Maybe INDOPACOM ran out of heavy fires, so CENTCOM started stealing munitions from SOUTHCOM instead.

just saw someone call Kash Patel “J Edgar Boozer” and need to lie down

Ok, I think this is the root of our disagreement. I think today’s vote is a mechanism by which people choose their representation in Congress, not a rejection of that principle. Would you view Virginia shifting to a “members at large” model for Congress as rejecting the right to representation?

I strongly disagree with that assessment, although I will agree that we could have improved the proposed change by making it so the GA could call the redistricting committee to meet and redraw the lines, instead of have the GA do it directly. Would that address your concerns?

Your view may actually be the majority view of the VA electorate, we’ll see tomorrow!

Yup. Starting assumptions and professional background matter too. I’ve had a career in natsec and spent time in war zones, my left and rights for realpolitik and counterforce use are just going to be different than someone with a different set of priors.

I think we both maintain this a question of democratic integrity, and we’re probably both rightly wary of fascists using democratic means to seize power. We’re parsing some of the nuances differently, which is a real bear to resolve in short text format, but I think it’s a good faith disagreement.

I simply don’t think asking every voter in the state if they want to punch back politically is as bad as the unprovoked first punch that was thrown by Texas. Nor do I think that this redistricting is necessarily any worse engineering than the mandated bipartisanship of the committee.

That’s fair, and there is certainly room for both viewpoints on the issue. It’s complex and not cut and dry.

The time limit is inherent to the amendment itself. They’d need to another amendment and vote for it to happen again, which given that this is likely to be a close vote even with the backlash to the GOP actions seems somewhat unlikely.

I generally oppose this sort of approach, but given that it’s time limited, in response to specific current events, and directly driven by the voters, I’m fairly open to it, especially since there hasn’t been a federal level ban on gerrymandering.

So, your stance is that a statewide referendum is representatives choosing their voters, but a committee of 8 representatives and 8 citizens is voters choosing their representatives? That seems arguable, regardless of how you plan to vote tomorrow.

Also, the Pope is a head of state, and therefore is one of the individuals responsible for the common good even if Bishop Schismatic over there wants to say that only heads of state can evaluate if wars are just.

Bluesky, what do you think of police unions in the U.S.?

I’m researching them using @victorerikray.bsky.social ‘s theory of racialized orgs. I’m just looking for your general impressions of them as an entity. (I have few followers so any re-posts are appreciated) #academicsky #phdsky

They should not exist given that officers have qualified immunity in this country and a monopoly on violence. They are not at the same sort of negotiating disadvantage that actual working trades are, and shouldn’t be allowed to form mafia like protection groups.

a cat is sitting at a table reading a newspaper and drinking coffee ALT: a cat is sitting at a table reading a newspaper and drinking coffee

I should play Command and Conquer again.

The CCP is convergence with Chinese Characteristics.

All that is gold does not glitter, not all who wander are lost.

“The lying press is run by Jews” is heavy handed propaganda even in the original 1940s German.

I would pay good money to get to use breaching equipment to extract a drunken Kash Patel from his office.

Well, at least when he’s sober.

Hold on, let me get my shocked face

Evergreen skeet

A picture of female gremlin above a picture of Yoda with the caption young I was needed the money I did

The internet has you covered

Oh, so it’s a fuhrerbunker, got it.

UBI (universal burrito income)?

Kirk’s trick was that he could code switch from terminally online asshole to church boy trad Cath, depending on his audience, and somehow keep those two personas confined to their respective media bubbles. The other grifters can’t do that.

Ah, as see we’re once again asking Bluesky if they’re familiar with the tale of Darth Stancil the Correct.

This is just an atrocious thing to post. We’re in America, not France, we use wood chippers à la Fargo.