MSA49
@msa49.bsky.social
Retired attorney with federal and private practice experience, and with an eclectic past. UC Berkeley in the late 60s (139X, TWLF and People’s Park), USMCR (E-5), carom billiards player, and third degree black belt.
I don’t think it was entirely the fault of Dems that Trump was elected, in part because Trump is an excellent con man. However, I think the Dems’ failure to craft a persuasive counter argument to Trump’s BS was a significant factor in Trump’s election.
December 2, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I don’t think it was entirely the fault of Dems that Trump was elected, in part because Trump is an excellent con man. However, I think the Dems’ failure to craft a persuasive counter argument to Trump’s BS was a significant factor in Trump’s election.
I do think it’s largely the fault of Dems when they lose. IMO, a politician and a political party should be able to persuade the majority of voters to elect them. That includes figuring out what issues to focus on and what solutions to propose in any given election.
December 2, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I do think it’s largely the fault of Dems when they lose. IMO, a politician and a political party should be able to persuade the majority of voters to elect them. That includes figuring out what issues to focus on and what solutions to propose in any given election.
Obviously, the Republican wins. IMO, that supports what I said before about Dems needing more than just the votes of those you seem to consider worthy of being called “mature adults.”
December 2, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Obviously, the Republican wins. IMO, that supports what I said before about Dems needing more than just the votes of those you seem to consider worthy of being called “mature adults.”
In a two person race, a candidate needs a majority to win. That usually requires votes more than just the “mature adults” who make an effort to obtain all the information available about the issues and the candidates.
December 2, 2025 at 5:20 AM
In a two person race, a candidate needs a majority to win. That usually requires votes more than just the “mature adults” who make an effort to obtain all the information available about the issues and the candidates.
A District Court Judge held earlier that her supposed appointment was invalid because it violated the applicable laws. However, that decision was stayed pending appeal, and today the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s decision.
December 2, 2025 at 1:08 AM
A District Court Judge held earlier that her supposed appointment was invalid because it violated the applicable laws. However, that decision was stayed pending appeal, and today the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s decision.
Both the underlying District Court decision and today’s appellate court decision make it clear that no ongoing prosecution will be dismissed because Habba’s supposed appointment as Acting U.S. Attorney was (and is) invalid.
December 2, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Both the underlying District Court decision and today’s appellate court decision make it clear that no ongoing prosecution will be dismissed because Habba’s supposed appointment as Acting U.S. Attorney was (and is) invalid.
I had to use a link to an archived copy of the article to see what it says.
As a parent of two young males who aren’t suffering from a supposed crisis involving their masculinity or ability to succeed in life, I tend to think that any young males having such a crisis brought it on themselves.
As a parent of two young males who aren’t suffering from a supposed crisis involving their masculinity or ability to succeed in life, I tend to think that any young males having such a crisis brought it on themselves.
December 1, 2025 at 5:19 AM
I had to use a link to an archived copy of the article to see what it says.
As a parent of two young males who aren’t suffering from a supposed crisis involving their masculinity or ability to succeed in life, I tend to think that any young males having such a crisis brought it on themselves.
As a parent of two young males who aren’t suffering from a supposed crisis involving their masculinity or ability to succeed in life, I tend to think that any young males having such a crisis brought it on themselves.
The federal statute of limitations for perjury or lying to Congress is five years, so if a Dem is elected president in 2028 they still could be prosecuted and convicted.
December 1, 2025 at 4:29 AM
The federal statute of limitations for perjury or lying to Congress is five years, so if a Dem is elected president in 2028 they still could be prosecuted and convicted.
There is a huge difference between (1) people being able to get information at the click of a button, and (2) people actually clicking that button and reading or paying attention to what information is then provided.
December 1, 2025 at 4:19 AM
There is a huge difference between (1) people being able to get information at the click of a button, and (2) people actually clicking that button and reading or paying attention to what information is then provided.
I think the primary political significance of this poll is that it shows that it will be difficult for Trump and the GOP to scare voters by saying all Dems are like Mamdani. It’s hard to make someone afraid of a person they never have heard of.
December 1, 2025 at 4:11 AM
I think the primary political significance of this poll is that it shows that it will be difficult for Trump and the GOP to scare voters by saying all Dems are like Mamdani. It’s hard to make someone afraid of a person they never have heard of.
For many reasons, I do not think that Hakeem Jeffries would be the appropriate person to send to Iowa to talk with farmers there in an effort to persuade them to vote for Democratic candidates for the House or Senate.
December 1, 2025 at 2:06 AM
For many reasons, I do not think that Hakeem Jeffries would be the appropriate person to send to Iowa to talk with farmers there in an effort to persuade them to vote for Democratic candidates for the House or Senate.
The point of impeachment is to remove from office people who should not be in office. That’s why the Senate has convicted and removed from office numerous judges who committed crimes, but has never convicted and removed from office a judge for issuing supposedly “wrong” decisions.
November 30, 2025 at 5:32 AM
The point of impeachment is to remove from office people who should not be in office. That’s why the Senate has convicted and removed from office numerous judges who committed crimes, but has never convicted and removed from office a judge for issuing supposedly “wrong” decisions.
After being impeached in 2019 but not convicted, Trump lost the next election. After being impeached but not convicted a second time in 2021, Trump won the next election. Thus, it’s not clear what, if any, impact impeachment had “when it came election time.”
November 30, 2025 at 5:28 AM
After being impeached in 2019 but not convicted, Trump lost the next election. After being impeached but not convicted a second time in 2021, Trump won the next election. Thus, it’s not clear what, if any, impact impeachment had “when it came election time.”
The order says dismissed without prejudice. However, for Comey the deadline to indict has passed and the usual 6-month extension is not available, so in effect the dismissal of the case against Comey is final. Different result for James.
November 25, 2025 at 12:11 PM
The order says dismissed without prejudice. However, for Comey the deadline to indict has passed and the usual 6-month extension is not available, so in effect the dismissal of the case against Comey is final. Different result for James.
I agree with what he said, but I’m not from Maine and have no idea how voters there think about it.
November 25, 2025 at 3:54 AM
I agree with what he said, but I’m not from Maine and have no idea how voters there think about it.
Ronald Reagan proposed the tax cuts, but his tax cut bill became law only because Democrats also supported it.
November 23, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Ronald Reagan proposed the tax cuts, but his tax cut bill became law only because Democrats also supported it.
If you are going to look at statistics involving women doctors, I suggest you look at statistics involving medical malpractice claims. When I started defending such cases in the late 1980s, I noticed women doctors got sued far less often than men. That’s why my primary care provider is a woman.
November 21, 2025 at 2:43 AM
If you are going to look at statistics involving women doctors, I suggest you look at statistics involving medical malpractice claims. When I started defending such cases in the late 1980s, I noticed women doctors got sued far less often than men. That’s why my primary care provider is a woman.
A farmer is a business owner, and there is no reason for our government to treat a farmer in a manner different than it treats any other business owner.
The most fair solution to the problem of farmers being unable to afford health insurance would be Medicare for all.
The most fair solution to the problem of farmers being unable to afford health insurance would be Medicare for all.
November 20, 2025 at 11:15 PM
A farmer is a business owner, and there is no reason for our government to treat a farmer in a manner different than it treats any other business owner.
The most fair solution to the problem of farmers being unable to afford health insurance would be Medicare for all.
The most fair solution to the problem of farmers being unable to afford health insurance would be Medicare for all.
I did not know the bill contained that language. My error, for which I apologize.
November 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
I did not know the bill contained that language. My error, for which I apologize.
In each of 2016, 2020 and 2024, the Dem candidate and third party support groups raised and spent more than Trump and his third party support groups. While I think Citizens United was an incorrect interpretation of the law, it isn’t the reason that Clinton and Harris lost.
November 18, 2025 at 7:52 AM
In each of 2016, 2020 and 2024, the Dem candidate and third party support groups raised and spent more than Trump and his third party support groups. While I think Citizens United was an incorrect interpretation of the law, it isn’t the reason that Clinton and Harris lost.
Legally, the government can release documents even if they are pertinent to an ongoing investigation. That may compromise the government’s ability to get a conviction, but that’s very different than saying that the government “can’t release the files” if an investigation is ongoing.
November 18, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Legally, the government can release documents even if they are pertinent to an ongoing investigation. That may compromise the government’s ability to get a conviction, but that’s very different than saying that the government “can’t release the files” if an investigation is ongoing.
On ongoing investigation gives the government an excuse to withhold documents, but it does not legally prevent the government from releasing documents if the government wants to do so or is required to do so pursuant to a new law passed by Congress and not vetoed.
November 18, 2025 at 7:29 AM
On ongoing investigation gives the government an excuse to withhold documents, but it does not legally prevent the government from releasing documents if the government wants to do so or is required to do so pursuant to a new law passed by Congress and not vetoed.
According to the poll, among those 45 and older only 14% of women and 8% of men would like to move to another country.
November 14, 2025 at 7:27 PM
According to the poll, among those 45 and older only 14% of women and 8% of men would like to move to another country.
I did not say anything remotely close to proposing that Buttigieg not run, or that Dem primary voters should not decide who will be the Dem nominee. I simply pointed out that he is a quintessential “Establishment” Dem, something that your comment appears to acknowledge.
November 9, 2025 at 3:15 AM
I did not say anything remotely close to proposing that Buttigieg not run, or that Dem primary voters should not decide who will be the Dem nominee. I simply pointed out that he is a quintessential “Establishment” Dem, something that your comment appears to acknowledge.
The governments of both China and Japan have expressed concern about falling birth rates and have adopted policies to encourage more births. Clearly, they aren’t concerned about falling “white” birth rates.
November 9, 2025 at 1:51 AM
The governments of both China and Japan have expressed concern about falling birth rates and have adopted policies to encourage more births. Clearly, they aren’t concerned about falling “white” birth rates.