Mark Firla
@unioncat.bsky.social
From The Land of Steady Habits, Organizing makes me happy. Solidarity
Reposted by Mark Firla
the Rosetta Stone of dem politics is the 2006 senate primary which incumbent Joe Lieberman lost in part for making out with George Bush
He ran anyway, won with GOP support, dems let him keep his seniority, chairmanships and perks & he rewarded them by obstructing the ACA & killing the public option
He ran anyway, won with GOP support, dems let him keep his seniority, chairmanships and perks & he rewarded them by obstructing the ACA & killing the public option
An important question you cannot skip over in pursuit of the Primary Them All solution is: how likely is it that defeating entitled narcissists in a primary will actually stop them from running?
November 10, 2025 at 5:18 PM
the Rosetta Stone of dem politics is the 2006 senate primary which incumbent Joe Lieberman lost in part for making out with George Bush
He ran anyway, won with GOP support, dems let him keep his seniority, chairmanships and perks & he rewarded them by obstructing the ACA & killing the public option
He ran anyway, won with GOP support, dems let him keep his seniority, chairmanships and perks & he rewarded them by obstructing the ACA & killing the public option
Reposted by Mark Firla
I have come to believe this as well. The list is too strange. I don’t think a majority wanted to cave, but many more than the 8.
I think that these 8 Senators are falling on the sword for Schumer and other Senators who wanted the shutdown to end. This allows the majority of Senators to save face; and only retiring or not up for reelection Senators take the heat.
It’s a ruse.
It’s a ruse.
November 10, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I have come to believe this as well. The list is too strange. I don’t think a majority wanted to cave, but many more than the 8.
Reposted by Mark Firla
DONALD TRUMP: [asleep, drooling on long red tie]
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
November 10, 2025 at 2:37 AM
DONALD TRUMP: [asleep, drooling on long red tie]
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
Reposted by Mark Firla
@merkley.senate.gov new leadership, or get primaried
Whatever you personally do means less than a fart in a hurricane with Democratic leadership that shuffles and trades votes to try give Republicans what they want and avoid electoral consequences.
**Every Dem now owns every vote**
Whatever you personally do means less than a fart in a hurricane with Democratic leadership that shuffles and trades votes to try give Republicans what they want and avoid electoral consequences.
**Every Dem now owns every vote**
November 10, 2025 at 1:30 PM
@merkley.senate.gov new leadership, or get primaried
Whatever you personally do means less than a fart in a hurricane with Democratic leadership that shuffles and trades votes to try give Republicans what they want and avoid electoral consequences.
**Every Dem now owns every vote**
Whatever you personally do means less than a fart in a hurricane with Democratic leadership that shuffles and trades votes to try give Republicans what they want and avoid electoral consequences.
**Every Dem now owns every vote**
Reposted by Mark Firla
KILMEADE: Schumer says he's voting no. Did you do this outside leadership?
SHAHEEN: No. We kept leadership informed throughout.
SHAHEEN: No. We kept leadership informed throughout.
November 10, 2025 at 1:27 PM
KILMEADE: Schumer says he's voting no. Did you do this outside leadership?
SHAHEEN: No. We kept leadership informed throughout.
SHAHEEN: No. We kept leadership informed throughout.
Reposted by Mark Firla
Reposted by Mark Firla
Reposted by Mark Firla
They caved in March so they could get a better deal now. They’re caving now so they can get a better deal in some indeterminate future. The better deal is always just beyond their reach, but continuing to cave will get them there. And if you don’t agree with that, you don’t understand Politics,
November 10, 2025 at 2:44 AM
They caved in March so they could get a better deal now. They’re caving now so they can get a better deal in some indeterminate future. The better deal is always just beyond their reach, but continuing to cave will get them there. And if you don’t agree with that, you don’t understand Politics,
Reposted by Mark Firla
I’m old enough to remember that Chuck Schumer once spent years relentlessly fighting for a cause.
I can clearly recall him using every leverage point at his disposal and employing a few dirty tricks.
Unfortunately, that fight was against a bike lane on his street, right in front of Prospect Park.
I can clearly recall him using every leverage point at his disposal and employing a few dirty tricks.
Unfortunately, that fight was against a bike lane on his street, right in front of Prospect Park.
November 10, 2025 at 2:50 AM
I’m old enough to remember that Chuck Schumer once spent years relentlessly fighting for a cause.
I can clearly recall him using every leverage point at his disposal and employing a few dirty tricks.
Unfortunately, that fight was against a bike lane on his street, right in front of Prospect Park.
I can clearly recall him using every leverage point at his disposal and employing a few dirty tricks.
Unfortunately, that fight was against a bike lane on his street, right in front of Prospect Park.
Reposted by Mark Firla
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Reposted by Mark Firla
They literally ruin everything they touch
October 31, 2025 at 3:44 AM
They literally ruin everything they touch
Reposted by Mark Firla
Not a single senate Democrat should be politically safe from this day forward. Not one
Blame *all* Democratic incumbents for this surrender. Not just the ones voting for it. The others could have voted to remove Schumer long ago and install a leader capable of formulating a strategy and holding his people together. They were content to stay with a proven loser.
I will not support a deal that does nothing to make health care more affordable.
We are in a health care emergency. A simple one-year extension of these tax credits would cost less than Donald Trump’s $40 billion bailout for Argentina.
A vote for this bill is a mistake.
We are in a health care emergency. A simple one-year extension of these tax credits would cost less than Donald Trump’s $40 billion bailout for Argentina.
A vote for this bill is a mistake.
November 10, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Not a single senate Democrat should be politically safe from this day forward. Not one
Reposted by Mark Firla
Vibes among House Democrats and activists, "The Senate is the enemy"
November 10, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Vibes among House Democrats and activists, "The Senate is the enemy"
Reposted by Mark Firla
I’m already seeing people insist that even with this capitulation the Democrats will still sweep 2026 because Trump is that bad. It was precisely that attitude that gave us 2024.
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 AM
I’m already seeing people insist that even with this capitulation the Democrats will still sweep 2026 because Trump is that bad. It was precisely that attitude that gave us 2024.
Reposted by Mark Firla
Durbin is trash. Yes, lots of great stuff in the past. Sure he’s a decent guy. But he’s pure trash now. Important to see that the bulk of Team Cave is made up of people who are retiring.
Durbin is a YES on this deal: “At Democrats’ urging, today’s bill is not the same one we’ve voted down 14 times. Republicans finally woke up and realized their Groundhog Day needed to end. This bill is not perfect, but it takes important steps to reduce their shutdown’s hurt.”
November 10, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Durbin is trash. Yes, lots of great stuff in the past. Sure he’s a decent guy. But he’s pure trash now. Important to see that the bulk of Team Cave is made up of people who are retiring.
Reposted by Mark Firla
Senate Democrats voting to dismantle the ACA to avoid any problems with their Thanksgiving travel is tragically on brand.
November 9, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Senate Democrats voting to dismantle the ACA to avoid any problems with their Thanksgiving travel is tragically on brand.
Reposted by Mark Firla
Reposted by Mark Firla
9/ to throw in the towel on principle. Wanting to have the caucus act as a group right now is no excuse.
November 9, 2025 at 10:42 PM
9/ to throw in the towel on principle. Wanting to have the caucus act as a group right now is no excuse.
Reposted by Mark Firla
Hard to believe that Cuomo supporter Chuck Schumer would sell out Democrats
November 9, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Hard to believe that Cuomo supporter Chuck Schumer would sell out Democrats
This is awesome
Read it and your day will get better. www.hcn.org/issues/57-11...
November 9, 2025 at 3:01 PM
This is awesome
Reposted by Mark Firla
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
Reposted by Mark Firla
If we want to stop the kidnappings and these agents require anonymity to commit these actions, then we must remove the masks.
So long as we allow masked law enforcement to terrorize people, we cannot be a democracy.
So long as we allow masked law enforcement to terrorize people, we cannot be a democracy.
I’ve come to believe that we need to gather considerable forces and a campaign to demand the removal of face masks by ICE, Border Patrol, FBI and police.
It is a practice in conflict with the principles of transparency & accountability that are central to the concept of democracy.
It is a practice in conflict with the principles of transparency & accountability that are central to the concept of democracy.
Video on social media shows an immigration agent pulling a gun in Little Village and holding it to the side — which is not an appropriate or safe way to hold a gun. (Among other issues.)
November 9, 2025 at 1:56 PM
If we want to stop the kidnappings and these agents require anonymity to commit these actions, then we must remove the masks.
So long as we allow masked law enforcement to terrorize people, we cannot be a democracy.
So long as we allow masked law enforcement to terrorize people, we cannot be a democracy.
Reposted by Mark Firla
“woke” is when you acknowledge that black people have contributed to the united states
Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
November 8, 2025 at 9:01 PM
“woke” is when you acknowledge that black people have contributed to the united states
Reposted by Mark Firla
Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp defended the firm’s pro bono work in the wake of its deal with President Donald Trump, as he was heckled and protested at a bar association event.
Brad Karp Heckled at Gala as He Defends Paul Weiss Pro Bono
Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp defended the firm’s pro bono work in the wake of its deal with President Donald Trump, as he was heckled and protested at a bar association event.
bit.ly
November 8, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp defended the firm’s pro bono work in the wake of its deal with President Donald Trump, as he was heckled and protested at a bar association event.
Reposted by Mark Firla
They're going to the highest court in the land to avoid feeding children.
November 8, 2025 at 12:16 AM
They're going to the highest court in the land to avoid feeding children.