#why we lose

[socialjusticeinamerica]

People say well Trump still would have won if the Stein voters and Dearborn, Michigan had voted Harris. That’s not the entire point. There were millions of protest voters who stayed home and a few million who did vote but not for President. Even if you could make a credible case about Stein not being a significant reason that does not absolve her. Stein was groomed and funded by Putin that is election interference and treason. Further it’s no secret that Republican donors funnel money into Independent, Green, and Socialist campaigns because they know it will siphon off votes. These 3rd party candidates are a backup plan in case of a close election and they often work in lesser elections and occasionally In presidential elections.

Ralph Nader virtually handed the 2,000 election to George W Bush. Stein and the Bernie Bros (started as a Republican dirty trick) elected Trump in 2016. Propagandists give these independent voters false hope to hurt the Democrats. The South Florida Cubans have kept that state largely red for decades. Border counties in states that have Hispanic majorities have largely kept those stated red for decades as well.

Pointing this out isn’t dumping on marginalized communities. Early reports on the Democratic loss have shown that an inability to stop these groups from voting against themselves cost the Dems dearly. The Biden and then Harris campaigns spent days and weeks debating how to be extra P.C. in their messaging to marginalized groups instead of just targeting districts and groups with direct and blunt messaging. You can be direct without being offensive or patronizing, it’s not hard. Many insiders are already on the airwaves talking about how the Dems were crippled by their internal arguments over not ruffling the slightest feather in marginalized communities. Now they lost and those communities will be savagely persecuted by the Republicans.

If your messaging is not geared towards the middle, the people who vote in the largest numbers, you won’t win. If you don’t win you can’t protect marginalized people. Democrats want to help all the people but that message is lost because out-of-touch elitist ultra-liberals are calling the shots. Republicans fight dirty and constantly keep the Democrats on the defensive. Slogans like defund the police are going to win the middle. Even Obama came out and said to stop repeating that because it was a gift to Republican campaign strategists. Think about other slogans and movements form our side. Look at them objectively and dispassionately and imagine how you would feel if you were a barely informed voter sitting on the fence.

I’m not saying we should abandon the marginalized in our party, although someone with poor comprehension skills will invariably accuse me of that. Just the opposite is true we need to include them but bring in more decent people who aren’t as well informed. We need outreach programs to the Hispanic community in particular. We need to bring in Muslim and Jewish voters. We need outreach into the younger African-American demographic. We need to sway the Log Cabin Republicans. But we also need to hang on to union members and most importantly bring in that middle group that is largely uninformed or feels that their vote won’t matter.

We need to make it clear we protect not just marginalized people but all segments of society from poor to upper middle class (the millionaire class will likely always vote Republican). Next we need to focus on our policy proposals. We need clear and polished messaging that is consistent across the board. We need the public to know of our past accomplishments and our plans to build upon that. That messaging simply did not reach enough households during the Biden administration and the Harris campaign. We need a unified voice, we can’t be calling our president an agent of genocide because of what pro-Republican Netanyahu is doing and then expect to win. Republicans amplified our protests and disunity for their own purposes. We need them to be on the defensive and if that means calling out the media like Republicans do then so be it.

We lost for many reasons. The media wanted ratings so they hyped Trump. An incredible apathy on the part of the electorate. Protest votes encouraged by Republicans and Russians. Russian meddling online, dark money contributions, and even calling in bomb threats to Democratic leaning voting precincts. Third party candidates siphoning off votes, often with the support of Republican and Russian dark money. The most important cause was an over-reliance on demographics that don’t vote for us or don’t turn out in large enough numbers. Groups who vote against their best interests need to have it made known to them that they made a mistake and that it was counterproductive for them. They need to learn that they put a target on themselves. It’s a shame it’s come down to FAFO but many groups never fully understand the Find Out part. It has to be made clear to them that they voted for their tormentors instead of their protectors. Once they have been fully educated on the consequences they created for themselves then they can be brought back into the fold.

Our single biggest mistake is letting the Republicans define who we are by crafting a negative perception of us. We need to attract new voters who know the truth and stop relying on a disunited coalition of small and diverse groups. Leave none behind but welcome more in and set up a political machine that is nationally organized and focused on winning for all Americans.

We somehow lost 11 million votes since 2020 and Chump somehow gained 12 million since 2016.

🤔🤦🏾🤦

C’mon man…every poll, odds maker, every exit interview, every single indicator showed Harris either ahead or dead even. Plus Trump spent months telling his people not to vote because he didn’t need them as he already had enough to win. Something’s fishy.

[loumandforyou]

proof that they were together in the past or... it could all mean nothing

[deimosatellite]

being in america sucks so bad bc like wdym someone can tell me with their whole chest "vaccines are evil and i think schools need to stop teaching history and i think anyone whos not white is a criminal" and youre "SUPPOSED TO" "respect their politics and point of view" !? like i literally feel like im losing my absolute mind . like i feel like im being gaslit constantly by half the country who just believes things that are . wrong. and they say youre supposed to be open to their opinions ???!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!!!?!?!??

[babacontainsmultitudes]

He's a used car salesman. He has a heart of gold. He can't parallel park. He has two gay witch italian dads. He chops the wood. He has a magical talking cat mom. He's an assassin. He isn't an assassin. He's actually the cat from earlier. He's trans (female cat to male human). He's been shot through the heart. He was in Dewar. He was not in the war. He was in Dewar. He's on his last of nine lives. He just had a marble shoved down his throat. He's even bisexual. I didn't say his name, but he popped into your head, didn't he?

[wilwheaton]

Q: Why hasn't the SAG-AFTRA strike been resolved?

A:

[royalarchivist]

Bad: I don’t think people understand the effect QSMP had on some of the streamers in terms of like… The real raw mental impact, so I’m gonna set the stage for you. [...] Imagine that you were given a friend to play Minecraft with — like your best friend — BUT if this person dies, if they die in the game, you never get to talk to them again. Can you imagine what that’s like?

Bad: If you did not live through the QSMP, if you did not live through that, it almost sounds like, crazy. But I don’t think people realize how much of a joyous experience the Eggs were. They were SO awesome! They were literally so awesome to just hang out with and spend time with.

Bad: I’m not saying I regret it. To this day, I loved the experience. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. Even knowing how everything went, I would still do it all over again. [...] I would still do it all over again, because — even knowing like, all the trauma and suffering and stuff like that — because it was just… It was just that fun, it was just that fun.

Earlier today during his stream, Bad shared his experience and thoughts about the Eggs and the significant emotional (and traumatic) impact they had on him and his fellow QSMP members.

This clip a very edited-down version since his commentary was ~13 minutes long, so I highly recommend checking out Bad's VOD if you have the time. (Timestamp: 47:36 - 1:00:14)

[ Full Transcript ↓ ]

———

Bad: To be fair Chat, I really think the QSMP... I don't think anyone really can relate to it, Chat. It's something that's so... I've told people this before, like– but it's hard to understand. Right? Like...

Where was I? Sorry Chat, I'm losing my train of thought. Look, let me explain Chat– here's the dealio, ok? Here's the dealio, and this is what I mean when I say like, it's important to keep this in mind, Chat. Ok? It's important to keep this in mind:

I don’t think people understand the effect that the QSMP had on like, some of the streamers, in terms of like… The real raw mental impact, so I’m gonna set the stage for you. This is the analogy I’ve given to every person who I’ve like, shared this with. Imagine you meet somebody– [He hears a strange noise] What the fudge was that? Did you hear that?

Anyway– Chip! The story I was just relaying to Chat, Chip, was this: I was sharing this story with them, I said–  I was giving them an analogy. 

Imagine Chat, for example, imagine that you were… playing Minecraft, with like– you were given a friend to play Minecraft with, Chat, like your best friend, and [unintelligible] were like, “Hey, you get to play Minecraft with this person, right? BUT if this person dies – they’re currently your best friend, Chip – but if they die in the game, you never get to talk to them again. Ever again.” Can you imagine what that’s like, Chip?

I don’t think a lot of people understand like, what that does, right? I’m not gonna say that like, it creates this situation, Chip, that like, messes with your head, but it– Chip – but it totally, totally does, Chip. It messes with your head! It literally puts you in a position where you’re second-guessing and thinking about everything, Chip! You’re thinking about EVERYTHING Chip! Ok? And that’s the problem, Chip– is you turn into a paranoid monster because of it, Chip! Like, you don’t understand Chip– I was- I was so afraid of every dirt block, I used to carry a shovel with me Chip, and I would specifically right-click dirt blocks that looked suspicious because mines, Chip– mines could not be shoveled! Like, I was crazy, Chip! But here’s the problem, Chip: that craziness is still there. I’m genuinely like–

I remember thinking Chip, that I would one day– I was like, “I’m going to move past–” here, let’s go up here, Chip. I remember thinking one day Chip, I was like, “I’m gonna move past the underground base, one of these days. You know, one of these days, I feel like I’ll be able to grow and achieve the desire to build a base that doesn’t have to be underground.” But I don’t think it’s possible now Chip, because I think… I just don’t know. I feel like the paranoia– there’s still like, residual leftover trauma from that situation, Chip.

But here’s the problem Chip: I don’t think I don’t think– I don’t think people understand it. Like, I just really don’t. But I also don’t blame them Chip, ‘cuz I don’t think it’s possible to fully understand it if you haven’t lived through it. Like, if you did not live through the QSMP… I’m talking about the QSMP, I don’t- I don’t know if that was obvious– if you did not live through that, it almost sounds like, crazy. But I don’t think people realize how much of a joyous experience like, the Eggs were. Right? I don’t think people realize it. Like, they were SO awesome! They were literally so awesome to just hang out with and spend time with, Chip. So, it’s just one of those things that–

[He’s interrupted by a loud rumble of thunder above them]

Did lightning just strike here? Is it thunderstorming out…? But anyway, Chip. That’s the food for thought.

But that’s the problem– Like, every time it rains in Minecraft, I have to like, look at the sky, and I get this weird, like, second--hand vibe because of the trauma. The trauma, Chip! The trauma is real! But that’s the point– I’m not saying I regret it. I, to this day Chip, I loved the experience. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. Even knowing how everything went, I would still do it all over again. 

[He falls down] Dangit, don’t come over here Chip, ‘cuz I’m coming back up! Ok.

I would still do it all over again, because — even knowing like, all the trauma and suffering  and stuff like that — because it was just… It was just that fun, Chip, it was just that fun. I really wi– I don’t think it’s ever gonna be possible, Chip, to give people that same energy, like that same experience. You know what I mean, Chip? I don’t think it’s ever gonna be possible again. Like, EVER.

Because… because like, one: I will say on one level Chip, I will say on one level, like– it’s sort of emotionally like… It’s emotionally devastating, and I think to actually go through that– and this is where like, if I ever do end up going to a– see a therapist, if I ever do end up going to see a therapist at any point, I’ll talk it over with them and be like, “Hey, what do you think about this?” Because I genuinely think on one level, like– it’s created this fear of forming attachments because of like, how things can go. You know what I mean? Like, the fear of getting attached to something and then potentially losing it. Like, it’s- it’s a genuine thing. I think people forget about that.

Like, at the end of the day, everything was RP, right? On the server. You know what I mean? Like, everything was RP, Chip. BUT at the same point, even though it was RP Chip, it was still like– there the reality of you were still playing like, with another person, and you were still getting that experience, and it felt like you were genuinely attached to someone and you didn’t want anything bad to happen to them. It was GENUINELY stressful, Chip.

But at the same point, I don’t regret it, and I don’t think it was a bad experience. I’m– 

Sometimes in life Chip, you go through stuff, and maybe you have a certain amount of like, things that like, can happen, that you’re like, “You know what, maybe this wasn’t a good thing that this happened,” but at the same point, you still aren’t necessarily upset about it, because… it’s like growing as a person, right? Here’s the thing Chip; even bad situations, Chip, can lead to an overall good outcome. Like–

Even if you’re going through something bad Chip, just because a bad thing happens doesn’t mean that only bad things have to come from that. That’s one of the things I tell people all the time, Chip, is that if you go through a bad situation, you can learn from it, and you can use your experience to help others. And you can be that– you can be, at the worst-case scenario, you can be someone for other people who are going through that same experience to lean on when they go through that.I think there’s a certain amount of comfort that comes from that; from knowing no matter how bad your situation is, you’re not the only person who’s experienced it. You know what I mean?

[not-equippedforthis]

forever mourning how granada holmes never adapted the three garridebs. diabolical. unbelievable, even. 'if you had killed watson you would not have made it out of this room alive' but in brett's frightfully intense and low, biting, hissing voice. the violent, wild stare versus the gentle hand on watson's knee. all of that precarious control getting flung out the window. the humanity of it. gritting my teeth can you fucking imagine.

[egophiliac]

just thinking about hair and faces

[houseswife]

practically emanating

[bluewolfangel01]

*End of a long day, classes are over*

Beel and Belphie: *ready to go home*

Mc: *looks very tired and is laying their head on the desk*

Belphie: "Mc, class is over, we can go now"

Mc: "Yeah, I know Belphie. Just... give me a minute."

Belphie: *looks at Beel*

Beel: *nobs, swiftly picks up Mc and begins to carry them on his back*

Mc: "W-wha?! Beel! I said I could walk if I was just given a minute!"

Beel: "It's fine, I like holding you."

Mc: *slightly stunned and also tired*

Beel: *begins to walk while carrying Mc*

Belphie: *walks along side Beel*

Belphie: "Also means we'll get back faster, which means more time to nap before dinner."

Mc: *sighs* "Alright. You win."

Mc: *closes their eyes, wraps their arms around Beel's neck, and let's their body go slack*

Mc: "you win"

Beel and Belphie: *look at each other and smile*

[demigods-posts]

i think it's hilarious that no matter how important the situation is. annabeth will stop everything to greet an animal. stuck in the underworld and trying to save your friend's mom's soul while simultaneously trying to prevent a war between the gods? pet the three-headed guard dog. trapped in the deepest pit of hell and on the brink of death while trying to prevent the rise of a goddess determined to harm everyone and everything you care about? cuddle the half-dead cat. trying to help your boyfriend get his second college recommendation letter so the two of you can begin living the safe and happy life you had always wanted together? adopt and share custody of a hellhound with a goddess.

[whatudottu]

Me and the homies I dragged into playing ISAT with me (voice over style) and thus thoroughly infecting them with the ISAT hyperfixation gathered to play poker and so- drew us VAs as the cast give or take some liberties :P

[juniemunie]

If we're not giving up, don't give up wherever you are.

That's a promise.

[nebulous-tundra]

still thinking about how Taash is the only companion written by Trick Weekes and apparently her Deluxe Edition weapon is labeled Grief and in the promo picture with the whole gang she was the only one looking at the camera and how out of all the companions she is the one we know the most little about. no chapter in Tevinter Nights. no cameo in the comics. just enigmatic silence.

[geryone]

Begging y’all to be normal about people reading & engaging with the work of authors with controversial backgrounds

[mayasdeluca]

MAYA AND CARINA STATION 19: 7x10 'One Last Time'