You're really proving their point here. You're starting with the false assumption that both sides have good ideas, and the best solution must be somewhere in the middle. If one side's platform is based entirely on lies, this is an idiotic position to take. It's an ideology for privileged autofellatio enthusiasts who haven't bothered to really figure out what's going on, because it's much easier to just pretend you're the smart one, and everyone's getting upset over nothing.

I mean, it's gonna depend on how long you want the runs.

Hey man, Ivanka was in my freshman english class, and I'm not taking any responsibility for that shit-show.

Let's fucking do this. Let's smash these fascist fuckwits.

Hey, I appreciate the sentiment. I didn't really think any of that was trauma-inducing—except the dogs, but a friendly labrador helped me get over that a year or two later. Luckily, I've stocked up on all kinds of trauma since then! These are just colorful childhood memories.

Anecdotally, I lived in Sanaa for a while as a kid in the '80's, and one of my enduring memories is seeing kids in the street with AK's. Other highlights included being chased up a pile of concrete and rebar by a pack of wild dogs, and riding in a helicopter that they used in one of the Rambo movies (the Afghanistan one, I think).

Such a fantastically stupid list of completely unsupported assertions. And they have it saved, so they can go over it with people! I have two takeaways from this thread:

• I'm going to start referring to this kind of argument as "root beer logic". Nobody will know what I'm talking about, but I'll think it's funny.

• They're probably a political strategist for the DNC

Yeah, because fear and anger is all that's been offered. The Biden campaign hasn't effectively communicated any vision, any plan, to improve the country over the next 4 years. Even setting aside the disastrous debate performance and subsequent spiralling, he's run a terrible campaign.

I think this is the only way to win, but I have very little hope that it will happen. People need a ticket that projects hope for a better future, not one that promises to maintain the status quo. If people were happy with the status quo, Trump would not be a factor. Yet, time and again, it's all the Democrats are willing to offer.

Obviously not, but if people aren't excited about the ticket, they'll stay home—which is functionally a vote for Trump. At this point, we need candidates that give people hope for a better future, not just promise to maintain the status quo.

That data is for Senator Mike Lee of Utah, not Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee. They're both pieces of shit, but I don't see any AIPAC donations listed for this one.

I'm also voting for Isildur. But heck, I'll vote for whoever's chosen at the entmoot. I am increasingly convinced that Izzie's not up to the job of beating Sauron, but unless someone can convince him of that somehow, I think we're stuck with him. Fills me with dread.

Ok, but can you throw in an M203 and a leaf sight? Maybe a box of 40mm HEDP? Indirect fire is a real game-changer.

It's not the best argument; Generic Democrat has no personal baggage. I'm in favor of finding a better nominee (maybe even partially due to your advocacy), but unfortunately we can't run Generic Democrat.

Well, I don't know that it's even possible to force Biden out without his consent. Certainly, it would be prohibitively difficult and contentious. Still, "If the GOP isn't doing it, why should we?" is a terrible argument, by any metric. The line of reasoning that says Biden should step aside, and support another nominee, looks like this:

• It looks increasingly like he's going to lose.

• If he loses, the country will—based on available evidence—likely descend into a pure kleptocracy, with fascistic and theocratic tendencies.

• Based on his own statements, he doesn't fully grasp, or properly weigh, the consequences of losing this election. He'll feel fine about losing, as long as he does his best.

• Given the above, maybe we'd be better off with someone else.

I'll stipulate that I was on the #binarychoice train myself until recently. The sad fact is, he's just that bad. And it's not too late to change course.

I'm sure that the mainstream coverage has been terrible—I avoid it these days for precisely that reason—but I don't think switching candidates is guaranteed electoral suicide. Plenty of smart and reasonable people are looking at Biden's performance—and his polling—and thinking we'd be better off with another nominee. Biden himself—setting aside the glaring problem of his advanced age and obviously reduced mental faculties—doesn't seem to grasp the dire consequences of a potential loss, based on his post-debate statements.

At this point, I (and lots of other people who are neither stupid nor crypto-fascists) think we'd be better off with another candidate. 4 months is tons of time in today's media environment.

Vichy Twitter

This is such an accurate description of X, thanks for that! W/r/t getting people off of corporate social media platforms, I think this is one area where celebrities could really do some good. The Fediverse isn't on most peoples' radars—and while there is a vague, burgeoning awareness that social media might be problematic, people are accustomed to their feeds, and frankly have more pressing things to worry about.

What's more, even people who are acutely aware of the situation continue to use these platforms, because the artists/journalists/content creators and what-have-you that they follow are still on these platforms. I've seen a thousand comments to this effect here on Lemmy. I listen to a ton of podcasts, political and otherwise, and all the hosts are left of center to varying degrees. I'm constantly gritting my teeth when they talk about their instagram feeds, and ask me to follow them on Vichy twitter.

I understand that social media in general, and twitter in particular, has been a really useful tool for people to communicate with their audience, and build a following. I tell myself that it isn't reasonable to expect all these people that I respect and listen to daily to hold themselves to a higher ethical standard, because it might shrink their audience, and thus threaten their livelihoods. We can't expect the smaller fish to lead the way on this.

But, if someone could get a big name talking about this stuff, it could really make a difference. It's just too easy to ignore right now.

Yeah, you're right. I guess it's just a matter of where one falls on the Kinsey scale. But again, that also undercuts the original analogy.

Oh, for real? Thanks for the correction, I've got to rewatch ds9.

I don't believe so. Quark briefly becomes Grand Nagus, iirc, but it develops that it was just a plot by Wallace Shawn to draw out his enemies. Rom winds up as a labor activist; I think he convinces Quark's employees to unionize and demand better conditions.