David L. Carlton
@dcarlton.bsky.social
Actually, I think the schisms have long since transpired.
February 18, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Actually, I think the schisms have long since transpired.
Meaning you only read the headline that some guy at the copy desk slapped on Edsall's piece?
February 18, 2026 at 3:08 AM
Meaning you only read the headline that some guy at the copy desk slapped on Edsall's piece?
In my professional youth I studied a classic southern demagogue politician. Such characters could acquire enormous followings, but they were purely personal, because their voters were otherwise disaffected from politics. They voted for a magician, not a serious coalition builder.
February 18, 2026 at 2:57 AM
In my professional youth I studied a classic southern demagogue politician. Such characters could acquire enormous followings, but they were purely personal, because their voters were otherwise disaffected from politics. They voted for a magician, not a serious coalition builder.
One factor Edsall ignores affecting the upcoming 2026 general elections: the marginal voters that only show up to vote for Trump, and who'll be absent this fall. How many of them were those minority voters that went GOP in 2024?
February 18, 2026 at 2:49 AM
One factor Edsall ignores affecting the upcoming 2026 general elections: the marginal voters that only show up to vote for Trump, and who'll be absent this fall. How many of them were those minority voters that went GOP in 2024?
He cites Beethoven?? Does he know why the Ode to Joy is the EU anthem? It's because Europeans have learned through hard experience that the sort of "unapologetic" monoculturalism Rubio extols leads to catastrophe. *Alle menschen werden bruder*!!
February 18, 2026 at 1:24 AM
He cites Beethoven?? Does he know why the Ode to Joy is the EU anthem? It's because Europeans have learned through hard experience that the sort of "unapologetic" monoculturalism Rubio extols leads to catastrophe. *Alle menschen werden bruder*!!
Also, there's no right to vote in the Constitution--there are provisions forbidding discrimination based on race, gender, and 18+ age, and forbidding poll taxes, but not other restrictions. I can remember when property requirements and literacy tests could be used as de facto disfranchisers.
February 17, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Also, there's no right to vote in the Constitution--there are provisions forbidding discrimination based on race, gender, and 18+ age, and forbidding poll taxes, but not other restrictions. I can remember when property requirements and literacy tests could be used as de facto disfranchisers.
Actually, I've always had to present my voter registration before the current photo ID business; I've always had to prove that I'm legit. It's not voter ID that's the issue; it's requiring a form of ID that people may not have available.
legit.so
February 17, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Actually, I've always had to present my voter registration before the current photo ID business; I've always had to prove that I'm legit. It's not voter ID that's the issue; it's requiring a form of ID that people may not have available.
They don't see that; they see the wealth, and think it certifies him as a successful businessman.
February 17, 2026 at 5:16 PM
They don't see that; they see the wealth, and think it certifies him as a successful businessman.
Shorter Sara Longwell: The much-reviled Democratic establishment is right: it's kitchen-table issues, stupid. And GOP obsession with fighting culture wars comes at the expense of kitchen-table issues. They can be bundled.
February 17, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Shorter Sara Longwell: The much-reviled Democratic establishment is right: it's kitchen-table issues, stupid. And GOP obsession with fighting culture wars comes at the expense of kitchen-table issues. They can be bundled.
Actually, they colonized Ulster in the 17th century before migrating to N. America in the 18th. The clearances came mainly in the 19th century. I remember hearing a tour guide on the Isle of Mull stating that when the Duke of Argyle died there were celebratory bonfires lit all over Canada.
February 15, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Actually, they colonized Ulster in the 17th century before migrating to N. America in the 18th. The clearances came mainly in the 19th century. I remember hearing a tour guide on the Isle of Mull stating that when the Duke of Argyle died there were celebratory bonfires lit all over Canada.
Driving through NC last year I was passed by a cybertruck with the license plate "DOGE1."
February 15, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Driving through NC last year I was passed by a cybertruck with the license plate "DOGE1."
Check out Drezner's take (he was there). The crowd's reaction wasn't to "go wild," but to be relieved that he didn't shovel Vance's BS from last year. The speech's ultimate impact will be collapse from its own contradictions.
February 15, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Check out Drezner's take (he was there). The crowd's reaction wasn't to "go wild," but to be relieved that he didn't shovel Vance's BS from last year. The speech's ultimate impact will be collapse from its own contradictions.
It also had to do with the notion that the ideal citizen was "independent," i.e. controlled his own means of livelihood--the small (patriarchal) landowner, the small businessman/artisan. City folk depended on bosses and landlords, and were "buyable." The problems with this thinking are obvious.
February 15, 2026 at 2:03 AM
It also had to do with the notion that the ideal citizen was "independent," i.e. controlled his own means of livelihood--the small (patriarchal) landowner, the small businessman/artisan. City folk depended on bosses and landlords, and were "buyable." The problems with this thinking are obvious.
What flabbergasts me is the initial Fox News story claiming that an ICE agent was "fighting for his life" following this incident. Now it appears no agent was even *injured.* What sort of *journalist* fails to check this out? I know there are still one or two at Fox.
February 14, 2026 at 6:11 PM
What flabbergasts me is the initial Fox News story claiming that an ICE agent was "fighting for his life" following this incident. Now it appears no agent was even *injured.* What sort of *journalist* fails to check this out? I know there are still one or two at Fox.
Think you could provide us with the link to the article?
February 14, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Think you could provide us with the link to the article?
My suggestion: You say that it was DOJ that requested the dimissal. In fact, it was the MN USDA that requested it. Evidence is mounting of widespread disaffection in that office with the DOJ overlords, and it may be turning into open revolt from the top down. That could be explosive.
February 14, 2026 at 12:47 AM
My suggestion: You say that it was DOJ that requested the dimissal. In fact, it was the MN USDA that requested it. Evidence is mounting of widespread disaffection in that office with the DOJ overlords, and it may be turning into open revolt from the top down. That could be explosive.
"Fighting for his life" means there's independent medical evidence available. Was this guy admitted to a hospital?
February 13, 2026 at 5:09 PM
"Fighting for his life" means there's independent medical evidence available. Was this guy admitted to a hospital?
I'm Scots-Irish too, and I frankly don't buy his notion that they had a "military heritage." "Military" to me means discipline, not an inclination toward violence, which is probably what he means. There's a lot of garbage cultural determinism out there, and it feeds this crap.
February 13, 2026 at 12:35 AM
I'm Scots-Irish too, and I frankly don't buy his notion that they had a "military heritage." "Military" to me means discipline, not an inclination toward violence, which is probably what he means. There's a lot of garbage cultural determinism out there, and it feeds this crap.
Gee--it's been many years since I got a 15-minute presentation. What sort of conference is this?
February 10, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Gee--it's been many years since I got a 15-minute presentation. What sort of conference is this?
Weren't they the ones who put us in this mess? Isn't it important to figure out how to change their minds?
February 9, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Weren't they the ones who put us in this mess? Isn't it important to figure out how to change their minds?
Fun Nashville connection: the string orchestra was conducted by the Nashville Symphony's former director, Giancarlo Guerrero.
February 9, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Fun Nashville connection: the string orchestra was conducted by the Nashville Symphony's former director, Giancarlo Guerrero.
My problem is that I have to ask someone to take a chunk out of his day to accompany me--and I can't guarantee he'll be free at a given time. The last two times I had surgery I wound up seriously inconveniencing friends I want to keep. Cost me two bottles of Ron Zacapa.
February 8, 2026 at 8:14 PM
My problem is that I have to ask someone to take a chunk out of his day to accompany me--and I can't guarantee he'll be free at a given time. The last two times I had surgery I wound up seriously inconveniencing friends I want to keep. Cost me two bottles of Ron Zacapa.
Why was *Bukele* invited to the Hilton event? And introduced as a man of character?
February 5, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Why was *Bukele* invited to the Hilton event? And introduced as a man of character?
ICE is fully funded now; the issue is funding for the rest of DHS.
February 5, 2026 at 9:15 PM
ICE is fully funded now; the issue is funding for the rest of DHS.