect, good because a lot of the time you couldn’t get what you wanted so you discovered stuff you wouldn’t have otherwise!
Someone doesn’t remember how badly going to a video store sucked, and just generally how much worse things were in the 90s-2000s. Oh, it doesn’t work perfectly? Sometimes they just didn’t have the thing you wanted. We live in an era of unprecedented media abundance and it’s has spoiled us rotten.
I would laugh if this wasn't so true 😭
October 20, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The video store kinda sucked because a lot of the time you couldn’t get what you wanted.
The video store was, in retrospect, good because a lot of the time you couldn’t get what you wanted so you discovered stuff you wouldn’t have otherwise!
The video store was, in retrospect, good because a lot of the time you couldn’t get what you wanted so you discovered stuff you wouldn’t have otherwise!
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
Films: We need to hack a keycard, obtained by seducing one of the guards. We then need to drop in from the skylight after jumping from a plane, and dodge all of the lasers and traps, carefully switching the jewels for fakes that weigh the same to avoid tripping the alarm.
Real life:
Real life:
October 19, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Films: We need to hack a keycard, obtained by seducing one of the guards. We then need to drop in from the skylight after jumping from a plane, and dodge all of the lasers and traps, carefully switching the jewels for fakes that weigh the same to avoid tripping the alarm.
Real life:
Real life:
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
Awesome!
Giant copy of the Constitution being carried down Pennsylvania Avenue.
October 18, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Awesome!
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
When the Birmingham, Alabama, march is packed, you know something is up in America!
October 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
When the Birmingham, Alabama, march is packed, you know something is up in America!
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
I am planning on going to No Kings gathering this weekend in central Texas. And since I was terminated by MSNBC a few weeks ago, can someone let me know where to pick up paycheck that GOP keeps talking about. I have asked many folks going to No Kings, and none are getting paid.
October 16, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I am planning on going to No Kings gathering this weekend in central Texas. And since I was terminated by MSNBC a few weeks ago, can someone let me know where to pick up paycheck that GOP keeps talking about. I have asked many folks going to No Kings, and none are getting paid.
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
Sounds like it was pretty clear.
"It was unclear why Adm. Holsey is leaving now, less than a year into his tenure....But one of the U.S. officials...said that Admiral Holsey had raised concerns about the mission and the attacks on the alleged drug boats."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/u...
Head of the U.S. Military’s Southern Command Is Stepping Down, Officials Say
www.nytimes.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Sounds like it was pretty clear.
I liked the first two seasons of Tulsa King.
Was already thinking this season might be feeling a little different (in a not good way)
Then about half way through episode 2, Tyson pulls up to his dad's house in a fucking cyber truck.
I'm done.
Should probably cancel Paramount+ altogether.
Was already thinking this season might be feeling a little different (in a not good way)
Then about half way through episode 2, Tyson pulls up to his dad's house in a fucking cyber truck.
I'm done.
Should probably cancel Paramount+ altogether.
October 6, 2025 at 2:11 PM
I liked the first two seasons of Tulsa King.
Was already thinking this season might be feeling a little different (in a not good way)
Then about half way through episode 2, Tyson pulls up to his dad's house in a fucking cyber truck.
I'm done.
Should probably cancel Paramount+ altogether.
Was already thinking this season might be feeling a little different (in a not good way)
Then about half way through episode 2, Tyson pulls up to his dad's house in a fucking cyber truck.
I'm done.
Should probably cancel Paramount+ altogether.
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
I saw this last night & I think it is good and correct and what real leadership in this moment looks like. It’s not what people want to hear, it IS what we need to hear tho.
And I am a blue dot in a very rural part of a southern state so trust me when I say I get being mad as hell at folks, too.
And I am a blue dot in a very rural part of a southern state so trust me when I say I get being mad as hell at folks, too.
October 6, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I saw this last night & I think it is good and correct and what real leadership in this moment looks like. It’s not what people want to hear, it IS what we need to hear tho.
And I am a blue dot in a very rural part of a southern state so trust me when I say I get being mad as hell at folks, too.
And I am a blue dot in a very rural part of a southern state so trust me when I say I get being mad as hell at folks, too.
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
The two things Democrats really want:
*an ACA extension
*an end to Russ Vought and Trump deciding on their own whether to spend money appropriated by Congress.
If those 2 things were on the CR, neither of which have anything to do with illegal immigrants, I think every D would vote for it.
*an ACA extension
*an end to Russ Vought and Trump deciding on their own whether to spend money appropriated by Congress.
If those 2 things were on the CR, neither of which have anything to do with illegal immigrants, I think every D would vote for it.
October 3, 2025 at 1:03 AM
The two things Democrats really want:
*an ACA extension
*an end to Russ Vought and Trump deciding on their own whether to spend money appropriated by Congress.
If those 2 things were on the CR, neither of which have anything to do with illegal immigrants, I think every D would vote for it.
*an ACA extension
*an end to Russ Vought and Trump deciding on their own whether to spend money appropriated by Congress.
If those 2 things were on the CR, neither of which have anything to do with illegal immigrants, I think every D would vote for it.
If we get to the other side of this, there needs to be Nuremberg style trials.
"Just following orders" didn't work for the Nazis, and it shouldn't work for these assholes either.
"Just following orders" didn't work for the Nazis, and it shouldn't work for these assholes either.
What happens when our leaders and the people who work for them see immigrants not as human beings but as scum? And what happens when that way of thinking about people starts also to be applied to others, like journalists and political opponents? www.thebulwark.com/p/the-moral-...
October 3, 2025 at 1:18 AM
If we get to the other side of this, there needs to be Nuremberg style trials.
"Just following orders" didn't work for the Nazis, and it shouldn't work for these assholes either.
"Just following orders" didn't work for the Nazis, and it shouldn't work for these assholes either.
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
the GOP nuking the filibuster to end this shutdown is the best case scenario
if we want a chance at fixing any of this shit we're going to have to get rid of it, better to let them do it themselves rather than worry about Fetterman pulling a Joe Manchin
if we want a chance at fixing any of this shit we're going to have to get rid of it, better to let them do it themselves rather than worry about Fetterman pulling a Joe Manchin
October 2, 2025 at 8:07 PM
the GOP nuking the filibuster to end this shutdown is the best case scenario
if we want a chance at fixing any of this shit we're going to have to get rid of it, better to let them do it themselves rather than worry about Fetterman pulling a Joe Manchin
if we want a chance at fixing any of this shit we're going to have to get rid of it, better to let them do it themselves rather than worry about Fetterman pulling a Joe Manchin
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
Every few months now I re-read this "Who Goes Nazi?" piece from 1941 and am blown away by how it captures the people we are dealing with 80 years later.
harpers.org/archive/1941...
harpers.org/archive/1941...
Who Goes Nazi?, by Dorothy Thompson
harpers.org
October 1, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Every few months now I re-read this "Who Goes Nazi?" piece from 1941 and am blown away by how it captures the people we are dealing with 80 years later.
harpers.org/archive/1941...
harpers.org/archive/1941...
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
A bus of Bronx middle schoolers pulled up to the Capitol this morning for a long-planned field trip just a few hours after the government shut down.
All Capitol tours were cancelled as the guides can’t work in shutdown.
So I escorted them in myself and gave them a personal tour. They were great!
All Capitol tours were cancelled as the guides can’t work in shutdown.
So I escorted them in myself and gave them a personal tour. They were great!
October 1, 2025 at 5:15 PM
A bus of Bronx middle schoolers pulled up to the Capitol this morning for a long-planned field trip just a few hours after the government shut down.
All Capitol tours were cancelled as the guides can’t work in shutdown.
So I escorted them in myself and gave them a personal tour. They were great!
All Capitol tours were cancelled as the guides can’t work in shutdown.
So I escorted them in myself and gave them a personal tour. They were great!
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
an extraordinary person with an extraordinary legacy who nevertheless didn’t take herself too seriously
when Gary Larson published this cartoon, she was in Africa and her institute was horribly offended and drafted a complaint
the whole thing was defused when she returned - she found it funny
when Gary Larson published this cartoon, she was in Africa and her institute was horribly offended and drafted a complaint
the whole thing was defused when she returned - she found it funny
October 1, 2025 at 6:24 PM
an extraordinary person with an extraordinary legacy who nevertheless didn’t take herself too seriously
when Gary Larson published this cartoon, she was in Africa and her institute was horribly offended and drafted a complaint
the whole thing was defused when she returned - she found it funny
when Gary Larson published this cartoon, she was in Africa and her institute was horribly offended and drafted a complaint
the whole thing was defused when she returned - she found it funny
I've always thought this whole thing was going to come to a head sooner or later, and this was always going to be the moment of Truth.
The administration is going to order the military to do something horrific, and that's when we find out what kind of country we still live in ...
The administration is going to order the military to do something horrific, and that's when we find out what kind of country we still live in ...
It really does not get more explicit than Trump telling top active-duty military generals that they will need to participate in occupations of large cities run by his political opponents as part of his "war from within"
Trump: "The ones that are run by radical left Democrats -- what they've done to San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles. They're very unsafe places & we're gonna straighten them out one by one. This is gonna be a major part for some people in this room. That's a war too. It's war from within"
September 30, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I've always thought this whole thing was going to come to a head sooner or later, and this was always going to be the moment of Truth.
The administration is going to order the military to do something horrific, and that's when we find out what kind of country we still live in ...
The administration is going to order the military to do something horrific, and that's when we find out what kind of country we still live in ...
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
Reposted by Grumpy Old Veteran
So much has gone wrong in US press reporting on Trump because the White House reporters are people who have exclusively covered US politics.
They need people who have worked in Hungary, Turkey, etc. The relevant knowledge isn't Reagan factoids; it's the dynamics of competitive authoritarianism.
They need people who have worked in Hungary, Turkey, etc. The relevant knowledge isn't Reagan factoids; it's the dynamics of competitive authoritarianism.
September 27, 2025 at 1:33 PM
So much has gone wrong in US press reporting on Trump because the White House reporters are people who have exclusively covered US politics.
They need people who have worked in Hungary, Turkey, etc. The relevant knowledge isn't Reagan factoids; it's the dynamics of competitive authoritarianism.
They need people who have worked in Hungary, Turkey, etc. The relevant knowledge isn't Reagan factoids; it's the dynamics of competitive authoritarianism.