Barrista
@onbluskysku.bsky.social
Lawyer, Pittsburgher, reader of too few books, enjoyer of too many jokes
Ok, you firmly do not believe that any democracies exist by this rule. Like not even close to it. This is a run of the mill activity almost inherent to the process of politicking.
November 11, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Ok, you firmly do not believe that any democracies exist by this rule. Like not even close to it. This is a run of the mill activity almost inherent to the process of politicking.
Yeah but it'll be up a little sooner if Wiener leaves cause he gets elected to Congress and takes his seat in early 2027
November 11, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Yeah but it'll be up a little sooner if Wiener leaves cause he gets elected to Congress and takes his seat in early 2027
Lmao no Barack Obama did not commit bribery of Hillary Clinton in 2008 get fucking real
November 11, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Lmao no Barack Obama did not commit bribery of Hillary Clinton in 2008 get fucking real
Offering someone "financial access to other orgs" is not bribery no. "I will introduce you to this person, you can talk to them" is not a bribe. It is not a bribe anywhere.
November 11, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Offering someone "financial access to other orgs" is not bribery no. "I will introduce you to this person, you can talk to them" is not a bribe. It is not a bribe anywhere.
Eh, some of that is bribery. Offering someone a job or money is bribery. Offering someone "connections" is not.
November 11, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Eh, some of that is bribery. Offering someone a job or money is bribery. Offering someone "connections" is not.
I mean, right now iirc no one else because Scott Wiener just became the presumptive favorite for the congressional race so there hasn't been much time for someone to jump in to the race for his seat. It's a bit of musical chairs at the moment.
November 11, 2025 at 3:53 AM
I mean, right now iirc no one else because Scott Wiener just became the presumptive favorite for the congressional race so there hasn't been much time for someone to jump in to the race for his seat. It's a bit of musical chairs at the moment.
We have an example of the first thing by the way. Yeah, this is undemocratic. It's also not allowed. Thankfully this candidate lost her seat as a result.
Rep. Marie Newman settles lawsuit alleging she bribed potential opponent
Iymen Chehade alleged they had a contract for a job in her office if Newman, a Democrat, won in Illinois’ 3rd District in 2020.
rollcall.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:49 AM
We have an example of the first thing by the way. Yeah, this is undemocratic. It's also not allowed. Thankfully this candidate lost her seat as a result.
As to acquiring political consultants, also not undemocratic. Voters are free to respond to the efforts of political consultants, or to choose not to.
November 11, 2025 at 3:46 AM
As to acquiring political consultants, also not undemocratic. Voters are free to respond to the efforts of political consultants, or to choose not to.
As to media outlets, no that wouldn't be undemocratic. That's an effort to change the opinions of voters, which voters are entitled to listen to or not.
November 11, 2025 at 3:46 AM
As to media outlets, no that wouldn't be undemocratic. That's an effort to change the opinions of voters, which voters are entitled to listen to or not.
If you mean bribed as in, offered cash not to run? Yes that would be undemocratic. If you mean coerced as in, told they wouldn't get political favors for their priorities from other Republicans? No. That's part of the push and pull of the democratic process.
November 11, 2025 at 3:45 AM
If you mean bribed as in, offered cash not to run? Yes that would be undemocratic. If you mean coerced as in, told they wouldn't get political favors for their priorities from other Republicans? No. That's part of the push and pull of the democratic process.
In Germany? Many of the officials in the Bundestag are directly picked from lists made by the political party putting them up for office. If the party doesn't like you and takes you off the list you have to try your luck at one of the individual districts.
November 11, 2025 at 3:42 AM
In Germany? Many of the officials in the Bundestag are directly picked from lists made by the political party putting them up for office. If the party doesn't like you and takes you off the list you have to try your luck at one of the individual districts.
Okay. Who in this primary in 2028 has been manipulated to have been forced off the ballot by state election law?
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Okay. Who in this primary in 2028 has been manipulated to have been forced off the ballot by state election law?
In terms of political parties, as in the primary at issue here, the US is far more relaxed than other countries. In other countries if the local party doesn't like you they can often just pluck your name from the ballot. Corbyn? Yoinked. Not a Labour MP anymore sorry no primary allowed.
November 11, 2025 at 3:39 AM
In terms of political parties, as in the primary at issue here, the US is far more relaxed than other countries. In other countries if the local party doesn't like you they can often just pluck your name from the ballot. Corbyn? Yoinked. Not a Labour MP anymore sorry no primary allowed.
This is San Francisco again whoever wins the Democratic primary does not need to be ruthlessly suing the green party to coast to victory. That's not making the difference here.
November 11, 2025 at 3:37 AM
This is San Francisco again whoever wins the Democratic primary does not need to be ruthlessly suing the green party to coast to victory. That's not making the difference here.
If Eric Trump runs for Congress and voters in, I dunno, Shitsville Arkansas want him more than they want Bruce Westerman, I would think they are seriously uncool but their being able to make this choice would not be undemocratic no.
November 11, 2025 at 3:35 AM
If Eric Trump runs for Congress and voters in, I dunno, Shitsville Arkansas want him more than they want Bruce Westerman, I would think they are seriously uncool but their being able to make this choice would not be undemocratic no.
Again if your standard for democracies is states where actors in political parties don't exert influence on which candidates put their hat in to seek power within that political party, you don't believe any democracies exist. There are no states like this, and there never will be.
November 11, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Again if your standard for democracies is states where actors in political parties don't exert influence on which candidates put their hat in to seek power within that political party, you don't believe any democracies exist. There are no states like this, and there never will be.
As to the financial aspect of kingmaking, yes that's anti-democratic. I would hardly say it makes every election that takes place a non-democratic election though. But as to the systemic aspect, again,that is part of what makes democracy what it is. That's politicking in democracies across the world
November 11, 2025 at 3:32 AM
As to the financial aspect of kingmaking, yes that's anti-democratic. I would hardly say it makes every election that takes place a non-democratic election though. But as to the systemic aspect, again,that is part of what makes democracy what it is. That's politicking in democracies across the world
As to the instance under discussion, no I don't concede. It experimentally has not done so here.
In general? Sure. I don't regard that as anti-democratic. I'm not George Washington. Parties are part of democracy. They're associative choices made by voters.
In general? Sure. I don't regard that as anti-democratic. I'm not George Washington. Parties are part of democracy. They're associative choices made by voters.
November 11, 2025 at 3:29 AM
As to the instance under discussion, no I don't concede. It experimentally has not done so here.
In general? Sure. I don't regard that as anti-democratic. I'm not George Washington. Parties are part of democracy. They're associative choices made by voters.
In general? Sure. I don't regard that as anti-democratic. I'm not George Washington. Parties are part of democracy. They're associative choices made by voters.
Look nothing wrong with throwing out a few links but if you want people to read them, at least show that you did first.
November 11, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Look nothing wrong with throwing out a few links but if you want people to read them, at least show that you did first.
Why did you cite a poll showing the exact opposite thing in the specific case under discussion and then think you could bolster it with general research on a topic at large? Who taught you that was ok?
November 11, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Why did you cite a poll showing the exact opposite thing in the specific case under discussion and then think you could bolster it with general research on a topic at large? Who taught you that was ok?
Like, this is a poll of potential congressional candidates (hence why Scott Wiener is in there, who is a congressional candidate right now he's not running for re-election), but the districts overlap pretty closely. So yeah, lots of potential state senate voters who don't like her. Bless em.
November 11, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Like, this is a poll of potential congressional candidates (hence why Scott Wiener is in there, who is a congressional candidate right now he's not running for re-election), but the districts overlap pretty closely. So yeah, lots of potential state senate voters who don't like her. Bless em.
Wait you mean she's running in an election and people are free to not like her and then choose to not vote for her? Awesome. Great. Democracy.
November 11, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Wait you mean she's running in an election and people are free to not like her and then choose to not vote for her? Awesome. Great. Democracy.
CES is a little harder to search but to say the least I would be... surprised if it asked a compound question like the one referenced here
November 11, 2025 at 3:16 AM
CES is a little harder to search but to say the least I would be... surprised if it asked a compound question like the one referenced here
Yeah? That's correct "is it time for a change?" isn't an ANES question and has never been one going back to 1952. electionstudies.org/data-tools/a...
ANES Question Search
Survey question search tool of American National Election Studies
electionstudies.org
November 11, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Yeah? That's correct "is it time for a change?" isn't an ANES question and has never been one going back to 1952. electionstudies.org/data-tools/a...