@neilolsen.bsky.social
Any other state maybe. New York State though I don't think so.
April 24, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Any other state maybe. New York State though I don't think so.
There are a few in districts that Kamala won. The Republicans in congress and their donors are sticking with Trump for that tax bill. If because of pressure those wobbly red states reps can't get on board and the tax bill goes under. I can see a senerio were Republicans scramble to Impeach Trump.
April 22, 2025 at 3:43 PM
There are a few in districts that Kamala won. The Republicans in congress and their donors are sticking with Trump for that tax bill. If because of pressure those wobbly red states reps can't get on board and the tax bill goes under. I can see a senerio were Republicans scramble to Impeach Trump.
Like imagine if there was a senate of former politicians particularly presidents that was directing an organized protest movement.
You would have a standard to rally around, proven leadership, plus known political actors that those moneyed could feel comfortable supporting.
You would have a standard to rally around, proven leadership, plus known political actors that those moneyed could feel comfortable supporting.
April 22, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Like imagine if there was a senate of former politicians particularly presidents that was directing an organized protest movement.
You would have a standard to rally around, proven leadership, plus known political actors that those moneyed could feel comfortable supporting.
You would have a standard to rally around, proven leadership, plus known political actors that those moneyed could feel comfortable supporting.
I agree with a lot of this. I think your right in that the pieces are there to force an impeachment if properly put together.
One thing I have been thinking about lately is the structure of the protest movement. So far we have shown we can get people out into the streets but what next?
One thing I have been thinking about lately is the structure of the protest movement. So far we have shown we can get people out into the streets but what next?
April 22, 2025 at 5:18 AM
I agree with a lot of this. I think your right in that the pieces are there to force an impeachment if properly put together.
One thing I have been thinking about lately is the structure of the protest movement. So far we have shown we can get people out into the streets but what next?
One thing I have been thinking about lately is the structure of the protest movement. So far we have shown we can get people out into the streets but what next?
Okay say Schumer steps down and AOC wins the primary. How does AOC navigate the Upstate/Long Island vs NYC dynamic that characterizes State wide elections while maintaining her image as the champion of progressives.
April 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Okay say Schumer steps down and AOC wins the primary. How does AOC navigate the Upstate/Long Island vs NYC dynamic that characterizes State wide elections while maintaining her image as the champion of progressives.
AOC is such a NYC specific politician, that for her to be electorally relevant state wide, she would have to become something that would lose support of current AOC supporters.
April 21, 2025 at 6:02 PM
AOC is such a NYC specific politician, that for her to be electorally relevant state wide, she would have to become something that would lose support of current AOC supporters.
Gov Cuomo(NYC) chooses LT Gov Hochul(Upstate). He was mean to the mayor of NYC DeBlasio which is a plus in Upstate NY. Gillibran(Upstate) was a moderate member of the house, then moves to the progressive wing culturally for NYC, after senate appointment. Schumer(NYC) makes an effort to keep Upstate.
April 21, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Gov Cuomo(NYC) chooses LT Gov Hochul(Upstate). He was mean to the mayor of NYC DeBlasio which is a plus in Upstate NY. Gillibran(Upstate) was a moderate member of the house, then moves to the progressive wing culturally for NYC, after senate appointment. Schumer(NYC) makes an effort to keep Upstate.
New York state wide elections are a different animal. There is the upstate/long Island vs the city dynamic which runs deeper than ideology. Outside NYC people will vote for Republicans just to gain leverage and concessions in state politics. Successful state wide Dems know how to balance this.
April 21, 2025 at 6:02 PM
New York state wide elections are a different animal. There is the upstate/long Island vs the city dynamic which runs deeper than ideology. Outside NYC people will vote for Republicans just to gain leverage and concessions in state politics. Successful state wide Dems know how to balance this.
I'll add, that if you believe that opposing Trumpism will require more from us citizens than waiting until the next electionto vote out the Republicans, which I do. Then dividing the opposition is like the cardinal sin that dooms any anti-authoritian movement from being successful.
April 21, 2025 at 4:11 AM
I'll add, that if you believe that opposing Trumpism will require more from us citizens than waiting until the next electionto vote out the Republicans, which I do. Then dividing the opposition is like the cardinal sin that dooms any anti-authoritian movement from being successful.
She isn't the only one. Senator Van Hollen has put up a pretty good fight this week.
April 21, 2025 at 3:15 AM
She isn't the only one. Senator Van Hollen has put up a pretty good fight this week.
Since the pandemic at the very latest, the days narratives are set in social media cyberspace. And that is radically different then what came before. Between different platforms and their algorithms, a lot of people only see things that confirm their viewpoint.
April 16, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Since the pandemic at the very latest, the days narratives are set in social media cyberspace. And that is radically different then what came before. Between different platforms and their algorithms, a lot of people only see things that confirm their viewpoint.
You have to remember how different the media landscape is now then back then. In his first term cable television still set the narrative and though diminished legacy newspapers and university experts' public statement still held discursive power. That power is extremely diminished in 2025.
April 16, 2025 at 10:27 PM
You have to remember how different the media landscape is now then back then. In his first term cable television still set the narrative and though diminished legacy newspapers and university experts' public statement still held discursive power. That power is extremely diminished in 2025.
Unironically kinda yeah. Look up his relationship to Roy Cohn if you are not familiar. Trump was always a psychopath but Cohn was the Sith Lord that showed him how to weaponize it.
There is a PBS FRONTLINE documentary about Trump's life that in part goes into Cohn's influence on Trump.
There is a PBS FRONTLINE documentary about Trump's life that in part goes into Cohn's influence on Trump.
April 3, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Unironically kinda yeah. Look up his relationship to Roy Cohn if you are not familiar. Trump was always a psychopath but Cohn was the Sith Lord that showed him how to weaponize it.
There is a PBS FRONTLINE documentary about Trump's life that in part goes into Cohn's influence on Trump.
There is a PBS FRONTLINE documentary about Trump's life that in part goes into Cohn's influence on Trump.
The fragmentation and sorting of the populace into different Social media tribes changed what is and isn't politically damaging. There is not much of a mainstream left just subcultures. Anyone who isn't in one is atomized.
Politicians are also Influencers and their constituents are also fandoms.
Politicians are also Influencers and their constituents are also fandoms.
March 25, 2025 at 3:37 AM
The fragmentation and sorting of the populace into different Social media tribes changed what is and isn't politically damaging. There is not much of a mainstream left just subcultures. Anyone who isn't in one is atomized.
Politicians are also Influencers and their constituents are also fandoms.
Politicians are also Influencers and their constituents are also fandoms.
The tax cut bill is also supposed to go for a vote in April. What happens with that is really gonna shape the political landscape.
And some of the court cases are really gonna test how strong our institutions are.
And some of the court cases are really gonna test how strong our institutions are.
March 24, 2025 at 2:10 AM
The tax cut bill is also supposed to go for a vote in April. What happens with that is really gonna shape the political landscape.
And some of the court cases are really gonna test how strong our institutions are.
And some of the court cases are really gonna test how strong our institutions are.
Protests are being organized for April 5th. I don't know how big they will be. If they can be sustained.
The thing that frightens me is how organized it will be. If it gets violent he might have his riechstag fire moment. Violence must be avoided at all costs.
April looks like make or break for us
The thing that frightens me is how organized it will be. If it gets violent he might have his riechstag fire moment. Violence must be avoided at all costs.
April looks like make or break for us
March 24, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Protests are being organized for April 5th. I don't know how big they will be. If they can be sustained.
The thing that frightens me is how organized it will be. If it gets violent he might have his riechstag fire moment. Violence must be avoided at all costs.
April looks like make or break for us
The thing that frightens me is how organized it will be. If it gets violent he might have his riechstag fire moment. Violence must be avoided at all costs.
April looks like make or break for us
If the country had a standard to rally around. We would have mass nonviolent protests right now. If we get one. Well, this tyrant and his minions are bad for every sector of the economy. So provided a protest movement about removing this tyrant isn't tyrannical itself I really think it might work.
March 20, 2025 at 4:52 PM
If the country had a standard to rally around. We would have mass nonviolent protests right now. If we get one. Well, this tyrant and his minions are bad for every sector of the economy. So provided a protest movement about removing this tyrant isn't tyrannical itself I really think it might work.
Nation wide protests are being organized for April 5th. Hopefully there is sustained momentum after.
Given just what an economic disaster he is now and where the economy is going. If a protest movement was led by like Former politicians I would could see huge funds put behind the campaign.
Given just what an economic disaster he is now and where the economy is going. If a protest movement was led by like Former politicians I would could see huge funds put behind the campaign.
March 20, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Nation wide protests are being organized for April 5th. Hopefully there is sustained momentum after.
Given just what an economic disaster he is now and where the economy is going. If a protest movement was led by like Former politicians I would could see huge funds put behind the campaign.
Given just what an economic disaster he is now and where the economy is going. If a protest movement was led by like Former politicians I would could see huge funds put behind the campaign.
We all have probably seen this article lately. But to be successful a movement needs to be able to sustain that percentage over time not just a couple days. 3.5 percent of the population is a doable figure.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
The '3.5% rule': How a small minority can change the world
Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.
www.bbc.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:03 AM
We all have probably seen this article lately. But to be successful a movement needs to be able to sustain that percentage over time not just a couple days. 3.5 percent of the population is a doable figure.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
More relevant to the here and now Thomas Ricks writes about the importance of planning for protests as part of a larger strategic vision drafted by the principles tasked with see it come true. And the key importance of sustainability of the protest vs sheer numbers.
newrepublic.com/article/1924...
newrepublic.com/article/1924...
Note to the Resistance: Protest Takes Planning. Learn From Dr. King.
The protesters of the civil rights movement didn’t just show up. They planned for every eventuality. It’s a lesson that’s starkly relevant today.
newrepublic.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:03 AM
More relevant to the here and now Thomas Ricks writes about the importance of planning for protests as part of a larger strategic vision drafted by the principles tasked with see it come true. And the key importance of sustainability of the protest vs sheer numbers.
newrepublic.com/article/1924...
newrepublic.com/article/1924...
Thomas E Ricks wrote book about the Civil Rights movement that looks at it like a military campaign. Even though it was non-violent movement.
"Waging a good war-a military history of the Civil Rights movement 1954-1968"
(Politics and Prose lecture on the book)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=VwKO...
"Waging a good war-a military history of the Civil Rights movement 1954-1968"
(Politics and Prose lecture on the book)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=VwKO...
Thomas E. Ricks — Waging a Good War: A Military History of the Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1968
YouTube video by Politics and Prose
m.youtube.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Thomas E Ricks wrote book about the Civil Rights movement that looks at it like a military campaign. Even though it was non-violent movement.
"Waging a good war-a military history of the Civil Rights movement 1954-1968"
(Politics and Prose lecture on the book)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=VwKO...
"Waging a good war-a military history of the Civil Rights movement 1954-1968"
(Politics and Prose lecture on the book)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=VwKO...
But a mass movement still need to be strategic. This substack by kirian
Phitzner looks at activism from a military strategy perspective.
www.deadcarl.com/p/clausewitz...
Phitzner looks at activism from a military strategy perspective.
www.deadcarl.com/p/clausewitz...
Clausewitz On Activism: Professionalism and Parochialism
What Progressive Activists, the German General Staff, and Battlefield Earth all have in common
www.deadcarl.com
March 17, 2025 at 1:03 AM
But a mass movement still need to be strategic. This substack by kirian
Phitzner looks at activism from a military strategy perspective.
www.deadcarl.com/p/clausewitz...
Phitzner looks at activism from a military strategy perspective.
www.deadcarl.com/p/clausewitz...
By being committed to nonviolence in the face of the racist violence of segregation supporters and authorities. The Civil Rights movement was able to take more and more legitimacy away from segregation eventually defeating it.
March 17, 2025 at 1:03 AM
By being committed to nonviolence in the face of the racist violence of segregation supporters and authorities. The Civil Rights movement was able to take more and more legitimacy away from segregation eventually defeating it.
Absolutely agree. Violence must be avoided at all costs.
Fortunately though we have a model for Non-violent protest in the face of structural oppression and violence that worked. The Civil Rights movement.
Fortunately though we have a model for Non-violent protest in the face of structural oppression and violence that worked. The Civil Rights movement.
March 17, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Absolutely agree. Violence must be avoided at all costs.
Fortunately though we have a model for Non-violent protest in the face of structural oppression and violence that worked. The Civil Rights movement.
Fortunately though we have a model for Non-violent protest in the face of structural oppression and violence that worked. The Civil Rights movement.