Ash
@ashbowie.bsky.social
Psychologist, photographer, amateur woodworker, intrepid explorer of the labyrinthine caverns of the mind, lives in Mt. Lebanon PA.
Another principle of war in politics: power is everything. The left eschews power, preferring moral victories or expressions of ideological purity. Mamdani might be the first crack in this self-defeating pattern. We’ll see.
October 18, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Another principle of war in politics: power is everything. The left eschews power, preferring moral victories or expressions of ideological purity. Mamdani might be the first crack in this self-defeating pattern. We’ll see.
Outstanding piece, a must read. One principle left out: in war, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Until progressives embrace this, they will continue to do the job of MAGA for them.
October 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Outstanding piece, a must read. One principle left out: in war, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Until progressives embrace this, they will continue to do the job of MAGA for them.
That's not a neurotypical thing. That's a "I demand you read my mind and when you fail I will assume you represent everything I hate" thing. No one even knows what "assume good faith" means anymore.
October 7, 2025 at 1:54 AM
That's not a neurotypical thing. That's a "I demand you read my mind and when you fail I will assume you represent everything I hate" thing. No one even knows what "assume good faith" means anymore.
The word I would use is "naive—I believe he is well-intentioned. I think we DO need to apply this attitude to typical low-info non-insane GOP voters, but his mistake is applying it to right wing leaders and pols. This will never work.
September 16, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The word I would use is "naive—I believe he is well-intentioned. I think we DO need to apply this attitude to typical low-info non-insane GOP voters, but his mistake is applying it to right wing leaders and pols. This will never work.
To be fair, I'm sure the interview took place days prior to the shooting. But everything he's saying sounds right. I've been saying the activist left has abanonded colation building, which is basically what Pete is saying here. If the left won't make a home for young men, they'll go to the right.
September 13, 2025 at 3:37 AM
To be fair, I'm sure the interview took place days prior to the shooting. But everything he's saying sounds right. I've been saying the activist left has abanonded colation building, which is basically what Pete is saying here. If the left won't make a home for young men, they'll go to the right.
Thanks, I read the entire thing. Not surprising, human nature being what it is. It's what happens when a movement is guided by ideology rather than pragmatism. Then it becomes about purity rather than accomplishment. And purity is easily demonstrated by "trashing" the impure. So wasteful.
September 3, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Thanks, I read the entire thing. Not surprising, human nature being what it is. It's what happens when a movement is guided by ideology rather than pragmatism. Then it becomes about purity rather than accomplishment. And purity is easily demonstrated by "trashing" the impure. So wasteful.
While trolling is rampant on all sides, I believe that the left is much more likely to focus on swarming those in their own ideological domain; the right tends to swarm their ideological opponents. Basically, everyone loves to pwn the libs.
September 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
While trolling is rampant on all sides, I believe that the left is much more likely to focus on swarming those in their own ideological domain; the right tends to swarm their ideological opponents. Basically, everyone loves to pwn the libs.
You witnessed this with me recently. About 10% of the swarm had conversations about their disagreements with me. The rest wanted to flay me alive and assume the absolute worst of me. It's exhausting, counterproductive, & drives allies away. Not one was open to considering my points on their merits.
September 3, 2025 at 3:42 PM
You witnessed this with me recently. About 10% of the swarm had conversations about their disagreements with me. The rest wanted to flay me alive and assume the absolute worst of me. It's exhausting, counterproductive, & drives allies away. Not one was open to considering my points on their merits.
It is shocking and disappointing to me that these facts are less disturbing to purity activists than Newsom's rising popularity. No one does circular firing squads better than the left.
August 28, 2025 at 12:30 AM
It is shocking and disappointing to me that these facts are less disturbing to purity activists than Newsom's rising popularity. No one does circular firing squads better than the left.
Ahem, I lived in the Bay Area for 14 years. It's why I know that CA progressive politics is so skewed and ineffective.
August 28, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Ahem, I lived in the Bay Area for 14 years. It's why I know that CA progressive politics is so skewed and ineffective.
No one does white sanctimony like purity activists. What I'm offering is a path forward to power and advancement or rights. OF COURSE you will never get all you want. Neither will I. Neither will anyone except perhaps the rich. If that's your bar, then you've already ceded the game.
August 28, 2025 at 12:26 AM
No one does white sanctimony like purity activists. What I'm offering is a path forward to power and advancement or rights. OF COURSE you will never get all you want. Neither will I. Neither will anyone except perhaps the rich. If that's your bar, then you've already ceded the game.
Nope, he has never said, "I'll sign a bill into law that prevents transition care below the age of 26." or even "I agree that there should be no transitional surgery until age 26." So, again, can you give me an anti-trans policy that he has unambiguously supported?
August 28, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Nope, he has never said, "I'll sign a bill into law that prevents transition care below the age of 26." or even "I agree that there should be no transitional surgery until age 26." So, again, can you give me an anti-trans policy that he has unambiguously supported?
...it is self-defeating to try to stop someone from attacking your enemy. The purity left has long focused their ire on imperfect Dems, leaving a gaping hole for MAGA to slip through. I've yet to have any optimism that they've learned from this.
August 28, 2025 at 12:21 AM
...it is self-defeating to try to stop someone from attacking your enemy. The purity left has long focused their ire on imperfect Dems, leaving a gaping hole for MAGA to slip through. I've yet to have any optimism that they've learned from this.
Not intentionally so, but that's the net effect, at least at this moment. If this were a primary, then sure, point out the flaws and advocate for your choice. But that's not happening right now. Right now, Newsom is simply fighting Trump in a way that's getting under MAGA's skin, and...
August 28, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Not intentionally so, but that's the net effect, at least at this moment. If this were a primary, then sure, point out the flaws and advocate for your choice. But that's not happening right now. Right now, Newsom is simply fighting Trump in a way that's getting under MAGA's skin, and...
This might be a shock to you, but literally every politician who has ever lived cared about winning and power. Indeed, the people who don't care about it never get what they want. And another shocker for you, but Dems are completely out of power at the federal level and in most states.
August 27, 2025 at 11:58 PM
This might be a shock to you, but literally every politician who has ever lived cared about winning and power. Indeed, the people who don't care about it never get what they want. And another shocker for you, but Dems are completely out of power at the federal level and in most states.
MAGA thanks you for your pessimism.
August 27, 2025 at 11:55 PM
MAGA thanks you for your pessimism.
Can you give me an example of what Newsom has said he would "do to Trans people"? Not rumors. Not interpretations of vague statements. Actual anti-Trans policies he has said he would sign into law. Anything?
August 27, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Can you give me an example of what Newsom has said he would "do to Trans people"? Not rumors. Not interpretations of vague statements. Actual anti-Trans policies he has said he would sign into law. Anything?
FDR famously said, “I agree with you. I want to do it. Now make me do it.” That sums up how politics actually works. But first we have to get them into power. Working to keep imperfect allies out of power, or undermining them when they are punching a mutual enemy (MAGA), is counterproductive.
August 27, 2025 at 10:58 PM
FDR famously said, “I agree with you. I want to do it. Now make me do it.” That sums up how politics actually works. But first we have to get them into power. Working to keep imperfect allies out of power, or undermining them when they are punching a mutual enemy (MAGA), is counterproductive.