#i probably made a mistake tagging cq

[space-shminkey-confession]

indigo and gloomverse by @loverofpiggies look ma i made a terrible crossover with the terrible indigo/purple trash men

[askharoldgloom]

Uh, got any tips on making a Gloomverse askblog Mod?

((I finished writing an entire answer and then accidentally hit F5, I’ve never before craved the sweet release of a week-long coma in my entire existence. Also I rly hope ur not asking me to make u an entire person cus this ain’t FMA ad I ain’t got no philosophers stones. ANYWAYS!! I’m gonna give u ur tips now and then probably sleep because I am TIRED!!!))

1. Pick a relevant URL!! This is kinda important. You aren’t gonna have a Wallis blog called “bowtieman”, or a Purple blog called “jackfruitdan” or something like that. A safe assumption is to go with “ask[character]” like mine, since it’s easy to remember AND gets the point across. Others like Petunia ((flowerpowermom)) or one of the assistants ((razzmatassistant)) can also work! Don’t be afraid to be creative with it! Oh! Feel free to mess around with themes as well! I stuck with default cus I’m lazy. Like Harold. Lmao. It was fitting.

2. Don’t worry yourself sick over being “inactive”, it’s tough starting out. Your inbox won’t get a billion asks, and that’s okay!! Only thing I can recommend is for you to send yourself some serious asks to get things moving a bit. 

Also!! Make a promo post!! And tell me about it!! So I can promo you!! And add you to the masterlist that I literally never update because I am!! Lazy!! And if there’s any new blogs then I haven’t heard of ‘em ‘cause they don’t tell me!!

3. “But there’s already a [character] blog!!” Who cares? You do what you wanna do! Everyone’s gonna characterize them differently, both from the canon comic AND from each other. None of us are CQ, so we will never really truly be 110% IC, since a blog literally CANNOT exist in GV itself. They literally don’t have the computers to handle it lmao.

5. Don’t talk about number 4. I actually mis-typed 5 and thought I hit F5 again and was ready to shed literal tears so now I get to live with my mistake forever.

6. Just a personal request here: Please don’t tag your generic asks with the fandom GV tag!! It floods the tag itself and drowns out all the fanart. The promo post is absolutely okay though! You gotta get yourself out there somehow, right?

7. I just realized at this point in my list that “bowtieman” and “jackfruitdan” rhyme and I am so upset with myself about it.

((Oh hey btw if u feel like reading what made me make my askblog, I’m just gonna shove it under a cut ‘cause it’s not related to the ask but it’s still funny lmao.))

[[SO WHY DOES THIS HAROLD BLOG EXIST?]]

There’s not much to it honestly. All I fuckin’ did was sit here in my room one fine night, debating w/ a friend about who liked Harold more ((Hint: I won that debate by a landslide)), and a joke came up of wondering how Harold would react to a pair of people wanting to make him their “waifu”, which made me go, for lack of a better description:

And then I claimed the “askharoldgloom” URL. And, okay I JUST remembered this while typing this out but the first fucking post on my blog wasn’t even an answered ask, it was Harold calling out another friend of mine for being his first follower even though he hadn’t posted anything yet.

And now here we are. As I, a mere casual in the RP community in general ((Seriously: The first major RP I’ve done in recent days was when I joined the GVRP Discord Server way back at the tail-end of July. Oh also shameless promo y’all should definitely check it out, they’re OC-friendly if you wanna join and mess around!!))

[theconservativebrief]

With a Democratic governor and two Democratic senators, Minnesota has a reputation as a blue state, but make no mistake: The Land of 10,000 Lakes has a purple hue. The state went for Hillary Clinton by 46.4 percent in 2016, but Donald Trump wasn’t too far behind at 44.9 percent.

These days, though, Trump isn’t faring so well here. His approval rating is hovering around 38 percent among registered voters, compared to the 51 percent of voters who say they disapprove of him, according to an NBC News/Marist poll released last month. The national political climate, and backlash against Trump, is going to be a challenge for Republicans if they hoe to make any gains in Minnesota in the 2018 midterm elections.

Still, the GOP is fielding credible candidates in a lot of races here, with a particular eye on taking back the governor’s mansion now that Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton is not seeking reelection.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, and Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe talk to reporters in 2012. Dayton is retiring this year. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

With a handful of competitive congressional seats, the state could also be critical in the battle for control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections. Two longtime Democratic Congress members in more conservative districts are running for governor and lieutenant governor, giving Republicans a few of their only chances to win seats from Democrats. But Democrats also have openings to pick off a few House districts, in their quest for a majority.

Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) walks through the Capitol on October 25, 2017. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

Who are the Democrats? US Rep. Tim Walz, state Rep. Erin Murphy, and state Attorney General Lori Swanson.

Who are the Republicans? Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty (you may remember him for his very short-lived race for president in 2012), and former state Rep. Jeff Johnson, who also ran for governor in 2014 and lost to Dayton.

What’s the story? The Democratic primary in Minnesota contains all of this year’s big political themes. Murphy — a former nurse — is running on a Medicare-for-all platform and picked up an endorsement from the state Democratic Party, though that doesn’t necessarily mean much in Minnesota.

Walz and Swanson actually look like the frontrunners: a July NBC News/Marist poll found 28 percent of Minnesota primary voters favored Swanson, 24 percent supported Walz, and 11 percent backed Murphy. Walz represents a more conservative part of the state in Congress, and is being forced to reckon with his past stance on guns — one that had earned him an A rating from the National Rifle Association.

There’s not a lot of new blood on the Republican side, which is shaping up to a race between a former governor and a former nominee for governor. Pawlenty certainly has a lot more name recognition and cash than Johnson, reflected in his 19-point lead in that NBC News/Marist poll.

But Pawlenty also has some vulnerabilities; notably, his moneyed establishment ties (he’s worked as a lobbyist after leaving the governor’s mansion in 2011) and his disavowal of President Trump, which could hurt him with Trump voters in the state.

As for the general election? The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates this a toss-up, but the NBC poll found Pawlenty trailing all three Democratic contenders.

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) walks to a Democratic Caucus meeting at the US Capitol on January 19, 2018. Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images

Who are the Democrats? Sen. Tina Smith, the former lieutenant governor whom Dayton appointed to Senate in wake of Al Franken’s resignation after a sexual misconduct scandal, is running again. She’s facing a primary challenge from former Bush administration official Richard Painter, who has been active calling out the Trump administration’s ethics violations — but it doesn’t look like a very competitive race.

Who are the Republicans? State Sen. Karin Housley faces dental technician and first-time candidate Bob Anderson — who really loves Donald Trump.

What’s the story? Smith and Housley will probably emerge victorious in their respective primaries on Tuesday. As for the general election, this race looks to be pretty comfortably Democratic. Cook rates it Likely Democratic. Smith has pretty much kept her head down and voted with the Democratic caucus as a freshman senator; she was already popular in the state before being appointed, so it’s unlikely she’ll be voted out. She has a double-digit lead in a hypothetical matchup with Housley.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) waits for President Trump to deliver his address to a joint session of Congress on February 28, 2017. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

Who are the Democrats? US Rep. Keith Ellison (also the current vice chair of the Democratic National Convention), former Ramsey County Attorney Tom Foley, state Rep. Debra Hilstrom, attorney and former state Supreme Court clerk Matt Pelikan, and former state Commissioner of Commerce Mike Rothman.

Who are the Republicans? Former state Rep. Doug Wardlow and former state Sen. Robert Lessard.

What’s the story? Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress and a progressive firebrand, is easily the most recognizable name in the pack of Democrats running to replace Lori Swanson, who is now running for governor. Ellison has promised to stand up to the Trump administration through the courts.

On Sunday, the son of Ellison’s ex-girlfriend wrote a lengthy Facebook post alleging that Ellison had been abusive. The claims have not been independently verified, and Ellison has denied mistreating the woman. Hilstrom, the only woman running in the attorney general race, called on Ellison “to answer these allegations” just a few days before the primary.

This post was brought to my attention because I was tagged in this post. Domestic Violence is never ok. The incidents described are troubling. I call on Keith Ellison to answer these allegations.https://t.co/CQ1LSVfZqf

— Debra Hilstrom (@debrahilstrom) August 12, 2018

On the Republican side, Wardlow is promising to enforce the “rule of law” in Minnesota. There aren’t many available ratings for this race, but the state has only elected a single Republican attorney general since 1955 … so it seems safe to say the eventual Democratic candidate is favored to win.

Minnesota First District congressional candidate Dan Feehan works a parade in Waterville, Minnesota, on June 10, 2018. Jim Mone/AP

Who are the Democrats? Iraq War veteran and Obama administration official Dan Feehan. Tim Walz, the district’s current representative, is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor.

Who are the Republicans? Former US Treasury Department official Jim Hagedorn and state Sen. Carla Nelson.

What’s the story? Walz is well-liked in this relatively conservative region of the state; he was reelected to six terms by running as a moderate Democrat. But now that he’s departing, it’s not a given that Democrats can replicate his success.

Feehan has the imprimatur of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He’s running as moderate — in favor of protecting the Affordable Care Act, the state’s farmers, and the military. Hagedorn and Nelson are both running on conservative platforms and embracing the politics of President Trump. Walz’s exit is one of the few good opportunities for Republicans anywere in the country — Cooks rates the district R+5 (which means, all else being equal, it leans five points more Republican than the rest of the nation) and a toss-up.

Rep. Jason Lewis (R-MN) leaves the House Republican Conference meeting in the Capitol on March 20, 2018. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

Who is the Democrat? Former journalist and hospital executive Angie Craig. She ran for this seat in 2016 (and lost) and has the DCCC’s backing.

Who is the Republican? Rep. Jason Lewis, in office since 2017.

What’s the story? You may know Jason Lewis from the torrent of explosive comments he’s made on his former right-wing talk radio show. He once complained about how it was no longer politically correct to call women “sluts,” equated LGBTQ people to “rapists” and other criminals, and said that “young single women” who vote to protect their access to birth control didn’t have brains.

Craig, on the other hand, is an openly LGBTQ candidate and mother who is hoping to draw a contrast with Lewis on social issues and his controversial commentary. She competed against him in 2016 and lost, but Democrats are hoping this year will be a more favorable environment. The district is R+2, and Cook has put it into the Likely Republican category.

Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN) is reflected in a video monitor in the Longworth House Office building on November 8, 2017. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

Who is the Democrat? Distillery CEO and philanthropist Dean Phillips, who also has the backing of the DCCC.

Who is the Republican? Rep. Erik Paulsen, in office since 2009 and a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

What’s the story? Paulsen was first elected 10 years ago and seems to be pretty popular in his district. He’s a moderate who didn’t support Trump in 2016; he wrote in Marco Rubio instead. But he sticks reliably with House Republicans, casting votes for both Obamacare repeal and GOP tax cuts.

Phillips is hoping he can draw a contrast, but he’s the kind of candidate the Democratic base is pushing back against. He comes from wealth and has made a fortune off his family’s liquor business and gelato company. He has been upfront about this, and vowed to run without self-funding his campaign or accepting PAC money, though he’s still getting plenty of money from various industries. The district should be competitive; Cook rates it R+1, but the Third District went for Hillary Clinton by 10 points in 2016.

From left, Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) former Vice President Walter Mondale, and Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) attend a fish fry and fundraiser for Nolan at the Northland Arboretum in Baxter, MN on October 27, 2016. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Who is the Democrat? Rep. Collin Peterson, in office since 1991 and ranking member on the Agriculture Committee.

Who are the Republicans? Air Force veteran David Hughes and National Guard veteran and businessman Matt Prosch.

What’s the story? This district is the strange amalgamation of both being rated R+12 and yet still in the Likely Democratic category by Cook. That’s because Collin Peterson has been in the House for a really, really long time.

He was first elected in 1990 and is the longest-serving House member in the Minnesota delegation. There’s a reason Democrats want Peterson to stay — he’s been consistently reelected in a conservative district. Peterson has a record to reflect that; he’s a friend to farmers in a rural district dominated by agriculture and tends to vote more conservative. Hughes ran against Peterson in 2016 and lost by 5 percentage points.

Who are the Democrats? North Branch Mayor Kirsten Kennedy, state Rep. Jason Metsa, former state Rep. Joe Radinovich, former TV news anchor Michelle Lee, and progressive activist Soren Sorensen.

Who are the Republicans? St. Louis County Commissioner Pete Stauber and Duluth school board member Harry Welty.

What’s the story? The Eighth Congressional District is another conservative-leaning one that Democrats have nevertheless managed to hang on to. Democratic Rep. Rick Nolan, first elected in 2012, is vacating his seat to join the ticket of gubernatorial candidate Lori Swanson. With Nolan out, Republicans see a prime opportunity to win back control of a district Cook rates R+4.

There’s a large field of Democrats running to be the nominee, and there isn’t a clear frontrunner so far. The state party hasn’t yet endorsed a candidate, although Metsa is leading the race in campaign cash. But Democrats are nervous about the prospect of challenging Stauber — a well-known local politician who has out-fundraised all his Democratic competitors so far.

Original Source -> The Minnesota primary elections, one of 2018’s fiercest battlegrounds, explained

via The Conservative Brief