Al Smithson
@alsmithson.bsky.social
2024 was an unfortunate exception.
As for 2028, there are many years in which the front runner does not get the nomination. The media doesn’t get to vote in the primaries.
As for 2028, there are many years in which the front runner does not get the nomination. The media doesn’t get to vote in the primaries.
February 17, 2026 at 5:56 PM
2024 was an unfortunate exception.
As for 2028, there are many years in which the front runner does not get the nomination. The media doesn’t get to vote in the primaries.
As for 2028, there are many years in which the front runner does not get the nomination. The media doesn’t get to vote in the primaries.
What do you mean “don’t run a candidate”? In my world, candidates are chosen by primaries.
February 17, 2026 at 2:11 PM
What do you mean “don’t run a candidate”? In my world, candidates are chosen by primaries.
I agree, but #4 requires a constitutional amendment, which is very unlikely.
February 17, 2026 at 1:54 PM
I agree, but #4 requires a constitutional amendment, which is very unlikely.
Seems like he is still controversial, but if I’m watching tennis, I want the McEnroe brothers to be the commentators.
February 17, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Seems like he is still controversial, but if I’m watching tennis, I want the McEnroe brothers to be the commentators.
It’s a big difference. Some people don’t want Israel to exist at all. Others just want it to act differently. Many people obfuscate which definition they’re using, because they think that others may not realize that they’re really being antisemitic.
February 16, 2026 at 10:06 PM
It’s a big difference. Some people don’t want Israel to exist at all. Others just want it to act differently. Many people obfuscate which definition they’re using, because they think that others may not realize that they’re really being antisemitic.
What really bothers me is that these Dunning-Kruger people have been convinced that democracy is bad because that’s the name of the party they don’t like.
February 16, 2026 at 5:16 PM
What really bothers me is that these Dunning-Kruger people have been convinced that democracy is bad because that’s the name of the party they don’t like.
It all depends on what you mean by “pro-Israel”. Pro the existence of Israel, or pro all the actions of its government?
February 16, 2026 at 2:20 PM
It all depends on what you mean by “pro-Israel”. Pro the existence of Israel, or pro all the actions of its government?
There are a lot of memes around with bad info. I think focusing on Trump is better anyway.
February 15, 2026 at 11:55 PM
There are a lot of memes around with bad info. I think focusing on Trump is better anyway.
You need 67 to convict. You’re going to have to convince some Republicans.
February 15, 2026 at 11:43 PM
You need 67 to convict. You’re going to have to convince some Republicans.
Where does it say that?
February 15, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Where does it say that?
We have immigration laws that need to be enforced. Abolishing ICE needs to be followed by another step.
February 15, 2026 at 11:05 PM
We have immigration laws that need to be enforced. Abolishing ICE needs to be followed by another step.
It’s clearly pretty stupid that they voted that way (or didn’t vote at all.) But there are a lot of stupid people around - not much can be done about that.
February 15, 2026 at 10:54 PM
It’s clearly pretty stupid that they voted that way (or didn’t vote at all.) But there are a lot of stupid people around - not much can be done about that.
You’re going to run into 1st Amendment problems if you try to limit speech in any way. (Which is how it should be.) But just look at what is happening to Tesla. The oligarchs are going to less willing to spend if it could come back to bite them.
February 15, 2026 at 4:02 PM
You’re going to run into 1st Amendment problems if you try to limit speech in any way. (Which is how it should be.) But just look at what is happening to Tesla. The oligarchs are going to less willing to spend if it could come back to bite them.
If you want ticket prices to be lower, you need more tickets. More supply leads to lower prices.
February 15, 2026 at 3:57 PM
If you want ticket prices to be lower, you need more tickets. More supply leads to lower prices.
Not enough teams. More teams leads to more seats and lower prices. Of course, the overall quality of play would decline, but you can’t have it both ways.
February 15, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Not enough teams. More teams leads to more seats and lower prices. Of course, the overall quality of play would decline, but you can’t have it both ways.
Can’t do that. Violates 1st Amendment. I believe what we can do, according to the Supreme Court, is require the identification of individuals responsible for campaign ads by name. We have the right to say whatever we want however we want, but we don’t have the right to do it anonymously.
February 15, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Can’t do that. Violates 1st Amendment. I believe what we can do, according to the Supreme Court, is require the identification of individuals responsible for campaign ads by name. We have the right to say whatever we want however we want, but we don’t have the right to do it anonymously.
If people don’t like him, he won’t win the primaries. I find it interesting to observe all the people whining about Democrats doing nothing, but they don’t like Newsom either, even though he is doing things.
February 15, 2026 at 1:40 PM
If people don’t like him, he won’t win the primaries. I find it interesting to observe all the people whining about Democrats doing nothing, but they don’t like Newsom either, even though he is doing things.
You’ve got a supply/demand problem. Not enough teams to meet the demand. Your solutions - price controls - will result in shortages, as price controls always do.
February 15, 2026 at 1:36 PM
You’ve got a supply/demand problem. Not enough teams to meet the demand. Your solutions - price controls - will result in shortages, as price controls always do.
I disagree with her on many issues, but I will happily vote for her if she’s the nominee for either office.
February 15, 2026 at 3:07 AM
I disagree with her on many issues, but I will happily vote for her if she’s the nominee for either office.
Why are people so upset about the possibility of Newsom being the nominee, if there is no reason for anybody to vote for him?
February 15, 2026 at 2:56 AM
Why are people so upset about the possibility of Newsom being the nominee, if there is no reason for anybody to vote for him?
The main problem with impeachment is that there aren’t 67 votes in the Senate, so it would be purely performative.
February 13, 2026 at 9:57 PM
The main problem with impeachment is that there aren’t 67 votes in the Senate, so it would be purely performative.
What is the point of impeachment if you don’t have 67 votes in the Senate?
February 13, 2026 at 9:55 PM
What is the point of impeachment if you don’t have 67 votes in the Senate?
I’ve been voting for over 50 years. I’ve never had to show an ID. Not once have I been told “somebody else claiming to be you has already voted.” I’ve never heard of that happening to anybody. This is simply a non-problem. Why don’t we work on getting rid of elected officials who are pedophiles?
February 13, 2026 at 8:47 PM
I’ve been voting for over 50 years. I’ve never had to show an ID. Not once have I been told “somebody else claiming to be you has already voted.” I’ve never heard of that happening to anybody. This is simply a non-problem. Why don’t we work on getting rid of elected officials who are pedophiles?
I could. However, me against the army doesn’t seem like very good odds.
February 12, 2026 at 11:37 PM
I could. However, me against the army doesn’t seem like very good odds.