G Tierce
@gtierce.bsky.social
Lover of dogs (proud Samoyed dad), politics, housing + TOD (especially an interesting floorplan), and all things diplomatic/military (OEF/OIF x3).
In the absence of a bookmark function, I often choose to repost here instead (i.e. RT != endorsement).
In the absence of a bookmark function, I often choose to repost here instead (i.e. RT != endorsement).
Pinned
Because I'm disheartened and disgusted by the abruptness of Senate Dems' cave when I believe that there was a chance to force Reps (by echoing Trump's repeated messages) to abolish the filibuster, I hope that @joshtpm.bsky.social is right here:
Reposted by G Tierce
I am kind of sitting here mouth agape as I realize that the thing that really got eight Democrats to cave was a provision which provides backdoor criminal and civil immunity to them personally by making it functionally impossible to ever investigate the Senate
read the actual bill text and this is quite literally a provision designed solely to impede civil and criminal investigations into United States Senators and their staff. www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.appropriations.senate.gov
November 11, 2025 at 3:19 AM
I am kind of sitting here mouth agape as I realize that the thing that really got eight Democrats to cave was a provision which provides backdoor criminal and civil immunity to them personally by making it functionally impossible to ever investigate the Senate
Reposted by G Tierce
You can't have people in leadership positions who stab you in the back and then turn around and say oh well, let's move on and do nothing about that, really you're the problem for complaining about it.
November 11, 2025 at 3:12 AM
You can't have people in leadership positions who stab you in the back and then turn around and say oh well, let's move on and do nothing about that, really you're the problem for complaining about it.
Reposted by G Tierce
Democrats need to appoint a council of leading centrist sellout squish pundits to check with before they go too far.
November 10, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Democrats need to appoint a council of leading centrist sellout squish pundits to check with before they go too far.
Reposted by G Tierce
i think that a lot of apprehension about LLM AI stems from the glee many of these people have at the prospect of just replacing others they find uncomfortable or difficult
November 10, 2025 at 4:48 PM
i think that a lot of apprehension about LLM AI stems from the glee many of these people have at the prospect of just replacing others they find uncomfortable or difficult
Reposted by G Tierce
A beautiful, simple, rowhome project I toured in Portland, Maine this year.
1100sf, 3BR+Den/2BA
Small, efficient floorplans = affordable
1100sf, 3BR+Den/2BA
Small, efficient floorplans = affordable
November 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
A beautiful, simple, rowhome project I toured in Portland, Maine this year.
1100sf, 3BR+Den/2BA
Small, efficient floorplans = affordable
1100sf, 3BR+Den/2BA
Small, efficient floorplans = affordable
Reposted by G Tierce
Shut it down, win the election, then give up
People can't change their vote after they cast it
People can't change their vote after they cast it
a man in a leather jacket is standing in front of a building with a sign that says opening on it .
ALT: a man in a leather jacket is standing in front of a building with a sign that says opening on it .
media.tenor.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Shut it down, win the election, then give up
People can't change their vote after they cast it
People can't change their vote after they cast it
Reposted by G Tierce
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
Reposted by G Tierce
what’s remarkable about this is that there are zero winners at all, one of the biggest lose-lose deals I can remember
the Dem cavers will catch incandescent shit for it
the rest of the Dems will catch collateral fury
the big R win is… jacking everyone’s health care costs ahead of midterms
the Dem cavers will catch incandescent shit for it
the rest of the Dems will catch collateral fury
the big R win is… jacking everyone’s health care costs ahead of midterms
November 10, 2025 at 1:25 AM
what’s remarkable about this is that there are zero winners at all, one of the biggest lose-lose deals I can remember
the Dem cavers will catch incandescent shit for it
the rest of the Dems will catch collateral fury
the big R win is… jacking everyone’s health care costs ahead of midterms
the Dem cavers will catch incandescent shit for it
the rest of the Dems will catch collateral fury
the big R win is… jacking everyone’s health care costs ahead of midterms
Reposted by G Tierce
Hahahahah they were just playing a trick on us where they’d pretend to fight back until we voted for them, and then immediately cave www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
November 10, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Hahahahah they were just playing a trick on us where they’d pretend to fight back until we voted for them, and then immediately cave www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Because I'm disheartened and disgusted by the abruptness of Senate Dems' cave when I believe that there was a chance to force Reps (by echoing Trump's repeated messages) to abolish the filibuster, I hope that @joshtpm.bsky.social is right here:
November 10, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Because I'm disheartened and disgusted by the abruptness of Senate Dems' cave when I believe that there was a chance to force Reps (by echoing Trump's repeated messages) to abolish the filibuster, I hope that @joshtpm.bsky.social is right here:
Reposted by G Tierce
Democrats weren't going to win. They were going to force Republicans to kill the filibuster. WIthout the filibuster they would be forced in power to pass a lot of things they don't want to pass.
November 10, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Democrats weren't going to win. They were going to force Republicans to kill the filibuster. WIthout the filibuster they would be forced in power to pass a lot of things they don't want to pass.
Reposted by G Tierce
Thanks yes totally—I’m now stuck on their belief that there will be a Dem senate majority in their lifetime so their policy payoff comes in the afterlife
November 10, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Thanks yes totally—I’m now stuck on their belief that there will be a Dem senate majority in their lifetime so their policy payoff comes in the afterlife
Reposted by G Tierce
I know this sounds mean but if you think that this is a coincidence you're more than a bit of a mark. If Kaine had been up next year, it would have been Warner, if Slotkin was retiring, Peters, etc.
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 3:05 AM
I know this sounds mean but if you think that this is a coincidence you're more than a bit of a mark. If Kaine had been up next year, it would have been Warner, if Slotkin was retiring, Peters, etc.
Reposted by G Tierce
you can’t be the prodemocracy party and then fib to prevent the public from knowing what position your members of Congress actually took in order to shield them from accountability to voters.
Doesn’t matter that Schumer voted “no”. He got the Dem caucus on board with caving. THEN the caucus figured out who should vote yes to provide cover for D Sens up for reelection in 2026, who might have been in serious danger of being primaried. 2/
November 10, 2025 at 3:01 AM
you can’t be the prodemocracy party and then fib to prevent the public from knowing what position your members of Congress actually took in order to shield them from accountability to voters.
Reposted by G Tierce
The politics of the shutdown:
*GOP had a strong opening position
*Undercut themselves with the RIFs and unnecessary cuts to blue states/SNAP
*Polls showed GOP getting most of the blame, no reason to assume that would change
*Dem centrists then folded on their key issue of ACA subsidies
*GOP had a strong opening position
*Undercut themselves with the RIFs and unnecessary cuts to blue states/SNAP
*Polls showed GOP getting most of the blame, no reason to assume that would change
*Dem centrists then folded on their key issue of ACA subsidies
November 10, 2025 at 2:11 AM
The politics of the shutdown:
*GOP had a strong opening position
*Undercut themselves with the RIFs and unnecessary cuts to blue states/SNAP
*Polls showed GOP getting most of the blame, no reason to assume that would change
*Dem centrists then folded on their key issue of ACA subsidies
*GOP had a strong opening position
*Undercut themselves with the RIFs and unnecessary cuts to blue states/SNAP
*Polls showed GOP getting most of the blame, no reason to assume that would change
*Dem centrists then folded on their key issue of ACA subsidies
Reposted by G Tierce
if you’ve lost MattY and Torres your deal seems kinda bad imo
This seems significant
November 9, 2025 at 8:51 PM
if you’ve lost MattY and Torres your deal seems kinda bad imo
Reposted by G Tierce
The Democrats have learned their lesson.
by Susan Collins
by Susan Collins
November 10, 2025 at 12:37 AM
The Democrats have learned their lesson.
by Susan Collins
by Susan Collins
Reposted by G Tierce
I don’t give a rats ass about the resistance in the GOP caucus, your mission is to punch through them where our healthcare credit and SNAP objectives are, this is such a fucking side show, weve had an entire base ready to go for a year and your standing there with your foot in your dick
November 10, 2025 at 12:39 AM
I don’t give a rats ass about the resistance in the GOP caucus, your mission is to punch through them where our healthcare credit and SNAP objectives are, this is such a fucking side show, weve had an entire base ready to go for a year and your standing there with your foot in your dick
Reposted by G Tierce
Whatever else is in the deal, agreeing to merely have a vote on ACA is a fig leaf. Even if it passes the Senate, it won't in the House, which also makes it an easy yes vote for the Senate Rs who might want to, defusing it as an attack on them.
It is a stupid ask even on Team Schumer's own terms.
It is a stupid ask even on Team Schumer's own terms.
November 10, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Whatever else is in the deal, agreeing to merely have a vote on ACA is a fig leaf. Even if it passes the Senate, it won't in the House, which also makes it an easy yes vote for the Senate Rs who might want to, defusing it as an attack on them.
It is a stupid ask even on Team Schumer's own terms.
It is a stupid ask even on Team Schumer's own terms.
Reposted by G Tierce
I don't know what the Senate is going to do. But if they do in fact fold in exchange for nothing, they will be living up to past performance. To expect the Senate to carry out the will of the American people is to misunderstand why it was created in the first place.
November 9, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I don't know what the Senate is going to do. But if they do in fact fold in exchange for nothing, they will be living up to past performance. To expect the Senate to carry out the will of the American people is to misunderstand why it was created in the first place.
Reposted by G Tierce
The single biggest question in American law today is:
Are lies a get-out-of-laws-free card? Can the government simply lie to grant itself new powers? And is everyone else under an obligation to act as if obvious lies are true, or at minimum, that they might have merit and deserve respect?
Are lies a get-out-of-laws-free card? Can the government simply lie to grant itself new powers? And is everyone else under an obligation to act as if obvious lies are true, or at minimum, that they might have merit and deserve respect?
November 6, 2025 at 5:01 PM
The single biggest question in American law today is:
Are lies a get-out-of-laws-free card? Can the government simply lie to grant itself new powers? And is everyone else under an obligation to act as if obvious lies are true, or at minimum, that they might have merit and deserve respect?
Are lies a get-out-of-laws-free card? Can the government simply lie to grant itself new powers? And is everyone else under an obligation to act as if obvious lies are true, or at minimum, that they might have merit and deserve respect?
Reposted by G Tierce
It still blows my mind that the lawless government paramilitary stormtroopers from every 1990's conspiracy theory have arrived and all the don't tread on me 1776 people just pulled a fade.
Video of Greg Bovino in Waukegan, with residents following and shouting, “You a bitch!” Taken by Armando Sanchez
November 8, 2025 at 4:02 AM
It still blows my mind that the lawless government paramilitary stormtroopers from every 1990's conspiracy theory have arrived and all the don't tread on me 1776 people just pulled a fade.
Reposted by G Tierce
After US intelligence learned that IDF lawyers had found evidence of IDF war crimes in Gaza, the Biden admin “determined that it was still legal to continue supporting Israel…because the US had not gathered its *own* evidence that Israel was violating [LOAC]”
Could they not have…collected harder?
Could they not have…collected harder?
Exclusive: The US gathered intelligence last year that Israel’s military lawyers warned there was evidence that could support war crimes charges against Israel for its Gaza military campaign — operations reliant on US-supplied weapons, ex-US officials said reut.rs/4i7mXy9
November 7, 2025 at 10:02 PM
After US intelligence learned that IDF lawyers had found evidence of IDF war crimes in Gaza, the Biden admin “determined that it was still legal to continue supporting Israel…because the US had not gathered its *own* evidence that Israel was violating [LOAC]”
Could they not have…collected harder?
Could they not have…collected harder?
Reposted by G Tierce
That would require "NatSec" "Dems" to recognize that we should believe our enemies when they tell us who they are.
And given their track record on SpaceX and Israel, well, I'm not hopeful.
And given their track record on SpaceX and Israel, well, I'm not hopeful.
November 7, 2025 at 3:07 PM
That would require "NatSec" "Dems" to recognize that we should believe our enemies when they tell us who they are.
And given their track record on SpaceX and Israel, well, I'm not hopeful.
And given their track record on SpaceX and Israel, well, I'm not hopeful.
Reposted by G Tierce
Open secret is that Palantir is the only one of these companies that makes anything that isn't vaporware, and also it still sucks ass
Very easy arguments (without even broaching the even easier drug use) to lock these guys out, for any Dems willing to go back to first principles of "fascists bad"
Very easy arguments (without even broaching the even easier drug use) to lock these guys out, for any Dems willing to go back to first principles of "fascists bad"
November 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Open secret is that Palantir is the only one of these companies that makes anything that isn't vaporware, and also it still sucks ass
Very easy arguments (without even broaching the even easier drug use) to lock these guys out, for any Dems willing to go back to first principles of "fascists bad"
Very easy arguments (without even broaching the even easier drug use) to lock these guys out, for any Dems willing to go back to first principles of "fascists bad"